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Four Great Americans: Washington, Franklin, Webster, Lincoln. A Book for Young Americans by James Baldwin, THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.—THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY.

THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.—THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY.

The great subject before the country at this time was skivery. It had been the cause of trouble for many years.

In the early settlement of the American colonies, slavery had been introduced through the influence of the English government. The first slaves had been brought to Virginia nearly 240 years before the time of which I am telling you.

Many people saw from the beginning that it was an evil which would at some distant day bring disaster upon the country. In 1772, the people of Virginia petitioned the king of England to put a stop to the bringing of slaves from Africa into that colony. But the petition was rejected; and the king forbade them to speak of the matter any more.

Washington, Jefferson, and other founders of our nation looked upon slavery as an evil. They hoped that the time might come when it would be done away with; for they knew that the country would prosper better without it.

At the time of the Revolution, slavery was permitted in all the states. But it was gradually abolished, first in Pennsylvania and then in the New England states, and afterwards in New York.

In 1787, a law was passed by Congress declaring that there should be no slavery in the territory northwest of the river Ohio. This was the territory from which the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin were formed; and so, of course, these states were free states from the beginning.

The great industry of the South was cotton-raising. The people of the Southern states claimed that slavery was necessary, because only negro slaves could do the work required on the big cotton plantations. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana were admitted, one by one, into the Union; and all were slave states.

In 1821, Missouri applied for admission into the Union. The South wanted slavery in this state also, but the North objected. There were many hot debate's in Congress over this question. At last, through the influence of Henry Clay, the dispute was settled by what has since been known as the Missouri Compromise.

The Missouri Compromise provided that Missouri should be a slave state; this was to satisfy the South. On the other hand, it declared that all the western territory north of the line which formed the southern boundary of Missouri, should forever be free; this was to appease the North.

But the cotton planters of the South grew more wealthy by the labor of their slaves. More territory was needed for the extension of slavery. Texas joined the United States and became a slave state.

Then followed a war with Mexico; and California, New Mexico and Utah were taken from that country. Should slavery be allowed in these new territories also?

At this time a new political party was formed. It was called the "Free Soil Party," and the principle for which it contended was this: " No more slave states and no slave territory ." This party was not very strong at first, but soon large numbers of Whigs and many northern Democrats, who did not believe in the extension of slavery, began to join it.

Although the Whig party refused to take any position against the extension of slavery, there were many anti-slavery Whigs who still remained with it and voted the Whig ticket—and one of these men was Abraham Lincoln.

The contest between freedom and slavery became more fierce every day. At last another compromise was proposed by Henry Clay.

This compromise provided that California should be admitted as a free state; that slavery should not be prohibited in New Mexico and Utah; that there should be no more markets for slaves in the District of Columbia; and that a new and very strict fugitive-slave law should be passed.

This compromise is called the "Compromise of 1850." It was in support of these measures that Daniel Webster made his last great speech.

It was hoped by Webster and Clay that the Compromise of 1850 would put an end to the agitation about slavery. "Now we shall have peace," they said. But the agitation became stronger and stronger, and peace seemed farther away than ever before.

In 1854, a bill was passed by Congress to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. This bill provided that the Missouri Compromise should be repealed, and that the question of slavery in these territories should be decided by the people living in them.

The bill was passed through the influence of Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. There was now no bar to the extension of slavery into any of the territories save that of public opinion.

The excitement all over the North was very great. In Kansas there was actual war between those who favored slavery and those who opposed it. Thinking men in all parts of the country saw that a great crisis was at hand.

THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.—THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY. DIE GESCHICHTE VON ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.-DIE FRAGE DER SKLAVEREI. LA HISTORIA DE ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.-LA CUESTIÓN DE LA ESCLAVITUD. エイブラハム・リンカーン物語。奴隷制の問題。 에이브러햄 링컨의 이야기. XII.-노예 문제. HISTORIA ABRAHAMA LINCOLNA. XII.-KWESTIA NIEWOLNICTWA. A HISTÓRIA DE ABRAHAM LINCOLN. XII.-A QUESTÃO DA ESCRAVATURA. ИСТОРИЯ АВРААМА ЛИНКОЛЬНА. XII.- ВОПРОС О РАБСТВЕ. ABRAHAM LINCOLN'ÜN HİKAYESİ. XII.-KÖLELİK SORUNU. ІСТОРІЯ АВРААМА ЛІНКОЛЬНА. XII. ПИТАННЯ РАБСТВА. 亚伯拉罕-林肯的故事十二、奴隶制问题。

The great subject before the country at this time was skivery. Bu dönemde ülkenin önündeki en önemli konu kaymakamlıktı. It had been the cause of trouble for many years. Uzun yıllar boyunca sorunlara neden olmuştu.

In the early settlement of the American colonies, slavery had been introduced through the influence of the English government. Amerikan kolonilerinin ilk yerleşimlerinde kölelik, İngiliz hükümetinin etkisiyle getirilmişti. The first slaves had been brought to Virginia nearly 240 years before the time of which I am telling you. İlk köleler, size anlattığım dönemden yaklaşık 240 yıl önce Virginia'ya getirilmişti.

Many people saw from the beginning that it was an evil which would at some distant day bring disaster upon the country. Pek çok kişi bunun uzak bir gelecekte ülkeye felaket getirecek bir kötülük olduğunu başından beri görüyordu. In 1772, the people of Virginia petitioned the king of England to put a stop to the bringing of slaves from Africa into that colony. 1772'de Virginia halkı, Afrika'dan bu koloniye köle getirilmesinin durdurulması için İngiltere kralına dilekçe verdi. But the petition was rejected; and the king forbade them to speak of the matter any more. Ancak dilekçe reddedildi ve kral bu konu hakkında daha fazla konuşmalarını yasakladı.

Washington, Jefferson, and other founders of our nation looked upon slavery as an evil. Washington, Jefferson ve ulusumuzun diğer kurucuları köleliği bir kötülük olarak görüyorlardı. They hoped that the time might come when it would be done away with; for they knew that the country would prosper better without it. Bunun ortadan kaldırılacağı zamanın gelmesini umuyorlardı; çünkü ülkenin onsuz daha iyi gelişeceğini biliyorlardı.

At the time of the Revolution, slavery was permitted in all the states. Devrim sırasında köleliğe tüm eyaletlerde izin veriliyordu. But it was gradually abolished, first in Pennsylvania and then in the New England states, and afterwards in New York. Ancak önce Pennsylvania'da, sonra New England eyaletlerinde ve daha sonra da New York'ta kademeli olarak kaldırıldı.

In 1787, a law was passed by Congress declaring that there should be no slavery in the territory northwest of the river Ohio. 1787'de Kongre tarafından Ohio nehrinin kuzeybatısındaki bölgede kölelik olmaması gerektiğini ilan eden bir yasa çıkarıldı. This was the territory from which the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin were formed; and so, of course, these states were free states from the beginning. Burası Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan ve Wisconsin eyaletlerinin kurulduğu bölgeydi; dolayısıyla bu eyaletler elbette başından beri özgür eyaletlerdi.

The great industry of the South was cotton-raising. Güney'in en büyük endüstrisi pamuk yetiştiriciliğiydi. The people of the Southern states claimed that slavery was necessary, because only negro slaves could do the work required on the big cotton plantations. Güney eyaletlerinin halkı köleliğin gerekli olduğunu, çünkü büyük pamuk plantasyonlarında gerekli olan işleri sadece zenci kölelerin yapabileceğini iddia ediyordu. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana were admitted, one by one, into the Union; and all were slave states. Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi ve Louisiana birer birer Birliğe kabul edildi; ve hepsi de köleci eyaletlerdi.

In 1821, Missouri applied for admission into the Union. 1821 yılında Missouri, Birliğe kabul edilmek için başvuruda bulundu. The South wanted slavery in this state also, but the North objected. Güney bu eyalette de kölelik istiyordu ama Kuzey buna karşı çıktı. There were many hot debate's in Congress over this question. Kongre'de bu soru üzerine pek çok sıcak tartışma yaşandı. At last, through the influence of Henry Clay, the dispute was settled by what has since been known as the Missouri Compromise. Sonunda, Henry Clay'in etkisiyle, anlaşmazlık o zamandan beri Missouri Uzlaşması olarak bilinen anlaşmayla çözüldü.

The Missouri Compromise provided that Missouri should be a slave state; this was to satisfy the South. Missouri Uzlaşması, Missouri'nin köleci bir eyalet olmasını öngörüyordu; bu Güney'i tatmin etmek içindi. On the other hand, it declared that all the western territory north of the line which formed the southern boundary of Missouri, should forever be free; this was to appease the North. Öte yandan, Missouri'nin güney sınırını oluşturan hattın kuzeyindeki tüm batı topraklarının sonsuza kadar özgür olması gerektiğini ilan etti; bu Kuzey'i yatıştırmak içindi.

But the cotton planters of the South grew more wealthy by the labor of their slaves. Ancak Güney'in pamuk ekicileri kölelerinin emeği sayesinde daha da zenginleştiler. More territory was needed for the extension of slavery. Köleliğin yayılması için daha fazla bölgeye ihtiyaç vardı. Texas joined the United States and became a slave state. Teksas Birleşik Devletler'e katıldı ve bir köle devleti oldu.

Then followed a war with Mexico; and California, New Mexico and Utah were taken from that country. Ardından Meksika ile bir savaş yaşandı ve Kaliforniya, New Mexico ve Utah bu ülkeden alındı. Should slavery be allowed in these new territories also? Köleliğe bu yeni bölgelerde de izin verilmeli miydi?

At this time a new political party was formed. Bu sırada yeni bir siyasi parti kuruldu. It was called the "Free Soil Party," and the principle for which it contended was this: " No more slave states and no slave territory ." Bu partinin adı "Özgür Toprak Partisi" idi ve savunduğu ilke şuydu: "Artık köleci eyalet ve köleci bölge yok." This party was not very strong at first, but soon large numbers of Whigs and many northern Democrats, who did not believe in the extension of slavery, began to join it. Bu parti başlangıçta çok güçlü değildi, ancak kısa süre sonra çok sayıda Whig ve köleliğin genişletilmesine inanmayan birçok kuzeyli Demokrat bu partiye katılmaya başladı.

Although the Whig party refused to take any position against the extension of slavery, there were many anti-slavery Whigs who still remained with it and voted the Whig ticket—and one of these men was Abraham Lincoln. Whig partisi köleliğin genişletilmesine karşı herhangi bir pozisyon almayı reddetmiş olsa da, hala partide kalan ve Whig biletine oy veren birçok kölelik karşıtı Whig vardı ve bu adamlardan biri de Abraham Lincoln'dü.

The contest between freedom and slavery became more fierce every day. Özgürlük ve kölelik arasındaki mücadele her geçen gün daha da şiddetlendi. At last another compromise was proposed by Henry Clay. Sonunda Henry Clay tarafından başka bir uzlaşma önerildi.

This compromise provided that California should be admitted as a free state; that slavery should not be prohibited in New Mexico and Utah; that there should be no more markets for slaves in the District of Columbia; and that a new and very strict fugitive-slave law should be passed. Bu uzlaşma, Kaliforniya'nın özgür bir eyalet olarak kabul edilmesini; New Mexico ve Utah'ta köleliğin yasaklanmamasını; Columbia Bölgesi'nde artık köle pazarı olmamasını ve yeni ve çok katı bir kaçak köle yasasının kabul edilmesini öngörüyordu.

This compromise is called the "Compromise of 1850." Bu uzlaşmaya "1850 Uzlaşması" adı verilmiştir. It was in support of these measures that Daniel Webster made his last great speech. Daniel Webster son büyük konuşmasını bu tedbirleri desteklemek için yapmıştır.

It was hoped by Webster and Clay that the Compromise of 1850 would put an end to the agitation about slavery. Webster ve Clay, 1850 Uzlaşmasının kölelik konusundaki çalkantılara son vereceğini umuyordu. "Now we shall have peace," they said. "Artık barışa kavuşacağız," dediler. But the agitation became stronger and stronger, and peace seemed farther away than ever before. Ancak tedirginlik gittikçe güçleniyor ve barış her zamankinden daha uzak görünüyordu.

In 1854, a bill was passed by Congress to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. 1854 yılında, Kansas ve Nebraska bölgelerini organize etmek için Kongre tarafından bir yasa tasarısı kabul edildi. This bill provided that the Missouri Compromise should be repealed, and that the question of slavery in these territories should be decided by the people living in them. Bu tasarı Missouri Uzlaşmasının yürürlükten kaldırılmasını ve bu topraklardaki kölelik sorununun bu topraklarda yaşayan insanlar tarafından karara bağlanmasını öngörüyordu.

The bill was passed through the influence of Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. Tasarı, Illinois'li Stephen A. Douglas'ın etkisiyle kabul edildi. There was now no bar to the extension of slavery into any of the territories save that of public opinion. Artık köleliğin herhangi bir bölgeye yayılmasının önünde kamuoyunun görüşü dışında bir engel kalmamıştı.

The excitement all over the North was very great. Tüm Kuzey'de büyük bir heyecan vardı. In Kansas there was actual war between those who favored slavery and those who opposed it. No Kansas, houve uma guerra real entre aqueles que favoreciam a escravidão e aqueles que se opunham a ela. Kansas'ta köleliği destekleyenler ile köleliğe karşı çıkanlar arasında gerçek bir savaş vardı. Thinking men in all parts of the country saw that a great crisis was at hand. Ülkenin her yerinde düşünen insanlar büyük bir krizin kapıda olduğunu gördüler.