he hands of any party to which they
might choose to attach themselves; but it is not less true, that
ambitious men are rarely satisfied, unless there is a prospect of
their reaching the pinnacle of fame. Elect such men to a State
legislature, and they fix their eyes on the lower house of Congress,
elect them to the lower house of Congress, and they fix their eyes on
the United States Senate; elect them to the upper house of Congress,
and they fix their eyes on the presidency; elect them to the
presidency, and they are not yet satisfied--yea, they would then
dethrone the Eternal, if possible.
I will close my remarks for the present on abolitionism, with a
summary of my leading objections to it. I am opposed to it, because it
proposes to abolish slavery by any means, and at any cost, be the
consequences what they may. Because it would abolish slavery at any
cost, and at any hazard; though it plunges us into a thousand evils,
infinitely worse than African slavery.
I am opposed to the abolitionists, because they trample under foot the
Constitution and laws of their country. The following sentiment is
found in a report, offered to an abolition convention, recently in
session, in Boston: "Anti-slavery shall sweep over the ruins of the
Constitution and the Union, when a fairer edifice, than our lathers
knew how to build, shall rise."
I am opposed to them, because they have in some instances made
attempts to foment insurrections, and to incite the slaves to
indiscriminate murder and rapine.
I am opposed to them, because they have decoyed away slaves from their
masters, and have at the same time encouraged slaves to steal from
their masters and others.
I am opposed to them, because of their utter and notorious disregard
of truth, in their representations of Southern slavery.
I am opposed to them, because they reject the Bible, and profess to be
under the guidance of a higher law. I was at a loss for some time to
know from what source they derived their higher law; but looking over
a Cincinnati paper a few days since, I read as follows: "The infidels
celebrated the birth-day of Thomas Paine on the night," &c. A
gentleman remarked, "that it was through the spread of Paine's
opinions, that he expected to see the colored race elevated, and
through this instrumentality alone." Vain hope!
I am opposed to them, because their plans, so far from bringing about
the abolition of slavery, will but rivet the chains on the sla
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