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party is guilty in that matter you know it or you do not know it。 If
you do know it； you are inexcusable for not designating the man and
proving the fact。 If you do not know it； you are inexcusable for
asserting it； and especially for persisting in the assertion after
you have tried and failed to make the proof。 You need not be told
that persisting in a charge which one does not know to be true is
simply malicious slander。
Some of you admit that no Republican designedly aided or encouraged
the Harper's Ferry affair； but still insist that our doctrines and
declarations necessarily lead to such results。 We do not believe it。
We know we hold to no doctrine； and make no declaration； which were
not held to and made by our fathers who framed the Government under
which we live〃 You never dealt fairly by us in relation to this
affair。 When it occurred； some important State elections were near
at hand； and you were in evident glee with the belief that； by
charging the blame upon us； you could get an advantage of us in those
elections。 The elections came； and your expectations were not quite
fulfilled。 Every Republican man knew that； as to himself at least；
your charge was a slander； and he was not much inclined by it to cast
his vote in your favor。 Republican doctrines and declarations are
accompanied with a continued protest against any interference
whatever with your slaves； or with you about your slaves。 Surely；
this does not encourage them to revolt。 True； we do； in common with
〃our fathers； who framed the Government under which we live；〃 declare
our belief that slavery is wrong； but the slaves do not hear us
declare even this。 For any thing we say or do； the slaves would
scarcely know there is a Republican party。 I believe they would not；
in fact； generally know it but for your misrepresentations of us in
their hearing。 In your political contests among yourselves； each
faction charges the other with sympathy with Black Republicanism； and
then； to give point to the charge； defines Black Republicanism to
simply be insurrection； blood； and thunder among the slaves。
Slave insurrections are no more common now than they were before the
Republican party was organized。 What induced the Southampton
insurrection； twenty…eight years ago； in which； at least； three times
as many lives were lost as at Harper's Ferry？ You can scarcely
stretch your very elastic fancy to the conclusion that Southampton
was 〃got up by Black Republicanism。〃 In the present state of things
in the United States； I do not think a general or even a very
extensive slave insurrection is possible。 The indispensable concert
of action cannot be attained。 The slaves have no means of rapid
communication； nor can incendiary freemen； black or white； supply it。
The explosive materials are everywhere in parcels； but there neither
are； nor can be supplied the indispensable connecting trains。
Much is said by Southern people about the affection of slaves for
their masters and mistresses； and a part of it； at least； is true。 A
plot for an uprising could scarcely be devised and communicated to
twenty individuals before some one of them； to save the life of a
favorite master or mistress； would divulge it。 This is the rule； and
the slave revolution in Hayti was not an exception to it； but a case
occurring under peculiar circumstances。 The gunpowder plot of
British history； though not connected with slaves； was more in point。
In that case； only about twenty were admitted to the secret； and yet
one of them； in his anxiety to save a friend； betrayed the plot to
that friend； and； by consequence； averted the calamity。 Occasional
poisonings from the kitchen； and open or stealthy assassinations in
the field； and local revolts； extending to a score or so； will
continue to occur as the natural results of slavery； but no general
insurrection of slaves； as I think； can happen in this country for a
long time。 Whoever much fears or much hopes for such an event will
be alike disappointed。
In the language of Mr。 Jefferson； uttered many years ago； 〃It is
still in our power to direct the process of emancipation and
deportation peaceably； and in such slow degrees as that the evil will
wear off insensibly； and their places be； pari passu； filled up by
free white laborers。 If； on the contrary； it is left to force itself
on； human nature must shudder at the prospect held up。〃
Mr。 Jefferson did not mean to say； nor do I； that the power of
emancipation is in the Federal Government。 He spoke of Virginia；
and； as to the power of emancipation； I speak of the slave holding
States only。 The Federal Government； however； as we insist； has the
power of restraining the extension of the institutionthe power to
insure that a slave insurrection shall never occur on any American
soil which is now free from slavery。
John Brown's effort was peculiar。 It was not a slave insurrection。
It was an attempt by white men to get up a revolt among slaves； in
which the slaves refused to participate。 In fact； it was so absurd
that the slaves； with all their ignorance； saw plainly enough it
could not succeed。 That affair； in its philosophy； corresponds with
the many attempts related in history at the assassination of kings
and emperors。 An enthusiast broods over the oppression of a people
till he fancies himself commissioned by Heaven to liberate them。 He
ventures the attempt； which ends in little else than his own
execution。 Orsini's attempt on Louis Napoleon and John Brown's
attempt at Harper's Ferry were； in their philosophy； precisely the
same。 The eagerness to cast blame on old England in the one case；
and on New England in the other； does not disprove the sameness of
the two things。
And how much would it avail you； if you could； by the use of John
Brown； Helper's Book； and the like； break up the Republican
organization？ Human action can be modified to some extent； but human
nature cannot be changed。 There is a judgment and a feeling against
slavery in this nation； which cast at least a million and a half of
votes。 You cannot destroy that judgment and feelingthat sentiment…
…by breaking up the political organization which rallies around it。
You can scarcely scatter and disperse an army which has been formed
into order in the face of your heaviest fire； but if you could； how
much would you gain by forcing the sentiment which created it out of
the peaceful channel of the ballot…box； into some other channel？
What would that other channel probably be？ Would the number of John
Browns be lessened or enlarged by the operation？
But you will break up the Union rather than submit to a denial of
your constitutional rights。
That has a somewhat reckless sound； but it would be palliated； if not
fully justified； were we proposing； by the mere force of numbers； to
deprive you of some right plainly written down in the Constitution。
But we are proposing no such thing。
When you make these declarations； you have a specific and well…
understood allusion to an assumed constitutional right of yours to
take slaves into the Federal Territories； and to hold them there as
property。 But no such right is specifically written in the
Constitution。 That instrument is literally silent about any such
right。 We； on the contrary； deny that such a right has any existence
in the Constitution； even by implication。
Your purpose； then； plainly stated； is that you will destroy the
Government unless you be allowed to construe and enforce the
Constitution as you please on all points in dispute between you and
us。 You will rule or ruin； in all events。
This； plainly stated； is your language。 Perhaps you will say the
Supreme Court has decided the disputed constitutional question in
your favor。 Not quite so。 But； waiving the lawyer's distinction
between dictum and decision； the court have decided the question for
you in a sort of way。 The court have substantially said it is your
constitutional right to take slaves into the Federal Territories； and
to hold them there as property。 When I say； the decision was made in
a sort of way； I mean it was made in a divided court； by a bare
majority of the judges； and they not quite agreeing with one another
in the reasons for making it； that it is so made as that its avowed
supporters disagree with one another about its meaning； and that it
was mainly based upon a mistaken statement of factthe statement in
the opinion that 〃the right of property in a slave is distinctly and
expressly affirmed in the Constitution。〃
An inspection of the Constitution will show that the right of
property in a slave is not 〃distinctly and expressly affirmed〃 in it。
Bear in mind； the judges do not pledge their judicial opinion that
such right is impliedly affirmed in the Constitution； but they pledge
their veracity that it is 〃distinctly and expressly〃 affirmed there…
…〃distinc