The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
UOy. ROBERT RANTOUL, JR.

Zach Of this gentleman at the Democratic
s,n,ion held at Lynn, just before the late triai
O'., election Of members Of Congress In the
% v. districts Of Massachusetts,, has excited
"''' AL n alteration, not only on account OF
g'' 80, ability with which it discusses the great
U' Ion Of the day, but because Of the indication
~, !, ofFords Of the popular current which is
ain, against the Fugitive Slave Law. IL is not
So ,be opinion Of an individual Democracy,
nj, ING through the lips Of the abest and most
s.,-.,isbeI Democrat Of New England, con-
hat law as unconstitutional and inhu-
and demands its total repeal. 1t is fitting
,,ob q man should be her mouthpiece. Ills
...b "a precisely such as we had right TO e1-
s.o,o him, Unlike too many Of the promi-
.o,;ticiaps of both parties, he has never de-
.Iod himself by any unmanly concessions to
.,ors nower and if he has not heretofore
s.on found in the van Of the opponents OF slavery
:. has At least the negative merit OF refusing
...a.r foundations, influences which few have re-
;.to1 10 place any obstacle in their way or utter
-, ,,ord Of censure or discouragement. His
.a.1o,bies always on the right side, needed but
,bo stimulus of great occasion, like the enact
non, Of the Fugitive Slave Law, to become active
enough to press into their service all the powers
arLis intellect the vast resources Of his learning,
nd his well-earned political influence. He has,
oreGore No occasion for retractions, eVasions, or
uncomfortable explanations. He takes no new
rroupd. He condemns no previously uttered
opipiou. He comes to the advocacy OF freedom
With clean hands and, whether viewed as poll
tcian or as a lawyer, no man has better right
70 yudicate law and Democracy against the re-
rroocb and shame of the detestable enactment in
question, than himself He has never been able
n see any necessary connection between slavery
and Democracy, and has not hesitated to express
bis opiuion that the Executive, Legislative, and
Iuaicial wheels of the General Government
vonld run quite as smoothly on free as on slave
territory. In brief, he has been in favor of the
obolitiou Of slavery where 1t exists under the
Hesitation of Congress. As many as ten or
twelve years ago. the vigilant and venerable edi-
for of the Richmond Enquirer read him smart
lecture for venturng to say something Of this sort
in a letter to some of his friends. The Virginian
v,ss great ssioEler for the name Of Ie8evsNA; his
complaint against RantOul was, that the latter was
equally strenuous in the support of Jefss-.-'z
principles
The Democracy of Massachusetts, will stand
By Robert Rantoul. He has BEEN for the last
fifteen years, their acknowledged leader They
are Justly proud of his intellectual power, his
learning and eloquence They regard him as a
far safer constitutional expounder than the father
of the Fugitive Slave Law. The Pennsylvania
and other slave-democratic papers, which are at
tempting to read him out of the Democratic fami-
ly would do well to look at the result of the late
trial for Congressional election in his dstsict.
Before that trial was made, his bold and manly
argument against the Fugitive Slave Law had
been placed in the hands Of all the voters of the
district Everybody knew his positiOn-that he
had repudated Hunkerism and slavery, and had
raised his powerful voice in favor of the repeal of
the Fugitive Law. The Boston Post the organ of
the miserable remnant of servile Democrats in
Massachusetts,, withdrew his name from its col
umns as candidate for Congress. Every effort
VAS made by Hunkers, Of both parties, to preju-
dice the masses of his old political friends against
him. Under these circumstances the trial was
made, and his vote was increased by hundreds,
and his triumphant election at the next trial
rendered morally certain.
We have known Robert Rantoul well for many
years Always progressive, yet with slower steps
than we could have wished, he has at last planted
his foot upon the platform Of the great free party
which is destined to triumph in every State of
the Union. Cool, cautious, and firm, he has as
Cured himself of the impregnable strength of his
position, and may well laugh to scorn the threats
and denuncatiOns of those who read, in this bold
movement Of a sagacious and far-seeing statesman,
the prophecy of their own discontinue and ruin
J. G. w.