22 if in truth Virginia did accusations deserve the which have been thus made, I ask if it lies in the mouth of Old England, andNew England, to utter them ? I ask if it was out of their quivers'that she had a right to expect such an arrow to be directed fit her?" Have I not shown that they were ns responsible as we, for the circumstances, ^hich make this institution necessary; that if We were tiie buyers they were the sellers; and that if we sell the product of slave labor they buy it, and contribute their full share to the maintenance of the institution? If they would destroy all trade from which there may be possible evil, why do they continue this, upon which the institution of their attacks depends for its existence? Sir, in regard to Massachusetts, she was. not only glad to receive our assistance in the Revolution, when we both held and sold slaves, but she was willing to admit us into the same family with herself. The men of that day—the men of the revolutionary generation who covered the name of Massachusetts with glory, the generation which produced the heroes of Concord, and Lexington, and Bunker Hill, and gave birth to the sages that illustrated the revolutionary councils, was not only willing but glad to receive Virginia into-a family alliance/ They were willing to enter into an association by which they bound themselves to put down insurrection in the States—by which they bound themselves to give a'certain representation for the slaves—by which they bound themselves to restore the fugitive slave. And here it is to be remembered, that the covenants which they entered into the men of that day always kept. Under these circumstances, after they invited us into that family alliance, Lask if it is fair, if it is rightful, if it is honorable intheir descendants to use the common Hall^provided for our common deliberations for the purpose of abusing and vituperating us on account of that very state of things of which they had knowledge and cognizance when they entered into'this union with us ? I ask if they are not estopped by their own deed ? Now, Mr. President, we hear a new doctrine. We are told that the men of the present day are not to be held responsible for the men of that feneration, which is branded by one of their escendants with turpitude. It is the Senator from Massachusetts who says, “ Is the acknowledged turpitude of a departed generation to become an example for us?*’ Thus they are not content with hurling accusations against us, but they brand with turpitude the memory of their ancestors who entered into those bonds by which they became members of the great family of States, to which Virginia, too, belongs. Sir, if I am to choose between the generation which gave birth- to the heroqs and sages of whom I have spoken, and the men who now-cast shame on their graves, I say, let me rather commune with the memories pf those than walk in the living presence of these. If I am to choose between those heroes and sages, as I said before, who entered into a covenant to restore the fugitive si Ave, and who kept it, and these latter-day saints, who, whilst they claim all the benefits of the bond for themselves, refuse to execute their part of the compact, because they have discovered some law of higher obligation, which dispenses with the obligation of their oaths to support the Consti-1 tution, and discharge its duties, I say, let me I associate with the men who made that covenant, and kept it, in preference to those who are breaking it. If I am to choose between the generation of men who, under the guarantee of treaties, under the sanction of laws, transferred the African from a worse to a better condition, and those who, in'violation of law and of the Constitution, steal away the southern slave, and transfer him from a better to a worse condition, let me live with the first lather than with the last. If we have enjoyed the respect and affection of that generation which covered the name of Massachu-. setts with glory, we may live under the taunts of those who strike at the very memories of their fathers, because it is only through them that they may aim a blow at us. • Turpitude, sir! to talk of the turpitude of the generation of men who gave to Massachusetts the fair inheritance of glory which sqme of their descendants are now wasting so rapidly! When I hear such charges, I pause before the majesty of the silent shadows of those mighty dead, and wonder that a voice is not given to them to speak to those of their descendants who are thus violating their engagements, trampling on their ancient friendships, and casting shame on their names and graves. But, sir, why do I wonder? If such a voice could be evoked from the tombs, -and were it to charm ever so wisely, it would fall unheeded on the ear of the fanatical Abolitionist. He will not hear Moses and the Prophets; nor would he hear their voices, even if they could be permitted to speak to him. But these are not the only charges. We ara told of the dungeon to which the pious matron is consigned in Virginia who teaches the slave to read. Sir, I have seen in the State of Virginia thousands of slaves who could read and write; and if there ever was any matron, pious or otherwise, who was imprisoned for teaching them, I have yet to hear the .history of the case. I have never known such a case; I do not believe that one exists. I think I have been told, that in one of the States of this Union there is a law making it penal to keep Christmas; bu| does any man suppose such a law has ever been enforced within the last quarter of a century ? Suppose it were so; suppose some such enactments as these charged upon Virginia were to be found upon our statute- book, who are responsible for them? Are not those responsible who say to us, “ Educate your slave at your peril; give him light and intelligence if you dare; and, if you do, we will make these gifts the means of applying the knife to your throats, and the torch to your dwellings?” Are not these the persons who would be responsible, and not we, if such things' were to be found on the statute-book ? I will s^iy, however, not to them, not to those who have nothing to do with it, but to my countrymen in the South, that I believe it is our duty to remove whatever may cumber unprofitably the statute-book, whatever is improper or unjust. I believe that the progress of light and intelligence in both races is not incompatible with the institution of southern slavery. I believe tha.t we are responsible for the happiness of all who are committed to our charge, whether they be white or black; and I say, let us do right in despite of the Abolitionist, however he may throw himself in the path of the improvement of the slave. We are strong enough within the
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