Conscience and the Constitution; With Remarks on the Recent Speech of the Hon. Daniel Webster in the Senate of the United States on the Subject of Sla

by Moses Stuart

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ... the only, the all-important business. And all this--is it in conformity with Paul, in my motto? Not quite--not quite, gentlemen. To me nothing is more palpable than the truth of Mr. Webster's remarks on this topic. I cannot have a doubt, that the liberation of the slaves is put back at least half a century, by this ill-timed, violent, and most injudicious movement. I am aware that I shall of course incur their displeasure. I cannot help it. I think it to be a call of duty, calmly and fearlessly to tell them what I fully believe is the simple truth. As to Mr. Webster, I imagine he will still continue his repose under his Oak, notwithstanding all the buzzing around him. If he has nothing more serious than this to disturb his repose, I conjecture that he may enjoy quite a tolerable requiem. At any rate, I hope this will be the case. It is time to hasten to a close, although a multitude of questions press upon my mind, in which I feel a deep interest. But it is not for me to discuss everything, and above all the intricate questions that Jurists and Civilians may raise. But I should be doing injustice to my own views of duty, if I did not say a few words on two or three very important topics. I first address the Northerners, and specially my fellow citizens of Massachusetts. In looking back on the history of slavery in our country, whence do we find it to have originated? From Great Britain; and from her alone. All the Colonies fought pitched battles against it; but the king and Parliament of Great Britain defeated them. North and South were united on this question--united before the Declaration of Independence, and united for a long time after it. I can have room to produce but one specimen of protest; and this is from the pen of Mr....

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Moses Stuart (1780-1852)