The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-15

SENATE CHANGER, March lsl Il


To me Editor of he Union:
St; have read in the Washington Union OF March
~ an article which states that
1T very well known this city [Bostonl that Senator
Sumner in speech delivered before a conyocauon OF
fellow October 1850, did counsel open and iofe
bic resistance 10 the execution OF the fugitive slave
law"
After this charge, the article proceeds TO clip out and
put together series OF separate sentences IRON the
speech referred to- concluding the disconnected extracts
with the following words by me;
There are many who will never shrink al any cost
and Notwithstanding all the alroclous penalties oil ms
bill, from efforts TO wandering iellow-man from
bondagei they VIII offer him TIE shelter OF their houses
and, II need be- WILL PROTECT HIS LIBERTY BY FORCE
Here is an open and unreseved statement OF opinion by
on the extent which many ready to carry OPP
position TO the bill but there is expression OF my own
concurrence in this On the contrary, IN the ongl-
nal speech which open before the writer, this opin
ion with regard others is followed immedateyin the
next sentence, and constituting part OF the para
graphby precise declaration of my own position, as
follows
"But let me be understood | COUNSEL NO VlO-
LENCE. There is another power, stronger than any
individual arm, which invoke--l mean that inrtne.Sl'
public opinion inspired by love Of God and man. which,
without neise, gently the operations Of Ma
lure makes and unnakss iatos Let this opinion be ie IN
its Christian might and the ugilive-sa bill will be-
come everywhere upon soil dead letter No lawyer
will aid il by counsel no citizen will be It's agent; i
will die OF iaaniisnike spider beneath an exhausted
receiver Oh well the udlngS SnOulu SpTedu
throughout the land that here in Massachusetts this
cursed bill has found servants. Sire have in Bay
honest citizens and brave soldiers only but not
sIecionsr was the reply Of the governor OF that place
to the royal mandate from Charles TX OF France, ordering
the Of ST. Bartholomew"
The article in your paper while asserting that coun-
selled forcble resistance to the bill carefully suppresses
the above words, which expressly excludes all counsel
OF such forcble resistance.
make this correction simply TO vndcae my original
a
record, which. without explanation, might to be
true.
| am, sir, your obedient servant,
CHARLES SUMNER.
The article" to which Mr.. Sumner audes in the
commencement of the above was letter from our intel
igent and reliable Boston correspondent, Bay State"
We publish the senator's note of explanation, although
we are unable to any difference between the meaning
and intent of the extract from the Speech given by
correspondent and the addition made to il by Mr. Sumner
in his letter. Our correspondent intended to say that
the temper tone, and spirit OF Mr.. Summers speech,
say nothing of the language, did counsel open and
ocbe resistance to the execution of the fugitive slave
law" In this he is completely and triumphantly sus-
tanned by reference TO the record The explanation
which Mr. Sumner himself attaches, in the next sentence
OF his speech, to the words will protect his liberty by
force" shows of itself consciousness that the tone,
temper, and spr, Of the words, melted TO violent resist
of the law What else could the explanation show
Does the senator from Massachusetts, suppose tina, the
wlful beller and assassin OF good mems names be
permitted to escape punishment by discainng any
zion TO iniure the fair fame OF him whom he seeks to
drag down to his own wreched level Is it defence
for him who seeks to inilame and ncite the mob, by
every argument and every appeal in his power
ia ,h,t
moment pronounced, in mincing accents, the simple
words counsel violence ~ This apology OF Senator
Sumner is not so respectable as that which was offered
by the stricken King john for the death of Arthur
by the supposed assassin We repeat that the temper.
tone, and spiri, Of Mr. Summers speech do counsel
violent to law notwithstanding bis disclaimer
The meeting TO which the speech addressed from
which extract called TO the chair lis presiding
officer William b. Spooner, who, in his opening remarks,
spoke as follows:
The fugives in this city have appealed the citizens
for protection They will re.pondwe will protect
"The law pa be resisted and If the fugitive ressts
IL he Stay the savehunter, the marshal, and If he
therefor be brought before jury of Massachusetts men,
that jury will convict him NO. ncverl IT, by posi-
biy, verdict should be rendered against him. the exec
utive will pardon him Immense enthusiasm1 But If
the fugitive be slain IN the conflict, euoges will be pro-
nounced over his body, Ihear hear,l and monuments
The above atrociiy is quoted from the official report
of the meeting Mr.. Sumner sat by, and himself Joined
in the vocerous applause" with which received
He countenanced and encouraged this meeting of bad
men, incendiaries traitors and apologiss for muder ;
and then followed in a speech containing sentiments
equally reprehensble although perhaps expressed in
a language not coarse. Every word be pronounced
in that speech written and committed to memory
and rehearsed in his room, and harangued to the APP
proving mob in Faneui Hail. for other purpose than
with view TO nce them to resistance OF the fugitive
slave law by force Look at the sentences Immediately
preceding this extract we have quoted Here they
Congress, In disregard Of all the cherished safeguards
Of freedom, has passed cruel, unchrsan depih
law" Into the immortal catalogue of national crimes this
has passed, drawing with IT, by memorable
sy its authors also, and chiefly him who President Of
the United States, set his the bill"
81 have already lkened this bill to the stamp act AND
TRUST THAT PARALLEL CONTINUED YET FURTHER
BY BURST POPULAR ALL ACTION UNDER
1T, SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH BREAST OF OUR
FATHERS Listen to the words OF John Adams in his diary
OF i765 In every colony, from Georgia New Ham
shire, inclusive the stamp distributors and inspectors
been compelled, by the unconqueabe rage Of people.
TO renounce their Offices
:" The stamp could not be executed here Can the
fugitive slave bill 7 tNeverl
81 will dshonor this homo of the Pilgrims aud Of the
revolution by admtng-nay. cannot believe-that this
bill will be executed here. individuals among us,
where, may forget humanity in fanoed loyalty to law
but the public conscience will not allow who has