The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-06
FTGTTIvR MiyRS-LBTTRR OF DANIEL
w GODlnn,

sets Senator taking another step downward
IL seems that certain obsolete politicians and
clergymen in the town of Newburyport have
seen ft in imitation Of a similar class in Boston
and Andover, to address him letter of congrat-
ulatioA To this letter he has published very
appropriate, and, we doubt not, very satisfactory
reply, consisting merely of grave argument in
support of the legal, moral, and religious obiga-
tion of slave-catching on the part of law abiding
citizens and Bible-loving Christians of the free
States. 1t Is a literary monstrosity which will
make the fortune of the antiquarian who shall
hereafter bring 1t to light, when Christian slave
holding shall have become as difficult Of compre-
hension as Christian cannibalism.
If there is las we may well question: any con-
siderable amount of State pride, manly indcpend-
enee; OF 4sxx1e-. ttair-ssys, GssA- S.;xnrs of,
Massachusetts whom Daniel Webster addresses,
they will rise from the perusal of this letter,
sef-reproached, and covered with shame, at the
consideration that they have volunteered their
appreciation Of the course Of its author The
man upon whom Massachusetts has bestowed
her highest honors and richest gifts is seen in
ly denouncng her laws, ridculing her cherished
principles, and making her love of freedom,
and her interest in the welfare of humanity, a
cause of reproach and derision The old Com
monwealth is betrayed by her own trusted and
favorite representative. He, who should have
been the first to defend her, deliberately takes
sides with her enemies. We know not how far
forbearance may be carried in this case by his
insulted constituency, but of one thing we are
quite certain, not even John G. Calhoun, almost
idoized as he was by South Carolina, could have
called in question the legislation of his State on
the subject of colored seamen, as Webster has
that of Massachusetts in relation to fugitives,
and retained his place as one of her Senator's.
We can now only call attention to single
paragraph in this letter, which we have read
with indignant establishment. After what he seems
to regard as q very unfavorable contrast of his
own State with Pennsylvania, representing the
former as a snivelling, hypocritical sympathizer
with the reclaimed fugitive slaves which the
latter very willingly sends back to bondage, he
says:
S, 5h s;,paag.lE s.s Benz
sy1vania herself knows little or nothing of.-No
people are more opposed to slavery than the
people of Pennsylvania We know, especially,
that that great and respectable part Of her popu-
lation, the Friends, have borne their testimony
against it from the first. Yet they create no ex-
citement they seek not to overthrow or under
mine the Constitution of their country. They
know that frmness, steadiness Of principle, a
Just moderation, and unconquerable perseve-
| - = L. Il. L
most likely to correct whatever is wrong in the
constitution of the social system No doubt
there are sometimes to be found Friends subject
to the frailty of desiring to become conspicuous
or to the influence of false sentimentality, or
borne away into on atmosphere Pickering
between light and darkness, by the puffs of
the transcendental philosophy. But that is not
malady of the great body. They remain of
sound and disposing minds and memories. ! am
misled by authority which ought not to mislead,
if it be not true that that great body approves the
sentiments 10 which haze giuen mterance on the
floor of the SenateD
What were those sentiments which the Society
of Friends are said to approve? Let us look at
them.
any friend Mr.. Butler" says the Massachu-
sets Senator, "has bill on the subject, (of de-
liveripg up fugitive slaves) now before the Sem
ate, with some amendments to it, which propose
to support, with all its provisions, to the fullest
extent"
This bill provides that the judges of the
Courts, some seventeen thousand postmssters,
and all Government officers collectors, &c, shall
be tribunals for the delivery, mthom appeal, Of
anybody who is sworn by anybody, anywhere,
to be fugitive from slavery, whether the said
officials Of Government reside in the State
where the fugitive is found, or in that from
which he is said to have escaped. 1t is sufficient
that they are anywhere officers of Government
Thus as Horace Mann has we'll said
"Mr Butler or MIR. Mason, therefore, may
send the postmaster of his own city or village,
into Massachusetts, with an agent or attorney,
who brings his affidavit from South Carolina or
Virginia in bis pocket; the agent or attorney
may arrest anybody, at any time, carry him be-
fore his accomplish 70 through with the judicial
FORMS and hurry him to the South the officer,
after his judicial functions are discharged turn
ing bailiff, protecting the prey and speeding the
aight!n
The bill denies the right Of sriai by jury to
the person suspected of being fugitive.
The amendments of which Daniel Web
ster speaks, and which he avows himself ready
to support, provide
Ist. That all who knowingly obstruot or him
der the claimant or litigant or any person assist
ing him, in securing fugitive slaves, or shall aid
or assist in their escape after arrest or shall har-
Dor such fugitives after notice that they are
claimed as slaves, "shall be fined one thousand
lol1ara ann half wharanf ohall ho IN thu Of
the informer, and shall also be imprisoned for
the term Of twelve months" And
Cd. That in no trial or hearing shall the tes-
timony Of the alleged fugitive be admitted in ev-
idencen
These are the sentiments embodied in le-
gal forms, which we are told, "that great body
(the Society of Friends) approves"
Now, we undertake to say, that there is not
member of the Society Of Friends, in free or
slave States, who, whether acting as magistrate
or a citizen, could carry out the provisions of
this most atrocious bill, without rendering him.
self liable to Immediate expulsion from Society
whose character would be disgraced, and whose
discipline would be violated, by such action. IL
has been, in times past, the misfortune Of the So
ciety of Friends to be vilihed, caricatured, and
msrepresented, but We remember nothing, even
in the old days Of persecution 80 hard to bear as
the compliments of the Massachusetts Senator.
Whatever his .authority may have been, we do
not hesitate to pronounce it unqualihedy false
to the last degree. }. G. w.
TaK RRv. JoHS N. MArFrT, we'll known In New
York and vicinity, died suddenly in Mobile, May
25th. The cause Of his death is unknown