Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-05-24
United States Senator's OpiaiOn CT the Fugitive
Slave Lawn.
Extract from Speech delivered By Charles Sum
aer Noveznteys 9Th. 1850.

ner, N0VezateT 9TH, 1861
And hence let me say, at the ourset, that it is
because placed Freedom above all other questions,
that cordially concur in The recent unions or com
biuations made in different parts Of the common
wealth-in Mr. Mann's district between the wing
party and the free soil party-n MIR. Fowiers dis
trict, between the whig party and the free soil
party-also in various Senatorial districts and towns
between the free soil party and the democuatic
party By the latter it seems to me, our cause
will be much advanced since by the combinations,
the friends Of freedom have acell grounded hope
to secure controlling infueace the Legisld-
ture during tie c0nai1g session. Applause. II
Should this be done, they may erbitrate between
both the old parties, making freedom their perpet
ual object, and in this way, continue more power
fully than they otherwise could TO the cause which
has drawn us together Cheers.
And still further, as if to do deed which
should make heaven weep all earth amazed,
this same Congress, in disregard of all the cher
ished safeguards of freedom, has passed most
cruel, unchristian, devsh law to secure the
turn into slavery Of those fortunate bondmen, who
have found shelter by friends. This is the
Fuqitive Stare BiU-the bill which despoils the
party claimed as a slave-whether he be In reall-
~ slave or freeman-of the sacred right OF
trial by jury, and commits the question of human
freedom-the highest question known by the law
to the unaided Judgment of a single magistrate,
on er parte evidence it may be, by afidavits, with
out the sanction of examination Under this
detestble heaven defyng bill, not the slave only,
but the colored freeman of the north, may be
swept into ruthless captivity and there is white
citizens, born among us, bred in our schools, par
taking in our affairs voting in our elections whose
liberty is not assailed also. Without any dlscrlml-
nation of color, the bill surrenders all, who may
be claimed as lowing service or labor, to the
same tvranical Judgment. And mark more
its heathensm. BY unrelenting provisions it Wits,
with bitter penalties of fine and Imprisonment the
faithful and women, who may render to the
fugitive that countenance, and shelter which
Christianity expressl Y requires Shame, shame.
Thus from beginning to end, it sets at naught the
best principles of the Constitution, and very laws
of God! Enthusiastic sPplause."l
But l will not pursue the details THE SOIL
sickens in TIE contemplation Of this iegalized out
rage. In the dreary annals of the Past there are
many acts of shame-there are ordinances of
monarchs, and laws which have been byword
and kissing to the nations. But, when we con-
slider the country and the age, l ask fearlessly,
,chat act Of shame, a0hat ordinance Of monarch,
what lar can compare in atroctty, acih this enact
ment Of an american Congress? None | do
not forget Appus Claudius, the tyrant decemvir of
Rome, condeming Virginia as a slave nor Louis
XIV, of France, letting slip the dogs of religious
persecution by the revocation of the edct of Nan
ties; nor Charles [, of England, arousing the pa
triot rage of Hamden, by the extortion of Ship
money; nor the British Parliament, provoking, in
our own country, spirits kindred to Hampden, by
the tyranny of the stamp Act and tea Tax.
would not exagerate ; | wish to keep in bounds
but | think no person can doubt that the condem-
nation now affixed to all these transactions, and
their authors must be tie lot hereafter Of the Fugi-
tire Stare Bill, and Of every one according to the
measure Of his infueac, acho gaze it has support.
Three cheers were here given::l
Sir, will not dishonor this home Of the Pill
grims, of the Revolution, by admitting-nay, l
cannot beeve-that this bill will be executed here
["Never." individuals among US, as elsewhere,
may forget humanity in a fancied loyalty to law
but the public conscience will not allow man,
who has trodden our streets as a freeman, to be
dragged away as slave. (Applause.) BY his
escape from bondage, he has shown that the true
manhood, which must grappe to him every honest
heart He may be ignorant, and rude, he is
poor, is of a true nobility. Tie tugitioe Slayes O
the United States are among tie heroes Of oar age
In sacrificing them to this foil enactment Of Con
greSS, We should Ui0late every sentiment Of hospi
tally, eUery whispering Of He Heart, eyery dicfat
Of retigirn.
There are many who will never shrink at an,
cost, and notwithstanding the atrocous penaltie!
of this bill, from efforts to save wandering fel
low man from bondage they offer him the shelte
OF their houses, and if need be, will protect hi
liberty by force. But let me be understood
counsel no violence. There is another power
stronger than any individual arm-which invoke
I mean that invincible public opinion, inspired b,
the love OF God and man, which, without violence
or noise, gentle as the operations of nature make
and unmakes laws. Let this opinion be felt in it
Christian might, and the Fugitive Slave Bill vii
become every where upon our soil dead letter.
No lawyer will aid it by counsel No citizen vii
become its agent; it will die of nanition-like
spider beneath exhausted receiver daughter.
Oh! it were well the tidngs should spread thro'
out the land, that here in Massachusetts, this &C
cursed bill had found no servants. (Cheers)
~~~~~~~~~~~~---~~-o>oo,
BREAD.-The London Times swears solemnl
that the English people will never consent aoai
ITO eat bad bread, " as they were forced to do b
the spirit of protection in 1917. On this point til
Times is emphatic-even to the menace of revolt
ton. 1t says-'We warn these nobleman. tbe1
that any attempt whatever, under whatever nan
or pretence, to restrict the people of this countl
to the short and spoiled harvests of our own SC
VIII De met by the most determined resistance.
Shonld any body of persons in the position
Her MaJestys advisers only divulge an unmista
able Intention to bind again the chains of monop
jy, and to stretch the victim once more upon Il
rack of death, there would certainly be an almo
universal determination to resist, at all eyents eve
TO the last appear; and there is not an institute
IN the country that would stand before that resi-
lance The british people will not have 'prote
ton" So that John Bull has ''got his dander W
about good bread-and wo to those who won
contne him to short provender. Let all natio
feed their millions