The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-18


, that he did put in issue the continued ex
istence of this Union and The law ofSoutt
Carolina. | will not ask the gentleman
how he voted in the case of the petition
) presented from persons holding the very
reverse of his opinions, but agreeing with
him in substantially the same issue, and
asking for a peaceable dissolution of the
! Union.
Mr. Holmes spoke in reply, but the
Reporter could not hear word of what
he said.
Mr. ADAMS How the gentleman vot-
ed he has not told US, and did not hold
it very material but in both cases the is
sue made was substantially and in princi-
pie the same The Haverhill petitioners
on one side and the gentleman on the 9TH
er, join issue between this law md the
continuance Of the Union.
There has been another effect-not BY
IA Soulh Carolina Judge, but by negocia-
ton with foreign Power to save from
The same species of oppression colored
mariners, such as the cooks and stewards
Of merchant vessels. And here let me
say that the enormous and terrifying dan
ger, danger so terrible to the military
and chivalrous gentleman, Ia laugh,l that
rather than risk it, the Union itself is to
be dissolved, is this. that South Carolina
will not be able 10 sustain her power over
her slaves because free colored cook or
steward should remain on board a vessel
at Chares.own for few days! 1t can
not be endured, l. is TOO terrible; you
must nab the poor mortal, citizen most
likely of my own State, or of Rhode Is
land, or the SUBJECT of some foreign Pow
er, to whom We are bound by treaty that
her subject shall be treated by US with
kindness and hospitality. In the case of
this 10 which allude the Government of
the United States and the Government Of
South Carolina had both TO deal with a
great foreign Powe: on that question.
Not FIVE years ago, believe, there &C.
Cured another case at Charleston, when
a complaint was made by the British
Consul, and something very like threat
was uttered, that if the men seized were
not released it might lead to quarrel be-
tween the United States and Great Britain;
and in the end it came to this; that anoth,
er highly distinguished Attorney General
of the United States from South Carolina,
a gentleman for whose memory | cherish,
as we all must, the most sincere respect,
wrote to the British Consul that he had
done all he could TO get The law repealed,
even going so far as to state that the con-
sequence ofenforcing its provisions might
be nothing short of war with Great Brit
ain, but he was sorry to say that his eff
forts had been all in vain; but that, even
should war ensue, the Slate was resolved
TO adhere TO the ground she had TAKEN
Here is an effectual confirmation of what
the gentleman near Inc has given as his
own opinion; in fact the State has de-
cIared, through these two distinguished
gentlemen, my friend here (Mr. HoLMEs)
and the late Attorney General, (Mr.
LEGARE,) that even though dissolution
of the Union and war with England
must be the alternative, she would under
go both rather Than give up her unconsti-
tulional act.
have related these circumstances to
this House: | hope they will go to the
country: | trust this debate may be so
reported, that every man and every wo-
man, aye, and every child that can read, |
may read and reflect upon it. Any gen.
tleman can verify the truth of the state
mens | have made by looking tthe pub
lie documents containing the opinion of
the South Carolina Judge: and he will
there find another part OF the story, which |
[ have not mentioned, as fully verified as
the gentleman (Mr. HoLMEs) admits the
part | stated in relation to him to have
been true. | will not now enter with .
that gentleman on a discussion Of ques-
tion whether the official opinions Of a
Judge of the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States from the Bench, or the opinions
of ministerial law officer of the execu-
tive Government, are to be the tests and
standards of constitutional law. | say,
however, that the people of the State Of
Massachusetts, and the people OF all the
free States Of this Union, have right to
consider the decision of the Judge as the
law of the land, and as the true and cor
rect view of the constitution in the case.
The gentleman from South Carolina does
not. He is satisfied, quite satisfied, if he
can get the opinion of an Attorney Gen
eral. The thing, then, at last comes to
this one man considers this to be the
doctrine of the Constitution, another
thinks Just the contrary: one man holds
a law constitutional, another declares it
unconstitutional; and so we come to the
doctrine, once advanced so characteristic.
cally by GEN. JACKSON, that every man
is for the Constitution as he understands a. Il
The gentleman from South Carolina is
for the Constitution as he understands ii
IA laugh
A eenIIeman from Kentucky lMr.