The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-28

sign, Of those who established our Government
amidst toll and dangers .,
The annexation of Texas was conceived ana
urged, and consummated, with the ayowed inten.
ton of increasing the Slave Power. ] DO not
charge Northern men with acting on this princi-
pie but we know that the officers Of the Govern
ment the Executive, urged it expressly on these
grounds | then denounced il, as unconstitu-
tiona in its objects its designs, and in the manner
of it's consummaton. SO too did distinguished
Senator in the other end of the Capitol, who now
avows himself ready to vote for admitting these
new slave States from Texas for the very pur-
pose Of increasing the Slave Power in this Gov
eminent.
Sir, what has wrought such a change in the
mind of that distinguished SENATOR Time will
doubtless answer this question. But sir, holding
now, as then did, that Congress may at any time
repeal the Joint resolution by which Texas was
admitted-that those who voted for that resolu-
ton could by it's adoption impose no duty on me
to vote for admitting other new slave States,
shall at all times oppose such admission. These
sovereign States, while united under the same
Constitution, must be equal. Texas brought with
her no claim whatever to be divided into four
slave States. She can no more claim division
than Ohio, New York, or Pennsylvania The
sole object for such division is an increase Of
the Slave Power. To give it greater influence
over the rights and the interests of the free
States-to enable it more effectually to Withstand
the progress of truth and jusice-to prolong its
blood-stained and barbarous system of brutalizing
our fellow men.
But sir the day has arrived when the tenden-
cy, the effects and consequences Of our official
acts are known and understood by the People.
| He who now advocates an increase of the Slave
Power, may as we'll openly and frankly svow his
opposition to freedom, his hatred Of the "inaen-
able rightsn of man and declare his intentions
| to sustain oppression and slavery. Our actions
| cannot be misunderstood in these times. He whose
soul is imbued with the love of justice of liberty
and of his race will manifest it by his words by
his acts, by his votes. Sir, those acts and votes
are kaorn and read Of all MN"
| 1t is also proposed to pass further and more
stringent laws for the arrest and return Of fugi-
tive slaves; to make every postmaster, and depu-
ty marshal, and other petty officer of this Gov
eminent, resident in the free States, the catch
pole of slave hunters Weare to impose upon
them the obligation to leave their shops their
| fields and give chase to the flying bondman as he
hastens from the scene Of his oppression to seize
| the trembling victim of Southern cupidity; TO
assist in rivetipg the cold iron on his chafed
| limbs and then to force him back 10 a land Of
chains and signs, and tears and suffering. Yes,
sir it is now gravely proposed that this Congress
of Christian men, at this middle of the nineteenth
"
most intelligent, free, and virtuous people upon
the earth shall turn our attention and exert our
official iniuence-our legislative power-in favor
of the vilest system Of oppression known among
civilized men that we shall aid the arrant usurp-
err of the South to hold his grasp upon his fellow
man to compel him to toll and to suffer under the
scourge for the benefit Of his oppressor that we
will help rob him of his liberty, his enjoyments,
his all, that others may revel in wealth. Sir,
elo I uOto
for such law. Yet ] do not regret that such
measure is to come before us. | am willing to
see members compelled to show their hands.
desire that the country shall understand who is
willing thus to degrade the character Of Ameri-
can statesmen by prostituting our official powers
to such purposes.
But there are circumstances which render such
action at this time still more Objectionable and
humiliating Since the early history THE State
in which live, men have occasionally come from
the slave States and kidnapped our colorcd peo-
pie and when such offenders have been demand
ed as fugitves from justice under the Constitu-
ton, their surrender by the slave States has,
believe at all times been refused Yet the Rep
resentatives Of Ohio are now called on to turn
round and lend their influence to catch and re-
turn Southern slaves! When our free coored
people visit the slave States they are seized,
imprisoned, sold, and enslaved and Southern
gentlemen now ask us to pass law that shall
make it the duty Of our postmasters and deputy
marshals, to seize and return to bondage those
very citizens of Ohio should they perchance
escape from their oppressors in the South, and
return to their wives and children in their native
State. Will the Representatives of Ohio vote
for such law
The citizens of Massachusetts, have been seized
in Southern ports, enslaved, sold, degraded, and
brutalized. They now moan and weep in chains.
Representatives of the sovereignty of Massachu-
sets when sent to those States, to test their pro-
ceedings iudically have been driven by mob vio-
lence from their Jurisdiction and their Legisla-
lures have passed laws, prohibiting, under severe
penalties all persons from prosecuting the rights
| Of such ensaved citizens to freedom.
Sir, while the South thus violates and tramples
upon the Constitution, while they treat the free
States generally, and Massachusetts in particular,
with most sovereign contempt distinguished
statesman of New England, representative OF
! Massachusetts, comes forward, and, before the
nation, Gliding the people of the North for their
remissness in arresting and returning fugitive
slaves, proposes that we shall exert our legisa-
tive powers in favor of Southern piratical slave
! hunters.
Sir the proposition is humliating. detest,
execrate such policy. Sir, have no language
capable Of describing my own feelings in regard
TO it. ! would as soon legisate to make the peo-
pie Of the free States the slaves of the South, in
direct and positive language, as | would vote for
such measure. To me, the slavehunter is the
most detestable human being that lives or moves
upon the earth.
We cannot under the Constitution protect or
secrete the slave from his master. But the Lee
gislatures of free States may prohibit their own
ciAzeus from aiding or assisting the master tc
track out the painting fugitive, in order again to
subject him TO the lash and the thumbscrew
Such law has been introduced into the Legisa-
| ture of Ohio; and am free to say, that if there
be crime for which would hang citizen Of
our State it is that of aiding the stakeholder tc
seize his trembling victim upon soil consecrated &c
freedom
You may pass such a law, and it will remain g
dead letter upon your statute book Our people
know their rights they understand their duties
to the Government, to their fellow-men, and e
their God The law of kindness, Of sympathy
for the oppressed, of love to our fellow-men, i:
written upon our natures by the finger of The
Most High. Can you repeal that law of the AL
mighty Can you tear from the hearts core oul
love Of justice-our hatred of crime Sir, nj
legislation can effect that object.
Sir. we ought not to deceive Southern men
We should say to them, in all trankness and sin
certify, that the day for arresting fugitive slaves
within our free States has gone by forever. W.
abide by the Constitution but that instrumen
does not give sufficient power to the master to sc
cure his fugitive slave when he once reaches on
free States. 1t has not come up to the expecta
tions Of the South in this respect 1t fails to fet
ter the limbs, to stop the flight, Of their fugitives
They generally reach Canada, and there find al
asylum, and every friend Of humanity rejoces q
their success
The Constitution has also failed to protect on
colored citizens when they go to Southern States
It has proved defective on this point. We ar
willing to amend it, but we would strike out tn
entire provision relating to fugitive slaves. n
such clause can find place in any new Constitu
ton.
In conclusion, would assure Southern gentle