The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
THE wOLFBoR0 CONVENTION.

A. Garland, of North Weare and addressed
by Hon. Amos Tuck, of Exeter John H. Good
ale, ESQ, editor of the Manchester Democrat;
Rev. J. G. Forman, of Nantucket, Mass. J. N.
Fletcher and George Z. Shattuck, Esq.s, Of
Nashua Oliver Wyatt, of Dover M w. Tap
pan, Esq, of Bradford Leonard Chase Esq,
of Milford Rev. B. Van Dame, of Nottingham,
and others A very gratifying spirit of har'
mony pervaded the assembly, and determined
purpose was evinced, at least to try TO redeem
the old Granite State from the dominion of
Hunkerism, and place her, politically in a
worthy position before the country and the
world
On the oath, large number of visiters from
Concord, Manchester, and other places, assem-
bled in a grove near the village where the reg
ular exercises Of the day commenced. The
following gentlemen were chosen officers:
President-Hon. A. Tuck, of Exeter Vice
Presidents-L. D. Mason, of Tamworth Alvah
Smith of Leominster Asa Freeman of Dover.
Secretaries-J. N. Fletcher, of Nashua Chas.
Parker, of WofbOro'. Chief Marshal-N. V.
WhitehOuse, Of Rochester
Mr. Tuck, on taking the chair, delivered a
short address, and was followed by Moses A.
Garland The Commonwealth had Reporter
on the ground, who furnishes an account of the
proceedings
The Chairman, in few very appropriate
and happy remarks introduced to the audience
Hon. John +. Hale who was received with loud
cheers.
Mr.. Hale on rising, was heartily cheered |
He said he could, without afectation say that |
he was glad to meet them there tie was glad
to meet them in that open temple OF the Most
High; with no covering of mans hand over
them, but the atmosphere breathing around
them fresh from the hand of the Almighty L
and nothing TO nterpose between them and
His heavens He rejoced to meet them amid
those mountains, which be looked upon rs old
and familiar friends for he remembered that ,
he was in his native country. He rejoiced to
meet them there, by the side Of that beautiful
lake, which the pOetical spirit Of the Indian
looked upon as the smile of the Great Spirit"
who had made the mountain and the lake for
his abode. He rGjoiced to meet them-men,
women and children--for he wanted to speak
10 human hearts. He had spoken to politicians
so long, that he had got tired of it. and thank
ed God that he stood on a spot where he could
address human hearts to-day. Cheers
Mr.. Hale said he knew not exactly upon
what subject TO address them but he would
follow illuStrious examples. As they all knew, :;
it had been quite "A common occurrence when
they had political meetings for the orators to Il
inquire, A" How is it with the Fugitive Slave /
Law Is it carried out in Boston Is it ad. [
ministered with alacrity in New York. Is it q
carried out unialterngy in Philadelphia? Be
cause, If it is-if men have learned to conquer "
their prejudces, to fetter their impulses to Il
freeze their sympathes and to forget their f
God-theyar getting to be pretty good Wings {
and Democrats, and there is great hope for the ;
country Laughter and applause
Perhaps, said Mr. Hale, you expected was q
going to make speech but am simply going |
to tell story OF fugitive; and one, too which
you may have all heard. Mr.. Hale then pro-
cceded to recount in graphic and most inter !
estng manner, the particulars Of the arrest Of {
kosta, the Hungarian refugee familiar to every {
reader by an Austrian commissioner, and his
deliyerance through the exertions of a noble
and truly Ameriodn officer, Captain Ingraham,
from the doom that awaited him. What
American was there said Mr.. Hale, whose {
heart did not beat a little quicker when he !
read that story What sick man was there
even, who, when the doctor felt his pulse that
day, he did not say, Your fever runs q little
higher to-day my iriend!" [I;9aghter and
cheers Capt lngraham, whehshs performed
that manly act, touched chord that found |
response in every American heart. Even that |
dreadful class, the Old Hunkers, felt it-they
could not help it. 1t was a noble, generous,
a magnanmous act; and the whole heart of
the nation vibrated with new thrills of pleasure
and exultation ut the recital of the story.
hx,I Il. 4 IL Al
violation of the Fugitive Slave Law. In the
words of that law Kosta owed service y to
the Emperor Of Austria He had escaped and
the myrmidons of the Emperor had retaken
him. We interfered We, that are 80 fond of
enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law at home,
would not see it enforced abroad and the
American stars and stripes protected the poor
exile at Smyrna, whatever they may do at
home.
There was great moral in this, and it was
great index, too. 1t told him where the heart
Of this people is lie venturcd to say that a
great many of his audience, whose hearts had
throbbed with pleasure at this incident, did not
even know what the complexion of Kosta was.
He (Mr. II did not doubt that Kosta was very
much darker than many of those who had been
seized in tho United States under our Fugitive
Slave Law. The feeling of exutation which
had found such general expression all over the
land, at this act OF herosm on the part of Capt.
Ingraham, was the testimony of human nature
in behalf of its own character and dignity,
against the false positions which the nation
thought itself obliged to maintain by tho po-
litical relations in which the people were
placed.
Suppose some myrmidon of Austria or some
commissioner of some one of the Southern
States should come into that crowd and under
take to serve some cOlored man there rs the
Austrian captain undertook TO serve kosta in
Smyrna-was there any Capt lngraham there
who had humanity enough in his heart to
stand up and say He is n man ?" Voices
in the crowd" Yes yesl" Would there be
found a man to stand up and say Gle is n
man. and his manhood shall be protected
though all the political parties go to destruc
tion!' Cries Of 4" Yes! yes" He should be
glad if they would. But when no heard those
responses ut public meeting, no was remind
ed of coored minister he once heard speak in
a Quarterly Meeting in New Hampshire, who
said that they had great many good Anti
Slavery men in New Hampshire who prayed
for the liberation of the slave, and that God
would give them just men to rule over them
men who would rule in His fear, and work
righteousness. Butt said the preacher, if
God did not send them the blessing before cleo.
ton, they would not have it for when they
went to the ballot box they joined hands with
the oppressors they have prayed for just men,
and 90 and vote for unjust men they have
prayed to God to send them rulers who would
rule in his fear, and they 20 to the ballot.box
and league themselves with tyrants, and vote
for men they know will enact the Fugitive
Slave Law And after election, they 20 home
and begin to insult the Almighty by repeating
over again their old prayers" ICheers, and
cries Of "True! true!" What they needed
was consistent action--both at the ballot. box
and at the throne of grace---they want men