Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-11-08
SPEECH
OF THE
HON. CHARLES 4 LL / \
At the City Hall, in Worcester,
Nov. >. 1850.
pHoS5GRAPHIC REPORT BY DR.. STONE,
For the Worcester Daily Spy.

MY FRIENDS / inteaded, when | addressed vou
a few weeks since. to speak further upon the subject
which is uopernost in the minds Of the people-the
Fuyitive Slave Biil-to explain IN what manner that
bill was passed, and to show the degree of responsible.
tv which attaches the wing party, for its passage
II is not purpose IN speaking Of that party, dis
turb the feelings of member Of it, who NAV be pres
ent; bat 1t is important that the truth should be spoken
and spoken with paInness.
We live at a time when great questions agitate the
public mind; when the people looking for light;
when they DESTROYS OF understanding the action Of
all parties upon the great subjects before the country
and they have rgld to all the information which can
be giyen tending To satisfy their minds, respect TO
the way and manner in which the Fugitive Slave Bill
was passed. They have right to know by what
means, aud by whose agency that measure, which so
abhorent the humanity Of the country, and which
makes Doubt whether in truth i've in the 10Th
century, came to have the form of law of the land
It IS important that the part of our wing friends
that the which taken bg the whig partv in
reference that bill, should be fully understood and
declare to you now my purpose to satisfy your minds
that the ICag party party IS responsible for that
Many Democrats did indeed vote for the measure:
but how unlike theirs is the position of the whig party
1t contended before the country, that the wing party
Is the party opposed to slavery and its leaders and its
orators, in Massachusetts especially now call upon the
people, and demand that their party should be sustain
ed, because it is the party Of freedom, They tell YOU
that your organization is superhuous; that specal
Free Soil party is not needed; that they the true
Free Soil Party In the face of these declarations re-
peat the assertion, that the whig party responsible
for the passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill, and shall
offer you ample evidence in support of the charge.
In the first place, the law derives its validity from
the approval of the Wing President, does it notl-
Without his active cooperation, it could not have been
enacted. Upon this point shall have more to say IN
the course ofhe evenng-a present pass on, for the
purpose Of viewing the question in other aspects.
The Wing party tell us that they not responsible
for its passage, because only three members of the
ty, from the North voted in favor of the bill on its final
passage. But, while they deny that more than three
wing members from the North voted for the passage of
that bill, they admit that many members of the
eli the members from the Southern States tc5u ercctiou
dbl giUe thar v0s is favor. And when thew come be-
fore you, aud claim be 'sNatioaal' party and call
upon you to dsavow what they call sectional issues and
sectional parties, ask yon with what grace thev can
claim to be divided into two sections, Northern and
Southern! ask you, why, according to their ov n
pretence. they not responsible as much for the ac
ton OF Southern wings, they for the action of
Northern wings? Itseems to me, that while they dis
clam all sectional action and assume to be a national
party, it is enough to show in what manner the wbgs
as party acted without inquiring whether its members
came IRON the North or the South. But, gentlemen
the wings OF the North will not, BY placing themselves
on that narrow and truly sctorai platform find relief
from the burden that is upon them For | undertake
to show, that upon the wing members of the House Of
Representatives, even from the free States rests arue
share OF the responsibility, which attaches to the enact
men oil the law under consdeTation-and it is for them
to vlndicate the measure, bear the reproach which
belongs to it.
Three Representatives of the whig parry from the
Northern States, it is admitted voted for the bill
And where were the other Northern members of that
party, when the vote was taken Ga the passage of
that bill but tortyseven Northern wings voted against
resentatves, exclusive of any Free Soil men who are
sometimes cassed with them, not less than one hun
dred and SIX. There are seventy-four wing men,
bers from the Free States but only orty-seyen came
forward and gave their against this BILL
Let US 60 back little, and see what took Mace he
fore the final passage of the bill. The moment the bill
was presented for considerations the floor was given "a
one OF ITS friends. He addressed the House in brief
speech IN support of the BILL and closed by MOVING he
Previous Question. And that question, if sustained by
the House, closes every mans lips and prevents also
all opportunity to offer any amendment.
In passing, allow me to say one word for myseC II
mas been charged over and over again by the H5gis
well known newspaper, published in this city, that
Free Soil members of Congress- and your Representa
tive in particular come before the peope and de-
CLAIM against the Fugitive Slave Bill, and the bill for
the settlement of the boundaries of Texas and the es
adjustment OF government for New Mexco-that
gentlemen come here before the people, and point out
the enormites of those measures when they were 81
lent In Congress during their passage
The editor of the National 1Egis knows perfectly
well how it happened as we'll every man of YOU will
know, when shall inform you He reads the naners
IN what way and manner these bills were passed in the
House of Representatives He knows very well. with
respect to the Fugitive Sluye Bill, and also with regard
10 the other that no man allowed to address the
House upon the subject. He knows very we'll that the
floor was taken by friend of the BILL and thar befnre
he closed, he moved the Previous Question. in otbe,
words, applied the gagthat it was sustained bv the
House, and that closed the lips of every member ODD
posed to the Bill. y
Why, my friends, there were present, wings. wb;ps
not only in l847, but wings who remained true to tbei,
principles They were not allowed to address the House
upon the subject, to offer an amendment or make suu
geston, nor was it allowed by that house, that the bin
should be printed in order that members m;uht examine
It's proVisons. And the editor of the Kgis knows very
well, that Thaddeus Stevens among other wings who
retain principles the present day Sought
for the floor, demanded it, but without success H.
Knows too for the journals Of the day informed him, that
many einnerS sought to discuss the merits OF this
D ies tbs certainly true, and the fact has long since
been gwen to the public, that many more were upon
their ieet, both OF the wings who were honestly
to the bill and OF the Free Soil party seek1p An on
Portunly 70 oppose IT. to address the house. to offer
amendments OF material character; and among those
who had amendments prepared who and souobt
70 address the House upon the subject was YOUR own
Representative. prolonged applause Twenty mem
Ders oil that house were their feet simultaneously
seeking an opportunity to discuss the merits of that bill
but they were refused the opportunity and any one
who wishes TO ascertain the fact NAV turn To the mi,
lie journals. Ii he has them AT hand let him come
to me, and will show him the papers Of that date
which fully substantiate my assertion.
Now, my friends it is not necessary to inform the cd
itor OF the Atgis, those who carefully consult the
papers Of the day. that this course was pursued They
hno" u: But the attempt has been made to deceive
such OF the people, had fewer opportunities IN learn
the acts, and to give them the impression that the
who now oppose the BILL voluntarily silent during
lis passage.
now return o the subject from which have for a
moment dgressed.
have informed you that the previous question was