Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08

Boston thp had brought home negroes seized the
coast Of Guinea Thus spoke Massachusetts, -
General Court conceivng themselves bound by the
stportun TO bear witness against the henous and
ing IN Of man stealing also prescribe such timely
for THAT past aud such laio sufficiently
defe ~ those belonging hare DO snch pie cnd
mostodioas conduct jy adhered Of al good and
do CIDER that the negro interpreter with others unawuy
takf BE- oy the frs. opportunity at the charge of the
eoufty Tor the present sent to his native country OF
Guhea and letter with him Of the indignation Of the Court
theieabout and justice thereof"
The Colony that could issue this noble decree in
constent with itself when it allowed its rocky face to be
pressed by the footsteps of single slave But righteous
public opinion early and constantly set its face against
slavery As early as 170l entered upon the
records Of Boston to the following effects g The Repre-
se1atses are desired to promote the encouraging the
bringing OF white servants, and 10 put period oeroes
beng saDes Perhaps in all history, this is the earliest
tetimony from any official body against negro slavery
AMI thank God that it came from Boston, my native
town In lfU5 heavy duty imposed upon every
negro imported into the province 7l2 the importation
Of Indians servants slaves strictly forbidden
btt the general subject Of slavery attracted little atten
tbn till the beginning of the controversy which ended in
the Revolution when the rights of the blacks blend
ed by all true patriots with those of the Whites Sparing
al unnecessary Details suffice it to say that early
1862 one OF the courts Of Massachusetts,, anticipating
~ several years. the renowned judgment in Somersetts
clse, established within its jurisdiction the principle of
emancipation, and under its touch of magic power,
changed slave into freeman, Similar decisions fol-
blacks both free and slave sprinked thnly hardy
Massachusetts, five thousand two hundred and forty
nine being to the whites is to sxtyfye; while in
" slaveholding" South Carolina the number Of negro
slaves ct that time not far from hundred thou
sand being nearly slave for every free man. thus
rendering that Colony any thing but hardy" AT last
in $780, even before the triumph Of Yorktown lad led the
TO that which set its seal upon national
independence, Massachusetts, animated by the struggles
Of the Revolution and filled by the sentiments Of free
dom, placed in front of her Bill Of Rights the emphatic
No kkotk all hrr,,
this declaration exterminated every yesge Of slavery
within her borders All hail. then, Massachusetts, tho
just and generous Commonwealth in whose behalf have
the honor to speak
Thus sir does the venerable Senator err when he pre-
to vouch Massachusetts for slavery, and
cate this odious institution with the Of her great
patriots.
Mr.. ROCKWELL will my honorable colleague allow
to send to the Chair and have read in connection with
his present remarks passage from Grahams History of
the United States?
my colleague REFERS but welcome any interruption from
him. M tt0
The SECRETARY read as follows:
"Among other subjects of dispute with heBriish Govern
ment and its officers creditablc to Massachu
than her magnanmous for liberty Of
her citizens and their feowcoonss Negro slavery still
subed in every Of the American provinces and the
unhappy victims Of this yoke rapidly multiplied by the
progressive extension of the slave trade Georgia. the young
est of all the States contained already fourteen thousand
gros and in the of the alone than
six thousand imported into South Carolina In New
England the number Of slaves very Insignificant and
their treatment mild and humane
veil from the public eye the inquy of their bondage But
the discussions with regard liberty and the of
human nature calculated to awaken in minds
user impression of negro slavery; and during the latter
part of Governor Demands administration, bill prohibitoy
Of all traffic in negroes passed by the Massachusetts, As
emby Bernard, however in conformity with his nstruc
tons from the Crown refused affirm this law and thus
opposed himself to the virtue we'll to the liberty Of the
people whom he governed.
On three subsequent occasions laws abohng the slave
trade passed by the Assembly during Hutchnson
administration; but all in like negaved by the
Governor And yet it at this very period when Britain
permitted her merchants annually to make slaves OF
than fifty thousand men, and refused to permit her colonies
decline participation in this Injustice that her orators
poc and statesmen loudly celebrate generosity Of Eng
fish virtue in suffering slaves to exist English ground
and the equity of her judicial tribunals in
rating negro who had been carried there. Though Mas
sachuses thus prevented from abohing the slave trade
the relative discussions that took place by
productive Of good great amelioraton became visible in
the condition Of all the negroes in the provinces and most Of
the propetors gave liberty their slaves This action
such and such only dcseyes to be ermedhas obtained
hitherto scarcely any notice from mankind while the subse-
and similar conduct of tho Quakers in Pennsylvania
caprcious the distribution fame 50 much advantage
does the reputation of virtue derive from alliance with ecta
| tartan spirit and interest"
II Mr. SUMNER. I am obliged to my colleague. Thu
extract is in substantial conformity with clear historic
truth which the Senator from South Carolina, in
his oratorica efuxes, has impeached But the yenera
bic Senator ers yet more if possible when he attributes
to " slaveholding communities leading part in those
contributions of and treasure by which independence
was secured Here are his exact words, find them
| in the Globe, revised by himself
Sir when blood shed upon the plains of
and Concord issue made by Boston, to whom
appeal and from whom it answered? The
is found in the acts Of savehoding Satesanns opJsqe
para Yes, sir the Independence of America to maintain
republican liberty, by the and treasure, by the
patriotism and good faith Of savehoding communities.
Mark the language sir as emphasized by himself.
Surely the Senator with his syerwhte locks all fresh
from the outrage Of the Nebraska BILL stand here
and proclaim the good faith Of slaveholdng communi
ties' except in irony. Yes, sir in irony. And let
add that when this Senator presumes to say that Amer
can independence by the and treasure OF
slaveholdng communities attrbutiag to this element
any influence deserving praise and not condemnation, he
! speaks either in irony or in ignorance.
The question which the veteran Senator from South
Carolina here opens by his vaunt have no desire to
discuss but since it is presented confront it at
This is the first tme during my brief service here,
that this Senator has sought this floor to provoke
comparison between slayehoding communities and the
free States.
Mr.. BUTLER, from his seat) You cannot quote q
single instance in which have done it, have always
said thought it in bad taste, and have at
tempted it.
Mr.. SUMNER. / beg the Senator'S pardon. / always
listen to him. and know whereof affirm He has pro-
fusely dealt in it, allude only single occasion
In his speech the Nebraska BILL running through two
days. it Of his commonpaces. In that he openly
presented contrast between the free States and "save
holding communities in certain essential features Of
civilization and directed shafts at Massachusetts, which
called to his feet my distinguished colleague at that time
MR. EVERETT and which more than compelled me
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