The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-12
The Chrisfiana Treason Trials.
TWELFTH DAY.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec 8.
Mr. BRENT having been interrupted by the
adjournment on Saturday, resumed his address
by SAYING that he had omitted TO notice on Satur-
day, an appeal made by the counsel for the de-
Tense, Mr.. Lewis, calculated TO prejudice the
minds of the Jury against the South. lie seemed
to bring here sort Of indictment against the
South for the institution of slavery. lie said
that by the laws of some of the slave States free
coored persons are arrested and sold into slav-
cry for their ai fees. Speaking for Wy own
State, may say that there are no such barbar
Gus statutes in the State Of Maryland There
they mingle the code of Justice and the institu-
ton of slavery with every consideration of hu.
manity.
But the South is compelled to pass laws
against free colored citizens, as the gentleman
has been pleased to call them, settling among
them. Free colored citizens Why gentlemen,
do you recognize them as free citizensl Do you
give them every political right that you enjoy |?
Ii understand the state of feeling at the North,
a very widespread sentiment prevails az to the
necessity for law against the immigration Of
free blacks into your borders. And it will even
tually be found necessary for your own protec-
ton and wel-being. The counsel has said that
the Union was not TO be dissolved by refusing
to execute any act ofCongress that the current
of the Union runs freer and purer and deeper
than TO be turaed aside by such tri6ing obstruc
tons. may say, ia the language of Patrick
Henry, the gentlemen cry "Peace peace when
there is no peace"
AS much as love the Union, and we al love
the Union, the day will soon arrive when the
Union will be in danger. When the South and
West shall find that the bond of Union is no
stronger than a piece Of parchment who shall in
that dreadful day in that day OF wrath say that
the Union is not in danger; the South will then
stand "a unit 10 resist injustice and oppression
to perpetuate the rights handed down TO them
by their foreiathers. We oil agree that the
Union should not be dissolved, but tn sin lies
not at our door, tina its pcrpetnity ia in peril.
No, nor at the door of large portion Of the
North, but is to be attributed to that miserable
faction who are seeking to dissolve the bond OF
the Union.
Nor are the blacks 80 much in fault who imbrue
their hands in the blood of citizens Of the South
seeking to reclaim their property, as The white
man who urges them to deeds OF violence and
blood. and they are less censurable than those
In high places-in Congress and in the pulpit
who forget the obligations that the Constitution
imposes upon, and stir up this feeling Of bitter
ness, and the opposition to the laws, instead OF
endeavoriug TO cultivate peaceful and iraternal
feeling You are not strong enough to subdu
the South, and if you could carry on war OF
invasion, you could not re-unite the broken
chain.
Mr. Brent now read from one of the speeches
of Daniel Webster, in Congress- to show what
he thought of the dissolution Of the Union, and
of the consequences that would follow 30 dire
ful nm event. He also referred to the closing
portion of Washington's Farewell Address, &c
show what that great man thought of the obi
gntions resting upon all to observe and carry
out the provisions of the Constitution The
gentleman did not mean to prejudice the minds
Of the jury against the prisoner. lie asked then