Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-06-11

uhloDS. Dut Ine TienO nhu Shlu-UOt w
these words but, resolved into its elements,
this was what he snid-'I have n right to
govern you whether you are willing or not.
I have n right to do oil can to he your
President, although you utterly repudate my
sentiments tie could not admit amy such
principle. No one could rightfilly do this
without his consent. There was no such
thing rs freedom among people where the
majority had the right to say who should he
the ruler, without any regard to the consent
or the dissent of the minority. When we
came together, therefore, in this government
tai which is the artificial thing
which society Is Motive came upon certain
plainly expressed conditons; and one of
these WINS, that every party to that govern
nent shall swear to support, directly or indi-
rectly, n Constitution which requires the Civ
( ing up Of runaway slnves TO their masters
n Constitution which requires the recognition
of the right of the slave States to n repre-
sentntion bnsed on slave- properiy-und so
on through the whole range of the pro-suv-
I cry compromises Of the Constitution.
| II seemed to him, after all, that there was
some little doubt ms TO whether they could,
/ 10y remaining tn the government, effect more
| good than by Withdrawing from it aud utter
/ ing their testimony against IL. Until, there
| fore, his friend had established his theory
of government, not merely as beautiful
ideal, which ought to he put m practice, but
one that is recognized in this country, il
seemed To him that his conclusion stood
solely upon this hasis--n order to do n
great right, do little wrong; or, at least,
promise to do it, without meaning to keep
! the promise.
! His friend had said in the coul Sc Of his
argument, ihut there was no danger of be-
| ing misunderstood on this matter. Their
position was clear aud well-defined enough.
lie (Alr. b. would venture to say that il he
(Mr. W. were to 20 through the ranks of the
Free Soil party, aud ask It's members, fnan
by nan, TO define the position of John Z.
Hale. or Salmon p. Chase or Charles Sum-
ner, on the character of the Constitution, he
would be satisfied that the case was not quite
so clear as he had supposed. lie would ven
tire TO say lhnt lie (Mlr. W. would not get
less than half us nrnny distinct answers thnn
le would address individuals.
We wanted something specific on this
point, but his friend had dealt only in geu-
ernliIies. John Z. Hale is decidedly Anti
Slavery in his feelings; Charles Sumner
altogether on the side of Freedom aud against
Slavery. lie supposed nobody doubted il 4;
hut that did not touch the question nj issue.
lie remembered that sOuIe years ago, the
Liberty Party nominated MS n candidate for
Office man who had made more sacrifice tn
the cause of freedom than MIR. Hale aud Mr.
Sumner together; and yet that man told him,
in conversation that he would not only prom.
ise to give back n runaway slave to his mas
ter, II he could thereby get political power,
bni he would keep the promise, for the sake
OF securing place where he could exercise
political power Now he did not know what
John J.. llnle's sentiments were on this sub.
ject; but il might he that he ngreed with
Ihonus Enrle, that il is perfectly consistent
for mn Anti i-Slayery man to go into the bns-
iness of slavc-catching, in n certain case, for
tile sake of securing and using political pow
er against Slavery. As he had not cone to
the conviction that lie could tolerate aud pro-
tect the STAKEHOLDER so far, even for the sake
of Office, lie could not consent to be repre-.
sened in the Presidency. or the Senate
Chamber, or the House Of Representatives,
by men who occupied that position.
lie did not say that MIR. Hale does regard
the matter in that light; but could any man
say he did mol? Could any man say he was
confident TINT MIR. Hale, or Gillngs, or
Sumner, or Chase, or any Free Soil nlan IN
given to jury of twelve mel, here in old
Massachusetts, that n person cluirned rs a
fugitive actually did run away from the slave
holder, who held him according to the stat.
ute book of n Southern State--Gid any ninn
know that either of these distinguished gen
tlemen would refuse to give up that mnn, 10y
State action or by some sort OF action, to the
pursuing claimant? lie thought there was
no one there who could say il. These men,
il was well known, were strenuous for secur-
ing the right Of trial by jury, for alleged
runaway slaves. But why should they ask
for n jury trial to settle the question of own.
ership, IL their decision was not TO I've exc
cuted? 1t was the sheerGst mockery 10 call
the jury together IN such case. The con-
trOversy Of these gentlemen wns not so much
with the act of returning the fugitive, as with
the mode of doing it.
Did not Mr.. Sumner, in that great and
eloquent speech of his, know that his readers
would understand him, when he did not 1e-
ny the obligation of the State to give up the
runaway slave, rs admitting that such right
does exist d? All these men had admitted,
that il the proof he made clear 10 the minds
OF jury OF twelve men, that if "A fugitive
was legally held as slave, under The provs-
ions Of the Constitution, and escaped without
his masters consent, then the slave must he
given up. Let their friend keep this distinc-
ton clearly in his mind, between n general
opposition to slavery aud specific determi-
nation to do no single net whatever which is
seen To have bearing towards slavery.
Ills friend had said that he deems il ex.
ceedingly important TO use this power, and
not he withheld from its exercise by any uict
scruples of conscience, or any mere pune
tilios of duty, because in no other way car
we embody the un,i-sluvery opinion Of lh'
, country into will and act Here he dissented
} lie believed that slavery would be abolishe,
in this country long before the Constitution
; wns nnli-slvery; that whereas, the proslu
very character of the Constitution was no
the cnuse but the effect of slavery, so tn
triumph of nnti.slavery will not he the effec
, hut the cause of a revolution in the Constitu