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1 Amos P. Granger, The Slavery Question: Speech of Hon. Amos P. Granger, of New York, in the House Representatives, April 4, 1856 1 (1856)

handle is hein.slavery/slvqshapg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: THE SLAVERY QUESTION. SPEECH OF HON. AMOS P. GRANGER, OF NEW YORK, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 4, 1856, -Tke House being in the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. GRANGER said: Mr. CHAIRMAN: I am aware, sir, that the subject of slavery is one of the most vital importance that can come before you for discussion-one that brings with it the highest interest, the deepest feeling, and involves principles of the most sacred character. I approach it, sir, with great reluctance, and prompted to it only by the stern demands of duty-a duty that, were it not a duty, I would gladly avoid. I know, sir, that southern feeling is ardent, and on this subject sometimes fiery'. The North is slow and contemplative-passive and yielding; but there is a point beyond which it will not go. To that point, sir, it has arrived. The mighty difference between the North and the South requires a settlement, and it can be delayed no longer. It must be met and disposed of. Freedom and slavery must meet face to face, and try titles. The question, I regret to say, assumes a sectional aspect. The North and. the South are opposite parties. I would it were not so ; but since it is, let us meet it like friends and fellow-citizens of this highly favored Commonwealth, guided strictly by the Constitution, and sustaining the Union in every emer- gency. The Constitution was made to protect freedom or slavery-one or S'.'e other-not both. There can be no compromise between them-no joint ownesm;. It is time one or the other had full possession. The Constitution Was formed by the convtntion, and adopted by the people, to secure the inalienable rights of man. Slavery is incompatible with thiose rights. -S. avery in the United States is unconstitutional, and therefore unlawful. Slavery can have no legal existence in this country without specific constitutional legislative enactment, creating it or establishing it. Sir, there are none-there can be no such enactments. That slavery can have no legal existence without specific legislative enactments creating or establishing it, I assert, on the authority of the Supreme Court of the United States. In the case of Prigg vs. Penn, 16 Peters, the court declaredt that the state of slavery is a mere municipal regu- lation founded upon, and limited to, the verge of territorial law. Now, J1 Reproduced with permission from the University of Illinois at Chicago

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