The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-05

DOiQ even III VHeiI Crimes. Ii LOOKS as VnOuSn
they might be honest even in the preparation
of their iniquiues.
The resolutions were carried, and S.uators
slept more soundly. But 10, and behold the
next day the sun rose In the East and set in
the West, precisely as it had done since its
creation. And the next storm which swept
over the Atlantic, drove British, and French,
and Swedish, and Russian vessels into our
ports. When they came within the jurisdic-
ton Of our laws, they yielded obedience to
them; indeed, our OWE officers did not appear
conscious that these resolutions had ever b,en
passed. And l doubt whether an officer Of my
foreign port In the civilized world has vet
heard of their existence. Yet this report can
find no better Arguments no better grounds on
which to recommend the payment Of this
money to the slave dealers, than those resolu-
tons of the Senate, which haze been regarded
by the nation and the world as the production
of an overweeniDg anxiety to support the slave
trade; resolutions which | do not hesitate to
say have never been recognised by the lowest
officer engaged in our own revenue service.
And, sir, are We the representatives of the
people, to be guided by them in the discharge
of our duties!
Why, sir, the very next year after the pas
sage Of these resolutions, the American slave
ship "CreOle," with her cargo Of human be-
ings, when within some twenty-four hours sail
OF New Orleans, was taken possession of by
the slaves on board; and when one of the
slave merchants attempted to- reduce them to
subsection, they laid him low in death, Just as
you, Mr.. Chairman, would have done, had you
been in their place just as would have done,
and as any other man, who has the heart of
a man, would have done They took the ship
into the British port of Nassau, and 80 soon as
they came within the jurisdiction IF British
laws they were free.
This report says that our Government re-
quired thetr surrender, and quotes that requi-
sition of a slaveholding Executive, as evidence
OF the law of nations, and proper to guide us
In the discharge of our duties
Surely need not say to this Committee that
when the letter of instructions from our Secre-
tary of State to our Minister at London was
published, its doctrines were denied on this
floor by resolutions presented to this body 1t
Is true that the humble individual present
ing them was driven from his seat for that
svowal of truth, but the public press spoke
forth Its foundations Of that letter and its
doctrines SO abhorrent to American liberty.
The popular sentiment of the nation condemned
them; but the author of the resolutions, which
denied the doctrine of that letter. suryiyes
His presence in this hall to-day is a living con-
tradlctlOn of the sentiments and the doctrines
of the Secretary of State. Why, sir, the Sec
rotary himself receded from his own position.
The demand on the British Government was
suffered to sleep. Neither Wing nor Demo
cratic party has since renewed the demand.
And although Mr.. Webster again came into
the othoe of Secretary Of State, under the late
Administration Of Mr. Fillmore, have yet to
learn that he ever renewed the demand Or
hot ha oil, c., r "a.
reasserted the doctrines of that letter. Yet
this demand, which was SO suddenly aban-
doned, 30 universally condemned by the public
press and by the people and statesmen of the
United States given up by its author, and dis
carded by every Administration since 1912, is
quoted as an authority to guide us on the sub
JecS OF paying for these Africans. Sir, will
spend no more time on this report than to say
1t assails our courts of justice, charges the
judges with ignorance, dereliction of duty, with
being swayed by popular sentiment, and con-
talns labored argument in favor Of Slavery
and the slave trade.
have now examined the facts and argu-
ments of this case in a very brief and hurried
manner, and will for moment look into the
objects and policy of those who advocate its
payment
Mr.. Chairman, it is very properly asked,
why does the President thus exert his influence
in favor Of Slavery? What object has he for
50 doing? What motive stimulated the author
& s.is sePSTs til.s,
former Secretary Of State! What feelings
prompted the Senate to pass the resolutions
referred to! | answer, the same motives which
have prompted oppressors in all ages Of the
world. 1t is that desire of man which has ever
prompted men In power to seek self-aggrand-
ar,Eh DO. L. CT
do men In the slave States hold their fellow
men in bondage? Because it gives them pecu-
mary and political power. Why do Northern
men lend their influence to continue the slave
trade in this District! Because it secures to
them the favor of the Slave Power. Why, sir,
recollect that this body few years since
adopted resolutions which, if carried out, would
have abolished the slave trade here. motion
was made to reconsider the vote by which they
were adopted. The motion prevailed, by the
aid OF some twenty-seyen Northern Wings, who
thus gave their influence to continue the slave
trade AHdwithin the next six months, nearly
one-half of those Wings held appointments
under a slaveholding Executive, and were get
ting rich upon the public Treasury. Why, sir,
need not inform the country, nor this body,
that Executive patronage is low mado to
depend upon the degree of servility which the
applicant for Office maniFests towards the "pe-
culiar institution" Scarcely sixty days have
elapsed since an edict was issued by the present
Cabinet or rather by member of the Cabinet.
proclaiming the determination Ct the Executive
"to crush out" all who advocate the cause of
freedom.
Now, sir, the efforts of those officers to whom
have referred, in favor of Slavery and the
slave trade, are put forth with distinct object ;
that is, the attainment or maintenance of DO
litical place and power, by the sacrifice of
truth and justice, and the doctrine of universal
equality of natural rights among men. The
remedy is with the people, and | thank the
President for thus bringing the subject before
the nation.
These negroes, standing upon the deck of the
Amistad, breathing the free air Of Heaven, felt
the inspiration of their own immortality i'm
pelling them to vindicate their manhood, to
strike for liberty The President insists that
they had no right TO do that. We say that God
had endowed them with freedom, and it was
their duty to regain it. They thought of their
homes, their country the loved scenes Of their
childhood, of parents, of brothers and sisters.
and wives and children. From all these they
had beenitorn by ruthless violence. They felt
the wrong which had been perpetrated against
them, against humanity, and against G ode
higher law; and they rose in yiEdication of
that law and of those rights, and, thanks be to
God, they succeeded.
But the report to which have alluded. and
which the President commonds to our imita-
ton, denounces them as pirates and robbersu
for that act and, inssmuch as the courts de-
clared them to possess the right of maintaining
their liberty the President thinks we should
overrule that decision, and that the people of
Ohio and the other free States ought to paw
the piratical slave dealers the value of their
blood and bones and sinews Now, sir, on this