Speech of Hon. Wm. Lowndes Yancey, of Alabama, on the annexation of Texas to the United States, delivered in the House of Representatives, Jan. 7, 1845. Page: 13 of 14
14 p. 22 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
13
morality and love of liberty which is said to be fore me the confession of Charles Brown, who
peculiar to the old Bay State, I can but involun- was hung at St. Louis, Missouri, for murder, on
tarily reflect upon another one of the striking the 9th July, 1841, and confesses himself to
evidences of the "opinions of our ancestors on have been one of the agents of an Aboli.
this question of slavery." An eloquent and gift- tion Society. He discloses that the Ohio
ed citizen of that old State-a man who does State Anti-Slavery Society is very extensivehonor
to the Union on account of his noble ele- say about 18.000 in number, including societies
vation of thought and erudite learning, thus feel- in Indiana and Illinois. Agents are employed
ingly, and in glowing language, relates the event by it in nearly all the Southern and Southwestern
to which I allude. States-about one hundred and fifty in number.
"So perished the princes of the Pokanokets. Sad to They are supplied with blank certificates of
them had been their acquaintance with civilization. freedom, and are paid from $20 to $50 per
The first ship that came on their coast kidnapped men molth, according to their success, or the risk they
of their kindred, and now the harmless boy, that had encounter. It is their duty to persuade slaves to
been cherished as an only child, and the future sachem run away, and to give them free papers. They
of their tribes, the last of the family of Massasoit, was direct them to some officers of an auxiliarysold
into bondage, to toil as a slave, under the burning society, who take charge of them and secrete or
suns of Bermuda.-See Bancrofts History of the Uni- send them to a place of safety.
ted States. Recently a Miss Webster has been convicted
Yes, sir, history tells the tale, that those ances- of the offence of stealing, and running to a free
tors, whose opinions the gentleman thinks worthy State, slaves. A Reverend [!] Mr, T'orrey has.
of "some remembrance," not only sold to the likewise been convicted. In the name of husouthern
planter African slaves, but actually sold inanity and religion these men steal ourproperty,
for gold the children of that famous Indian war- induce others to do so, and would aid England
rior who gave lull employment to all their valor! in her attempts to abolish the institution altoDespoiled
of their lands, and their children sold gether, and teach us "slave breeders" lessons of
into slavery! And "remembrance" of these things morality! Sir, the great majority of our slaves
invoked here, to give us just ideas of the blessings would blush at such a morality as exhibits such
of liberty! a callous disregard of the rights of another. If
Let me not be misunderstood, however, as dis- these things are to continue-if, as we have been
paraging the just claims of Massachusetts. There given to understand, the very citadel of the Union
has been a time when a noble and enlarged pa- is to be made the theatre of exhibitions of liatred
triotism ruled in her councils, and actuated her towards us as men, and of an eager desire to rob
statesmen. The days of the Revolution exhibit- us of our property, as well as of the products of
ed her in glory, which, though it has not received our labor, the denouement cannot be afar off.
much addition since, will never fade. An orator And what would success in all these designs
has said that she needs no praise-"there she is- bring? Can it be thought of, without an involook
at her. There are Lexington, Bunker Hill, luntary shuddr passing over the frame of every
" and those in whose veins flow the upon a spear, its golden looks dabbled in gowe,
blood of the men who aided in forming this and its little limbs stiffened by the last agony of
Union, now seek, unconstitutionally. to subvert suffering nature! But I turn from the picture,
it, and are content ignominiously to live upon air. Such things will never be on these shores.
plunder wrung from the weat of Southern The gallantry which, in times gone by, defended
brows! soil which the patristisrff of a portion of New
The consequences of this deep cherished and England had not compass enough to include
growing enmity to the institution of slavery, are within its vision, is ever reedy and sufficient,
exhibiting themselves in such a way as should when the Constitution no longer proves a procause
good men to pause in their mad career. Not tection, to protect our institutions and our tamionly
are the laws of God put at defiance, but the lies. But we trust in Providence never to be
laws oftheir own country. Societies areformed for driven to so dire a resort. If but a portion of the
the abolition of slavery, which, if the evidences of wisdom and virtue of 1776 and 1787 yet remains
their own agents are to be believed, connive at to us, the oompromises of the Constitution will
and pay for the commission of most ignominious not only be preserved inviolate, but be protected
crimes. I speak in this mattr a roice of warn- and perpetuated.
ing to the people of the South. I have now be- We aska"nopreporidetanoe in the Gowrnment,'s
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Yancey, William Lowndes. Speech of Hon. Wm. Lowndes Yancey, of Alabama, on the annexation of Texas to the United States, delivered in the House of Representatives, Jan. 7, 1845., book, 1845; Washington. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2415/m1/13/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .