Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-12-14
SPEECH OF
- - II OE
HON. JOSHUA r. GIDDTEGs.
Ii he House q Representatives. al UaS8iagiop, /
MONDAY, Dec. 9. 1850.
CoNCLUnEp.

OF the Constitution wiz seek 10 interfere in matters left
with the States. We viii be made to interfere
with ii bat must hasten another expression Of the
President.
Hetes Us .sthe law Is the only sure protection Of
the weak, and the oay efficient restraint upoa the
strong Tins, sir, Is said in direct reference this
fugitive slave law. Il would seem that the President
intended how far he could impose upon the intel
igence Of the people. Sir, what pro,ectoa does this
law lend 10 the poor, weak, oppressed, degraded saye
whose esh has often quyered under the lash Of his in-
human owner; whose youth has been spent In labor for
anesher; whose nteiect has been nearly butted cut
W hen he seeks an aSl lum in land Of freedom, this
than barbarous law sends the officers Of Govern
men TO chase him down. The people are constrained
10 hecoge-his pursuers. Furnishing, ianting and be-
nunoed with the cold, he diaeS his weary limbs for
ward, while the whole power Of the Government under
the Presidents command the army aad navy and all
the tTeeinen OF The land organized nfo constabuagy
force, are on his track TO drag him back to bondage
under this law. And this law the President tells Us is
the only sure protection the miserable slave. The
expressions appears TO me, rather nsaitn incl
lgence.
Sn, there is not man in this boiy-there is not an
intelligent aa in the free States, but knows it he de-
MYERS fugitive into the custody of his pursuers that he
will be carried to the South aud sold To the sugar or
cotton plantations, and his life will BE- sacrificed in FIVE
years iemployed on the sugar plantations, and in seven
years on the cotton plantations. The Of the North
who look upon this as murder would as soon turn out
him back TO land of chains and whips. As soon
would they do this comply with law which violates
every principle OF common justice and humanity. The
law, SIR, holds hun who aids murder as guilty as
he who strikes the knife the heart Of the VICTIM I'm
der our law man is hanged If he fails TO prevent
murter when II Is plainly in his power 10 do So Such
man held guilty Of The act, and he hanged accord
ingy. The man who should assist il the capture OF
fugitive, would be regarded By us as guilty as he under
whose lash the victim expires
I have a rt,;-
murder. In doing that do Injustice to the COM
mon murderer To capture slave and send him to the
South to die under torture of five years is far more
criminal than ordinary murder.
SIR, we will not commit this crime. Let me say 10
the Presidents no power of Government can comreI rs
to involve ourselves IN such guilt No The ireemen
Of OHIO will never turn chase the painting fugitive
= they viii never be netamorphused into bood-hounds
to track him to his hiding place and seize and drag him
out, and deliver him to his tormentors Rely upon IL
they will die hrsi They may be shot down, the
non and hayonet and sword may do their work upon
them; they may drown the ugitiyes in their blood, but
never will they stoop to such degradation
Let no man tell me there is higher law than this
fugitive bill We feel there is law Of right ofjnstice
Of freedom, implanted the breast of every intelligent
human being, that bids him look with scorn upon this
libel upon all that is called law.
SIR, was about TO make comparisons but PER
hapS they may be regarded indicate. During st
Summer two distinguished gentlemen Of the same name
occupied much OF the public attention One was said
TO have committed MURDERS and the other to have pro-
cured the passage Of this law One was hanged for his
crime the other, tor his etrts taken TO the Executive
Cabinet One destroyed the life Of an individual the
other contributed his efforts for the passage Of this law
winch must consi9n hundreds, perhaps thousands to
premature graves. l. SIR cannot speak for others but
Tor myself would rather meet my inal Judge with the
SUPPRESSION, Intended 70 ada ,e;l,
cafation already noticed '5'i' 70 me de-
ne president says: ssYon. oeptler,.o -,
eouu'!' may be assured, that to the u,mos, If ti
~, 'iu % Tue extent Of the power vested in me sbu
be Faithfully executed s'-'' ne id"s
No"' have told what the effects Of tba, I,,, ,u1.
n"'e pointed out the course which think our nartS
cru people VIII take IN regard To it, LEI the ps;i
80, 'i.S tauns dt Tue lrcenen Of the North Let hin
speak @'the powers vested In him. lei b;n No. - nun
onet, the sword, and the cannon. lei b; 'e "a!
aho'ner ilaynan; let him drench our land n fl
= oo' o't ne WIN nerer make US obey that Ia,, tn
- 'a'ih maj opens lis sound upon northern fraaoa
c 1ie u' ah Ahel Of tnis Republic | say ,yhat h
ofe uod and man feel-that the moment onn 80
or Navy conirons the freemen of the Nh army
hent WIN bring this Republic to lis eter,aI - '"o
make these remarks not By way of menace 7 r. r. -
say 'hai lam speaking my personal intentions in
III, state what every enlightened stateman
ho li'is read the history Of our race Y,,s, ''''
MT. free, enlightened and lpdero,i+ anu "i
'e%e' De compelled by the bayonel ar c,,,F - ~
:" "iu W carrying into effect this flyitive l,,y
Is que 10 our southern frie IDS who from the n,o
h. p"'Si"s oi inns law, have perhaps expected thai
nc resident, IN the event of disincIinafion ~ -:
would send his troops, his minons IN efrao ~ ~
ue 70 men, repeat that they should under,aJ -
nc ii'ehi9ence and firmness of the Cree,,an e ,t
worm cannot be coerced into compliance ,.;tb Gie
el them to il. :" 'iat can COM
AN bid. IN an nndertone that no,yer -, ;u
RED hope and trust il will not. If The 80; eA
e' - ON republican institutions. If ba d.;
sustain ms Government; if he be a friend =, ~;
o"' nc WIN never attempt to enforce this law r -
hsse e neareS contained in that message
e ''s''deeS are unworthy Of the President. ;n9I
40 ho' lnpuie them 10 him SO much AZ =, ~ $500;
"n'H lle Is guided We know that on tho IN g ]
'On' Pfo3fainme OF these measures was ppt c,b - S
= u.ne' ehd Of The Capitol, and debated there c'r
,,. ~ 'i's ,uStiVe Dill, when presented to this
"'' Passed under the previous question. NJ !
SECESSION OF ats provisions was allovad III 4" !,
ine Norm were not expressed nor represe,tad IS
y were hernecay sealed in order thar il m,b, 0ut
y 1ssu'he me i1rm OF law But, SIR il can nsve, 80
80, the sPlrh Or force OF law. The power nj nnbli. h
hin'eht Is opposed to il, and it will remain Az i IN
upon your statute book. ''
WI now refer to that part of the MESSAGE in ,b;,h
PRESIDENT says, 81 believed those measures ), 80
= F" tiis DIN, ITO have been necessary and reoJ &C
: ~. lances and condition of The cnnntry
. ~ Jo'e mi' Nhairman, that he has boldly ayo,yed
=, - ne "hoie North believed that he was n -
an anl conscience opposed 10 this bill. Every Nh w
70 ~ me North said plainly thai Tho p;iy ~ ~
'"fol ,hiS Dl, but that he was coerced IT,, ~
pen ny compulsion 1t was the wbip " I'd
Is we seto mat compelled him to sign il. rho
,n, "a t te"S On me question now before the
huy' ana he ayows his position manf,lIv IT, ~ Wy VI
'Se' upon this law; and here wish ~ , t''es in
use' tnat from this time we all know whore ia Pr a.
1T vs. lie IS n tatr Of This L4o; he not ol - ~
lsa 'ne'e, Dut ms administration and NJ, rar, 'a
!, snb 81 - aan ~ nus aw rejoice at ii They II