Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-06-18
EnIOgy on Charles I, Toney,
Pronounced in Fanc,W Hall, Boston, Nay 10, 1916.
Royalton, June 8, 1916.
By HENRY B. STANTON, Esq.

Mn. PREsTDENr:-We have met to praise Torey,
not to bury him.
That manly and elastic lorrn-that glowing eve
those eloquent ps-that lion heart all that was NOR
tai of our nartyred brother has been borne to the
grave by those who dwell, with melancholy pleasure
upon the rare virtues and noble achievements which
have made his life useful and his death calm and clio
rious.
And who it may be asked, was Charles r. Torrev,
that we should praise him? Why should this assembly
of Christian citizens meet in this hallowcd hall to hon
Or one who was convicted as felon and died in the
penitentary?
Let it be answered. that though he was convicted of
having violated the laws of republican state he was
not found guilty of violating any of the statutes of the
Law Giyer Of the Universe Though he died in a
penitentary, he was not feon before God Tho
the court which convicted him would not recommend
him to mercy, the chief magistrate of the State
grant him an executive pardon,yet ere this we cannot
doubt that before the tribunal of heaven, and in the
presence of scrred ranks of angels and the spirits of
Just men made perfect the Sovereign of worlds has
greeted him with "Well done, good and faithful ser
want, enter into the joy of thy Lord"
Then, in honoring him. we honor ourselves In APP
plauding his deeds, we but render tribute to the
worth Of a rare ornanament of our common humanity
But am right? Was the deed for which he was
condemned, and which cost him his life, approved of
heaven?
So long as it remains true, that the Savior came to
preach delyeance to the captive, and the opening of
the prison to the bound; to break every yoke and let
the oppressed 90 free long will it be true that Tor
rey sacrificed and murdered for following in the
footsteps of the Divine EXamplar.
But the voice of euogy is attempted to be clamored
down by the cry, that he had violated the laws of a
sovereign State and therefore properly convicted
and punished as a telon.
This cold md crual ra,l dosar,.,e n r,oro
answer than the present occasion will allow. rapid
glance will disclose the weakness Of its foundation.
Mr.. Torrey was tried and condemned under cerIan
statutes Of Maryland for assisting slaves to escape out
of that State and beyond the reach of the laws which
enslaved them. This act was done, (f at all without
violence, and in contraventiOn of other statute Of
that Safe Now sir, the laws under which he was
condemned, have no binding force, because slavery
has no constitutional existence in Maryland The Bill
of Rights and Constitution, both of Maryland and
Massachusetts, recognize and declare the inalienab
ty of his rights to liberty Slavery existed in this
commonwealth at the time of the adoption of our con
sttuton Soon after the ratification OF that instrument
slave sued for his freedom in the Supreme Judicial
court. On solemn deliberaton the Judges decreed
that the organic law, to which have alluded, abolish
ed slavery; and from that hour slavery ceased to eXis
in Massachusetts. This is sound law, not only here
but in all places where the equality of mankind ant
the inherent rights of human nature, are affirmed ir
any instrument or recognized in any usage having the
force ofla 1t is part of the law, the birth
right charter Of every member of the Anglo Saxon
family 1t is law in Maryland, binding upon its law
givers its courts and its people; and by force of it;
provisions, slavery, with all its concomitants and adj
uncts has no real existence there. Then in the act
for which he was condemned, Torrey broke no law
which had not previously been shivercd to atoms by
the weight Of superior authority.
But assume higher ground. 1t is impossible tc
give any binding force to statutes which makes one
man the property ofanother. They null and void
from their own inherent injustice. No legislature has
righl to enact them, no court the right to enforce
them Every step taken in their inception is illegal
every attempt to execute their precepts nAict thei
penalties, are ouhsges upon ustce, and binding upo