The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-05-23

W
we will reject it, and that if anything be re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 1t
will be to make penal enactments,-to prevent
these atrocities-these wholesale captures
fnesc robberies of seventy odd of our slaves at
a single grasp. Delay is dangerous on this
question. The crisis has come, and we must
meet it-and meet it directly-and will add
we have ample means to meet it. We can
put the issue to the North, if they disregard
the provisions of the Constitution in our favor
If their sea-going vessels cannot safely come
up into our ports, we can prevent them from
coming there, and thus make the issue at once
If the stipuations in the Constitution in our ia
yor are not to be respected, why should we re-
spect those in others / do not intend to
make long speech on this OCCASION out l
would here feel myself to be lacking in my
duty TO the people of the South, and to the
people of the United States, had l not raised
my voice against the introduction OF such Dill
on such an occasion.
MIR. Westcott of Florida, Mr. Davis Of Mis-
sissippi, and Mr. Foote of Mississippi, also
spoke in the usual clustering manner OF the
smaller fry of the Southern chivalry. Mr..
Foote made very silly speech-he couldn't
do any thing else-the concluding paragraph
OF winch We copy, rs loIo"s'
All must see that the course OF the senator
from New Hampshire is calculated TO embroil
the Confedcracy-to put in peril our free IN
stitutions-to jeopardize that Union which our
forefathers established, and which every pure
patriot throughout the country desires shall be
perpctuated. Can any man be patriot who
pursues such course? Who does not know
that such men are practically the worst en-
emies of the slaves / do not beseech the
gentleman TO stop; but if he perseveres, he will
awake Indignation everywhere, and 1t cannot
be that enlightened men, who consclentlousiy
belong to the faction at the North OF which he
is understood to be the head can sanction or
approve everything that he may do under the
influence of excitement in this body. Will
close by saying that if he really wishes glory,
and to be regarded as the great liberator 9th
blacks-if he wishes 20 be particularly dlsting-
uished in this cause Of emancipation, as 1t Is
called-iet him, instead of remaining here IN
the Senate of the United States, or instead OF
sccretng himself in some dark corner Of New
Hampshire, where he may possibly escape the
Just Indignation of good men throughout this
rrpubic-let him visit the good State OF Mis-
sissippi in which have the honor to reside,
and no doubt he will be received with such no.
sannas and shouts of JOY as have rarely mark
ed the reception Of any individual in this day
and generation. invite him there, and will
tell him bcforeAand,in all honesty that he could
not 90 ten miles into the interior, before he
would grace one of the tallcst trees of the for
est, with rope around his neck, with the APP
probation OF every yirtuous and patriotic citi-
zen: and that, If necessary, should myself as
sist in the operation.
In reply 10 an insinuation from Mr.. Fco:e,
that he had been concerned in the escape of
20 slaves, Mr.. Hale explicitly denied the state
ment. He then read i card published in the
National Intelligencer by the Editor oft Ma
tional Era, in which he denies that he had any
thing N do with the attempted escape Of the
slaves and states the position OF the paper, viz:
i at he isin favor Ct no unconst u!ional or leg-
al measures for the abolition of slavery believing
hat it can be effected in accordance with the
constitution and law that he has not violated
this principle; that he has abstancd from de-
nuncis.ion and addressed himself to the reas-
on, conscience and patriotism Of the slavehold
ers. We quote now from Houston's Reports ::
Mr.. IIale-I appeal to the sense ofjustice of
the Senate and ask what justification therecan
be for assailing the character and property of
7 man who knew no more of this occurrence
than any Of IFS members FL appeal to the
honorable Senator who spoke so eloquently of
the high and chivalric ideas of right which
are understood in his section of the country.
Mr.. Footc-I ask the Senator-and beg TO
remind him that twenty millions ofpeoplc are
listening to his answcr-in the circumstances
of the case, evidently known to him. docs he
suppose that this occurrence could have taken
place without extensive countenance and aid
from men Of standing in this District, whether
members of congress or others?
Mr.. IIale-I have no doubt that those per-
sons could not have got away without some
sid. 1t is enough that have disclaimed all
knowledge of it. thought that when the
honorable Senator was speaking, more than
twenty millions of people were listening. He
invites ME to visit Mississippi, and kindly in
forms me that he would be one of those who
would act the assassin, and put an end to nv
'areer. lie would aid in bringing me to pub
lie execution-no, death by a mob. Well, in
return for his hospitable limitation, | can only
express the desire that he'would penetrate in
to some OF the dark corners of New Hampshire
and if he do | am much mistaken If he would
not find that the people in that benighted re-
glon would he very happy to lis'en to his ar
guments and engage in an intellectual conflict
with him, in which the truth might be elected
think, however, that the announcement which
the honorable Senator has made OH this floor
Of the fate which awaits so humble an ndiyid-
ual as myself in the State of Mississippi, must
convince every one of the propriety of the
high eulogiun which he pronounced upon her
the other day, when he spoke of the high posi-
ton which she occupied among the States of
this coufederacy. but enough Of this person
al matter.
/ think, if did not misunderstood the hon
orable Senator from South Carolina, that he is
surprised at the temerity of the Senator from
New Hampshire in introducing this bill. Let
me ask what is this bill What is this incen-
diary bill that has elected such torrent of in
vective? Has it been manufactured by some
fanatical abolitionist !" Why, it is copied al
most word for word, from law on the statute
book which has been in operation for years,
in the ncighboring State of Maryland. 1t has
no allusion, directly or indirectly, to the sub
ject of slavery. Yet l am accused ofthrowing
it IS Gre-brand, and in order to make war
upon the institutions of the South, Why :?
In Gods name, is it come TO this, that in the
American Senate, and in the year Of grace one