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are in a fair way to see this land of boasted freedom converted
into a land of slavery in fact。 ＇Sensation。＇ Just open your two
eyes； and see if this be not so。 I need do no more than state；
to command universal approval； that almost the entire North； as
well as a large following in the border States； is radically
opposed to the planting of slavery in free territory。 Probably
in a popular vote throughout the nation nine tenths of the voters
in the free States； and at least one…half in the border States；
if they could express their sentiments freely； would vote NO on
such an issue； and it is safe to say that two thirds of the votes
of the entire nation would be opposed to it。 And yet； in spite
of this overbalancing of sentiment in this free country； we are
in a fair way to see Kansas present itself for admission as a
slave State。 Indeed； it is a felony； by the local law of Kansas；
to deny that slavery exists there even now。 By every principle
of law； a negro in Kansas is free； yet the bogus Legislature
makes it an infamous crime to tell him that he is free！
Statutes of Kansas； 1555； chapter 151； Sec。 12： If any free
person； by speaking or by writing； assert or maintain that
persons have not the right to hold slaves in this Territory； or
shall introduce into this Territory； print； publish； write；
circulate 。 。 。 any book； paper； magazine； pamphlet； or
circular containing any denial of the right of persons to hold
slaves in this Territory such person shall be deemed guilty of
felony； and punished by imprisonment at hard labor for a term of
not less than two years。
Sec。 13。 No person who is conscientiously opposed to holding
slaves； or who does not admit the right to hold slaves in this
Territory； shall sit as a juror on the trial of any prosecution
for any violation of any Sections of this Act。
The party lash and the fear of ridicule will overawe justice and
liberty； for it is a singular fact； but none the less a fact； and
well known by the most common experience； that men will do things
under the terror of the party lash that they would not on any
account or for any consideration do otherwise； while men who will
march up to the mouth of a loaded cannon without shrinking will
run from the terrible name of 〃Abolitionist；〃 even when
pronounced by a worthless creature whom they； with good reason；
despise。 For instanceto press this point a littleJudge
Douglas introduced his Nebraska Bill in January； and we had an
extra session of our Legislature in the succeeding February； in
which were seventy…five Democrats； and at a party caucus； fully
attended； there were just three votes； out of the whole seventy…
five； for the measure。 But in a few days orders came on from
Washington； commanding them to approve the measure； the party
lash was applied； and it was brought up again in caucus； and
passed by a large majority。 The masses were against it； but
party necessity carried it； and it was passed through the lower
house of Congress against the will of the people； for the same
reason。 Here is where the greatest danger lies that； while we
profess to be a government of law and reason； law will give way
to violence on demand of this awful and crushing power。 Like the
great JuggernautI think that is the namethe great idol； it
crushes everything that comes in its way； and makes a ＇？＇or； as
I read once； in a blackletter law book； 〃a slave is a human being
who is legally not a person but a thing。〃 And if the safeguards
to liberty are broken down； as is now attempted； when they have
made things of all the free negroes； how long； think you； before
they will begin to make things of poor white men？ ＇Applause。＇ Be
not deceived。 Revolutions do not go backward。 The founder of
the Democratic party declared that all men were created equal。
His successor in the leadership has written the word 〃white〃
before men； making it read 〃all white men are created equal。〃
Pray； will or may not the Know…Nothings； if they should get in
power； add the word 〃Protestant；〃 making it read 〃all Protestant
white men。。。？〃
Meanwhile the hapless negro is the fruitful subject of reprisals
in other quarters。 John Pettit； whom Tom Benton paid his
respects to； you will recollect； calls the immortal Declaration
〃a self…evident lie〃； while at the birthplace of freedomin the
shadow of Bunker Hill and of the 〃cradle of liberty；〃 at the home
of the Adamses and Warren and OtisChoate； from our side of the
house； dares to fritter away the birthday promise of liberty by
proclaiming the Declaration to be 〃a string of glittering
generalities〃； and the Southern Whigs； working hand in hand with
proslavery Democrats； are making Choate's theories practical。
Thomas Jefferson； a slaveholder； mindful of the moral element in
slavery； solemnly declared that he trembled for his country when
he remembered that God is just； while Judge Douglas； with an
insignificant wave of the hand； 〃don't care whether slavery is
voted up or voted down。〃 Now； if slavery is right； or even
negative； he has a right to treat it in this trifling manner。
But if it is a moral and political wrong； as all Christendom
considers it to be； how can he answer to God for this attempt to
spread and fortify it？ ＇Applause。＇
But no man； and Judge Douglas no more than any other； can
maintain a negative； or merely neutral； position on this
question； and； accordingly； he avows that the Union was made by
white men and for white men and their descendants。 As matter of
fact； the first branch of the proposition is historically true；
the government was made by white men； and they were and are the
superior race。 This I admit。 But the corner…stone of the
government； so to speak； was the declaration that 〃all men are
created equal；〃 and all entitled to 〃life； liberty； and the
pursuit of happiness。〃 ＇Applause。＇
And not only so； but the framers of the Constitution were
particular to keep out of that instrument the word 〃slave；〃 the
reason being that slavery would ultimately come to an end； and
they did not wish to have any reminder that in this free country
human beings were ever prostituted to slavery。 ＇Applause。＇ Nor
is it any argument that we are superior and the negro inferior
that he has but one talent while we have ten。 Let the negro
possess the little he has in independence； if he has but one
talent； he should be permitted to keep the little he has。
＇Applause：＇ But slavery will endure no test of reason or logic；
and yet its advocates； like Douglas； use a sort of bastard logic；
or noisy assumption it might better be termed； like the above； in
order to prepare the mind for the gradual； but none the less
certain； encroachments of the Moloch of slavery upon the fair
domain of freedom。 But however much you may argue upon it； or
smother it in soft phrase； slavery can only be maintained by
forceby violence。 The repeal of the Missouri Compromise was by
violence。 It was a violation