Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-08-01

people of all the free States and doing So uttered
sentiments which undertake to say, judging from my
own State, not entertained by one IN thousand
Immediately the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr..
VENABLE1 takes the floor full of wrath, works himself
into rage, "tears passion to tatters appeals to the
passions and preudices OF the South and INDUCES IN the
bitterest nvectiye against the North He said doubt
the gentleman from Pennsylvania expressed the true
motives of the Norh and that the of would all
speak in the strain if we dared. And who does
the gentleman suppose we are afraid of Not OF our
constituents surely if should speak their sentl
ments and hope the gentleman does not aaer himself
that fear humiliation from his thunderbolts though
believe, sir that southern gentlemen-l by no
means make the remark general--but say SOUTH
gentlemen have Wanted of their prowess until they
have, least, made themselves believe that they are
really ormidabe-perfect observation-disclosures whom we
pale-aces of the North must quake and tremble Now,
sir, do believe there is single from the free
States who is afraid to avow his opinions and act up to
them. hope-aye, beleye-there is none from the
slave States If there is such one, he not only nnft
for the representative of free people, but he is too
base to be freeman. AS for myself was born and
have hitherto lived fireman. ever expect to remain
and if know myself, afraid boldly to avow
sentiments here and elsewhere upon this other
question: and u3ertake to say, that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania did speak the sentiments OF the
of the people of the free States correctly rep
resent their feelings and motives. Let not gentlemen
take the opinions Of such for their guide but let
them go among the people upon their FARMS in their
work shops their resdes, where they have self
ntesest to advance no political ambition to CRAFTY
who politically desire nothing but the peace and harmo
ny and and welfare of country There they will get
the true public sentiment Of the North, and one which will
be very different from that by those who
the forms of godness excite the worst passions of
citizens against each other. Nor do believe that if
could 90 into the southern States. visit their plantations
and hearh-senes should there find the state oil things
portsayed the feelings and sentiments uttered by south
ultraists upon this floor As evidence OF the effects
of this misunderstanding and misrepresentation where
let ask has this storm been raised that now threat
to pour its wrath upon usl In those States
which bosder upon the free States whose people UNDER
stand the sentiments of the people of the free States
and the good or bad faith with which they have dis
charged their constitutional duties, and respected the
constitutional rights of the slave Stateswhose people
have suffered the losses and inconvenience of the flight
to the free States of their slaves and the difficulties OF
their recapture2 No, SIR but in South Carolina, Geor
ga, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana-States which
lie too semote for such losses who have and never
can feel any of those evil consequences OF the agitation
and action of the free States which they much profess
dread On tho other hand the agitation of this SUBJ
ect much in the border free States where the
and workings Of this institution best under
STOOD to which most OF the fugitive slaves ee and from
whence they recaptured but, it is in Massachu
sets, Connecticut, Rhode Island Vermont. and New
York, most of whose citizens never saw fugitive slave
Massachusetts where, believe, there has been but
single instance in years OF fugitive slave having
taken refuge within her borders-at any but one
whose recapturc has been attempted and in of the
other States have named there has not been even
Mr.. MILLsoN (Mr. Durham yielding the floor) said
the honorable gentleman has fallen into error which
feel it to be my duty to correct, He has doubtless
boon msled bv statement contained ia the admirable
letter of Mr. Daniel Webster, published few days ago
In that letter Mr. Webster, apparently with view to
reconcile the people of New England to the sentiments
expressed by him the Senate in reference their obi
cation surrender fugitive slaves well expose
the groundessness of the complaints of the Abotonsts
there, attempts to show that only very few had
Cured in the New England States in which they had
ever been called upon to fulfill these obligations And
in reference to those happening in Massachusetts, his
own State, he says, well recoec, that only one
case had occurred of which the circumstances were
known with any certainty and that occurring
at Boston some twelve or fifteen years ago. in which the
of the slave had been prevailed by cha
ritaby disposed persons to surrender his claim, in
sideration of receiving OF money which he regard
ed as less than half his value
Now sir, it is hardly necessary to say that do not
and man will attribute to Mr.. Webster any
intentional Misrepresentation suppression of known
facts and circumstances. But state that from
district alone many slaves have escaped to Massachu
sets, and quietly residing in Boston, who have
never been pursued by their masters, because was
perfectly well known that pursuit would be unavailing
And state moreover that in the particular refer
red 70 by Mr. Webster which doubtless the case of
Latmer that produced much excitement the time,
the slave escaped from the city in which reside. He
pursued by his master and apprehended in Boston.
where he was lodged in Jail by the marshal his depu-
ty. The most complete evidence produced OF the
escape OF the ownership, OF identity and OF every other
fact necessary to be established The services of emf
nent counsel were secured and neither money pains
was spared to insure the recovery OF the slave. But
while the proceedings pending, the authorities
Boston, yielding the threats of
portion OF the people, refused to permit the Jail to be
used for the sae-kecping Of the slave He accord
ngly turned out into the street, where erocious mob
of negroes and others had assembled him from
the hands of the officers OF the law In the mean time
suits the the slave brought against the
master for assault and battery and false Imprisonment
and he was held to bail in large amounts and, II mis-
take not actually thrown into prison. 1t was under
these circumstances that he absolutely compelled
to accept proposition to abandon all further efforts to
his slave, and execute deed OF emancipation,
in consideration of of money, which not only
half his value but which scarcely paid onehalf
the expenses he necessarily incurred In his Intellectual
efforts to reclaim him.
Mr.. DUNHAM continued. I hope, Mr.. Chairman, I
may be again interrupted, that may not be drv
to the discourtesy of refusing yield the floor
Leave this whole question to the border States slave
and free, who best understand its difficulties, and each
others conduct and motives and it be settled
and settled forever.
Aoain, we do not make sufficient allowances for each
others preiudices and feelings We forget what vast
influence BIRTH early habit of thoughts education, and
above ALL interest, exercise upon the human mind We
forget how far these things may and do control the rea
and Judgment Notwithstanding the effects daily
exhibited in the various walks oil life easily
understand how person born amidst slaves brought up
surrounded and waited upon by them educated from his
cradle to consider slavery right, with has interest IN
accordance with this opinion should come honestly to
believe, with my friend from Mississippi, that the insti
tuition is civil, moral, and religious blessing whilst
one born and educated at the North having northern
preudices against it nstled into his mind from his child
hood, taught look upon violation OF the laws OF
God and the rights of man, should as honestly come to
directly the opposite opinon that 1t was civil, moral
and religious curse-each In his zeal, looking upon the
other insincere and hyPocrtcal Who does not see
how mnch these preludces must effect the Judgment
upon every question in any way growing out of this in
sttuon The preudices OF each should be treated with
proper respect and have their proper influence when we
upon questions upon which they come in conflict
Each should yield somewhat to that of the other