Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-08-14
From The Congregational Journal.
SPEECH OF MR.. HADDOCK.
OF HANOVER.

ANANo 1lNg
On The Resolution Of Mr.. Hale, in reference to
Marery, in the House Of Representatives.,
June 80.
MIR. SPEAKER Il am not forward to ask
the ear of the House; ] trust that, keeping
within the limits prescribed to the members
by the Rule adopted yesterday, | shall not
weary it. Indeed | enjoy so much of the ar
gument, wit and eloquence of gentlemen
about me, that | sometimes really forget that
/ have any thing else to do here but to listen.
There are subjects, however, upon which,
as a citizen of an intelligent free State, and
more especially as one of the Representatives
of the scat Of the principal literary Institution
of New Hampshire, where the young men of
the State are instructed and disciplined in
the principles and duties of life, | am not
content TO he wholly silent.
The question before the House is one of
these subiccls-a question of principle. of
high moral duty, of liberty and humanity
the great question of civil history, upon which
have been expended the best energies of
awakened mind all over the world, and with
which are connected the dearest hopes of our
race.
The Resolution under consideration invites
us to express ourselves on the subject Of
American SIavery-to speak QUITO let our
voice be heard as the Government of New
Hampshire, as a portion of the people of the
free hills and the free air of the North.
The amendment Offered by the Gentleman
from Weare, proposes observation-disclosures
Sir, ! can consent to no such thing. 1t is
time for this State 10 speak, to speak intelli-
Chilly and decidedly. She cannot be still and
be guiltless. 1t is too late for Indifference or
neutrality, or delay. 1t is the duty of this
Legislature to utter its voice in the cause of
human liberty. The people of the State de-
mand it; the country looks for it. We cam
not evade the responsibility. 1t is the high
est duty of the Government at this moment,
and | rejoice to see the disposition here to
meet that duty manfulIy and heartily. We
shall not regret it; it will be among the che
rished recoilections of our brief public life.
Gentlemen deprecate agitation; they are
alarmed at discussion they court repose and
silence. Why not discuss this matter, Sir !
Is any thing to be feared from inquiry I ANY
thing to be lost by consideration and courte-
Gus, earnest argument of great civil and mo-
raj questionsl We propose no violence; no
exercise Of unconstitutional power; no inter
ference with the domestic policy of sister
States. We claim no right to strike the
shackIe from a single Slave. We only as
sert the liberty of speech; we only solicit the
ear of the Master. We say to the people of
the slaveholding States, 'come, let us reason
together" We appeal to the conscience, the
judgment, the magnanimous sentiments of
the human heart. And it is matter of great
Joy, that this appeal is not idle or vain. 1t
never was wholly so in any age of the world,
nor on any important subject. 1t will not
be so in this instance. 1t has not been so
hitherto.
Discussion has done something for the
liberation Of the Slave already. 1t has done
not a little. 1t has engaged our W atten-
ton TO the condition and the rights of the
oppressed.
The youngest member of this House is
able to ~recollect when almost nothing was
known, or thought, of the American Slave,
in this remote part of the country. Inter
course with the South was infrequent. JEFF
ierSon had indeed expressed concern and
alarm for his guilty country I; enlightened
philanthropists had, here and there, ventured
to question the right and to condemn the poll.
cy of negro Slavery. But there existed very
little knowledge of the subject, and still less
interest in it among the people at large
Men were absorbed in their own pursuits, OK.
ulting in their own freedom, and gathering
together in their places of religious worship
to thank God for the blessings of a free GOV.
eminent and a free Gospel, apparently igno,
rant of the cruel bondage under which SC
many Of their fellow men and fellow citizens
were at the same time pining with sorrow
and taintlng in despair. New EnglanC
mothers were soothing their infant offspring
TO repose with the gentle voice of prayer ant
the sweet hymn of praise, all unconsciou.
that there were thousands and tens of thous
ands of mothers in this free, rejoicing land
who could not call their children or them
selves their own. No voice was lifted up il
their behalf; no prayer for them mingled will
the incense Of the public altar, or added fra
GRANGE TO the odors of the domestic sacrifice
We laborcd by day, and went 10 our beds a
night, as if no such thing as slavery eXiste,
among our people. We reioiced as if non,
wept, and blessed ourselves as the freest, tn,
best, the happiest Of nations. And what d.
we now see? We see men every where be
coming sensible, that all this innocence, ant
freedom, and happiness are marred by tn
liberation Of system of more relentless OPP
preston, or more grinding, CALLING, hopeless
slavery, than ever disgraced the earth, or de
fled the Heavens. The pulpit is no Ionge
silent; public assemblies are agitatcd by tn
question of universal emancipation. Tn
rights Of the oppressor, the claims of out
ragged, wronged humanity, are weighed an
appreciated. Not a political body can as
semble, from the county convention to tn
National Legislature, without being excite
upon the subject. Ecclesiastical assemble
are divided upon it. The State, and tn
Church, and the whole people, are comm
to be alive to the sin and shame of America
Slavery.
The two great divisions of the Prcsbytc
rian Church lately met in their General As
semhlies in Philadelphia. One of those be
dies was addressed in a ~fraternal admonitio
upon the subject from their brethren in SEQ
land. The other received an epistle of fri
ternaI reproof from their brethren in Canadi
The latter, under the usual forms of couTtes
and christian love, was SO pungcnt and eau