Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-11


ton, but that in the wide range allowed to the de-
bate it was certainly competent for the gentleman
from Tennessee to put the question, and for the gen
tleman from Ohio to answer it. if he pleased
Mr.. Giddings (resuming) remarked that he saw
gentlemen from the South were excited on the subject
and he might become excited. But 1t was beauti-
full question; and if the doughfaces would only not
interfere they would have fine fight
He was stating his views (he continued on the
rights of humanity and he said to the gentleman from
Tennessee that he held precisely with the fathers of
l776 to whom he had alluded. He held to the prin-
cple for which the genteman's fathers and his con-
tended at Bunker Hill and Yorktown; he held to the
principle on which this Government was based for its
support-that man was free and equal; and that he
who attempted to interfere between his God and him
self to interfere with his Godgven rights, did it at
his peril. He held that he who stepped between him
and his God and attempted either to rob him of his
life or liberty did it at his PERIL and SO far as God
and nature had bestowed on him the power he should
not do it. He held that every human being who came
into the world and breathed the air God had created,
came into it with this right; and he who attempted to
interfere with it, did so at his peril. He held that
there never more Just and righteous retributlon
than was inflicted upon the Africans, in 1904 when
Decatur and Somers went there and when these men
who ensaved their fellow-men were made themselves
to bite the dust There never was more glorious
cause to fight for; nor would he ask for a more glori
GUS death than to die in just such accuse. He held
that it was right and he held that any man, when he
ensaved his feow-man-when the hand of power
was brought to bear on his God-given rights-his
'naenable rights" Ito use the words of our fathers
had the right to defend that liberty and to come down
to the gentlemans specific question:
Mr. HaskalL | am very glad to hear you reach it
at last.
Mr. Giddings Continuing his sentence.) I say that
the slaves of this District when they felt the hand Of
oppression bearing on them, possessed before the
universal world and before God himself the right to
free themselves by any means God has put into their
power
Mr.. Haskall. The gentleman has answered that
question. | am satisfied.
Mr. Giddings, OBTAINING the foor) l am not. |
want to finish my answer.
Mr. IIaskall. Inasmuch as the gentleman has JUS
titled this attempt of these slaves to escape from their
rghtful owners call on him to know whether he JUS
titles the thieves who stole them?
Mr.. Giddings. ! do not know that there were any
thieves.
Mr.. Haskall. The men, then, the individuals, the
parties who were engaged in this Kidnapping?
Mr.. Giddngs. | say, unhesltatlngly, where laws
are in force, where legal constitutional laws of the
land enforce penalties such actions they are to be
obeyed. | am not permitted to interfere with the
rights of the people of this District, because | owe
allegiance to my Government and he who nterferes
tween the gentleman and myself on that subject
Mr.. HaskaL. Then do understand the gentle
man to justify these men?
Mr.. Giddngs | say that those who did it. did it at
their peril.
Mr.. Haskall. Does the gentleman condemn these
individuals?
Mr.. Giddings. say, unquestionably if they did
| it, they violated the law.
Mr.. Haskal. Does the gentleman consider it a
violation of law?
Mr.. Giddngs. Unquestionably, if they aidet
slaves in escaping. | am not very conversant with
the laws of this District though have had occasion
to look into them some-l understand it is penal ac
in this District. Now it is wrong to violate this law
because in entering society we bind ourselves to keeI
the laws which are constitutlonally enacted. There
is legal crime
Mr. Haskall. Was there any moral crime?
Mr.. Giddings. do not believe there is the leas
moral crime on earth in maintaining the rights Coz
has given me-
APRIL 81
Having no room for the whole of the report of pro
ceedings in the House, we copy from the Baltimore
Sun an excellent abstract
Immediately after the reading of the Journal expla
nations were made by Messrs Inge and Toombs, a
to portions Of their remarks yesterday as published il
the lnteligencer of this morning, stated by them to b.
incorrectly reported.
The House then resumed the consideration of tn
question of privilege" debated yesterday, being thu
resolution offered yesterday by Mr.. Palfrey, and o
the amendments proposed by Mr.. Venable, increasing
the number Of the committee to n'ne to be elected b.
ballot and instructing the committee to extend hel
Investigations 50 as to enquire and report whethe
any member or members of this House were instru
mental in procuring the slaves, who recently de
coyed from their owners in this District to leave hei
owners; and whether the said members ofths Hous
have not been guilty of felony, in attempting, or aid
ing an attempt to kdnap slaves"
Mr.. Stanton, of Tennessee, being entitled to tn
f floor, addressed the House in opposition to the resc
utons. He said that it must be evident to all, tina
the object intended TO be accomplished by the gentle
man from Massachusetts, was not protection from tb
the violence of mob, buta discussion on this loo
of the question of slavery. As to the amendment pre-
posed it had been distinctly denied both by the gen
tleman from Massachusetts, and the gentleman tron
Ohio, that they had in any way participated in tn
+ event referred to.
And he was induced fully to believe these asseverf
tons He insisted that inquiry should not be pushed
which could result in no benefit to any one. lie rt
ferred to the remarks of Mr. Gddngs that the person
who aided in the escape Of the slaves from this Dis
trict had committed no moral wrong, which again ca
led up.
Mr.. Giddings, who explained, that had he yeste
day been permitted, by the gentleman Mr.. Venable
who had yielded him the floor to finish his remarks
reply to the inquiry OF Mr. Haskell ne shoulo nave sal
that he believed no man committed moral tVrong
aiding others to obtain their freedom, where they di
SO without resort to falsehood and duplcity; but
regard 70 the facts of the particular case referred t.
he had no personal knowledge, and therefore woul
express no opinion
Mr. Stanton proceeded, and referred to the mschit
which the efforts of the Abolitionsts were calculate
to produce, not only to the country, but to the caus
in which they profess to be engaged. He conclude
with the remark, that when the negroes of this cour
try shall become qualified for self-government-a pc
F Rod which has not yet arrived-t would be as mpo
sble to restrain or keep them in bondage as it was
restrain or subdue the ensiaved millions Of Europe
Mr.. Thompson of Kentucky also opposed the resi-
utions There was nothing before them to show thi
any menaccs had been made of character to warral
the investigation. file referred to precedents to sho
the extent of the privileges of members of the Hous
! and commended in cases like the present the member
were alike amenable to and protected by the law
that the action of the House would be as unpreceden
ed MS it was unnecessary. He had never, in any con
! munty seen more quiet and orderly population tina
a in the CITY Of Washington. When there had been l
- intrusion or invasion of the privileges of any membe
: and when this House had passed no laws and estal
lshed no rules, defining explicitly what shall be
~ sidered the privileges Of MEMBERS other than tho'
:, laid down in the Constitution il would he an act