The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-05-12

ter. II civil disorder is to be spread over
the land, we are ready to meet il. We arc
ready now 10 meet any incendiary who
deaf to the feelings of humanity, and the
constitution, and the rights o! his neighbors,
may fling his tirebrauds among US.
Mr.. F0Ute referred to the inaugural Of Nj
Van Buren,, in reference to slavery in this
district, as giving The South some confidence
and repoSe. Bat now certain individual.-
he could not call them gentle men-were at
tempting by insidiouS means to accomplish
abolition in this District. The measure in
troduced was repugnant to the constitution
aud false to the country. 1t was grand lar
ceny to the people Of this district. \ man
capable OF such larceny would be capable
OF highway robbery. II the law could
not reach such wretcheS, they onght 10 be
punished under the rights of Self-deience,
which are above the law. The kidnapping
the wholesale robbery, which has lately oc'
Cured here, he was informed, had been
counSellcd and abetted even by a senator oi
the United States. A member Of the other
House, at the Jail yesterday morning, (Mr
Giddngs) had escaped just punishment
only by an ignominious flight. The bill
here introduced, was bill to protect negro
II was little better than highway robbery to
countenancc outrages like that which had
induced the introduction of this measure
The time had come for the South to shed
their blood, if driven TO il in defence oftheii
rights. If the Senator from New lamp
shire would see embroiled in instruction
and bloodshcd- he is determined to force
this upon us--let him come forward as a
hero, and say to us, now am ready TO DO
battle for my friends the black. He will
then have an opportunity TO shed his blood
upon the holy soil of the District Of Column
bia, in this inglOrious cause. Does the Sen
ator from New Hampshire expect, with the
accurSed individuals in the North with whom
he is associated, to trample upon us without
resistance? | would advise him as the
great liberator of North America, not to
c0niine himself TO dark corner of New
England, bat 60 through the South upon
his accused mission. | cordially invite
him 10 MisSissippi; but frankly tell him
that lie would not get ten miles from NickS-
burg. without being tied up to the highest
tree in the woods; and if there, | promise
to assist in putting the rope around his neck.
will freely help TO do it.
Mr. liale--The Senator from Mississippi
has charged that Senator of the United
Safes counselled and abetted the kidnap.
ping 10 which he has referred. Does the
Senator mean that charge to apply to my
self?
Mr. Foote replied that he did.
Mr.. Hale said that any such charge of
any agency on his part. direct or indirect,
in the affair Of the schooner was without a
shadow of foundation in truth.
Mr., Foote did not make the charge, but
believed il. from information he had receiv-
ed. He was glad the Senator had no agen-
cy in the robbery but some ofhis brethren
certainly had hand in the work.
Mr.. Hale said all men were his brethcrn
He reiterated his denial ofauy agency, d.
rect or indirect, by silence or BY speech, by
knowledge or assent, in the late affair Of
the kidnapped slaves. He did not know Of
the affair until it occurred. He then procce.
ded to the defence Of his friend, the editor
of the National Era, and read an extract
from his card which is as follows;
To the Citizens Of Washington.
\ rumor having been circulated that the
Office of the National Era was concerned,
directly or indirectly. in the recent attempt
schooner Pearl. it is due to the respectable
citizens of this place, and to myself, to give
plain. full, unequivoCal denial to the re-
port. While determined to yield no right
to menace or violcnce-a concession which
no true hearted American will be ungener-
Gus enough TO demand feel it to be my
duty to do all | can to remove a serious
mi>apprehension, calculated TO provoke un-
pleasant excitement.
January 1th. 1917, in the first number of
the National Era, made. in my introduce
tory, the following declaration
Believing that the extinction Of slavery
eau be effected in accordance with con>titu-
ton and law. and that this is the better way.
no system Of unconstitutional or illegal me- d.
,urcS will find 10 us support. We cannot
work with contradictory means. Nhcnc-
Yer convinced that such measures as the
laws sanction or do not prohibit, are insult
fcicnt for the accomplishment Of the great
hiect we aim at, we shall frankly say So.
The magnitude of the cause in which we
are engaged, Justice to our fcllow-ctizenS
of the south, and sound policy, demand that
no movement be made in relation to this
important question, except with the utmost
opennesS, irankncsS. and fair dealing.