Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-05-26

u = u v ~ VTT-VT WU TTTT"TTT ----
duct of these members, and, il they were
found guilty, their expulsion from this body,
hs unworthy to hold seats on this floor"
Mr.. G.. said before he proceeded to com
ment on this extract he would correct an er-
ror into which a gentleman opposite (Mr.
Stan,on) had hllen. That gentleman said
that he CMr. g. denied all connexion
with the transaction in reference to these
slaves. The remarks which he had made
were that he knew nor heard nothing Of ,he
persons engaged in carrying these slaves
away. He had not deuiec having enticed
away the slaves himself. lie had said moth
ing on that subject. When such a charge
should come from a respectable source he
would consider the propriety Of answoring il.
lie did not feel called on at this time to ad-
nit or deny it,.
lie would now return 20 the gentleman
whose remarks had announced his intention
10 eXpel him Mr.. G. from this House; and
he would say to that gentleman that it was
rather too late TO attempt to seal his lips and
the lips of Northern members to prevent the
discussion Of constitutional questions in this
House. lie gave notice to that gentleman
and to all Others that, as he had the right to
DO it, he should say what he thought. lie
intended to call things by their right names,
and, so FAR as able. would make himself un-
derstood by this House; and, when this hall
again ceased 10 be a place of free discussion,
his constituents would be represented by some
other gentleman or they would cease to he
represented here. The slave power had once
reigned triumphant here. Not so at this
time; we had regained the freedom of debate,
and 1t would never again be SURRENDERED
Gentlemen, IN making such threats, appear
ed to forget that they were not now on their
plantations, exercising their petty tyranny
over slaves, who, in their degradation, crouch
ed and trembled at their masters bidding
Or did those gentlemen suppose that they
could bring the practices Of their plantations
into these hallsl Those gentlemen should
know that this was not the place for that kind
OF demeanor. This was no place for the dis
play Of snpercilious dictation. it belonged
not to the dignity Of legislation. The Ameri-
can Congress was no place for the maniles-
tltlon Of those traits which characterize the
oversecr Of the South. 1t would not be toll
Grated amongst men who knew their rights,
and possessed the spirit to maintain them
Such language ought never to be used amongst
men who felt the dignity of their Office
Was he 10 stand there and not to speak what
he thought! Why, such an idea was unwoT-
thy Of doliberallve body in this land of free
dom, and was more becoming OF the tyran-
MES Of Europe and Turkey. He wonld tell
those gentlemen, when he ceased to have the
night to speak freely in this House. he would
take his departure from it,. His constituents
sent hlm here TO represent them. to express
their wishes, and lie should do it freely,
without restraint, or not at all, notwitnslan-
ding the s%plsmodlc eloquence Of the gentle
man who wished TO have him expelled for
exercising the right to express his thoughts.
Yes, the gentleman from Tennessee (Ar.
HaskelI) wished to have him expelled for
words spoken on this floor! Did not that
gentleman know that such an attempt had
once before been made? And had lie not
seen the consequence Was he now to he
told that he must ask Southern gentlemen for
permission to speak, and were they to be the
Judges of what he should say, and when he
should say it! Never, so long as his fellow
men were held in bondage in this District,
would he submit to any restraint on the free
dom Of debate. Nor so long as he c%ontinu-
ed to hold a seat here would he relax an iota
of truth to please the slave power. lie would
not disguise the truth even if its ~ulterance
should be the means Of striking off the
SlIackles of every slave in the Union. He
had no fears OF us affecting slave property
here. He would not hesitate from this forum
TO tell the truth to all who heard him, ever
If slaves were listening 10 him. If he had
the power he would give to every slave
perfect knowledge otall his God-given rights
lie wonld open their minds to understand TIT
oppression that weighed down their i~ntellect
and shut out knowledge and truth from thei
comprehension. lie would give them a know
ledge of the outrage upon humanity whlc.
holds them as c%hattels, and subjects them t
sale like brutes in the market. He woul
inform them that they came into the worI0
from the hands of The same Creator as thOs
who lord it over them; that they were breth
rem, created by the same hand, endowed wit
the same rights, and candidates for the sam
immortality.
Mr.. Gayle asked the gentleman from Obi
ii the utterance Of these sentiments was NJ
an the hearing of the slaves.
Mr.. Giddings said the gentleman from ALI
bama could answer that question as well d
himself. But this he would say TO that gel
tleman, that if the ulterance of these truth
would release them from bondage, Go
knows it should be done. Let gentleme
teach their bondman TO tremble, but let ther
not come here to threaten freemen. Cent,
men might hold their grasp on their fellow
men dhu utpIlFt 'HeHl VI me IlHHlS COHie
red by God who created them, and make the
l~acerated flesh culver with the lash, but the
need not come here and tell him that l.
should only speak by their permission.
Mr.. Gayle inquired if the gentleman all'
ded to him when he spoke Of the flesh bein
made to culver by The lash. He never use
the lash on his slaves; who would not, how
ever, accompany him here because they wei
afraid that tho ohciitiouists ,yould eEin thpu
Mr.. Giddings replied that the gentleman
statement showed TO what degree of degr
dation slavery can reduce tie immortal min
The gentleman from Alabama il appeared ha
succeeded to that extent, and he .came he
10 boast of it. He had carried his oppressiC
SO Car as to blot from the intellect Of his f
low-pan his natural and intrinsic love
freedom. He has taught his slaves to hi
LII aLninc L. aEndAnr 1T tho ihnnnLi Of h