Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-08
Speech Of Rev. Theodore Parker at the
late Indignation Meeting in FancuiI

Hail.
There was time once when your fathers and my
fathers assembled here in Faneu Hall. There
was time when Boston was small place; and here
in Boston handful, of men passed resolutions, in
the face of these columns which shook the whole
ton. They went abroad across the water and shook
the parent land But now, sir, when an-slavery res
olutions are passed in this city, they cannot be heard
from North End to the Neck. In old times men knew
that behind every word there was back ground of &C.
ton. Now, men know that when political bodies pass
lnti-slavery reso iUns,the mean nothing.
| When the Wing procession passed through the
streets Of this city, hundred thousand strong, its
badges meant somehing-ther symbols and their res
olutlons meant something. They meant tarf--they
meant dvidends-they meant dollars. Sir, the demo-
cratic party, great and triumphant in its power, heard
these resolutions, and they trembed from fear, from
away down Fast even 10 the Oregon, because they
knew that these resolutions would keep, because the
Wings would salt down with deeds every word which
they uttered.
The Baltimore Convention assembled and passed its
resolutions, and the words meant something. They
meant the annexation Of 'Fexas-thoy meant war. And
the Wings, in their turn assembled and shook in their
shoes, because they knew that back ground of ac-
ton was behind every word, and that the Democrats
would salt down their words, and they would keep
Deeds came after words and the Wings had their tar
i'll, their dividends and their dollars. Deeds came,
and the Democrats had their change of tariff, their an
nexaton, and have got their war.
When political bodies pass anti-savery resolutions,
who is there that trembles? | do not believe that a
single STAKEHOLDER in the land trembes unless the man
is, as they say, most jolly green.
Well, sir, what can we do in this matter? y more
solemn occasion has very seldom Weakened the arches
of Faneul Hall with such eloquence as we have
heard tonight. Very seldom has Fsneuil Hall looked
down upon many faces shining like so many stars.
trust that you will pass these resolutions; and al
though there may be men who desire stronger esolu
tions let take these, and stronger, too, if we can
get them
A voce-"The earthquake is coming"
| Well, the earthquake is coming and let 1t come
We know where it is coming. Where is the man who
will bring Quincy granite, and timber from down East
and build supersructure which must inevitably be
crushed by th.t earthquake?
When resolutions not notorious as having a
| background behind them, not how many such
you pass here in Faneui Hall, To make resolutions
tell you must do something more | am glad that IN,
friend suggested Vigilance Communicable that com
mttee be estabshed--let it be forty men strong-lc
them keep that sacred word "beray not hun thlt wan
dereth, but remember that you were enslaved in the
land OF the oppreSsor and the Lord delivered you on
of their hands with high hand and an outst etched
irm" Let them open their houses 20 every runaway
slave say the laws Of Louisiana OF of thus Union WIN
they may.
know tn t there ID law, which they make up herc
the State House, aud Gun nlsk If they will ant
thlt law, in matters Of expedency, it is very well It
follow. But know, and you know, that above thu
there Is law of God written upon every heart; Law
which says thou shalt do to another what thou woulds
gladly receive from him in like cases. When the law
If LOUISIANA, or Massachusetts,, or this Union confc
With the law of God there is but one thing that vii
10, and that 49, keen Gods law
n know N say 1--WE are citizens of this State, ant
ire pledged to keep its laws" Officers ny they hive
sworn to keep the laws of Mass chusetts and they
further and sly that they have never sworn to keel
Gods law. You are citizens of Mass lchusetts, sub
ect to the laws Of Massachusetts but you are Cit
znS OF the universe, subject to Gods law, and though
IL the men Of Massachusetts, or the Union stand be
.T1cn you and Justice, they cannot screen you. If
6eep the law Of the land in violation Of Gods law viii
he held Inc guiltleSs?
There Is another thing you can do. In the coming
election, you cln make choice Of men-not tonguel
meu-yon have hid enough of the n-but men l."
deeds, whose words shp be suited down with action
4 till they will keep forever, We hive had long enougI
men who make fine outons, promise impois bic
things, AMI forget them all. Washington is sid to b(
hot place, and is for that reason we have seen Fl
to send our dough-faccs there. | wish Washington
was great dell hotter than it is, for the men CONT
back just as soft as they went.
Before your faces, before the Judge Of hearts, sol
emily say that if that long, low blnck schooner which
recently anchored off Long Island, in New York
should lie off Long Island, in Boston h,bor, an,
should take. not one man, but twenty men, solemn,
believe that neither the Wig party as SUCH nor thu
: Democratic party such, would lift their hands,
Brethren lwish were not true, hut if am to Judge
the present Of the future by the past it must be true
therefore urge upon you at your next election
not to choose who can make resolutions that won
| reach to the Neck, but men whose lives show tha
they can be trusted in times which try mems souls
= Remember that it takes pound to weigh pound
Bunker Hill Monument, he will be little, mean, dirt
= fellow still.