The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-25
IcoNr1NUKD FROM FOURTH pAeEj

Such were the opinions which Mr.. Webster
then expressed, and such the resolutions Of the
Legislature Of Massachusetts,, with which he
agreed Yet he now processes to wonder that
anybody can see any difference between the doc
tines of those speeches and resolutions, and those
of his speech delivered on the 9TH Of March*
6. MEASUREMENT OF FACT, IN REGARD To
FUGITIVE SLAVES.
Mr. Webster says that, previous to writing his
Newburyport letter, he made "diligent inquiry"
of members of Congress from New England, to
ascertain how many arrests Of fugitive slaves had
been made in their time and he adds, the result
of all can learn is this: No seizure Of an al
legged slave has ever been made in Mainen
Now, two such cases have happened in the
State Of Maine. One took place in the eastern
part of the State, about 1895 or '36. The other
happened at or near Thomaston, little later.
In this latter case the fugitive came to Maine in
Thomaston vessel, whose master was afterwards
demanded as a fugitive from justice. This de-
mand gave rise to prolonged correspondence,
think, with no less than three Governors Of
Maine This correspondence was extensively
CIRCULATED through the newspapers, or referred
to by them, and it would seem hardly possible
that Mr. Webster should not have seen it. Since
the NeNburypOrt letter was Published, this mis-
statement Of fact has been noticed in the Maine
newspapers, yet 10 retraction is made The mis-
statement is allowed to be spread over the whole
country, uncorrectsd by its author. Mr.. Web
ster then adds, No SEIZURE Of an alleged fugitive
slave has ever been made " Vermont Tradition,
and, as believe, authentic history, contradict
Mr. Webster here. IL is said by "members Of
Congress from Vermont that an alleged fugitive
was carried before Judge Harrington Of Vermont
in 1907, and on his being asked what evidence
would satisfy him that the person was a slave he
replied, Z" A bill of sale from Almighty God"
But even if these statements of MIR. w ebster,
with regard 70 the New England States, were all
true, it would avail him nothing; for, in the eye
Of patriotism, il matters not where such seizures
are made | refer to this, only to show that Mr..
Webster is not to be relied upon in these matters,
either for the accuracy of his original positions,
or for a retraction of them, when their error is
pointed out by the public press. | wish not to be
understood on thus particular point as imputing to
Mr.. Webster an intentional misstatement; be-
sause he accompanied his original statement with
a salvo. He confessed and he is entitled to the
full benefit ofthe confession his information
might not be "entirely accurate" though he sup
posed il not 10 be materially erroneous Ii is
q materially erroneous :. AND tSengh one error
has been exposed in the Maine papers, he does
not rectfy it. Possibly, he does not know it.
7. FURTHER MISSTATRMENT or PACT
While holding Massachusetts up to reproach
Mr.. w ebster draws succor and encouragement
from the Society of Friends, and especially from
the Friends of Pennsylvania. He says that they
remain " of sound and disposing minds and memo
ries; - and he contrasts their wisdom and compo.
sure with the vehement and empty declarations,
the wild and fantastic conduct of both men and
women which have so long disturbed and 30
much disgraced the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts. He then adds, 81 am mised by au-
- Il. - l.
true that that great body approves the sentiments
to which gave utterance on the floor of the Sem
aten will now show that this alleged approval by
the Friends, though worthy of any price but truth
was too dearly bought.
IL is well known that the Friends are divided
into two great denominations. Each has its Pc
riOdical, one now in its eighth, the other in its
fourth year. In the numbers published since the
appearance of the Newburyport letter, both these
periodicals do not "approve," but repudiate and
denounce the sentiments to which Mr.. Webster
gave utterance "On the floor of the Senate"
The FIiHds IatellgMer deals at length with
Mr.. Webster's F." sentiments on the Fugitive
Slave Bill !" on the legislation ofthe North for the
protection of its own citizens on bis pseudo-discov
eriesin physical geography ~ and on the legal
construction and efectn of the Texas resolu-
tions; and it condemns them all.
The Fiends ReUisw dissents not less positively
from Mr.. Websters positions; and both call him
severely to account for the defamation of them
selves, which his letter implies.
On his sentiments respecting fugitive slaves,
the {" ReUsw" observes that they have yet to learn
that that part of his speech was approved by
any member or professor of the society"
tiCies, but must fOrbear.
John G. Whittier, Esq, speaking for the Qua
kers of New England, gives "a peremptOry
denialD to Mr.. Webster's statement. quote the
following paragraph from him:
nNow we undertake to say there member Of
the Society Of Friends In free slave States Who whether
acting magistrate citizen could carry the pro-
visions this most atrocous BILL without rendering himself
liable Mediate expulsion from society whose character
would be disgraced and discipline would he violated
by such action II has been, in times past the misfortune
Of the Society Of Friends be yed caricaturrd and mis-
represented but we remember nothing In the old days
Of persecution hard 10 bear the compliments Of the
Massachusetts, Senator Whatever HE authority may have
heen do not hesitate to unquahedy false TO
the last degree"
Now what shall be thought of cause that
requires such defence or of the man that can
make it!
There are many other points presented by Mr..
WebSter's speech of the 9TH of March, or by what
he has since said and written to defend it, which
seem to me as unwarrantable in fact, and as rep
rehensibe in principle, as any above enumerated. |
| shall close these notes, however, with one COM
ment more; reserving Others though sincerely |
hoping never TO have occasiod to use them.
Among the excavations with which Mr.. Web
ster amused himself and his Southern newborn
pro.slavery admirers on the 18th of March lust,
he fayed nobody half 30 deeply or so compla-
Gently, as he did his old felow-senators, Messrs
Dix of New York aud Niles of Connecticut. He
scored them to the living fesh and then soothed
their smarting wounds by vitriol and caustic, as
though he loved them. Their agency in the
Texas swindle, he made odiously conspicuous. He
tainted them with heart-piercing inuendo for
their compulsory retirement from public life.
And then he portrayed them as occupying their
enforced vacation in attempting to rouse the peo-
pie TO save those regions from the curse Of slavery
which, but for their sins, never would have been
exposed to it. lie worked up the scene so graph
cally, that every one Knocked at their contempti.
bic plight and at the ridiculous contrast between
the swiftness Of their offence and the lameness of
their expiration The effect was dramatic The
prO-slavery part of the gallery and the floor re-
sponded with shout of laughter. Yet devoted
and lOng-tried friends of MIR. Webster were there
whom no darkness Of blindness could prevent from
seeing that his bitter sarcasm against the ex-
Senator's, though calculated to make the "unskil-
full laugh must make the "judicious grieve.n
They could not fail to see that he, Mr.. Webster
himself, at that very moment was occupying pre-
csely the same pro-sayery ground, which Messrs.
Dix and Niles had occupied, when they brought |
in Texas and re-annexedp California and New |
Mexico He was exerting all his great talents to
do an act of the same character which Messys Dix |
and Niles had done that is, to open new ter
ritory TO slavery. And doubtless the first thought
which arose in many mind was the same which |
spontaneously arose in my own, that, should he sue
coed in arguing down, or laughing down the will
mot as he twice scornfully called the Proviso
and should he then betake himself to penitence
and prayer, and by years Of effort, strive to
stay back from slavery the regions he had
doomed to it, he would only have elevated himself
Prof Stuart In namnhlet entitled Coincidence and