The republic., 1850-11-30

ptTICnCG NEW EnKIHnd q. gov
ernment of the United States had not been in ope-
ration two years. when the necessity Of some such
provision, IN some form, to preserve the peace OF
bordering 4 independent States was clearly proved.
You know that in 1853 Florida belonged to Spain,
and stretched along the southern border of Georgia
Well, General Washington had not been tive years
in office when the people Of Southern Georgia be-
came uneasy account of the escape Of their
slaves across the border into Florida, as to make
very representations TO the National Govern
ment, demanding redress. And thereupon orders
were obtained from the Spanish Court to arrest the
titution and President Washington sent special
messenger into Florida to sec to the execution of
these orders.
1t is unnecessary to enlarge upon this. If any
one in this age expects to live in peace. side by side
with the slaveholding States, without some etfec
tual stipulation to the restoration of fugitives,
he must either be wise to foresec events in
way connected with human experience, or 30 fool
ish as to reject experience and probabilities as
guides of action.
know it may be said .sLct the contest come.
We are ready for it. Let the blood of the slaugh-
tered be upon the heads Of those who in the
wrong" When l look abroad over a hundred
thousand happy homes in Massachusetts, and sec
people such as the blessed sun has rarely shone
upon-so intelligent, educated, moral, religious,
progressive and free, to do every thing but wrong;
when call to mind its admirable constitution of
government, and that 1t comes as near to pertec-
member that these things the FREQ gifts Of that
awful Being who holds peoples and nations in the
hollow of his hand, fear to say that should not
be in the wrong to put all this at risk because
lmpassionatc will iinpes US to break promise
wise and good fathers made, to allow class of
foreigners to come here, or to send them back if
they came.
With the rights of those persons firmly believe
Massachusetts, has nothing to do. 1t is enough for
us that they have no right to be here. Our peace
and safety they have no right to invade; whether
they. come as fugitives, and, being here. act
rebels against our law or come as armed invaders
Whatever natural 0hta thew have and / limit
those natural rights to their fullest extent, this is
not the soil on which to vindicate them This is
Our soil-sacred to our peace-On which we intend
TO perform our promises, and work out, for the ben
eft of ourselves, and posteriy, and the world,
the destiny which our Creator has ASST gned to us
So far as He has supplied US with the means to
the distressed, we, Christian men, will do So
and bid them welcome, and thank God that we
have the means to do it, But we will not act be-
yond these means; We will not violate solemn
compact to do it; we will not do it by holding up
our hands and swearing to render verdict
cording to the law and the evidence, and then
knowingly violate that act; will not plunge
into civil discord To do it; will not shed blood to
do 1T; we will not so throw away the rich gifts
which He has conferred upon US, not for benefit
alone, but In rust for countless generations Of his
children
In my judgment, these are not the means which
He has confded to to enable to succS the
needy and the oppressed of other States
During the speech of Mr.. Curtis slight dis
turbance was caused by the Rev. Theodore Parker,
who attempted to interrupt and reply 10 Mr.. Cur
tiss review of the sermon of "certain reverend
preachers" this, however, but of moments
duration. The audience were not inclined to grant
Mr.. Parker hearing. although his friend Garri-
son attempted likewise to put in his oar. Mr. Cur
tis said: cat proper time shall be pleased to hear
what the gentleman in the gallery has TO say; but,
at present beg to be permitted to proceed with
the course of my remarks" Mr.. Curtis expert
enccd no further interruption, and ''the gentleman
in the gallery was slenced for the remainder of
the evening. This occurrence the only thing
that interrupted the general harmony of the pro-
ceedings Of the evening.
Mr.. Curtiss speech was listened to with great at
tention, and occasionally elected enthusiastic ap
plause.
Hon. B. F. HALLErT followed.
Mr.. HALLKTT said, that MIR. Curtis had shown
sufficient reason for the presence of the assem-.
bly, in the evidence OF opposition to the laws and
Constitution which he had presented, and that the
meeting itself was proof that there truth in
the statement, that there a law which would be
successfully resisted in Massachusetts.
MIR. Hallett proceeded to remark on the union Of
all parties in the present meeting; union for the
country and not of party; a union based upon
the middle ground Of safety, avoiding the extremes
Of opinion. He said that this meeting not the
first which had been beld in Faneu Hall ON the oc
casion Of the excitement produced by an unpopular
law. Eighteen years ago there was similar meet
ing TO enforce in behalf of Massachusetts the tariff
law; bat that was at a time when the unpopularty
Of the law in the single State Of South Carolina
Now the Is reversed. Not merely State, but
ali the Southern States declare that this law unpop
uar here is necessary for the maintenance of their
rights.
Mr.. II. rdoulcd the idea Of peaceful rssist
ancs" TO the law which has been talked Of He said
he could not understand how that could be. ZAP
plhusc and laughter IL, then, the great parties
are united for the Union this middle ground,
the safety of the country is evident whichever may
have the supremacy; but If a sectional party
should gain the supremacy, or even hold balance
Of po'oer, who would be willing TO guaranty the
safety Of the Union for a month";
That the peace mcssurc-the platform on which
tho two parties thus united for Union-makes
such middle ground the denunciation they have
met both extremes of the country from sectional
fanatics is the plaincst evidence. live follow either
extremity VIC come 10 disunion and anarchy but,
keep upon this middle ground, and the whole Con-
stituton aud Laws Sustained, and no fragment
s broken off. The fanatics Of one section propose
secession-tbc other, new and IN ysterious "higber
law" Applause.
He then went somewhat into the history in the
Conventions of the clause Of the Constitution on
which the Objectionable law IL founded Il is a
somewhat singular fact he said that the fourth ar.
tice Of the Constitution, which contains this pro
vision, was not even discussed in the Convention
which framed that instrument, and was not only
adopted by the unanimous vote OF all the Statcs,
bot received the ssscnt OF every delegate from
every State, while in the Massachusetts Convention
WhlCh rhtlHed the 1onsttuton ~ va not ussed
at ALL There were members of these Conv entions,
gentlemen Of exalted regulations, with as much
learning and as correct concionccs any men of
the present time, and IL they found no fault with
this provision OF the Constitution, have we any rea
son to' The only proper ground TO stand ON then,
now, the middle ground Of non -intcrvcn.
ton, allowing each State to arrange its own form
Of government, provided only it be republican, and
TO regulate for itself its own modes of labor.
Mr.. Hallett next ndvcrtcd to a clause of the Flu.
gitive Slave Law which requires a service Of the
citizens Of free States which II has been alleged il
is repugnsnt to frecmon to perform-to aid in the
return of the iugtivcs. But, he said, IL there s
resistance 10 the law, soch service will be re-
qurcd for then the master himself, and the officer
with the warrant, may come and take home his
slave quietly, without asking for needing any
| assistance.
Mr.. Hsllett said he did not doubt that as In the
time Of shay's rebellion, the Judges were found
equal TO their duty, the commissioners would.
He could certainly answer for one of them. And
IL they met with any obstacles from those who
would resist, a. acting under the "bigher law
he did not doubt that there would come to their aid
tho vast msss of the people, clothed with tho high
authority Of higher than the higher law. zap.
plsusc.
Mr.. Hallctt quoted thoee last solemn words OF