The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-30

do injustice to thai emanatlon OF BRUSH tyranny
Both indeed, infringe important rights; one of pro-
perty; the other the vital right of all, which is to
other rights the soul to the body-the right oJ
man to himself Both are condemned; but their
relative condemnation must be measured by ther
relative characters As freedom is more than pro-
perty; as Man is above the dollar that he earns; as
Heaven to which we all aspire, is higher than the
earth where every accumulation OF wealth must
ever remain so are the rights assailed by an Amer
lean Congress higher than those once assaled py
the British Parliament. And just in this degree
must history condemn the Slave Act nlore than the
Stamp Act.
Sir, might here stop. 1t is enough in this place
and on this occasion to show the unconstitutional
itv of this enactment. Your duty commences at
once All legislation hostile to the fundamental
law of the land should be repealed without delay:
But the argument is not yet exhausted Even II
this Act could claim any validity apology under
the Constitution which it cannot, At lacks that eS-
sent;aL support in the Public Conscience OF the States
,cere Is to be enforced, aohich IS the e OF all taao
ard iothout sohich any Gao must become dead let
ter.
The Senator from South Carolina [Mr, Butlerl
was right. when at the beginning of the session,
he pointedy said that law which could be entorc-
ed only bv the bayonet, law. Sir, 1t Is idle
to suppose that an Actof Congress becomes ettec-
tive merely by compliance with the forms OF legls-
lation. Something more Is necessary NE Act
must be in harmony with the prevailing pubic SEN
timent of the community upon which 1t bears. vi
course do not suggest that the cordial support Ct
every man or of every small locality is necessary;
but do mean that the public feelings. the public
convictions, the public conscience must not De
touched wounded, lacerated, by every endeavor to
enforce it. Wi h all these it must be so far IN har-
mony that, like other laws, by which property, hb-
erty, and life, are guarded 1t may be administered
by the ordinary process of the courts, without Jeo
parding the public peace or shocking good men, Ii
this be true as general rule-if the public sup
| haa ,tIal to n
law, this is especially the in an enactment
which concerns the important and sensitive rights
of Personal Liberty. In conformity with this prln-
ciple the Legislature of Massachusetts,, by formal
resolution, IN 1850, with singular unanlmlty, de-
clared:
ave hold it to be the duty of Congress to pass such
laws only in regard thereto will be maintained by
the sentiments OF the Free States, where such laws
to be enforced"
The duty of consulting these sentiments re-
cognised by Washington. While President OF the
United States at the close of his Administration,
he sought to recover slave, who had fled to New
Hampshire. His autograph letter to MIR. Whippe,
the Collector of Portsmouth, dated at Philadelphia,
2Sth November, 1876, which | now hold in my
hand, and which has never before seen the light,
after describing the fugitive and particularly ex-
pressing the desire of 'ther MISTRESS, Mrs. Wash
ngton, for her return, employs the following decs-
i've language:
"L do not mean however, by this request, that such
violent measures should be used AS WOULD EXCITE
MOB RIOT WHICH MIGHT BE THE CASE IF SHE HAS
ADHERENTs, OR EVEN UNEASY SENSATIONS IN THE
MINDS wELL.DIsPosED CITIZENS. Rather than
either of these should happen. would forego her
vices altogether and the example aso which Is of IN
'''''' ''''-0 '-'f "GEoRGE WASHINGTON"
Mr.. Whippe, in his reply, dated at Portsmouth,
December %, 1885, autograph copy of which
have recognises the rule OF Washlrgto
81 will now, sir agreeably your desire, send her to
Alexandria, if practicable Uthou the consequences
qrhch you ercept-hat of erciting ao6
ting uneasy sensations the nnds of lUellsposed per-
The first cannot be calculated betoreh and: 1t will
be governed by the popular opinion of the Moment or
the circumstances that may arise IN the transaction
The latter may be sought into and Judged of by con-
versng with such persons without discovering The
casion So far as have had opportunity, perceive
that different sentiments entertained this sub
iect."
The fugitive never returned; but lived in
freedom to good old age, down to very recent
period, monument of the just forbcarance of him
whom aptly call the Father of his Country. 1t
is true that he sought her return. This we must
regret, and find its apology He was at the time
STAKEHOLDER Though often with various degrees
of force expressing himself against slavery, and
promising his suffrage for its abolition, he did not
this wrong as he saw it at the close of life, IN
the illumination of another sphere. From this act
of Washington, still swayed by the policy OF the
world, l appeal to Washington writing his will.
From Washington earth | appeal to Washing
ton in Heaven. Seek not by his to justify
any such effort. His death is above his life.
His last testament cancels his authority as a
STAKEHOLDER. However he may have appeared
before man, he came into the presence of God
only as the liberator of his slaves. Grateful
for this example, am grateful also, that while
STAKEHOLDER, and seeking the return OF a fugitive,
he has left in permanent record a rule of conduct
which, if adopted by his country, will make Slave
Hunting impossible. The chances of riot or mob,
OF seven uneasy sensations among well-disposed
persons are to prevent any such pursuit.
Sir the existing Slave Act cannot be enforced
without violating the precept Of Washington. Not
merely ssuneasy sensations of well-disposed per-
sons, but rage, tumult, commotion mob, riot, vio-
ence death, gush from its fatal overfowing foun-
tains:
hoo font edervata clades
In patram popuiumque fluxit.
Not case occurs without endangcring the public
peace Workmen arc violently dragged from en-
loyments to which they welded by years Of
successful labor; husbands are ravished from wives
and parents from children. Everywhere there is a
disturbance at Detroit, Buffalo, Harrisburgh Sy-
racuse, Philadelphia, New York, Boston. At Buff
falo the fugitive cruelty knocked by log of
wood against a red-hot stove, and his mock trial
commenced while the blood still oozed from his
| wounded head At Syracuse, he was rescued by a
sudden mob; also at Boston. At Harrisburgh
the fugitive was shot; at Christiana the slave
hunter shot. At New York unprecedented
| excitement, always VIII uncertain consequences,
has attended every case. Again, at Boston a fugi-
tive, according to the received report, was first
basely seized under pretext that he was criminal
arrested only after deadly struggle; guarded by
officers who acted in violation of he laws of the
State: tried in Court House surrounded by
chains contrary to the common law; finally surren-
dered to Slavery by trampling on the criminal
process of the State, under escort in violation
again of the laws of the State, while the pulpits
trembled, and the whole people, not merely 'unea-
sy,'' but swelling with Unsurpassed indignation,
for the sake of order and tranquility without vio-
lence witnessed the shameful cat atastrophe.
With every attempt to administer the Slave Act,
it constantly becomes revolving, particularly
in its influence the agents it enlists. Pitch
not be touched without deflement, and all who lend
themselves to this work seem at once and uncon-
sciously TO lose the better part of man. The spirit
of the law passes into them as the devils entered
the swine. Upstart commissioners, the mere mush-
rooms of courts vie and revie with each other
Now by indecent speed, now by harshness of man
ner, now by denial of evidence, now by crippling
the defence, and now by open glaring wrong they
make the odious Act yet more odious. Clemency,
grace and justice, die in its presence. All this is
observed by the world Not occurs which
does not harrow the souls of good men, and bring
tears of sympathy to the eyes, also-those other
tears which patriots shed DER dying laws
Sir, l shall speak frankly. If there be an excep-
tion to this feeling, it will be found chiefly with a
IA al. al.