The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-08

zen and as O Senator, plead, demonstrate,
protest against the pas age of this bill. |
struggle against it, as ae ainst death but, as
in death itself corruption puts on interruption
and this mortal body puts on Immortality, SO
from the sting of this hous | find assurances of
that triumph by which Freedom will be re-
stored to her immortal birthright in the Re-
public.
Sir, the bill, which you are now about to
pass, is at once the worst and the best bill, on
which Congress ever acted.
Il is the worst bill, inesmneh as it is pres
ent victory of Slavery. In Christian land and
in an age of civilization, time honored statute
of Freedom is struck down, opening the way to
all the countless woes and wrongs of human
bondage. Among the crimes of history q new
one is about to be recorded which, in better
days, will be read with universal shame The
Tea Tax and Stamp Act, which aroused the
patriot rage of our fathers were virtues by the
side Of this enormity; nor would it be easy to
imagine, at this day, any measure which more
openly defed every sentiment of Justice, hui
mainly, and Christianity. Am | not right,
then, in calling it the worst bill on which Con-
greSs ever acted
But there is another side to which gladly
turn. Sir, it is the best bill On which Congress
ever acted for il prepares the way for that
appear 1t annuls all pas compromises with
slavery, and makes all futare compromises i'm
possible. Thus it puts ESeedom and Slavery
face to face, and bids them grapple. Who can
doubt the result? 1t Op1ns wide the door of
the Future, when, at last, .here will really be
North, and the slave power, will be broken;
when this wretched desfotism will cease to
dominate over our Government no longer i'm
pressing itself upon all that it does, at home
and abroad; when the National Government
| shall be divorced, in every way, from slavery (;
| and, according to the true intention of our
fathers, freedom shall be established by Con-
gress, every where, at least beyond the local
limits Of the States.
Slavery will then be driven from its usurped
foothold here in the District of Columbia in
the national territories, and elsewhere beneath
the national flag; the Fugitive Slave bill, as
odious as it is unconstitutional, will become
dead letter; and tho domestic slave trade, so
far as it can be reached, but especially on the
high-seas, will be blasted by Congressional pro-
hibition. Every where, within the sphere of
Congress- the great Northern Hammer will de-
scend TO smite this wrong and the irresistible
cry will break forth, No more slave States"
Thus, sir, now standing at the very grave of
freedom in Kansas and Nebraska, find sssur-
snces Of that happy resurrection, by which
these Territories, but everywhere under the
National Government. More clearly than ever
before now zee the beginaing Of the enc"
of slavery. Am | not right, then, in calling
this measure the best bill On which Congress
ever acted?
Sorrowfully bend before the wrong you are
about to perpetrate. JoyiullS | welcome all
the promises Of the future.
Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, then followed Mr..
Sumner, denouncing the "Reminiscences of the
clergy and proolaiming a SCI aratiOn between
the Northern and Southern clergy. He re-
marked, that, as tho remonss RANGES were still
on Mr.. Summers desk, and their reception re-
quired unanimous consent he objected to them.
Mr.. SUMNER. It may be- at this moment
within the competency of the honorable Sena-
tor to object TO the reception of these remOn-
strances but, | am satisfied, that, at another
time, his calmer judgment vii not approve this
course much less the ground on which, DOW,
as we'll as on a former occaricn, he has under
taken to impeach the righE Of clergymen to
appear, by petition or reD2onstrance, at the
bar Of Congress. Sir, in refusing to receive
these remonstrances, or In Deglecting them in
any way on reasons assigned in this chamber,
you treat them with an iadignty which be-
comes more marked becauA it is the constant
habit of the Senate to welc;me remonstrsnces
from members of the Soc:Aty Of Friends, in
their religious character, sad from all other
persons by any designation which they m&y
adopt. Booksellers remon trate against the
International Copyright Trr atty; Last Makers
against proposed change ia the Patent Laws; ;
and only lately Tobacconists have demonstrated
against certain regulations touching tobacco ;
and all these rernOnstrances have been received
with respect, and referred to appropriate COM
mittees in the Senate. But the clergy of New
England when protesting against measure,
which they believe, with singular unanimity,
foil Of peril and shame to our country are told
to stay at home Almost tSe jeer has gone
forth, = Go up, thou bald heni !" IF not well,
it is at least natural, that the act you are about
to commit should be attended by this cOngeniai
outrage.