Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-04


SLAVE LAW.
Dslirered IN the Senate ofthe United States,
on Monday, June 20, 1864.
Mr. President, begin by answering the
interrogatory propounded by the Senator from
Tennessee, MIR. Jones. He asks, I" Can any
one suppose that, if the fugitive slave act be
repealed, this Union can exist" To which 1
reply at once, that if the Union be in any way
dependent on an act-I cannot call it law
so revolving in every regard as that to which
he refers, then it ought not to exist. To much
else that has fallen from that Senator do not
desire to reply. He has discussed at length
matters already handled again and again, in
the protracted debates of this session. Like
the excited hero Of Macedonia, be has renewed
past conflicts,
"Aad thrice he routed all his foes,
And thrice he slew the slan.p
Of what the Senator has said on the relations
of Senators, North and South, of particular
party, it is not my province to speak,. And
yet l cannot turn from it without expressing,
at least, a single aspiration, that men from the
North, whether Wings or Democrats, will
neither be caoed or driven by any temptation,
or lash, from the support of those principles of
freedom which are inseparable from the true
honor and welfare of the country. At last. 1
trust, there will be back bone in the North.
NV colleague has already remarked, that
this memorial proceeds from persons of whom
| many were open supporters Of the alleged
compromises of 1850, including even the
| odious fugitive slave bill. have looked over
the long list, and so far as l can judge, find
this to be true. And, in my opinion, the
| change shown by these men is typical of the
change in the community of which they con-
stitute a prominent part. Once the positive
Al. l. L.
| demand its unconditional repeal
There is another circumstance worthy of es-
| pecial remark This memorial proceeds main
| ly from persons connected with trade and
commerce. Now, it is a fact too well known
in the history of England, and Of our own
country, thqt these persons, while often justly
distinguished by their individual charities and
muniheence, have been lukewarm in their OPP
position to slavery. Twice in English history
the mercantile interest frowned upon the
endeavors to suppress the atrocity of Algerine
slavery; steadfastly in England it sought to
battle Wilberforce's great effort for the aboli-
ton of the African slave trade and, at the
formation of our own Constitution, it stipu-
lated sordid compromise, by which this same
detested, Heaven defying traffic was saved for
twenty years from American Judgment. But
now it is all changed--at least in Boston,
The representatives of the mercantile in
terest - place themselves in the front of the
new movement against slavery, and, by their
explicit memorial, call for the abatement of q
grievance which they have recently bitterly
felt in Boston.
Mr.. President, Ibis memorial is interesting
to me, first, as it asks repeal of the fugitive
slave bill, and secondly, as it comes from
Massachusetts. That repeal shall be glad,
at any time, now, and hereafter, as in times
|
trust never to fail in any just regard for the
| sentiments or interests of Massachusetts,
With these few remarks, would gladly
| close. But there has been an arraignment
here to-day both ofmyseE and of the Common
wealth which | represent, To all that has
has been said against myself or the Common
wealth--so far as it is an impeachment of
either--so far as it subjects either to any just
censure, 1 plead openly, for myself and for
Massachusetts. "not guilty" But pardon me.
| if do not submit to be tried by the Senate,
| fresh from the injustice of the Nebraska bill.
In the language of the common law, throw
myself upon :" God and the country" and
claim the same trial for my honored Com
monwealth.
So far as the arraignment touches me per-
sonally, l hardly care to speak. 1t is true
that have not hesitated, here and elsewhere,
to express my open, sincere, and unequivo-
cal condemnation of the fugitive slave bill. /
have denounced it, at once violation of
the law of God, and OF the Constitution of
the United States. In violation Of the Con-
stituton, it commits the great question of hu-
man frcelom-than which none is more sa-
cred in the law---not to solemn trial, but to
summary proceedings.
1t commits this question-not to one of the
high tribunals of the land-but to the unaided
iud0rnaut IF q c;uula rattv rnaqistrato
1t commits this question to magistrate, APP
pointed, not by the President with the consent
of the Senate, but by the court; holding his
Office, not during good behavior, but merely
during the will of the court and receiving
not regular salary, but fees according to each
individual case.
1t authorizes judgment ON er parte evidence,
by afidavits, without the sanction of cross
examination.
1t denies the writ of ha5eas corpus, ever
known as the palladium of the citizens.
Contrary to the declared purposes of the
trainers of the Constitution, it sends the fugi-
tive back sat the public expense"
Adding meanness to the violation of the
Constitution, it brides the commissioner by
double fee to pronounce against freedom. If
he dooms a man to slavery, the reward is ten
dollars but, saving him to freedom, his dole
is five dollars.
But this is not all. On two other capital
grounds do oppose this act as unconstitu-
tional; first, as it is an assumption by Con-
gress of powers not delegated by the Consti-
tuition, and in derogation of the rights of the
and secondly, as it takes away that essential
birth-right of the citizen, trial by jury, in
question of personal liberty and a suit at ccm-
mon law. Thus obnoxious, have regarded
it as an enactment totally devoid of all consti-
tutional obligation, as 1t is clearly devoid of all
moral, while it is disgraceful to the country
and the age And, sir, have hoped and
labored for the creation of such q public
opinion, firm, enlightened, and generous,
as should render the act practically inoper-
alive, and should press, without eeasing,
upon Congress for its repeal. For all
that | have said ON this head, l have no re-
grets or apologies but rather JOY and salts
faction. Glad am in having said it; glad
am now in the opportunity Of affirming it all
| anew. Thus much for myself.
| In response for Massachusetts, there are
| other things. Something surely must DO par
| doned to her history. In Massachusetts,
stands Boston. In Boston stands Faneuil
Hall, where, throughout the perils which pre-
ceded the Revolution, our patriot fatners as
sembled to vow themselves to freedom. here,
in those DAYS, spoke James Otis, full OF the
thought that s.the peoples safety is the law
| Of God" Here, also. spoke James WARREN
inspired by the sentiment that death with all
| it's fortunes is preferable to slavery" And
/ here. also, Numbered John Adams, fervid with
| the conviction that ssconsenting to slavery is
sacriligious breach Of trust. Not far from