The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26

these, are now sought to be established among
us Take the Christana case. IL cOnycts
our Government Of attempting to go further in
this Internal constructive treason" in some
respects, than did the bloody Jeffries himself (;
for Jeffries never sought to establish treason
against persons not entitled TO the protection
OF the Government. while in the Christiana case.
/ some of the persons charged with treason were
| known TO have been declared outlaws by the
/ Fugitive Slave Law. We all know that this
Infamous law strips many of the citizens of the
free States of every political right, and autho-
rizes kidnappcrs TO seize them by force, and
even aids in the crime by furnishing men and
money aud offers standing bride of five dol
lars to every man who is mean enough to act
as commissioner in this solemn mOckcry Of
judicial proceedings, TO ascertain whether an
innocent man has a right to himself The clti-
zcnS of Christiana, for acting out their nObIest
instincts in seldetence against violent and per-
sonal attack, were charged by our Government
with treason" What an insult to the Ameri-
can people What a disgrace to human ma
ture And this we call constitutional liberty,
do We Is it promoting the general well
fare to declare by a law of Congress, part
OF our population outlaws without any disloy-
atty on their part and then to charge them
with treason for defending themselves against
an attack of marauders and barbarians Thank
God, our courts have not quite come yet to the
support of such an Infamous doctrine as that Of
constructive treason Had the Government
succeeded in this conspiracy against the liber
ties Of the people and undertaken to enforce
the penalty for treason, Mr.. Fillmore and all
! his conductors would not only have discovered
the striking parallel in their conduct to that of
James H. but would have experienced like
disastrous fate. They would have been permit
ted to remain in this country only Us inmates
of penitentiary or a State prison. No. SIR;
this principle Of " constructive treason can
never be permitted to take root in these Uni
ted States The Wing leaders have made
rapid strides in this aye of progresS-haye risen
far above the sectional views of Washington,
Jefferson. and Hamilton, who were for locali-
zing circumscribing, and discouraging sla-
very.
The Wing party was told by its leaders ut
the Baltimore Convention that, if they would
do what had never before been required of
them, viz endorse the kidnapping law, and
pledge themselves to discountsnance freedom
of speech, they should not surely die" but
live forever that they would become Il great
and successful party that, in this process the
party would become nationalized; comprehen-
sive in its views practical in it's movements :
brilliant III its career 1t remains to be seen
whether this be true or false prophecy. But
if we are to Judge from isolated cases that
have come under our observation, it would
seem that this process of naturalization is,
after all a hazardous experiment. Mr.. Cass
was nationalized' by the Nicholson letter
in 1913 We know the result McGauhey
Walden, and Eliot, Representatives of the free
States, were nationalized' two years ago in
voting for the Fugitive Slave Law. Where
were they at the subsequent elections in their
several districts The late candidates for the
Presidency were natiOnaized when each
promised in advance if elected Chief Magis-
trate to defeat the will of the people, in given
case, by the veto power. Where are they! The
President. too was "natlOnallZed in signing
the kidnapping law, and making it operative
by calling out the army and navy. His name
was placed before one Of the late Conventions
Sir, You know the result. And what shall we
say of the great expounder of the Constitution
He was nationalized on the 9TH March, 1850,
in the Senate of the United States, by ridicu-
ling the Wmot Proviso, and has become still
more distinguished since, by attempts to " con-
quer the prejudiceS' of Massachusetts, and
establish the doctrine of constructive treason.
APPLY may he repeat, now, his famous ques-
tions: Where am ;" and Where am | 90
ing F" The unrivalled Senator and accom-
pllshcd Secretary of State after sacrificing all
to please his Southern friends, received not
single vote from them in return, when his name
was presented for their suffrage Alas these
men, in the language of the distinguished men,
Der from Ohio Mr.. GDDINGs "all died of
eating Southern dirt - Sir. history is full of
such instructive lessons They are read in the
fate of Charles |, in the melancholy career of
Bacon Wolsey and Il host Of others
Mr.. Chairman, whatever may be the imme-
diute result of this stigmatizing rs well as ma
tlolmllzng process upon the two old parties,
one thing il certain; the friends of freedom
have gained something-nay, IA vast deal--in
that they have driven the leaders of party sla-
very to ayow, openly and boldly, what the third
party has charged upon them for years but
which has always, till now, been denied viz
that they love Offices and honors more than the
great principles Of right and humanity This
is a glorious victory We see, now, more dis
tinctly the great national ulcer which is gnaw-
ing at the very yitals of the Republic! Sir, ~
soon as the great body of the American people.
who are neither expecting nor wishing Office,
shall understand the real object in construct.
ing such Infamous platforms, they will be swept
away, with all who stand upon them. like the
SPIDERS web before the morning blast
Mr. Chairman, having explained, briefly the
sources and character of despotism, rs it exists
in these United States, proceed to show what
are the proper Observation-Disclosures for its over
throw and in doing so, need only point to
the means now in successful operation for the
attainment of this most desirable end, They
are simple and easy-practical and certain in
their results They consist in persuasion and
argument and in n proper expression of correct
sentiment through the ballot-box They re-
quire us, when we pray for Just rulers, to be
earnest and sincere, and see that our votes cor
respond with our prayers to vote for such men,
and such only, as represent our principles, and
possess the integrity and tirmness to maintain
them, Mt all times, and under all circumstan-
ceS-men who reject the stale and false argu-
ment that we are to endorse one great political
wrong to destroy another, men who do not ex-
pect to improve the condition of society through
unprincipled majorities and stratagem in legis-
lation but by practical illustration, in them
selves, Of genuine Democracy, marching
steadily forward to victory-a victory that will
relieve the child Of misfortune, and let the OPP
pressed 90 free Such are the means and such
the motives of those who are ardently devoted to
this great work of separating the Federal Gov
eminent from the voluntary political slavery of
the North, and the involuntary personal sa-
very Of the South. A history of the many and
severe conflicts during the last few years, be-
tween the advocates of freedom and the friends
of oppression would be interesting and instruct
i've, but ! have not time to enter upon it now
Let it suffice to say that the little band of Free
Sellers, during the organization of the thirty
first Congress, by their integrity and frmneSs,
drove the two old parties into an alliance with
each other for sclt.preservation, under the lead
ership of Henry Clay and Howell Cobb. There
they have remained ever since, and now stand
as body-guard to slavery, on the same plat