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1 A. Kennedy, Speech of Hon. A. Kennedy, of MD., on the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia 1 (1862)

handle is hein.slavery/shakmd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: SPEECH LION. A. KENNEDY, OF MD., ON THLE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN TIIE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DELITERED IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, MARCH 25, 186N. The bill for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia being under conalderation. Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Senate as follows: Mr. !'n mar* I did not design offering any remarks iupon this bill, being willing to trust to the greater experience of my colleague to do tice to the cause of our State; but I should not acquit myself of a 4igh duty volved upon use if I were to uffer this question to pass from the Senate with a silent vote. My colleague, from his long experience, is more fully conipetent to discuss the legal questions involved in the bill before theSenate. His indisposition, however, renders it uncertain when he may be able to take the floor; and in view of that consideration, I will proceed to submit a few views of my own upon the question. I do not mean to detain the Senate in the vain attent to influence the conclu- sions to which I fear a Tmajority of this body have come Tn favor of this bill, nor to attempt an argument to show the existence of the right of property in slaves. Nor, sir, shall I attempt to make an argument to show the dangerous consequences and unhappy results which must flow from this and kindred measures now in progress of adoption. Thes must be apparent to every right-minded and candid man, whose judgment is not warped by prejudice or influenced by party considerations. I shall content myself with the simple purpose, in a very few words, of entering the most solemn protest, in the name of my State, against the adoption of this neasure which I have ever vet made as one of the representatives of her sovereignty on this floor. The State of Maryland is most deeply interested in the result of this unhappy and unnastral war. All of her prospersty, present and to come; all of her historical renown in the past, connected with her bloody struggles for this Union ; all of her dignity as &State, is involved in the policy by which this contest is to be conducted and finally settled. In one point of view %be is more deeply interested- in a just settlement of the great issues of this contest than any other State. Her geographical positidon and small white population precludes the possibility of a successful maintenance of or resistance for any policy of her own against the unscrupulous exercise of power by a majority of northern States, which at any time might be used to interfere with her local institutions or interests. She has no reliance or hope except upon the full enforcement of the pledged faith of the Constitution. The Constitution faithfully maintained is all that Maryland demands. She asks for nothing more than a just eousideration <f her rights as an equal in the Government. Through her Senators she ban expressed her apprehension of the dangers which must result to the futurd general welfare and doieotie tranquility of the country from the adoption of in policy of a seetional, esaracter. Through her legislature sbe has stated her post- tie to the General Government in deliberate resolutions, one of which reads thus. Resolved, 'hat the loyalty of the people of Maryland to the General Government, established by the Constitution, is atouched by any shade of servility, ad they must ever regard with extreme Jealousy all attempts, from whatever quarter, to make the present war for the restorationof the Union, the means of interfering wilb. the domestic institutions of the states; and they solemnly protest against all schemes the object or tendency of which is to excite insurrection among the slaves, declaring the same illegal,and calculated, if put in practice, to produce results too hatrlble to con- template. 'Through her Union Governor, elected by thirty thousand majority, on the direct issue of Union or disunion, the same sentiments have been expressed upon kindred measures bearing upon the subject of emancipation. I will take the liberty of read- ing t6'the Senate the views of our Governor, who was elected as an unconditional supporter of the Union. Upoonthkoccasioa of his inauguration at the seat of gov- ernment of Maryland, alluding to measures which had been introduced soon aftel this Congrea met, he uted this language:

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