Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-03
MR.. SUMMERS SPEECH.

IAIUs NJ NAlO NJ
The following noble speech of Hon. Charles
Sumner, was delivered at a great Freesoil meet
ing in Faneuil Hall, last November, and now
lust published in the ComRonWea Hh. twill be
read with the deeper interest, perhaps, as being
the last great freesoil and anti fugitive speech
delivered in the Old Cradle of Liberty, since
closed to free discussion by the City Authority.
En-.
MIR. Chairman, and you, my fellow citizens {:
| must be cold and insensible, indeed, not TO be
touched by the cordially of this reception
And yet | cannot attribute it to myself, but to
the cause whose representative | am. APP
pIause.1 Yes it is the cause, the good old
cause-to which in times past the echoes of this
hall have so often responded,
We are assembled now on the eve OF an I'M
portant political election, In this many local
matters and considerations are involved: but |
do not propose to occupy your attention by any
discussion of these. Not by these have | been
drawn here tonight but because | desire to
bear nv testimony anew to Freedom, which is
above all these, And here let me say, at the
outset, that it IS because | place Freedom above
all other questions, that | cordially concur in
the recent unions or combinations made in dit
ferent parts of the Commonwealth Mr..
Mann's district, between the Wing party and
the Free Soil party-in Mr., Fowler's district,
between the Wing party and the Free Soil
party-also in various Senatorial districts and
towns, between the Free Soil party and the
Democratic party. BY the latter, as it seems
to me, our cause will be much advanced since,
by these combinations, the friends of Freedom
have a we'll grounded hope to secure a control
ling influence over the Legislature during the
coming session. Applause Should this be
done, they may arbitrate between both the old
parties, making freedom their perpetual object,
and, in this way, contribute more powerfully
than they otherwise could to the cause which
has drawn us together. CHEERS.
But leaving these matters, | come at once to
the theme which shall consider to .night-Our
Duties at the Present Crisis. To comprehend
these, we must glance at what Congress has
done during its recent session, so long drawn
out. This 1 shall endeavor to do rapidly
" Watchman, what of the night ?" And
we'll may the question be asked, what of the
night ?" For things have occurred, and meas.
'ures have passed into law, which, TO my mind,
fill tho day itself with blackness. {" Hear
hear !"1
And yet there are streaks oflight-an unwout-
ed dawn in the distant west, out Of which a full
,orbed sun is beginning to ascend, rejoicing like
q strong man to run his race. Pldeo Sotem ORIENT
,em IN ocCidente. By an act OF the recent Con-
gress, California, with a Constitution torblddlng
Slavery, adopted in the exercise OF its sovereign
ty as a State, has been admitted into the Union.
For a measure like this, required not only by the
simplest Justice, but by the Uniform practice Of
the country, and the constitutional principles Of
the shareholders themselves, we may well be
ashamed to confess our gratitude and yet |
cannot but rejoice in this great good accomplish
ed. A hateful institution, which thus Tar, with
out check, has travelled with the power OF the
Republic, westward, is bidden to stop, and a new
and rising State guarded from its contamination.
[Applause.l Freedom-in whose hands is the
d~ivining rod, of magical power, pointing the way,
not only to wealth untold, but to every possess
sion of virtue and intelli gence-whose presence
is better far than any mine Of Colds now at
last established in an extensive region on the
distant Pacific, between the very parallels Of lat
itude so long claimed by slavery as its peculiar
home. loud p%laudit8.
Here is a moral and politicalyictory q moral
victory, inasmuch as freedom has secured a new
IOOLlOlu, WIlSIC ~ ChelG lCl luI-lCdCHl12 lUllu-
ence a political victory also, iRasmuch as by
the admission of California, the free States have
obtained majority Of votes in the Senate, and
the balance Of power, between freedom and sla-
very-sO prepostereusIy claimed by the slave
States, in forgetfulness Of the true spirit Of the
Constitution, and in mockery Of human rights
has been overturned. [Cheers. May free
California, and her Senators in Congress, never
I'll lz.-LIz- z-,1,4 H. t.,,1 L. lar,,, so, -, 1,,
atty to freedom! God forbid that the daughter
should turn, with ingratitude or neglect from
the mother that bore her! Enthusiasm
Besides this Act, there are two others of this
long session, which may be regarded with salts
faction, and which | mention at once, before
considering the reverse OF the picture. The
slave trade has been abolished in the District Or
Columbia. This measure, though small in the
sight of Justice, is most important. 1t Danlshes
from the National Capital an odious traffic. But
this is its least office. 1t practically alike to
che whole traffic, wherever it eXists-not merely
in Washington within the immediate sphere o
.he legislative act-but everywhere throughout
the slave States, whether Richmond, or Charles
ton, or New Orleans, the brand of Congresslon-
al reprobatIon Yes, the people Of the United
States, by the voice of Congress, have solemnly
declared tle uOuleSlC trdHlC III slaves 10 NC OIL
fensive in their sight. The nation has said to it,
sect thee behind me, Satan" Excitement and
applause.l
1t is true that Congress has not, as In the case
of the foreignslave trade, stamped 1t as piracy,
and awarded to its perpetrators the doom of
pirates but it condemns the trade, and gives to
general scorn those who partake of it. To this
extent the Federal Government has spoken for
freedom. And, in doing this, it has asserted,
under the Constitution of the United States, leg
islative jurisdiction over the subject of slavery
in the District thus preparing the way for that
complete act of abolition, which Is necessary to
purge the Nationa! Capitol of its still remaining
curse and shame.
The other measure, which I must hail with
thankfulness, is the abolition of Aogging in the
Navy. Hear! hear!] Beyond the direct re-
form thus accomplished--afte much effort,
finally crowned by encouraging succGss-is the
indirect influence Of this law, especially in re-
buking the use Of the lash, wheresoever and by
whomsoever employed
Thus two props and stays Of slavery, wherev-
eF it exists in our country, have been weakened
and undermined by Congressional legislation
Without the slave trade and the lash, Slavery
must fall to the earth. By these, the whole
Rideous monstrosity is upheld. If seem to ex-