Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-06

This Daniel Webster is but n part of a
man. God created me, | humbly believe,
but the Constitution created him (applause
and hisses); because every man looks up to
his Creator for his highest law, and If Mr..
Webster knows nothing of any higher law
than the Constitution; it, when he fixes
those great, dark, eloquent eyes of his on the
blue vault of heaven, he sees nothing higher
than that parchment of 1857, then be is the
creature of the parchment of 1887, and not
of the Lord God Almighty, whose will he re-
fuses to obey. Why, one would imagine ac-
cording to this letter that we were to initiate
the Ephesians; that every American child
| was TO cry out, 'Great is the Constitution of
the United States (which fell down from
Jupiter and that were the Alpha and Omega
of his faith.
did not intend to speak as long MS have
on this subject. II had been determined TINT
the subject of our plan for the coming year
should he taken up for discussion, and also
the collection of funds for the fiirtherance of
1t. hope some of those who follow me will
speak TO this point 1t seems to me that the
present is one of the most favorable times for
| anti-slavery discussion. We have thrown
the subject before the community. Mr.. Web
ster says, at the end of this very letter, that
Congress is now six or eight months old,
and there seems to be no prospect of an end
to the discussion. hardly dare expect he
says, amy progress in useful legislation un-
I'll spirit shall prevail, both in Congress and
the country, which shall look more to things
important and real, and less TO things ideal
and abstract This idea of slavery is only
trihe! Robbng man of his wife and chill
dren is an abstraction What we want is
tariff, q United States Bank, Ministers TO
England, Secretaries of State, Overscers of
the Navy Department. These are important
and real' Liberty of speech, turning Massa-
chusetts into hunting-ground for fugitive
slaves, these are not s real and not 'impor-
tant they are ideal and abstract
Let us sec how profound his study of anti
slavery history has been. Mr.. Webster says
that mo seizure of an alleged fugitive slave
has ever been made in Muine.' Now, can
| tell him that Maine conster landed with ftl-
gitive slaves in Bath. They were discover
ed and arrested, and if the Governor of the
State of Maine had been n Constitutional
man, merely, Webster man, he would have
returned them to slavery, but he declined.-
lie made all sorts Of legal objections, TO such
an extent that the thing was given up, and
the men remained in Maine. He says, No
seizure of an alleged fugitive has ever been
made in New Ilampshire.' That may be
true; but George Washington himself If
the traditions of the town of Strafford are
| true, attempted TO get Information from New
Hampshire about fugitive from Mount Yer
non, and at that time Washington failed.-
mo seizure of an alleged fugitive has ever
been made in Vermont That is not true.
One was made in Vermont, and the case was
tried before Judge Harrington, in 1907. We
know what the answer of the old judge was.
| When asked what evidence of seryitude
would satisfy him-'I want bill of sale
| from God Almighty Enthusiastic applause.) |
That was an actual case, and Judge Harring-
ton was Judge of the Supreme Court of
Vcrmont and the decision is one which
may be quoted as authority TO the Green
Mountain boys of that State.
MIR. Webster says, No seizure of an ale
ged fugitive slave is known to have been
made in Connecticut, except one about twen-
fy-five years ago. think that this is a mis-
take. If / recollect rightly, very soon after
that disgraceful scene against the school of
Miss Crandall, there was case which wns
subject of much comment; but Connecticut
concluded not to disgrace herself in pursu-
ing it.
Some instances of the seizure of alleged
fugitive slaves are known TO have occurred
in this generation in Massachusetts, You
don't say so 'But, except one, their num-
ber and their history IS uncertain; that one
took place in Boston, twelve or fifteen years !
ago. Ii is the Latimer case which he has
and he has placed il back J
twelve or fifteen years ago. Oh! THE
Northern side of his memory rs Henry
Ward Beecher says, is surely paralyzed.5l +,
He iorgets what John ii. Pierson did, who
now owns that he has returned TO sense ..
of his constitutional duty Surely, he was
in his constitutional duty, and did it with
alacrity,' when, in South Boston, without a
warrant, he seized fugitive slave, and sent
him back in one of his own vessels, without ,
Judge or jury. Mr.. Webster might have in- /
quired of him, and he would have found .
more recent even than the Lati-
lner case, which occurred seven or eight
years ago and if they have been less fire.
quent than men suppose, why is it? There
are hundreds of fugitive slaves in Boston
at this moment. Why do they not come
and get them? He represents the votes Of
Daniel Webster dwels here
with these sentiments in his heart, and no.
body rebukes him. lie is the Senator of the
State. There are hundreds of fugitive slaves
within the sound of his voice when in Bos-
ton. Why do not the shareholders come and
get them? They are not prevented because !
of Wcbster's letters! not because of any of
his speeches! No! But ii is because there
have been certain mice gnawing the nets
which hold the consciences of these men,
who once kneeled to such statesmen as Hen
ry Clay. Those few humble individuals
have dragged the Common wealth back TO
her old 'prejmdices' againt the slove-hunt-
Heaven grant she may never get rid of them!
Get rid of this prejudice said David Hume
TO his Christian mother. My son, can you {
show me any thing better3 p was her reply J
-1--
Mrs Partington's Aunt is of opinion that s