Washington sentinel., 1854-03-03

the said person continued within Common
wealth contrary to the tenor OF this act he she shall
be whipped not exceeding stripes and ordered to de
part out of this Commonwealth within days and II he
and punishment = neted and 50 ses e March
ID l7ss Add acts 1877, chapter 50; 1902 chapter p
Mr.. BRODHEAD. What is the date of that
statute?
Mr.. BUTLER. Seventeen hundred and eighty
eight; and il remained on the siatute-book IN iuh
force until 1923; until after the adoption OF the
Missouri compromise. will cal II Inc fofies qno-
ties act tLaughterl The negroes were 70 pe
whipped every time they happened 10 get to Bos-
ton or any other place in Massachusetts. That is
a specimen of statutory philanthropy at least. 4
do not quote il 10 reproach Massachusetts, for ii
has become a common principle OF legislation IN
many of the non-slaveholding States. The truth
is, thar black population was regarded by Mas
sachusetts nuisance.
Mr.. SUMNER and Mr.. EVERETT both rose
Mr.. SUMNER. The senator from South Caro-
lima is so jealous of The honor of his own State,
that he will pardon me If ! interrupt him for
moment, merely TO explain the offensive statute
10 which he has referred / have nothing TO say
in vindication oft simply desire that il should
be understood. This statute which bears date
l7SS, anterior 10 the federal government, APP
pcabe only 10 Africans or negroes not citizens
of some one of the United States; and, according
10 contemporary evidence, il was intended 10 pro-
tect the Commonwealth against the vagabondage
of fugitive slaves. But | do not vindicate the
statute | only explain it and add, that il has
long since been banished from the statute-book
Mr.. BUTLER. / say that the Missouri COM
promise produced this and 10 prove il, | refer 10
the fact that this tories quoties act was repealed
almost Immediately after the adoption of the Mis-
souri, compromise. Take il as the gentleman
would have construe il, and what is il I? He
says it was passed 10 prevent fugitive slaves going
there suppose, therefore, that since they have
repealedit, il TO let the fugitive slaves go TO
Boston, and that has become common ground for
runaways. The gentleman cannot escape the di-
lemma-that before It's repeal, fugitive negroes
were banished, and that after its repeal under the
sentiment of the Missouri compromise, they were
invited 70 come TO Massachusetts.
Sir, the fact is, that my habitual reverence for
Massachusetts as historical entity is very great
but believe she is no better than any other Com
monwealth-not whit. think there are other
Commonwealth besides her; but respect her
for her real history, when hardy morality, when
wisdom when brave justice, instead of sickly SEN
timentaity, governed her counsels, and made her
commonwealth; when her great men We're SEN
ators of Rome when Rome survived.
The historian has written another thing of Mas
sachusetts. have forgotten the book in which il
is written, but can produce it if need be. re-
fer TO it only 10 show how negroes were once re-
garded there, not TO show how the gentleman
regards them now; because il seems 10 me that if
he wished 10 write poetry, he would get negro
TO sit for him. Laughterl Sir, il is Just as Eoto-
rious as that | stating it, and a historian has
gravely said So that at the time Of the passage Of
the law in Massachusetts abolishing slavery, pref
ty nearly all The grown negroes disappeared some.
where and the historian expresses it. the
little negroes who were left there, without father
or mother. and with hardly God were sent about
as puppies. to be taken by those who would feed
them. That is in the book. II any gentleman
wishes it, find the book it is in the library.
This is the truth; and suppose nobody can COM
plain OF me for speaking the truth. Grown and
working slaves disappeared in Massachusetts
with slavery; but it is loo true-not to be free
men, but slaves of southern owners, with their
proceeds in northern pockets. Yes, sir, we are
taking care ofthe descendants of those who were
committed TO bondage when they could have been
free
This was all before the Missouri compromise !;
and now, what has beeathe state Of feeling since
that compromise has been adopted2 This is a
grave nterrogatory. Has there been single oc-
caslon since, when an assault could be made on
the south, when some one has not made it !? / do
not know whether am al liberty 10 use Mr.. Web
sers name in regard TO this matter for the state
ment of his which wish 10 was in conversa-
ton. But Mr.. Webster always took the ground
that, far as the connexion of slavery with civil
izaion was concerned, or so far concerned its
mere moral influence, the objections which had
been made TO it were merely nominal; but he did,
northern statesman, say that he not dis
posed TO let the slave power, the cotton arisocra-
cy, as Mr. John Davis once called it, have the
tendency in the government of the United States ;
but he said he had such sickly sentimentaty
10 talk about their equality and all that He never
can be imbued with sentiment, element Of
wisdom and reason justice and judgment may be
influenced, but ought not TO be controlled by il
monarchy; give the other powers Of the mind
some of the rights of republic.
Since its adoption, the Missouri line has been
that in which have been drilled the seeds of agi-
taion, and they have brought forth the fruits of
bitterness, of strife, and contention. Yet, the
honorable senator from Texas says 10 us, hug
the Missouri compromise, for it brought peace and
harmony TO the country" He and differ very
widely upon that subject. II has brought no
peace. IL has operated deceptive opiate, 10
induce sleep and temporary repose, but not peace
and cordial concord II is a line, over which
hands joined, with by one TO bind
the other.
Here, in approaching the next proposition which
INTENDED TO discuss, may say that the Missouri
controversy gave rise 10 discussion which for
the first time opened 10 the north the certainty
that IT had power TO interfere with slavery. Until
then it did interfere upon this floor as an
antagonistic power; but when il found that il had
the power, it did interfere. has interfered and will
continue 10 interfere with the institution. unless
statesmen and patriots shall come forward TO ar
rest the pillows OF criminal agitation.
Now, sir, what took place upon that Missouri
controversy | suppose that a love OF The Union,
and disposition TO make any sacrifice TO preserve
il, and all the considerations which could control
the decision of high patriots and wise statesmen,
agencies then adduced in its support, which
| cannot now appreciate. And when [ think OF
it. il does seem TO me that our forefathers then
did not maintain the true principle which actu-
ated their fathers in running every haZard-even
the hazard of disunion, in order TO maintain equal
rights The Union, giving power 10 majority,
may have become stronger; ii may have acquired
elements Of arbitrary strength but it may be a
Union that will survive the Constitution ! dread
nothing much arbitrary change, under
the mere forms of law. and the sanction of dele
gates at too great distance from their constitu-
ents. The proposition was, that Missouri should
come into the Union upon condition that she
should not allow shareholders 10 settle within her
borders. II was carried in the other House with
unanimty and rancor of feeling which was for
the first time exhibited on this subject but il
was carried and the south driven to the alter
native Of allowing this fatal line of 800 3O', this
line of discord, 10 be adopted As Mr.. Jefferson
said, il was the most fatal error that ever had
been committed in the Legislation of the country.
After this so called compromise when Missouri
came back for admission, she came through The
gates of the Constitution, and asked 10 be admit
ted as one of the States Of this Union: and her