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![handle is hein.slavery/sqshlqc0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
THE. SLAVERY QUESTION.
SPEEC H
OF
ION. L. Q. C. LAMAR, OF MISS.,
IN TIIM
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 21, 180.
The Houe being in the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and having under conildoration
the President's Aunual Mesuge-
Mr. LAMAR said:
Mr. Cu.savIAN: I obtained the floor Eeveral anys ago for the purpose of replying to
sonic arguments advanced in a very ingenious and well-considered speech from the gen-
tieain from Connecticut, [Mr. Friru.] I desire to begin my remarks to-day by a quota-
tion from0ti tihe philosopher and poet, Coleridge, which I will thank the Clerk to read fur me.
The C.erk read, as follows:
An Anrian commander, who had dererred ind received the highest honors which his grateful country,
through her :-(7mlb..ed iepres.etau;tiVeF, roul1Id UeSi tw uponl hint. OiCe -;nid to me, with n -igh, Ik ain evil hour
lor n Lountry dIad tlhe Freinh ALI Sp':IaIA;rd- a:band,01 Loui.uItt to the United 6tates. 'e were niot 1eitil-
tcinitly a clusiy belote; nid should wte ever e uIad enourtgh Lo:1l-iv e the Engiih Jrou Canada atnd Ler other
Northl Amen a tu Prol ianes, we >hail NUonI rease to le It coUntryna ll 11. WILhout 10C.0 nuntchmtaent, without
unation.I honor, uc -alil ie-inable a tswaru of it.e ti hat utAln t o r t te trth 0' ofthe ce llart to cocrupt and con-
Uane theA, rather than ten who love mlad Cleave to the land of their lurelthers. Alter a >hapeles.c aniarchy,
aud a series of ch il wnr-S, we 1hall :t la.t Lu foermzted int' lanly cauntries. u OIle s the ices un;endered inl I he
proo- *id dnanutd luritier puitiihisent, and e -hulid previously iail beiealt the de-potl-i of:.one utili-
tary.adveuturer, li a lion, econsuied by i inward dizeabc, prostrato and hzelplesS benedth the beak and
talous ura vulture, or 3 et mteaner bird of prey.'
The distinguished commander there referred to, Mr. Chairman, was Decatur. No one
can acad that declaration without feeling some disposition to inquire whether we are
about to realize its fulfillment. The animosities that exist between the two sections of
the Confederacy, the discord that reigned for seven long weeks ou this floor, are fearful
tokens of a deep-seated disorder ill our political system.
My objet to.-day is to inquire how tar ny constituents and the people with whom they
are nzsocizted are responsible for the existing condition of things. Mlississippi, sir, has
grown up uider this Federtl Union. There is not, within her limits, a proprietor who
does not hold his home under a grant from the Federal Government. Her noble university,
and her conimon schools, arC ail establimbed by donations iront the public domain, which
bie hau1 received, ini conmion with all the new States. It is true, that in tac special and
nppreciable advantages of Federal legiblation-such as discriminations in favor of indus-
tral pur-uits, anl cominercial Citerpaise, and the returns of taxation, in the form of Gov-
eriament expenditures-he receives Jar less than an average share. She has no ships to
participate in the nautiopoly granted to American v.s-els of the coasting trade, and the
benlefiL of tunnage duties in their favor inl the foreign trade. lier population have no fish-
ing or other bounties from the national Treasury ; and the tari ii on imports does not oper-
ate to protect the productions of her industry. She has no army of contractors or Federal
officers; nor are there any public build:ngs of imperial niaguiticence constructed by the
Govertinment within her ljuits. But site i.- prosperous ; nud the heart of her people boats
truer to the Union than to their own tranquillity. Nor will he be driven from1 her devo-
tion, except by caues which she hi., not CICAted, 1nd by coIsequCIces icr w hich she is
noE respoUnible. Mississippi has lever declared her.,elf inl lavor of' disunion, per .5t. Sho
will not make that declaration until she becomes convinced that her sister States north are
deliberately determined to endaniiger hier internal and social institutions, or to impair her
dignity and equality its a confederate Stite.
Now, sir, I bhould not be candid ifl did not sly that there are many, perhaps a rnnjority, in
my State who do not peak with the anne rcscrve and caution ns I anm doing on this occabion.
Tilo obvious and unmiastakable tokens of designa in the long-conittined and crafty igitation
or this slavery quest ion, have produced alienation aad di trust. It is a unanimaiaous sei i-
Ienut in the South that the existence of this Republican org-aaizatiun is a standiing i ace
to her peace and security ; and a standing insult to her character. More especially have
the recent events in Virginia, the discordatnt proceedings of this House, and the anagry
discussion on the Helper book, created a tone and tendency in the public fCeling' which
L..U tell uulmappity on the political transactions of our country fo1 long slies of o3 ats.
I was pained, during that discus-sion, to hear the distinguished gentleman fromar Ohio
[Mr. Coawt] ask, in a tone of levity which evinced how lightly lie esteemed the temper
ut our people: I Why, gentlemen, can a sanall book like the helper Conipend endanger
stizr proud institutiont 7 Sir, a million such books could not, for an instant, affect, tho
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