North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-30
The Teachings Of Charles sumner

outrage which has been perpe'raleu r lie Tilted
the court room OF the highrS' cou'' -
States in this district.
prisoner, duly arrested, under IL
zsJ Inv law was held in custody by the omcers OF the
law before the court which was ABOUT 10 uy MS cdH
A mob of some two hundred blacks force open the
no1 of The court room, knock down the ohcerS' d"e
the prisoner out Of the custody OF the law' ans
la,se him The resistance of some dozen oihce's
,,;nst the sudden rush of such mob Is wholIy un-
,9,;l;nr and the rescue is complete. One OF me
black mob as if 10 give the United States ulSu"c'S
to understand that the power OF enforcing Id" .eie
in Massachusetts, was gone from the WINES Sei"ee
the sword of the marshal, which was suspehueu DIS
tho baoe of authority in the court room, and, unshea
thing it. makes into tie street to head the MOB III ala
of the rescuers No state officer stops hin-no con-
stable arrests him. In all its legal turptude and a
trocitv This act nsoent defiance of law is the same
as if. during the trial of Dr. Webster, mob of per-
sons conscientiously opposed to capital punishment
had rushed into the court room and rescued the prls-
oner. The example of torclbe resistance TO law anu
70 courts of Justice is contagious. If the marshal
is Ivnched the prisoner, the Judge may neN'
be pulled from the bench and hanged at the lamp
post, or at least tarred and eathered.
This is in fact the advice of Charles Sumner CIV
en- to his coored followers in Faneull HAL. l
breaking into court room, and stealing the marsha
sword, and rescuing prisoner in custody OF ' c Al
are the practical application of the doctrines " "
Charles Sumner in his atrocious speech in taneu'
Hall, Nov 26, the fugitive slave law. H" NJ n;
such teachings come from commissioner VI 't,0 gu"
ted States court, who has St0orn 10 support the co''
s,;,ution ami laws of the United States, can we Won
der that il has borne its fruits mong an excited ana
ignorant colored popuation to lead them 10 coIh''
the gravest crimes against society . wv
Who is morally the greatest criminal Inc ne
GRO who broke into the court room and seized the
Sword or Mr.. Charles Sumner, who taught HIN that
it was right and glorious to do so, and as worthy dill
act as resistance to British tyranny lhat we may
not seem to overstate the case against Mr.. Sumner
and his coadiutors, will quote directly from MS
speech in question, upon which he still stands can
,date for the United States senate. The agator OF
luu-breakiny, he still begs the Legislature to entFust
him for six wears, their aIU maker.
Erfrncs from Charles Summers Speech on resisting
the Fuaire La,u. 81 have already likened this bill
to the stamp act and that the parallel may be
continued yet further by burst of popular feeling
against all action under it, similar to that which glow
ed in the breasts of fathers. Listen to the words
of John Adams, as written III his diary for the
time -
The year 1865 has been the most remarkable year
Of nv life. That enormous engine, fabricated by
the British parliament, for batiering down all the
rights and liberties of Amerca,-l mean the stamp
aci,-has raised and spread through the whole con-
tinent spirit that will be recorded 10 our honor with
all future generations. In every colony, from Geor
gia TO New Hampshire, inclusivey, the stamp distr
butors and inspectors have been compelled by the
unconquerable rage of the people 10 renounce their
Offices. Such and universal has been the resent
ment of the people, that every who has dared to
speak in favor of the stamps, TO soften the dee $
tation in which they held, how great soever his
abilities and virtues had been esteemed before, or
been, has been sink into universal contempt
and ignominy.' A voice, Ditto the slave hum
ter.O
Surely the love of freedom cannot have so far
cooled among US. the descendants of those who OPP
posed the stamp act, that nsensbe to the flu
gitive slave bill. The unconquerable rage of the
people, in those other days. compelled the stamp dis
irburors and inspectors their offices, and
held up detestation all who dared TO speak in ia
vor of the stamps And shall be more tolerant
of those who volunteer in favor of this bill? (No!
no)-nore tolerant of the slave hunter, who, under
its safeguard, pursueS his prey upon soil! (NO!
no) The stamp act could be executed here.
Can the fugitive slave bill (Never.)
And here, sir let me say, that 1t becomes me TO
speak with peculiar caution. 1t happens to to
sustain an important relation TO this bill Early in
professional life, designated by the late Mr..
Justice Story of the commissioners of the
of the United States. As such | am one of those
before whom, under the recent act of congress, the
painting fugitive may be brought for the decision CT
the question, whether he is freeman a slave.
But while 1t becomes me to speak with caution, |
shall not hesitate TO speak with Planness. | cannot
forget that am man. although | am a commission
THEE cheers given.
Did the spirit which inspired the fathers, in
spIre our community now, the marsial-and every
magistrate who regarded this law as having any con-
sttutonal obligation-would resign rather than pre-
TO execute it.
Gracious heaven! Can such things be on our free
soil (NoD Shall the evasion of Pontius PLATE
be enacted anew, and a Judge vainy attempt by
washing his hands, to excuse himself for condemning
one In whom he could g find no faulty Should any
court, sitting here in Massachusetts for the first time
In her history, become the agent of slave hunters the
very images of our fathers would frown from the
wallis their voices would cry from the ground their
spirits would hover in the air, pleading, remonstra-
ting, protesting against the cruel Judgment (Cheers
There is legend of Venice, consecrated by the
pencil OF one OF her greatest artists that the APOSTLE
st. Mark suddenly descended into the public square,
and broke the manaces of a slave even before the
judge who had decreed his doom. Should Massa-
chusetls be ever desecIaed by such Judgment NAV
the good apostle, with valiant arm, more descend
to break the manacles of the slave Enthusiasm J
Sir, will not dshonor this home of the pil grns
and OF the revolution, by admtng-nay / cannot
beheve-thathis bill will be executed here Never !
individuals dmoug US, elsewhere, NAV FORGET hu-
Inanlty In tanced loyalty to law; but tie public
conscience will not allow a man, who has trodden
our streets as freeman to be dragged away as slave
(APplause.) By his escape from bondage he has
shown that true manhood, which must grappe to him
every honest heart. He may he ignorant rude as he
Is poor, but he Is of true nobility The fugitive slaves
OF the United States among the heroes of our age
nsacrincng them to this foul enactment of Congress-
we should violate every sentiment of hospitality every
whispering OF the heart, every dictate of religion.
There are many who will never shrink at anv cost
and, Notwithstanding all the atrocious penalties OF
ms oi'I' from eHorts TO save wandering elIow-man
from bondage; they will offer him the shelter of ,bei
houses. and, f need be, will protect his liberty Inv
force. But let me be understood, | counsel M y:o
lence.'' " "
Indeed, MIR. Sumner " counseLs" no violence H.
Is lawyer and knows how to escape the penalty n
an overt act OF treason but does he not in everv linz
He'le me mob to rebellion and violence! Does h,
o n seek 10 orlng down upon any Judge or officer WIN
81, ooey the law mob to tar and feather him, a
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