REMARKS IN THE SENATE, ON THE BILL FOR THE ADMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA
AS A STATE, JUNE 26, JULY 1 AND 14, 1862.
The facts essential to the comprehension of this case appear in
the debate.
MR. PRESIDENT,--The question is on the admission of West Virginia into
the Union as a new State, and the following is one of the conditions,
namely: “That from and after the fourth day of July, 1863, the children
of all slaves born within the limits of said State shall be free.” Here
is a condition which you undertake to impose. This is clear.
But, Sir, be good enough to observe that this condition recognizes
Slavery during the present generation. Short as life may be, it is too
long for Slavery. If it be adopted, and the bill becomes a law, a new
Slave State will take its place in our Union,--it may be with but few
slaves, and for the present generation only, but nevertheless a new
Slave State. That, Sir, is too much.
How often have I said, and how painful that I must now repeat what
all know, that it takes but little Slavery to make a Slave State with
all the virus of Slavery! Now my vote shall help no new State to take
a place in this Union, with Senators in this body, unless purged of
this poison. Enough has our nation been disturbed, and enough has
the Constitution been perverted. The time has come for the remedy. It
is found in the policy of Thomas Jefferson, originally applied to the
great Territory of the Northwest. Its application to a portion of his
own Virginia, seeking to become a new State, will be politic, just, and
conservative.
Mr. Sumner concluded by moving to strike out the words of
the condition proposed, and insert an absolute abolition and
prohibition, so that it should read, “From and after the fourth
day of July, 1863, within the limits of the State there shall
be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than
in the punishment of crime whereof the party shall be duly
convicted.”
July 1st, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
bill, the pending question being the amendment of Mr. Sumner,
who made the following remarks.
Time has elapsed since this measure was before the Senate, which
meanwhile has been engaged in an important debate. Therefore I shall be
pardoned, if, at the expense of repetition, I recall attention to the
precise question.
The bill for the admission of West Virginia provides that from and
after the 4th of July, 1863, all children born of slaves shall be free,
leaving the existing generation in Slavery. From statistics furnished
by the honorable Senator from Virginia [Mr. WILLEY], in his elaborate
speech, it appears that in West Virginia twelve thousand human beings
are held in Slavery.
MR. WILLEY. That was in 1860; but it is not so now.
MR. SUMNER. There may be fewer now: call the number ten thousand.
There are ten thousand slaves there, who, according to the bill, are
to remain in bondage during life. Thus, for one whole generation,
shall we be afflicted by another Slave State, with two slaveholding
representatives in this body.
I mean to speak of this question with all possible respect for Senators
on the other side. I am anxious not to introduce any topic otherwise
than agreeable; but I must discharge my duty here. I cannot by my vote
consent that there shall be two additional slaveholding Senators for
another generation. I content myself with this declaration, without
argument,--except what is found in a brief passage by Mr. Webster in
this body. I refer to his speech of the 22d of December, 1845, on the
admission of Texas, where he used this language:--
“In the next place, Sir, I have to say, that, while I hold,
with as much integrity, I trust, and faithfulness, as any
citizen of this country, to all the original arrangements and
compromises under which the Constitution under which we now
live was adopted, I never could, and never can, persuade myself
to be in favor of the admission of other States into the Union
as Slave States, with the inequalities which were allowed and
accorded by the Constitution to the slaveholding States then in
existence. I do not think that the Free States ever expected,
or could expect, that they would be called on to admit more
Slave States, having the unequal advantages arising to them
from the mode of apportioning representation under the existing
Constitution.…
“It will always be a question, whether the other States have
not a right (and I think they have the clearest right) to
require that the State coming into the Union should come
in upon an equality; and if the existence of Slavery be
an impediment to coming in on an equality, then the State
proposing to come in should be required to remove that
inequality by abolishing Slavery, or take the alternative of
being excluded.”[77]
Afterwards, in his famous speech of the 7th of March, 1850, he
reaffirmed these principles.
“It has happened that between 1837 and this time, on various
occasions, I have expressed my entire opposition to the
admission of Slave States, or the acquisition of new Slave
Territories, to be added to the United States. I know, Sir,
no change in my own sentiments or my own purposes in that
respect.”[78]
I might quote more, but this is sufficient. Mr. Webster was against new
Slave States.
I adduce these words as stating strongly at least one important
ground of objection. The admission of West Virginia with a condition
recognizing Slavery for a full generation will be an extension of the
Slave Power and a new sanction of Slavery. I cannot consent to it, Sir;
nor do I see any apology for hesitation. Our control of this matter is
clear beyond reasonable doubt, and the present state of our country
supplies a new motive for its exercise.
In the debate that ensued, Mr. Hale criticized Mr. Sumner,
quoting the story of Abraham and his aged idolatrous guest, as
given by Dr. Franklin.
“‘And God said to Abraham, Have I borne with you [him]
these fourscore years, and canst thou not bear with him
one night, who art thyself a sinner?’ Sir, in exactly
the spirit inculcated by that fable I would deal with
Slavery; and I would listen to-day as it were to the voice
of God, who asks us, Have I borne with this thing so many
generations, and cannot you bear with it dying, when it
begins on the next Fourth of July?”[79]