Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-09
SPEECH OF CHARLES SUMNER.

efEEOh VI SUMNEh,
We felt that wo could not 10 Justice to our read
ers without giving thcm tho admirable speech Of
Mr.. Sumner which occupies tho first page Of to-
days paper. Admirable it is, for its elegant, sim.
ple, classic s~tyle-for its sublime moral principle,
for tho severity of it's reLukc to fugitive slave law
merchants Of Boston, and for the tact and ndroit
ness with which it was administered.
Tho speech too, shows progress with Mr.. Sum.
ncr. His assertion Of tho universal supremacy
of the higher law cannot lie excelled in straight
forward expliritness. This too in consistent con.
n%ection with his commentator Of those who re.
fused place aud power rather than compromise
:hcir principles looks to us quite different from
his position in has first congressional speech,
where confcssing the pro-slavcry Of the fugitive
slave clause OF the constitution ho after swearing
to support it proposed to avoil its execution by
referring the decision u an anti.slavcry jury. who
would relieve the victim any way. as well as by
other similar cxpedionts. Here Mr.. Sumner seem.
above such expedionts. And besides, in two OF
three different paragraphs he strongly intimntes
that lis Wow Of the American Constitution i,
similar to that which Granville Sharp maintained
lllu NinilSAtoul t-HiIultlp tlt COuNlilutlDu Ol DEidini
viz. that slavery has no protection in il. We may
be mistaken in this. And Mr., Sumner may have
some, 10 us, uninagined way Of reconciling li'
former and this latter speech. We shall DC glad
to learn that he has no such method, and that he
seeks none. But that sensible Of the weakness Of
bis former compromising position he has abandon
"a it for q more consistent and delensible one
We are led to hope that this may be the true in
depreciation Of this last speech, by the fact We
so well remember that Mr.. Sumner was dumb un.
der the charge male against him in tic Senate
last spring, that he was false to his oath to support
The constitution. Mr. Summers only defence against
this charge was q retort. A most happy one tC
be sure, but not on that or any Other account any
yindication from the charge which was made
against him. This silence was the best Of eyi
dcnce that Mr.. Summer himself saw the weakness
Of his position, in common with all other unbias
cd and discriminating men. And now, like i
wise man, We will hope he has in some way aban.
doncd it. If he has not, this Boston speech will
enable his senatorial opponents to restate toe
charge, with new evid nee.
AyAIrApLr SESrinexr.-Last xeok tho friend.
Of the restoration Of Polish nationality held Il
meeting in Ncw-York, which was numerously ut
tended, and addressed by a number of individuals
foreigners rs we'll as Americans. John p. IIalt
presided. Among the letters from abscntces were
those from S. p. Chase and Charles Sumner. Mr.
Chase, after expressing his sympathy with the op
pressed Of Europe, closes his letter as fol
lows:
I'm my Judgment tho best service which Amcri
cans can at this time render to the cause OF Uni
vcrsal Liberty, is to redeem our own nationa
character from the reproach Of slavery, and thus
offer to the world a mol lie example Of u pure anc
consistent democracy. That work accomplished
American sympathy with European patriotism vii
he something better than empty profession ant
American cooperation, then the fitting occasion
shall arise, will not be wanting.
With great respect, yours truly,
S. p. CHASE.
T. Kizcman, A. Raszewki, Esqrs,, and others.
Mr.. Sumner closes his communication with
like sentiment. lie says:
81 trust that, at least, the friends of Liberty il
Europe will learn that it is impossible to love Lib
erty By hdlgeS, and that he only can truly serve hel
abroad who also serves her at home; that he whc
vindicatcs slavery here at home, cannot faithful,
and consistently maintain liberty abroad. Certain
efforts in certain quarters bring to mind the OK
clamation of DR.. johnson: "IIow is it that W.
hear the londest yelps for liberty among the driver.
of negroes?'
Believe me, Dear Sir,
Faithfully yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
This rcbukc of certain efforts in certain quar-
tors is we'll meritcd by those for whom it is intend
ed, and highly creditable to those who have admins
tered it. The efforts Of General Cass, Mr.. Georg
Saunders, Kossuth and others, in behalf of til
oppressed Of Europe, will bye and bye be properl
estimated. The people will find out that tn
friends of slavery in America are the practical Ell
cmies Of freedom everywhere.