Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-09-01
Hale's Speech at Wolfboro, N. H.

One of the greatest and most enthusiastic
of the Free Democracy ever known in
New Hampshire, or perhaps in any part OF New
England, was held last week at Wolfboro. MI.
Hale made two speeches, the opening one, which
we give below, and ore in the afternoon on the
Fugitive Slave Law, which was not reported.
The Chairman then, in few very appro.
pirate remarks, introduced to the audience
Hon. John P Hale, who was received with
loud cheers
Mr.. Hale, on rising, was heartily cheer
ed He said he could, without affectatlon,
say that he was glad to meet them there.
He was z lad to meet them in that open
temple of the Most High; with no covering
OF mans hand over them, but the atmos-
phere breathing around them fresh from the
hand of the Almighty, and nothing to inter-
pose between them and HIS heavens. He
rejolced TO meet them amid those noun
talns, which he looked upon as old aud ia
miliar friends. for he remembered that he
was in his native country. He rejoiced TO
meet them there. by The side of that beaut
fnl lake, which the poetical spirit Of tllesln-
dian looked upon as the ''smIle Of the Great
Spirit" who had made the mountain aud
the lake for his abode. He rejoiced 10 meet
them-men, women, and chldren-for he
wanted to speak to human hearts. He had
spoken to politicians so long, that he had
got tired of it, and thanked God that he
stood on spo, where he could address hu-
man hearts to-day. Cheers,
Mr.. Hale said he knew not exactly upon
what subject to address them, bu, lie would
follow illuslrlous example. As they all
knew. it had been quite common occur
renee. when they had political meetings,
for the orators to enquire How is i. with
the fugitive slave law? Is il carried ont IN
Boston Is it administered with aIaceity
in New York ? Is it carried ouI nnialler-
ingIy in Philadelphia ?-becau,e if ii is if
men have learned to conquer their prejudi-
ces-to letter their impulses, to freeze their
sympalhIes. and to forget their God, they
are 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 going to make speech, but | am SIM
ply going 10 tell story Of fugitive and
'ne, too, which you may have all heard.
Mr. Hale then proceeded to recount, in a
graphic aud most interesting manner, the
particulars of the arrest Of Kozsta, the
Hungarian refugee, familiar to every read
er) by an Austrian commissioner aud his
deliverance through the exertions of noble
and truly american officer, Capt. Ingraham,
from the doom that awaited him. What
American was there, SAID Mr. Hale, whose
heart did not beat little quicker when he
read that storyl What sick man was there,
even, who, when the doctor felt his pulse
'shat day, he did not say, +" Your fever runs
a little higher to day, my friend r. Cheers.
Capt. lngraham, when he performed that
manly act touched cord that found re.
Spouse in every American heart Even
tina. dreadful class, the Old Hunkers, fe, it
they could not help it, 1t is NOBLE,
generous, magnanimous act and the
whole heart Of the nation vibrated with new
thrills of pleasure and exultatlon, at the re.
cl,al of the story
Why did they do SOL That was fragrant
violation of the tugnlve slave law In the
words of tina. law, Kozsta " owed service"
to the Emperor Of Austria. He had es-
capped, and the myrmldons of the Emperor
had re-taken him. We interlered. We,
that are so 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, what
ever they may do at home.
There was great moral in this, and it
was great index, too. l, told him where
the heart of the people u.s. He ventured to
say that great many of his audience,
whose hearts had throbbed with pleasure at
this incident, did not even know what the
complexion of Kozsta was. He Mr.. H.
did no, doubt that Kozsta was very much
darker than many of those who had been
seized III the United States under our tug-
tive slave law. The feeling of exulla.lon
which had found such general expression
all over the land, at this act of heroism on
the part of Capt Ingraham, was the tesll.
mony of human nature in behalf Of its own
character and dignity, against the false po-
sllons which The nation thought itself OBJ
llged to maintain by the political relations
in which the people were placed
Suppose some myrmldon OF Austria or
some commissioner OF some one OF the
southern States should come into thar crowd,
aud undertake To serve some colored man
there as the Austrian captain undertook to
serve Kozs,a IN Symrna,-was there any
Capt. lngraham there vino had humanity
enough in his heart to stand up aud say,
"He Is a mani" Vmces IN the crowd
"Yes yesp'l Would there be found Il
man to stand up and say, "He Is man, and
his manhood shall be protected, though all
the political parties go to destruction -
Cries of yes yes! He should be glad
If they would. But when he heard those
responses at public meeting, he was re-
minded of colored minister he once heard
speak in a Quarterly Meeting III N. Hamp.
shire, who SAID that they had great many
go 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 ,hem--men who would rule in
His fear, and work righteousness. But
said the preacher, "if God did not send
them the blessing before election they would
not have it; for when they went to The
ballot-box, they joined hands with the op.
pressors; they have prayed for just men,
and 60 and vote for unjust men; they have
prayed to God to send them rulers who
would rule in his fear, and they 60 to the
ballot.box and league themselves with ty-
rants, aud vote for men who will enact the
fugitive slave law And after election, they
go home, and begin 10 insult the Almighty
In ranantirx orax iho,x al IL No.