Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-04
GERRIT SMITH.
Speech Of Parker PiIlsbury,
AT TlIE. ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEST.
ElIN ANTI.SLAvERY SOCIETY.


On tho resolutions with rcspcct to political
relations and action, Parker Pilsbury remarked
as follows:
II soemsto me to be of little account, TO spend
oar time in discussing what is constitutional or
unconstitutional, as long as VIC arc agreed in
one thing, that whether constitutional or not,
the people are determined to have slavcry.-
What we wish is, to abolish slavery at any rate;
and We want to make public sentiment against
It so strong, that it must fall, constitution or no
constitution. Why is it that they cannot cap
ture fugitive in Syracuse as well as in New
York; The answer is easy-puJiic opinion saws
that fugitivcs shall not be captured there. Aad
although Daniel Webster declared that rugi-
tive should be taken from that city and in the
time OF an \. S. Convention too, he was found
to be false prophet; for as if .bc ere were kind
OF Providential interference, a Fugitive slave
case occurred whlo the \. S. Convention was
in session, but it failed because there was q
power in public opinion above the law, which
was stronger than tho law. Gointo Massachu-
sets and the same thing is true So that it is
not Tor the want of law that fugitvcs arc not
captured, but for the want Of that which over
rides all laws and constitutions aud trcads them
down, namely the public voice. So that [ am
hot particular in this matter. Suppose all that
as caimed by the friends of political anti slavery
with regard to the cors,itutionality of slavery,
should be conceded, what would they gain.--
They would have tho decision here in their
favor, but they would lack that without which
they could do nothing. For it Is not true that
the Free Soil party holds slavery to be uncon-
s,itutionai. Thoirl pls,form doea not deelara
1T. Gcrrit Smith hbofed with al bis influence
TO make them declare It. Butthcy spurncd the
doctrine. They do not believe it their candi-
dates do not believe il. Hale disclaimed the
doctrine in the letter he wrote just previous to
the nomination. He said slavery belonged to
the States in which it exists, and that they only
must deal it with it there.
Now what does it matter what my friend
Douglass says about the constitutioni lie is
not going to execute it. The candidate for
whom he labors and votes is to do that And
you must go and convert your candidate to your
doctrine of unconstitutionality. Then you may
come and try and convert US. Your President
is to execute the constitution, and he says it is
ono way, and you Free Soil men another. Your
President has no controversy with inc, mono
with this society. SO that the whole is labor
lost
What If we admit that slavery is unconstitu-
tionel; Hale docs not admit it. And of what
practical use is our admission: Now till your
party value their principles high enough to car
ry them to the polls, they had not better bring
them here. The Frce Soil party carries our
principles there, and not theirs. You say sla-
very is unconstitutional-we deny t-so that
We have not to carry our principles to the polls.
You will do it for us. We say slavery is con-
stitutional, and so does Hale. Mr.. Giddngs
never has said it is unconstitutional. Why in
his last speech in Congress, that memorable
speech, enough to immortalise him almost, hc
comedies the whole ground. Take your slavery
home and keep it there says he. lie does not
say stay at homo yourselves and repent of your
robbing and kidnapping, but keep your negroes
shere. You may come to Congress as repre-
scntativcs Of threc-ffths of them, but keep
Them away, aad awe will meet together as
band of freemen," to legslate together, for
whati For the abolition Of slayeryi no, but
"as band Of f,eemen toe iOW leJis!Gte together
for The good Of mankind and Tie elepG' ion ofthe ,
human race"
Now in the name Of heaven, demand, why
do men come to us on this platform, saying that
slavery is unconstitutional, and ask US to carry
their principles to the polls, whom they arc not
doing 1t themselves. For the moment you
concede that slavery Is on constitutional ground,
(and Hale does concede it, you como to our
position, and confess yourselves to be what we
say you nrcS in governmental and church alli-
nnce with those, who, when compared with
Spanish buccaneers, are as innocent as angels Of
light. i deny that the Free Soil principles as
we hear them avowed here, are 10 be carried to
the polls. Gevrit Smith tried to get the Pitts
burgh Convention to adopt his principles. And
If VIC give ecrcdt to the declaration of Mr.. Doug
Pittsburgh platform says there Is no slavery in
the constitution. Whereas the truth is, that
when this doctrine was advocated there, the
leading men spurned il altogether. / say there
fsre my controversy is with the candidates Of
the party, tho men who have to erecme the con-
stituton and the laws. They tell us that sla-
yery has a constitutional existence, and that the
stakeholder must be respected, when he comes
upon the Governmental ploAGorm a, the Ma
tional capital. This is my view aud do not