The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-21

sent wrongs, it may be OUT Of our power to do
either hereafter
CHARLES SUMNER ON TIE FUGITIVE Laval
the Free-so meeting held at Faneull Hall, on the
9th Of November, Charles Sumner, of Boston,
was among the speakers AS he was known to
be commissioner, under appointment from the
United States, his position, as well as his ability,
excited considerable curiosity as to what he would
say. ss'II 3. .."
At the outset Mr.. Sumner asserted the uncon-
sttutionaty Of the law. He then passed to
consideration Of the effects OF the law, and classed
it "among those acts of outrage and wrong which
are forever Infamous on the pages Of history
He said !:
SIN the dreary annals of the past, there
many acts ofshame-there are ordinances of mon
archs, and laws which have become a byeword
and kissing TO the nations. But, when we con-
slider the country and the age, | ask fearlessly,
what act Of shame, what ordinance of monarch,
what law compare in atrocity, with this enact
ment of an American Congress? Nome do
not forget Appius Claudius, the tyrant decemvir
Of ancient Rome, condemning Virginia as slave !;
nor Louis XIV. of France, letting slip the dogs Of
religious persecution by the revocation ofthe edct
Nantes nor Charles |. of England, arousing the
patriotic rage of Hampden, by the eXtortlon Of
ship-money nor the British Parliament, provok
ing in our country, spirits kindred to Hampden,
by the tyranny Of the stamp act and tea tax.
WOuIu not eXaSSeTate WISH " hetp WHh'H
bounds but think no person can doubt that the
condemnation now aft Xed to all these Transactions
and to their authors, must be the lot hereafter of
the Fugitive slave bill and of every one, according
to the measure of his influence, who gave it his
support. Three cheers were here given. Into
the immortal catalogue Of national crimes this has
now passed, drawing with it, by an eXplorable ne
cessity, its authors also, and chiefly him, who. as
the President of the United States, set his name to
the bill, and breathed into it that final breath,
without which it would have no life. [Sensation.
Other Presidents may be forgotten +; but the name
signed to the Fugitive slave bill can never be for
gotten. Never There are depths of iniamy
as there depths Of fame. Applause. re-
gret to say what must but truth compels me-
Better far for him had he never been born. Re-
newed applause. Better far for his memory, and
the good name OF his children, had he never been
! President Repeated cheers. -
Mr. Sumner, after comparing the law to the
| Stamp act, read a striking passage from the I'M
published diary of John Adam, descriptive Of the
| manner in which that act was received by the peo-
| pie. This is the passage:
"The year 1865 has been the most remarkable
| year in my life. That enormous engine, fabricated
| by the British Parliament, for batelng down all
| the rights and liberties of America Il mean the
Stamp Act,-has raised and spread through the
| whole continent spirit that will be recorded to
our honor with all future generations. In every
colony, from Georg to New Hampshire inclu
been compelled by the uncoEquerable rage OF the
people to renounce their offices. Such and so
universal has been the resentment Of the people,
that every man who has dared to speak in favor
Of the stamps, to soften the detestation in which
they are held, how great so ever his abilities and
virtues had been esteemed before, whatever
his fortune, connections, and influence had been,
has been seen to sink into universal contempt
and ignominy," IA voice " Ditto the slave
hunter. y
Referring to his own position, Mr.. Sumner re-
marked:
"And here, sir, let me say, that it becomes me
to speak with peculiar caution. lthappens to me
to sustain important relation to this bill. Early
in professional life, was designated by the late
Mr.. Justice Story one of the Commissioners Of
the Courts ofthe United States, and, though have
not very often exercise the functions Of this post,
yet my name is still upon tt e lists. As such | am
one Of those before whom, under the recent act
Of Congress, the painting fugitive may be brought
for the decision of the question, whether he is a
freeman a slave. But while it becomes me to
speak with caution, | shall not hesitate to speak
with plainness. | cannot forget that am man.
although | am a Commissioner. Three cheers
given.
" Did the same spirit which inspired the fathers,
inspire community now, the marshals, and
every mag istrate who regarded this law having
any constitutional obligation, would resign rather
than presume TO execute 1t. This, however, is
too much to expect from all at present But will
not Judge them. To their own consciences leave
them. Surely, no person of humane feelings, and
with any true sense of justice, living in a land
where the bells have knolled to church = whatever
may be the apology Of public station, could fail
to recoil from such service For myself let me say,
thatI can imagine no Office, salary, no consdera-
ton, which would not gladly forego, rather than
become in any way an agent in ensaving my
brother-man. lSensation. Where for me would
be comfort and soace, after such work. IA
voce-'No where!'l In dreams and in waking
hours, in solitude and in the street, in the meda
tons of the closet, and in the affairs of men,
wherever | turned, there my victim would stare
me in the face; from the distant rice fields ard SUI
gar plantations of the South, his cries beneath the
vindcuve lash, his means at the thought OF liberty
once his, now, alas ravished from him, would
pursue me, telling the tale of his fearful doom, and
for ever sounding in my ears, Thou art the
man" [Rapturous applause.
Our readers may judge of the spirit of the
whole address from the few extracts we have given
CALF oRNIA.--Some of the smart submissionists
ask, with triumphant shake Of the head, and
very wise look, Z" what clause in the Constitution