Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-12-07
Charles Sumner on the Fugitive Law.


The Slave-Elunting Law has called forth
words Of manly eloquence from many noble
minds, but among oil who have spoken oil
the question no one has done so more elo-
quently or powerfully than CHARLES SUM-
FER, Of Boston, in the extracts we here pre-
sent from a speech recently made in Faneul
Hall.
The soul sickens in the contemplation of
'hls legalized outrage. I'm the dreary annals
OF The Past, there are many acts of shame
there are ordinances Of monarcbs, and laws,
Wilich have become bye-word aud q his
si'g TO the nations. Bnt, iohen zoe consider the
country and The age, ask fearlessly, what act
o. shame, what ordinance of monarch, what
law cGn compare in atrocity, with this enact
ineht OF an American Congress? None
10 not forget Appius Claudius, the tyrant de-
ceInvlr of ancient Rome, condenning Vir-
g'nn os slave; nor Louis XIV. of France,
ieulng slip the dogs Of religious persecution
by Tie revocation of the edict of Nantes nor
Oharies ]. of England, arousing the patriot
rage OF Hampdcn, by the extortiou of Ship
money; nor the British Parliament, provok-
,,n1g, IN our own country, spirits kindred TO
iiunlpden, by the tyranny of the Stamp Act
and lea Tax. would not exaggerate
WISH to Keep within bounds but think no
person can doubt that the condemnation now
aiixed TO all these transactions, and to their
authors, must be the lot hereafter of the Fu-
gihve Slave Bill, aud of every one, accord
ing to the measure of his influence, who
gave II his support Three cheers were here
gwen. Into the immortal catalogue of ma
uonnl crimes this has now passed, drawing
with II, by an inexorable necessity, its au-
thors also, and chiefly him, who, us President
oi the United States, set his name to the Bill,
and breathed into it that final breath, without
which II would have no life. [Sensation. +
Other Presidents may be forgotten; but the
name signed TO the Fugitive Slave Bill can
never he forgotten. Never'1 There are
depths of infamy, as there are nights of
inme. Applause. | regret to say what
must but truth compels me. Better far for
nun had he never been born; Renewed ap-
plause. Better far for his memory, and for
The good name of his children, had he never
been President! Repeated cheers
] have already likened this Bill to the
Stamp Act, and trust that the parallel may
be continued yet further by burst of popu-
70 that which glowed in the breasts of our
iathers. Listen TO the words of John Adams,
ns written in his Diary for the time -
"The year l765 has been the most re-
marknble year of my life. That enormous
engine, fabricated by the British Parliament
ljor batiering down all the rights and libertie,
u Arurrira.-I mean the Stamp Act,--hai
'S--sed and spread through the whole cont
nent spirit that will be recorded TO oui
honor with all future generations. In every
colony, from Georgia to New Hampshire in
ciusiyely, the stamp distributors and inspec-
tors have been compelled by the unconquer-
able rage of the people to renounce their Of
fees. Such and SO universal has been the
resentment of tue people, that every man
who dared 10 speak in favor of the stamps,
or 10 soften the detestation in which they are
held, how great soeyer his abilities and vir-
tues had been esteemed before, or whatever
his fortune, connections, or influence had
been, has been seen to sink into universal
contempt and ignominy." A voice, "Ditto
the Slave Hunter."l
Surely the love of Freedom cannot have
so far cooled among us, the descendants of
those who opposed the Stamp Act, that we
are insensible to the Fugitive Slave Bill
The unconquerable rage of the people, in
those other days, compelled the stamp dis
tributors and inspectors TO renouncO their Of
fices, and held up TO detestation all who
dared to speak in favor of the stamps. And
shall we be more tolerant of those who vol
unteer in favor of this Bill No! no !! y =
more tolerant of the slaye-hunter, who, un-
der its safeguard, pursues his prey upon the
soil ? ['No! no'l The Stamp Act could not
he executed here. Can the Fugitive Slave
Bill ['Neverr]
And here, Sir, let me say, that it becomes
me to speak with peculiar caution. Ii hap
pens tO me to sustain an important relation
to this Bill. Early in professional life, / was
designated by the late Mr.. Justice Story one
of the Commissioners of the Courts of
the United States, and though l have not
very often exercised the functions of this
post, yet my name is still upon its lists. As
such am one of those before whom, under
the recent act of Congress, the painting fugi-
tive may be brought for the decision of the
question, whether he is freeman or slave.
But while it becomes me to speak with eau
ton, shall not hesitate to speak with plain
ness. / cannot forget that l am u man, al
though | am Commissioner. Three cheers
given
Did the same spirit which inspired the
fathers, inspire our community now, the
every magistrate who regard
ed this law as having any constitutional obli-
CATION, resign rather than presume
to execute il. This, however, is too much 10
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 n land "where bells have knOlled
% church"--whateve may he the apology
1f public station, could fail to recoil from
such service. For myself let me say, that
,an imagine no Office, no salary, no conside-
alton, which would not gladly forego, rather
han become in any way an agent in enslay-
ng my brother-man. Sensation.l Where
or me would be comfort and solace, after
'uch work A voice. Nowhere y In
ireams and in waking hours, in solitude and
n the street, in the medtations of the closet,
md in the affairs of men, wherever turned,
here my victim would stare me in the face