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![handle is hein.slavery/lndmfre0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
THE LANDMARK OF FREEDOM.
SPEECH
HON. CHARLES SUMNER,
Againt the Repeal of the Missouri Prohibition of Slavery North of 360 30'.
IN THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 21, 1854.
l ursed be he that rermoveth his neighbor's landmark. .And all the people shall say, AxEN.-DEVT., cl. xxvii., v. 17.
The Senate having under consideration the bill ting the heari of the North American continent
to establish Territorial Governments in Nebraska -only a little smaller, let me add, than three
and Kansas- great European countries combined-Italy, Spain,
Mr. SUMNER said: and France, each of- which, in succession, has
Mr.PPusrDENT: I approach this discussion with dominated over the globe. This teriitory has
awe. The mighty question, with untold issues, already been likened, on this floor, to the Garden
which it involves, oppresses me. Like a porten- of God. The similitude is found, not merely in
tous cloud, surcharged with irresistible storm and its present pure and virgin character, but in its
ruin, it seems to fill the whole heavens, making actual geographical situation, occupying central
me painfully conscious how unequal I am to the spaces on this hemisphere, which, in their general
occasion-how unequal, also,is all that I can say, relations, may well compare with that early Asi-
to all that I feel. atic home. We are told that,
In delivering my sentiments here to-day, I shall Southward through Eden went a river large;
speak frankly-according to my convictions, with- so here a stream flows southward which is larger
out concealment or reserve. But if anything fell than the Euphrates. And here, too, amidst all
from the Senator from Illinois, [Mr. DoUGLAS,] the smiling products of nature, lavished by the
in opening this discussion, which might seem to hand of God, is the lofty tree of Liberty, planted
challenge a personal contest, I desire to say that I by our fathers, which, without exaggeration, or
shall not enter upon it. Let not a word or a tone even imagination, may be likened to
pass my lips to direct attention, for a moment, -- the tree of life,
from the transcendent theme, by the side of which Hligh eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit
Senators and Presidents are but dwarfs. I would Of vegetable gold.
not forget those amenities which belong to this It is with regard to this territory, that you are
place, and are so well calculated to temper the an- now called to exercise the grandest function of the
tagonism of debate; nor can I cease to remember lawgiver, by establishing those rules of polity
and to feel, that, amidst all diversities of opinion, which will determine ita future character. As the
we are the representatives of thirty-one sister re- twig is bent the tree inclines; and the influences
publics, knit together by indissoluble tie, and con- impressed upon the early days of an empire-like
stituting that Plural Unit, which we all embrace by thse-upon a child-are of inconceivable import-
the endearing name of country. ance to its future weal or woe. The bill now be-
The question presented for your consideration fore us, proposes to organize and equip two new
is not surpassed in grandeur by any which has territorial establishments, with governors, secr-
occurred in our national history since the Decla- taries, legislative councils, legislators, judges,
i-ation of Independence. In every aspectitassumes marshals, and the whole machinery of civil soci-
gigantic proportions, whether we simply consider ety. Such a measure, at any time, would deserve
the extent of territory it concerns, or the public the most careful a~tntion. But, at the present
faith, and national policy which it assails, or that moment, it justly excites a peculiar interest, from
higher question-that Qtestion of Questions, as far the effort made-on pretenses unsustained by
aboveothers as Liberty isabovethe common things facts-in violation of solemn covenant, and of the
of life-which it opens anew for judgment. early principles of our fathers-to open this im-
It concerns an immense region, larger than the mense region to slavery.
original thirteen States, vising in extent with all According to existing law, this territory is now
the existing free States, stretching over prairie, guarded against slavery bya positive prohibition,
field, and forest-interlaced by silver streams, embodied in the act of Congress, approved March
skirted by protecting mountains, and constitu- 6th, 1820, preparatory to the admission of Mis-](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/lndmfre0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)