Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-08

this growing human flesh for market This
trnihc IN the bodies of females depends OH
the voice of Congress. II we say STOP. il
ceases forever; it we are silent, il continues
10 remain supincly Eilcnt. is tn continue IT,
Now, do not think there is a member on
TINS floor from free State who dare speak
Out boldly aud say TO this House aud to the
country that lac is in favor of this breeding
oi 'hahklnd Tor market, that he approves Of
tins traffic in Gods image. II any men,
her from the free Sinlos should do ii. tl,iuk
Il would seal his political fate. Yet rentlc
men do not hesitate TO rise here and declare
their intention to support the Compromisc.
thereby lending their entire influence to sus-
tam this business of breeding human cattle
for the shambles. ! respectfully nsk the
gentleman from New York, Mr. Brooks.1
who first publicly sworc alcgiuncc to this
Compromise, whether he is in favor OF sus
tanning This traffic in human flesh? | de-
sire to understand the position of gentlemen.
and hope they will stand up manii,ly aud
avow their doctrine and iheir policy. /
! therefore respectfully asi the gentleman to
I say what he will DO in regard to this slave
! trade? VIII lac vote to continue or abolish
| IL? ! await his answer.
lnasnuch as that gentleman remains silent
respectfully ask any other Northern man,
who slisiains tho Compromise, TO say whctli-
er he is willing 10 sustain this trnflic in hu.
| mau flesh? repeat, that understand the
| Compromise TO embrace this slave trade
that ii We sustain the Compromi-c wo must
sustain this traffic. And desire TO sec gen.
llcncn stand up, like honest, honorable men,
Ike the Representatives of iieemen, and
nvow their sentiments; md il ihcrc he
Northern member who will nvow himself in
favor Of this traffic, in the face Of this House
aud of the country, desire to hear him, and
await u response.
But, inOsmUch as have been addressing
| Wings more particularly, will also inquire
OF gentlemen on the other side OF The House
on this pout. noticed a letter of the gen
| ilelnan from New Hampshire to lis consiiiu-
ents, alluded TO by the gentlemen who pre-.
| coded me. | understand that c considered
himself pledged TO support the Compromise.
] should like to know whether he sill sustain
the slave trade in this District?
Mr. IIDpARD. Ivoich for the bill orthe
last Congress- abolishing the slave trade in
The District of Columbia. That vote explains
my views on that sul.iecf. IL the gentleman
wishes 10 know whether would vote fora
bill nbolisling slaYery in the District, or the
'raIe between the people of the District
answer that 1 should vote ngai6st il. nm
| opposed TO the further agitation OF the sub
ject a'H'
Mr.. GIDDINGS. | thank the gentleman
for his lrankness. Understand him, and the
country understand him. was mistaken in
supposing there was no man from n free
state who would sustain this commerce in
the bodies of women and children. But
Ike TO see man bold, even in hi ini1uiies.
have more respect for the gentleman who
thus says what he will DO, Than | have for
members who refuse TO SPEAK, hut cast their
votes and exert their influence To maintain
this slave trade. | presume the gentleman
honestly represents tie views Of Ills people, |
That they approve of this breeding Of men
und women for market.
But tho Compromise embraces also the
slave trade upon our Southern coast. All
arc aware that, by the uiuih section of the
uct of 1907, slave dealers are authorized to
carry lunder certain reguiaions) slaves from
one port Of the United States TO another, un-
der the flag of our Union. Men, women,
and children, nre purchased in this District,
aud IN the Northern slave States, and placed
ON board these slave ships aud carried to the
I torture aud premature deaths, which, it il
well known, await them upon the cotton and
sugar plantations. There they are murder
ed under slow torture 10y the lash of inhu-
mau ovcrsGurs. II is estimated that twenty
/ Thousand human victims arc thus annually
sacrificed 10 Southern harbariiy. Tho blood
of those victims rests upon the members Of
] this body. We have the power to stop this
| food OF human gore. But, while these VIC.
lms toll in chains, and sigh and weep under
the toriures to which our law consigns them,
members here refuse to examine this subject,
refuse TO permit the introduction Of bill To
repeal this law; but they stand here and eX-
eri their utmost powers TO revive, 10 gNlvnn-
zo into life, tho old party issues on which
they have heretofore couiendcd. They Gu
deavor To close their eyes 10 notorious facts,
nrd soolho their concieuces by occupying
their own attention, aud that Of others, upon
tho miserable party conflicts, which have no
higher motive or aim Than TO secure the spoilS
of Office to one or the other political pnriy.
Judge not for others, but so far as | am
my self concerned, should feel far less guilt
were | to strike n stiletlO to the heart of n
single victim, than should to exert my in
/ flueucc 10 sustain that slave trade, or Than |
should were to sit here in silence aud per-
| nit that infamous traffic 10 continue without
my solemn protest Ogninslit. II is frequently
tho case, that men and women, apparently
doomed TO the tOrturcs of the far South 10y
this trade, commit suicide rather than meet
It's horrors. All will recolect the story Of
the father, mother aud children, confined in
slave prison in II neighhoring State, c,dcsiined
to the Southern market. The parents, hny-
ing delibernted upon their situation, and Iliat
of their children, took the lives Of their own
offspring. and llen sought death by their own
hands. Do not we who sit in tbs Hall, and
by our silence and inacton continue ihis
slave trade, shnro in the guilt of those dafk
aud damning iniquiles? Does no;iha hlood
of those victims stain our garments? Ard,
when we appear at the bar of tinal retribu-
ton, shall we plead this Compromise as n
Justification for crimes which would strike
torror fo n snyoro 1 an, uN.,ra h.,