Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-10

| ana not as 1t is understood by Others \ es,
sir AS lie UNDERSTANDS IT, and not as 10 IS a0l-
derStood By others. Does any Senator here
dissent from this rule Does the Senator from
Virginia? Does the Senator from South Car
olinai Here Mr.. Sumner paused, but there
was no reply.] At all events, accept the
rule as just and reasonable III harmony, too,
let me assert with that liberty which scorns
| the dogma of paSsire obedience, and asserts the
inestimable right of private judgment, wheth-
er in religion or politics. In swearing to sup
port the Constitution at your desk, Mr. Presi-
dent, did not swear to support it as you I'M
derstand it. Oh, no, sir. Or as the Senator
from Virginia understands it. Oh, no, sir
Or as the Senator from South Carolina under
stands it, with a kennel of blood hounds or,
at least, "dog" in it, "pawing to get free its
hinder parts, in pursuit of slave. No such
thing. Sir, swore to support it as l under
stand 1t nor more, nor less.
Now, will not occupy your time, nor am
so disposed at this moment, nor does the &C.
casion require it, by entering upon any mi
mute criticism of the clause in the Constitu-
ton touching the surrender of "fugitives from
labor" A few words only are needful. As
suming, sir, in the face of commanding rules
of Interpretation, all leaning towards freedom,
that in the evasive language of this clause,
III Il uDuDiG bCuSe, the WOIuS Ciu-
ployed can be iudicially regarded as Justly APP
plicable to fugitive slaves, which, as you ought
to know, sir is oftea most streuuousy denied
thus sponging the whole clause out of exist
ence, except as a provision for the return of
persons actually bound by lawful contract, but
on which now express no opinion; assuming,
l say, this Interpretation, so hostile to free
dom, and derogatory to the members of the
Federal convention, who solemnly declared
that they would not yield any sanction to sla-
very, or admit into the Constitution the idea
OF property in man assuming, repeat, an
Interpretation which every principle of the
common law, claimed by our fathers as their
birthright, must disown admitting, for the
moment only, and with shame, that the Con-
Btituton of the United States has any words,
which, in any legal intendment, can constrain
fugitive Slaves then Idesire to say, that, as l
understand the Constitution, this clause does
not impose upon me, as a Senator or citizen.
any obligation to take part, directly or indi-
rectly, in the surrender of fugitive slave.
Sir, as Senator, have taken at your desk
the oath to support the Constitution, as an
derstGnd it. And understanding it as l do,
am bound by that oath, Mr.. President, to OPP
pose all enactmeuts by Congress ON the SUBJ
ject of fugitive slaves as fragrant violation of
the Constitution; especially must oppo Sc the
last act tyrannical usurpation, kindred in
character to the Stamp Act, which our fathers
Indignantly refused to obey. Here my du-
ties, under the oath which have taken as a
Senator, end. There is nothing beyond
They are all absorbed in the constant, inAexi-
bic, righteous obligation, to oppose every ex-
ercise by Congress of any power over the sub
ject. In no respect, by that oath, can be
constrained to duties in other capacities, or as
simple citizen, especially when revolving to
my conscience. Now, in this Interpretation
may be wrong; Others may differ from me;
the Senator from Virginia may differ from me,
aud the Senator from South Carolina also and
they will, each and all, act according to their
respective understandings. For myself l
shall act according to mine. On this explicit
stand, as up6Any constitutional obligations, |
Whatever form addressed IS 80 lt the inquiry, in
;i'd;ranti rat would aid directly e or
bowman to bondage, reply again., + tal5
servant dog, that he should do this thing
And, sir, looking round upon this Senate, /
might ask fearlessly, how many there are, even
in this bDdy, if, indeed, there be single SEN
ator who would stoop to any such service :
Until some one rises and openly confesses his
willingness to become slave hunter, will
not believe that there can be one. Here Mr..
Sumner paused, but nobody rose And yet
honorable and chivalrous Senators have rushed
headlong to denounce me, because openly
declared my Reputation of a service at which
every manly bosom must revolt. ''Sirs, | have
found III Bayonne brave soldiers and good cit
liens, but not one erecutioner," was the noble
reply Of the Governor Of that place to Charles
TX. OF France, alter the royal edicT for the
massacre Of st. Bartholomew; and such
spirit, l trust, will yet animate the people Of
this country, when pressed to the service OF
"dogs.
10 that other question, which has been pro-
posed, whether Mas sachusetts, by State laws,
Will carry out the offensive clause i'll the Con-
stituton, according to the understanding of
the venerable Senator from South Carolina, |
reply that Massachusetts, at all times, has
been ready to do her duty under the Consti-
tuition, as she understands it; and, doubt
not, will ever continue of this mind. More
than this cannot say. ...
In quitting this topic, l cannot forbear to
remark that the assault on me for my dis
claimer of all constitutional obligation, re sting
upon me as Senator or citizen, to aid i'll
making man slave, or in surrendering him
to slavery, comes with an i'll grace from the
veteran Senator from Virginia, State which,
by its far famed resolutions of 1898, assumed
to determine its constitutional obligations,
even to the extent of openly declaring two
different acts of Congress null and void; and
it comes also with an ill grace from the yener-
able Senator from South Carolina, a State
which, in latter days, has arrayed itself OPEN
w against the Federal authorities, and which
threatens notification as often as babies cry.
Surely the Senator from South Carolina,
with his silver-wbi locks, would have hesi-
tated to lead this assault upon me, had he not,
for the moment, been entirely Obvious of the
history Of ilie State which he represents
Not many years have passed since an incident
occurred at Charleston, in South Carolina
not at Boston, in Observation-Disclosures ought
to be remembered. The postmaster of that
place, acting under controlling public opin-
ion there, informed the head OF his Depart
ment at Washington that he had determined
to suppress all anti-slapery publications, and
re luested instructions for the future. Thus,
in violation of the laws Of the laud, the very
mails were ritled, and South Carolina smiled
appreciation of the outrage. But this is not
all. The Post master General, Mr.. Kendall
after prudently alleging that, as he had1not
seen the papers in question, he could not give
an opinion Of their character, proceeded to say,
that he had been Informed that they were In
cendiary. inHammatory, and insurrectionary.
and then announced-ap Ii 81 ,lsaEi
SPY no act or direction Of mine oicial private,
could be induce ito aid knowingly in giving circulation
to papers this description directly or indirectly re
oios an obligation the iaos, but higher one TO the
communities in which We i've and II me FORMER ~ Pr
them Entertaining these views caunot SANCTION and
will not condemn, the step you have taken.
Such was the approving response OF the