Зображення сторінки
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Not one public man, or public body, has condemned it. On the contrary, all have adopted and defended it. It is recognised as a policy - as a system — and commendation and honour are heaped upon the perpetrator, so that others may be stimulated to do the like. Already the leading southern journals are pointing out the next victim. A kind of Lynch law is to be instituted wherever the subject of slavery is involved.

"Now, fellow-citizens, I beg you to ask yourselves what all this indicates. Let us not be children, gazing at the painted scene; let us lift the curtain and look at the movers and actors behind.

"Freedom of speech is at stake in Congress. Freedom in the choice of institutions is at stake in Kansas.

Seven in every eight of the inhabitants of Kansas desire free institutions; yet slavery is forced upon them. The people cannot select their institutions, nor can Congress prescribe them. Force governs-irregular, unlawful, brute-force governs; and governs by aid and countenance of the national authorities!

"Mr. President, the last census has demonstrated what many have declared, but few have believed, that under the form of a republic, this country is now, and has long been, governed by an oligarchy. In the free states there are now about seventeen millions of free inhabitants and no slaves. In the slave states there are four millions of slaves, owned by three hundred and fifty thousand owners. These 350,000 owners of slaves own the valuable land and the labourers, and monopolise the government of the Slave States. The non-slaveholding free population is of little account. This forms the privileged class, the oligarchy. It is not for the purpose of making them odious that I use this name. It is the only proper designation. Including the families of the owners,

there may be two millions of persons in the dominant class or order.

"This oligarchy has governed the whole country, and governs it now with a sway of increasing demands and exactions. Of seventeen presidential elections, natives of Slave States have carried thirteen, and natives of Free States four. Of the life of our government, forty-nine years have been passed under slaveholding chief-magistrates, and eighteen under nonslaveholders. They have always had a majority of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. The population, the arts, the sciences, commerce, inventions, copyrights, manufactures, all are with the Free States. Yet the Slave States hold and have always held the judiciary. They almost monopolised the army and navy when appointments were open. At this moment, though there are sixteen Free States and fifteen Slave States, a majority of the Senate are slave holders.

"To make a long story short, there has never been a question between the slave power and the free power, on the floor of Congress, in which the slave power has not triumphed.

"I will not go over the recital of the successive defeats of freedom and aggressions of slavery. The subjugation of Kansas is the latest triumph. The subjugation of free speech is its object now. At first, you recollect, no man can have forgotten, the right of petition was denied. For that John Quincy Adams perilled all a public man has to peril, and life itself. Next, through resolves of Congress and platforms of both the great parties, they tried again to suppress free speech. Now, they chastise it by violence, in the very sanctuary of its refuge. No man has received a national nomination that is not acceptable to them. No man can be confirmed in a national office, from

Secretary of State or Minister at St. James's to the humblest postmaster, that is not satisfactory to them. Mr. Everett's appointment at St. James's hung in suspense because he was suspected of having uttered, somewhere, a sentiment hostile to slavery and its interests. The country is one vast Dionysius's ear. Every whisper in the closet is transmitted and punished.

Before parting to-night, let me ask any doubting friend, if there be one here, what provocation more he proposes to wait for? They have added slave states by a coup d'état; will you wait until they have added Cuba or Central America? They have tried to force slavery on Kansas; will you wait until they have succeeded? They have violated one solemn compact; how many more must they violate, before you will assert your right? They have struck down a senator in his place. Some of their presses have designated the next victim; will you wait until he has fallen ?"

Mr. Dana was right. Mr. Brooks was not expelled from the Senate. His only punishment was a fine of 300 dollars. This is the value set in Washington on freedom of debate. Any ruffian willing to pay 601. may waylay and disable an opponent.

THE END.

LONDON:

Printed by SPOTTISWOODE & Co.,

New-street-Square.

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