Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-05-12

L VIII TAKE thlS occasion 10 say, that
would just as soon argue with a maniac
from Bedlam, as with the Senator from New
Hampshire, on this subject.
Several Senators-Ofder, order.
MIR. CaMoun--I do not intend to correct
his statements. A man who says that the
people of this District have no right in their
sla~ves--and that it is no robbery 20 take their
property from them-is not entitled TO be re-
garded as in possession Of his reason.
MIR. Hah-It is an extremely novel mode
of determining a controversy by cllaritably
throwing the mantle of maniacal irresponsi.
billty over ones antagonist! But the hon
orable Senator puts words into nv mouth
which never used. ! did not say that the
owners had no property in their slaves.
said mat the institution exists, but | have
not given any opinion upon the point to
which the Senator alluded. | have never
SAID anything from which the sentiment
which he imputes to me could be inferred.-
1t does not become me, | know, to measure
arms with the honorable Senator from South
Carolina, more particularly since he has been
SO magndnlmouS as to give notice that he
will not condescend to argue " ith me. But
there is more than one man in this country,
who has, whether justly or u%niuSlly, long
iANC ! Il Nlt NIll'lu0iFiy I'D 4 4 III
a mamie on the subject of Slavery, | am not
a monomaniac, for ] am not alone IN my mad
ness. But, Sir, | am not responsible here
or elsewhere for the excitement that has fol-
lowed the Introduction Of this subject. in
tended simply to give notice of a bill calcu-
lated TO meet the exigency. The honorable
Senator from Florida calls upon me for proof
of the necessity of this legislation, and says
that no violence has been committed in this
District. ! don't know what he calls vio-
lence.
Mr.. WeStcolt-There has been no evidence,
except the running away with some negroes.
MIR. Hah-Well, | believe that SOM hum
dreds of individuals assembled in front of a
printing Office in this city, and assailed the
building with missiles, obliging the persons
engaged in their usual employment to aban-
don their legal occupation. Ii that does not
come up TO the gentleman's definition of vio-
lence, ! do not know what does. | was de-
sirous of Introducing this subject without an
appeal to any matters which might be suppo-
sed to lie behind. | believe that these mat
tiers have nothing to do with the subject un-
der consideration. But other gentlemen have
chosen to give this subject a different direc-
ton. Now, in the bill which | have had the
honor to introduce, the provisions are almost
identical with the law which has been in eX-
istence in many Of the States, and is now on
the statute-book of Maryland. To its enact
ment here, exception has been taken. and !
am quite willing that the country should
know the grounds on which opposition is
made. If the subject be painful, it has not
been made so by me. As to the threats
which have been made of bloodshed and as
sasslnatlon, | can only say that there have
been sacrifices already, and there may be
other victims, until the minds Of all shall be
awakened 10 the conviction that the Consti-
tuition was made as well for the preservation
OF the freedom Of discussion, as for the pro-
lection of the slave-owner.
Mr.. WcstcDft-l should like to know of
the Senator from New Hampshire if he can
say, that any non-slaveholding State in this
Union has passed a law by which, in case of
the abduction Of a slave by an abolition mob,
the county or town is to be made response
BILE for the act?
Mr.. Hale-I do not know, Sir.
Mr.. UcsicOH-lt is time enough, then,
when such a law is passed to protect the pro-
perry of slave-owners, TO talk of a law to in
demnify for the destruction of property of abb
clifton incendiaries.
MIR. F0oie--The Senator seems to suppose
that ! wished to decoy him to the State Of
Mississippi. | have attempted no such thing
have thought of no such thing. | hav,
openly challenged him to present himself
there, or anywhere uttering such language
and breathing such an incendiary spirit as h,
has manifested in this body, and | have saiC
that just punishment would be inflicted upol
him for his enormous criminality. ! have
said farther, that if necessary, ] would aid il
the infection of that punishment. My opin
ion is, that enlightened men would sanction
that punishment. But, says the Senator
that would be assassination! | think not
am sure that the Senator is an enemy to tn
Constitution Of his country-an enemy t
one of the institutions of his country, whicl
is solemnly guaranteed by the organic law q
the land-and in so far, he is a lawless pei
son. | am sure, if he would 90 to the Stat
OF Mississippi, or any other slave State {
this Confederacy, and utter such language
he would justly he regarded as an incendii
ry in heart and in fact, and as such, gup
Of an attempt to involve the South in blooI
shed, violence, and desolation, and if II
arm of the law happened to be too short,
the spirit of the law to be slumberous, | ha'
declared that the duty Of the people who
rights were thus put in danger would be.
inflct summary punishment upon the offe
der. But, says the Senator, victims ha.
been made, and there are other victims re
dy. | am sure that he could not persua
me that he would ever be a victim. | ha
never deplored the death of such victim
and | never shall deplore it. Such
hcious intermeddling deserves its fate.
believe that no good man, who is not a n
MAC, as the Senator from New Hampshire
apprehended to be, can have any sympat
for those who lawlessly interfere with t
rights of others. He, however, will ne,
be a victim! He is one of those gusty d
claimers-a windy speaker-a-
MIR. CriHenden-if the gentleman will
low me | rise to a question of order. G.
tleuen have evidently become excited, an
hear on all sides language that is not beco
inr. call the renlleman 10 order for