The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-08


children, than submit to such degradation.
And here | will take occasion to say, that If
this law remains in force, civil war is inevita-
ble The people will not submit to it. Why.
sir, civil war already exists. AT Christians,
civil war, with all its circumstance of force, I'M
der color of law-resistance in defence of nat
ural right-bloodshed and death took place.
In my own State similar transaction occur
red and | assure gentlemen that other in
stances will occur if attempts be made to en-
force that law In my own district are many
fugitiyes, who have informed their masters
where they may be found. These men have
become desperate. They desire to see the slave
catchers. They pant for an opportunity to
make their oppressors bite the dust Sir,
send on your commissioners and deputy mar
shas and bloodhounds, and | assure you that
a civil war will soon be in active progress.
Gentlemen talk of enforcing this law IL
cannot be done The people have already pass
ed sentence upon it and upon its authors; and
that sentence will be speedily executed. Nor
can you stop agitation in regard to it.
Agitation, discussion, and examination, are
the agents--the instruments-for carrying for
ward all reforms The Saviour of man spoke
truths boldly. They fell harshly upon the ears
of scribes, pharisees, and hypocrites They de-
nounced him as an agitator; seized, tried. con-
demned and crucifed him us an agtator From
that day to the present, every man who has
boldly avowed truths unwecome to the ears
of despots, tyrants. and the oppressors of our
race, have been denounced as agitators. JEFF
ferson in the Declaration of American hide
pendence; Samuel Adams, in the Continental
Congress Washington, on the battlefield, were
distinguished dg,tdtOrS :" John Quincy Adams
while in this Hall, for years maintained and
, defended with inimtable powers the right of
petition, and was denounced throughout the
country as an dgitdtOr. He was arraigned at
the bar of this House, and tried as an agita-
tor. Every member of this body who defends
the rights of the people, is denounced as an
! agitatOr. To me, these epithets have lost their
terrOrs.
For hundreds and for thousands of years the
instruction and elevation of mankind has been
carried forward by agitation. BY means Of it,
tyrants and despots have been driven from
power and popular rights have been extorted
from barbarous rulers Without agitation, no
people ever gained their rights, or retained
them after they had been extorted from their
oppresSors. Now suddenly to prevent the
progress of liberty, Wings and Democrats
unite to suppress this element in all reforms
They declare that discussion shall cease and
the slave trade and slavery shall continue for
ever, and the Fugitive Law shall be rendered
perpetual.
Mr.. Chairman, well do recoect the even
ing after these laws had been passed | then
viewed them in all their horrors | saw the
degradation to which the people of the free
States were subjected-the crimes which we
had authorized My heart sunk within me- as
contemplated the public men who had aimed
this blow ut liberty.
But SIR on yonder avenue heard the songs
OF drunken reyelry and the insane shout: bon
fires lighted up the heavens, and the thunder
OF cannon told the immoderate Joy of slave
holders, slave-breeders, doughfaces and dealers
IN human flesh. Their gratitude naturally
| flowed out to those most instrumental in the
passage of these laws to which have alluded,
called the Compromise and Fugitive Law. In
the fullness of their hearts and stomachs they
repaired to the dwelling of the Secretary of
State and called on him for a speech. He read
iiy complied, commencing his congratulations
by saying:
" Now is the winter of our discomfort made
glorious summer" He then informed the mot
ley crew around him, that this question of sla-
very was settled and that they were no more
to be troubled with agitation. Sir, from that
day up to the close Of the Baltimore Conven-
ton, he wrote letters and made speeches de-
clarlng and avowing that agitation had ceased |
assuring the country in substance that the
slave trade in this District and in our Terrific
ries would 60 on undisturbed That oppres-
sion here and in the Territories now had moth
ing to fear. The whole energies of the Gov
eminent were put forth to enforce the Fugitive
Law; but they generally proved abortive Every
possible exertion was made in Boston and |
Philadelphia to convict those charged with |
obstructng its execution but all failed The
blood of Gorsuch, piratical sla ve. catcher who
fell at Christiana, is unavenged, in spite of the
public treasure and Executive influence put
forth to obtain a conviction of those who right
eously slew him The patriots who assisted
Shadrach to escape the fangs of the Boston
bloodhounds yet laugh to scOrn your Infamous
law At Syracuse, at Rochester, and hun
dred other places, the friends of liberty rejoice
at the impOtency of this law. although it has
thus far been backed up by Executive power
These defeats of the Executive and of this en-
actment libellously called lar, have resulted
from agitation and well may slavecatchers
and doughfaces now seek to stihe discussion, to
silence the people
Sir, while these things were going forward
the Secretary of State was looking for and ex-
pectng return for the services he had render
cd the slave power The Presidential chair and
White House was looked to as the reward for
his treason to God and humanity. But there
again agitation had done its work: All reflect
ing men knew that he could receive in the
whole Union scarce twenty electoral votes And
when the Baltimore Convention passed upon
his claims, not Southern vote was cast for
him. Chagrined mortified, and disconnected,
he will soon retire, and history will record ahe
truth concerning him and us But, sir. will
not aggravate the chls Of political death nor
call up to mind the sins which must {" sit heavy
on his soul when II darker night shall close
around him
Agitation has brought to the scaffold another
conspicuous victim. The President of these
United States lent his whole influence to the
promotion of those Compromise measures to
which have alluded. His devotion to the slave
power has been openly and boldly avowed
Steadily and basely has he prostituted the in
fiucnce and power of his Office to the purpose
OF supporting slavery oppression, and crime
AT the Baltimore Convention, the Shareholders
believe, were unanimously in his favor. But
Northern delegates dared not support him
Agitation had Informed the people of his hay
ing deserted their cause. and gone over to the
enemies of freedom The popular voice of the
North iiau pronounced ms doom. ne was cast
aside the political grave yawns for him; and
on the Sd Of March he will he laid in it, Were
to write the epltaphs of these men, would
inscribc upon their tombs, CHILLED BY AGIrA-
TON Think you not that these men and their
party have cause for their hostility to discus
slon-to the dissemination Of truth
The Democrats, also, have cause for oppo-
sing agitation. Their ablest their most ex-
pericnced statesmen have fallen victims to it
General Cass, the man who of all their cand.
dates deemed best nualfed for the Prnsdnn