Washington, the capital, thus governed, is but the great mart of the national man-trade.  From the adjoining port of Alexandria, 7 miles off, the victims are shipped for the South.  Listen to the Gazette of that place,—­“Here you may behold fathers and brothers leaving behind them the dearest objects of affection, and moving slowly along in the mute agony of despair,—­there the young mother sobbing over the infant, whose innocent smiles seem but to increase her misery.  From some you will hear the burst of bitter lamentation; while from others the loud hysteric laugh breaks forth, denoting still deeper agony.”

But you will be told that it is not in the power of Northern members to alter this state of things.  Why not?  In the House of Representatives the free States have a majority of about 50, and in the Senate they have for some years been equal.  But have they tried?  Have they protested?  Have they voted?  Have they divided the House?  They have voted.  How? Eighty-two Northern men, a few years ago, voted that Congress ought not to interfere in any way with slavery in the District of Columbia!

Look at some of the provisions of the Federal Government.  See what “SOLEMN GUARANTEES” it gives to the accursed system of slavery, in whatever State it may be found!

Art.  I., sect. 2, says, “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to serve for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons”—­that is to say, slaves, for once called “persons!” Here is a positive premium on slave-holding.  This constitutes an aristocracy of the most monstrous character, and introduces into the social fabric an element as absurd as it is perilous.  Talk of the aristocracy of England, and the undue influence of landed proprietors!  You have nothing half so unjust and vicious as this.  Suppose the Southern States have two millions and a half of slaves:  for that amount of property they have one million and a half of additional votes; while in the free States there is no property representation whatever.  Or look at the question in another aspect.  Two citizens have each a capital of 5,000_l._ to invest.  The one invests in shipping or commerce in New York, and at the time of the election, counts one; the other invests in slaves in South Carolina, obtaining for the sum mentioned a whole gang of 100 human beings of both sexes and of all ages, and at the time of the election he counts sixty-one,—­swamping with his 100 slaves the votes of sixty-one respectable merchants in a free State!  This it is which has constituted an aristocracy of about 200,000 slaveholders in the South, the ruling power in the United States.  It has made the preservation and extension of slavery