Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-06-03
Speech of Gov. Cleveland, of CT,
In the House of Representatives., May LIST,
1852, on the Slavery Question.
EXTRACTS. |


But il no objections existed to this reso-
luton upon the ground OF propriety. have
another which would efectuay prevent me
from giving it my assent. 1t proposes to
endorse the Infamous Fugitive Slave Law, a
purely Wing mesure; and that it is such
will demonstrate, so that no man upon this
floor can deny ii,
Mr.. JACKSON Will the gentleman allow
me to ask him another question:
Mr., CLEAvLAND. | have notme 10 spare,
but will accommodate the gentleman.
Mr.. JACKSON. The gentleman says That
it is purely a Wing measure. Now, want
TO know whether the gentleman has refer.
euce TO my resolution or to the Fugitive
Slave Law?
Mr.. CLEAvLAND. Oh, the Fugitive Slave
Law, certainly. did not mean, when
speaking of the conduct of the Wings, to
reflect upon the genteman's resolution.
My Wing friends around me seem de-
lighted that should give them the credit
of this measure, which is So obnoxious to
right minded men, because of its inhuman-
ity and wanton violation of the rights of the
citizen, portic@27riy as it denies to the per-
son claimed as a fugitive from labor the
right OF trial by jury in the State where
arrested. What objection is made to this
right d? The insulting one that the men
who fill our jury boxes in tie free States
are base enough to commit the crime of
perjury, and fail to render a verdict in &C
cordance with the testimony, in order to
screen the fugitive, and thus deprive the
master of his services. And yet the asser-
ton is made with great GOODNESS, for selfish
and base purposes, that this law is popu-
lar with the pe0plei and men are addition
ally insulted by the request that they will
vote for the elevation of the very men who
entertain such opinions of their integrity
as law-abdmg citizens. tell YOU, gentle
men, you will live to see the dav, or, if you
do not, your sons will, when the very mem
ton of this as your measure will cause
blush of shame, to think that you should
have been guilty Of such consummate folly
and want Of principle.
regret to see that our outside friends
from the South had not little more ofnerve,
and little less indecision. ia resisting these
acts of the last Congress-in resisting that
assumption of power upon the part OF Con-
gress. IN my opinion, the passage of the
Fugitive Slave Law was precisely such
stretch OF power in principle as was the
passage Of the alien and sedltion laws upon
the part of The Congress passing them.
tell Democrats who are so anxious to
connect their names with the support of the
slave law of the last Congress, that the pow
er it places in the hands Of the Executive
is an hundred fold more dangerous to the
liberties of the citizen than the alien and
sedition laws, which made the admlnlsra
tiou of the elder Adams so odious m the
eyes of all honest Democrats. Aud what
use have we seen the Executive make of
this law within the first months of As exis.
tence? Because Of negro riot in Boston,
he asked that Congress should pass a law
giving him the power to call out the mali.
Tia and shoot down transporting citizens
before they are notified Of their offence