Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-05-24
8 Gelr1tions.
Remarks Of Wendell Phillips.

nVuuEhb vi htuuIll hiilipO'
The speech of MIR. PHILLIPS, at the great
Ant-Fugitve Slave Law meeting held in the
fremont Temple on the evening of the 9Th
ult, electrified the assembly. Some portions
of il we give below, as sketched at the time,
phonographically, by n promising reporter,
our young friend J. NJ. w. YERRINToN;-
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:
know not that have any thing to say 10
an audience gathered at this moment in Bos-
ton. 1t is not because there are not many
things to be said and yet confess do not
know how to speak TO citizens of Mnssachu-
sets at such q moment ms this. Really, there
is no Massachusetts. The State has faded
like the lost Pleiad from the National con-
stellation. Can you have a writ served in
the name of Massachusetts BY whom?
The Judges of the Commonwealth make
their way to their own seats on the judicial
tribunals of the State, under chains erected
by officials who scofi' at their orders. Never
has it been known till now, that even the
mere spectators of Justice were refused adj
mission to the courts of n free country; but
here not man can enter them, except for
specific business, who is not an officer of the
Government, or shielded by the character of
counsel-a state of things which, venture
10 say, has never been paralleled this side
the Atlantic, north of the Gulf Of Mexico.
ask again, Where is the State of Mnssa-
chnsetts? Where is statute on the Com
nlonwealth law-book, placed there by one Of
the proioundest lawyers of his age, Hon.
JAMES G.. ALvoRD, and placed there for the
express and avOwed purpose, that II ever
slave was arrested and held under the statute
of 1872, the courts of this State should, 10y
the process therein marked out, take juris-
dction, in order to test the constitutionality
of that nct. A writ, under that statute, has
been in the hands of the Sheriff's deputy for
thirty-six hours. lie has been requested to
serve il. He has been provided with what
he has allowed TO be sufficient bonds for the
discharge of his duty; he has been offered
$500 as his fee, to walk into that Court-llouse
and serve that writ, and has refused.
/ ask you, Where is the Commonwealth Of
Massachusetts, when Commissioner, who
is no more II judge, as we have been told
under this roof to. day, than one carved out
of cheese.parings,' CHEERS and laughter,)
holds MS slave an inhabitan; of hlassuchu-
setts, entitled to the presumption THAI he is a
freeman until the contrary is proved, and
holds him in utter defiance ofour State laws.
When such means as we see used are neces-
~
tizens TO be put in u condition to know
whether they are bound to obey this law or
not. Our institutions are framed on the idea,
that whenever law is supposed TO conflict
with the Constitution, speedy and simple
methods shall be provided to bring that ques-
ton before competent tribunals, and have il
adudicated. The Government of the United
States refuses to the citizens of the Com
monwealth every means of deciding whetl-
er this law be constitutional or not and il,
when the cup of their submission is full,
their hearts swell almost to revolution, l ask
you, on whom rests the responsibility
the citizen who throws himself back upon
his natural aights, or the Government that
has nladdened him by oppression, aud rctll-
ses him every means of legal redress?
have been told, through the daily press,
that these are abstract questions, which II is
dangerous to discuss openly. Who forces
us to the discussion of these abstract propo-
sitions? The men who drive us at the point
of the bayonet from the courts of Justice. A
man who says TO an individual claiming pos
session of u Massachusetts freeman, You
must prove that he comes under the constltu-
tiona provision, and is held TO service or la
Dor, in the same way that you prove any 9th
er claim is denounced as factious and gull
" oil treason. III he 1lnuS, IN the armofy OF
the law, process TO enforce his demand, he
cannot get an officer TO serve it. Sberifis re-
fuse to serve process. Judges refuse to take
jurisdiction. Because this law must be en-
forced, it seems 10 be inferred that all others
must be nullified. For the last week, the
Fugitive Slave Law has not only been held
TO be law in Massachusetts, but held, practi-
cally, to be the only Lalo in the Common
wealth.
Our continued and relentless opposition TO
an unconstitutional law is denounced as fac
tious. Yet il has the highest revolutionary
precedent. Lord Chatham said of law,
not tenth part as infamous as this - The
CONSTITUTION AT THIS MOMENT STANDS vIo-
LATED. Until that wound be healed, until
the grievance be redressed, it is in vain TO re-
commend union to parliament--in vain to
promote concord among the people, II we
mean seriously to unite the nation within it.
SELF we must convince them that their com.
plants are regarded, and that their inquiries
shall be answered On that foundation,
would take the lead in recommending peace
and harmony to the people, On any other
would never wish TO see them united again
If the breach in the constitution be effeclual'
ly repaired, the people will of themselves re-
turn 10 state Of tranquility if not, MAY DIS