enchanted region, was challenged by his royal But, before entering upon the argan ent, entertainer to what seemed a humble feat I must say something of a general character of strength, merely, sir, to lift a cat from particularly in response to what has falle the ground. The god smiled at the challenge, from Senators who have raised themselves t and, calmly placing his hand under the belly eminence on this floor in championship of hr of the animal, with superhuman strength, man wrongs; I mean the Senator from Sout strove, while the back of the feline monster arched far upwards, even beyond reach, and one paw actually forsook the earth, until at last the discomfited divinity desisted ; but he was little surprised at his defeat, when he learned that this creature, which seemed to be a cat and nothing more, was not merely a cat, but that it belonged to and was a part of the great Terrestrial Serpent which, in its innumerable folds, encircled the Avhole globe. Even so the creature whose paws are now fastened upon Kansas, whatever it may seem to be, constitutes in reality a part of the slave power, which, with loathsome folds, is now coiled about the whole land. Thus do I expose the extent of the present contest, where we encounter not merely local resistance, but also the unconquered, sustaining arm behind. But out of the vastness of the crime attempted, with all its woe and shame, I derive a well- founded assurance of a commensurate vastness of effort against it, by the aroused masses of the country, determined, not only to vindicate right against wrong, but to redeem the Republic from the thraldom of that oligarchy which prompts, directs, and concentrates the distant wrong. ' Such is the crime, and such the criminal, which it is my duty in this debate to expose, And, by the blessing of God, this duty shall be done completely to the end. But this will not be enough. The apologies, which, with strange hardihood, have been offered for the crime, must be brushed away, so that it shall stand forth, without a single rag, or fig-leaf, to cover its vileness. And, finally, the true remedy must be shown. The subject is complex in its relations as it is transcendent in importance; and yet, if I am honored by your attention, I hope to exhibit it clearly in all its parts, while I conduct you to the inevitable conclusion, that Kansas must be admitted at once, with her present constitution, as a State of this Union, and give a newstar to the blue field of our national flag. And here 1 derive satisfaction from the thought, that the cause is so strong in itself as to bear even the infirmities of its advocates; nor can it require anything beyond that simplicity ot treatment and moderation of manner which I desire to cultivate. Its true character is such, that, like Hercules, it will conquer just so soon as it is recognized. My task will be divided under three different heads\Jlr*t, the Crime against Kansas, in its origin and extent; secondly y the Apologies kor the Crime ; and thirdly} the true Remedy. Carolina, [Mr. Butler,] and the Senator fror Illinois, [Mr. Douglas,] who, though unlike a Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, yet, like thi couple, sally forth together in the same cause The Senator from South Carolina has rea» ■ • 5 many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight, with sentiments of hono and courage. Of course he has chosen a mis tress to whom he has made his vows, am who, though ugly to others, is always loveb to him; though polluted in the sight of th* world, is chaste in his sight—I mean the bar lot, Slavery. For her, his tongue is alway profuse in words. Let her be impeached ii character, or any proposition made to shut he: out from the extension of her wantonness, am no extravagance of manner or hardihood of assertion is then too great for this Senator The frenzy of Don Quixote, in behalf of hi; wench Dulcinea del Toboso, is all surpassed The asserted rights of Slavery, which shoe/ equality of all kinds, are cloaked by a fantasti claim of equality. If th-j slave States cannot enjoy what, in mockery of the great fathers o’ the Republic, he misnan.es equality under th( Constitution—in other words, the full powei in the National Territories to compel fellowmen to unpaid toil, to separate husband an^ wife, and to sell little children at the auction- block—then, sir, the chivalric Senator wil. conduct the State of S< uth Carolina out of the Union! Heroic knight! Exalted Senator! A second Moses come for a second exodus! But not content with this poor menace which we have been twice told was u measured," the Senator, ii the unrestrained chivalry of his nature, Las undertaken to apph opprobrious words to those who differ from him on this floor. ’ Ie calls them u sectional and fanaticaland opposition to the usurpa tion in Kansas, he denounces as u an uncalcu lating fanaticism.” To be sure, these charges lack all grace of or finality, and all sentiment of truth ; but the u 'venturous Senator does not hesitate. He is the uncompromising, unblushing representative on this floor of a flagrant sectionalism which now domineers ova * the Republic, : and yet with a ludicrous ignorance of his own position—unable to seo him- selt as others sot- him—or with an effrontery which even his white head ought not to proresist his sectionalism the very epithet which designates himself. The who strive to bring back the Government to its original policy, when Freedom and not Slavery was national, while Slavery and wot Freedom was
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