Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-10
Lord SALISBURY on Summers
Speech.

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Speech.
A striking proof of the recklessness of
newspapers is foand in the fact that the fol-
lowing paragraph was coined and inserted
In some one OF them -
81 Lord Shafiesbury writes TO the Lonflon
Times second letter on negro slavery,
condemnatory of Mr.. Summers August
speech"
1t is a striking proof Of the carelessness
of papers, tour own among the number
that the above should be copied and then
endorsed without examination. As an
atonement for our careessness, we copy
the whole letter -
SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
TO the Editor of the Tmes.-M:-
A reply TO my letter from Genoa. which
YOU were so good as to insert, has appeared
in your paper of the 18th of last month. 1t
contains no dsproval of my statements; it
is directed simply to argue and whiewash
the fugitive slave law.
Let us take few lines descriptive of
this terrible enactment from the speech of
Hon. Charles Sumner. one of those power
full intellects and noble hearts that have
shone so brightly in our sister country--a
speech delivered in the Senate of the Uni
ted States, August 26th, 1852
1.-The Slave Act" says Mr. Sumner,
" violates the Constitution and shocks the
public conscience. With modesty, and
yet with irmness, lei me add, sir. it offends
against the Divine law. ** The good
citizen, as he thinks Of the shivering fugi.
tive, guilty of no crime, pursued, hunted
down like abeast, while praying for Christian
help and deliverance, and as he reads the
requirements of this act, is filled with hor-
ror. Here is despotic mandate, to aid
and assist in the prompt and efficient exc
cution Of this law. Again let me speak
frankly. Not rashly would set myself
against any provision Of law. This grave
responsibility should no. lightly assume.
But here the path Of duty is clear. By the
Supreme law, which commands me to do
no injustice; by the comprehensive Christ.
ian law of brotherhood; by the Constitution
which have sworn to support, l am bound
to disobey this act. Never, in any capaci-
ty, can render voluntary aid in its execu-
ton. Pains and penalties will endure,
but this great wrongI will not do. | cam
not obey, but [ can suffer- was the excla.
nation Of the author of The Pilgrim S
Progress, when imprisoned for disobedl-
ence to an earthly statute. Better suffer
injustice than do it. Better be even the
poor slave, returned-to bondage, than the
unhappy commissioner.
"Finally, for the sake of peace aud tran
guilty, cease to shock the public consci-
ence. \ n Mindful of the lowly whom it
pursues; mindful OF the good men per-
picked by its requirements -; in the name
Charty-in the name of the Constitution,
repeal this enactment totally, and without
delay. Be inspired by the example of
Washington i; be admonished by those words
of oriental piety. Beware of the groans of
wounded souls. Cypress not to the utmost
a single heart, for solitary sigh has power
to overset whole world ="
What noble eoquence! Garry these no
BILE words, sir, by the vehicle of your al
most universal paper, to the press of almost
every country and to the. heart of. every
human being, man, woman, or child, who
has ever heard the Divine rule, Whatso.
ever We would that men should do unto you,
do We even so unto them"
And yet we are to be told by your cor.
respondent that this monstrous act of legs.
lation is the bond of the Union, the basis Of
the Compromise, the security of the Con.
federation, the strength OF America We
will not believe it. Who born on this side
of the Atlantic, would have presumed
say not to utter, but--to imagine such a
libel on the vigor and virtue of the United
States? What is the greatness Of such
an empire SIS the power eff such political
and social ordinances as have produced
almost in the infancy of the nation. mar
velous succession of statesman, patriots
warriors, poets. divines, and men of science
is it the restless spirit of enterprise among
her citizens ;--are their singular skill. ell
ergy, and perseverance-the true source;
Of their mighty dominion-alI dependen
upon statute TO enable the Southern slave
holders to recaptnre miserable girls ant
heart-worn victims, and force them back tt
the sufferings from which they had escaped
1t this be true-which il cannot be-the
sun Of America will never reach its merid
ian. am, sir,
Your obebient servant,
SHAFTEsBURY.
| Nice. Feb g