Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-19
MIR. c;tpD1NGs ON THE Az1,sTAD CASE.

| w a. EE.eScAR(s9 cN hSAAAIAD CASkLs
The following is the conclusion OF Mr.. Gid
ding speech on the cas-, OF the Infamous claim
Of the Spanish pirates for Fay lqr the kidnap-
ped negroes Of the tmistad set free by the de-
2is;on pt the t. $. Court, TO pay which alaim
the committee, it is said, are really agoing to
report u biIl
have now examined the facts and argu-
m9n;a OF this ease NJ very brief and hur-
rioI mAnAer, and will for moment look into
the oijeets and rolicy Of those who advocate
its payment
Fir, Chairman, it IS very properly asked
why doe. The President thus exert his influ-
onre IN favor OF Slavery! What object has
he 1or so doing? What motive stimulated
the author OF this report What was the
design Of the :orlne. secretary Of State
What feelings prompted the Senate to pass
the resolutions referred to! answer, the
same motives which have prompted opp:essor'
in all ages o. the world. 1t is that desire Of
man which has ever prompted men i'll power
to seek sel.--a : yranlizsment by degrading thcir
fellow men. Way do men in the slave States
hold their fellow men in bondage? Because
it gives them pecunlary ANA political power.
Why do Northern mel lend their influence to
continue the slave trade in this District? Be-
cause it secures to them the favor Of the
Slave Power. Why, sir, / retoieat that this
body few years since adopted resolutions
which, il carried out would have abolished
the Slave trade here A motion was made
to reconsider the vote by which they were
adopted The motion prevailed by some
twenty-scycn Northern Wings, who thus gave
their influence to continue the slave trade
And within the next six mouths nearly one
hall Of those Wings held appointments un.
der siaveholding Executive and were get.
ting rich upon the public Treasury. Why
sir need not inform the country, nor this
body, that Executive patronage is made te
depend upon the degree Of servility which
the applicant for Office nanifests towards the
"pecuIar institution" Scarcely sixty days
have elapsed since all edict was issued by the
present Cabinet, Or rather by member o.
the Cabinet, procaiming the determination
OF the Executive "to crush out" all who adj
yocate tie cause Of freedom.
Now, sir, the efforts OF those officers tt
whom have referred, in favor of SLAYER,
and the slave trade, are put forth with a dis
tinct object; that is, the attainment or main
tenance OF political place and power, by the
sacrifice OF trath and justice, and the doctrine
of universal equality in the natural rights
Vho rninaI-r %h fho ,,on,,l n
and thank the President for thus bringing
the subject before the nation.
These negroes, standing upon the deck o
the Amistad, breathing the free air Of Heay
en-, felt the inspiration of their own lmmor
itaiityI- inlpeling them to strike Ion liberty
The President insists that they had no righ
to do that. We say that God had endowed
hcln with freedom, and it was their duty te
tegain it. They thought Of their homes
their country, the loved scenes Of their child
hood, Of parents, of brothers and sisters, ant
wives and children From ali these they hat
3eon torn by ruthless violence. They felt The
wrong that had been perpetrated against them
against humanity, and against Gods higher
law; and they rose in vindieation OF thai
law and Of those rights, and thanks be tc
God, they succeeded,
But the report TO which have alluded
ana which the President commends to oul
imitation, denounces them as "piraics and
rob5srs" for that act; and. inasmuch as the
courts declared them to possess the right o.
maintaining their liberty, and the President
thinks we should override that decision, and
hat the people OF Ohio and the other free
States ought to pay the piratical slave deal
ers the value OF their blood and bones ano
sinews. Now, sir, on this proposition the
Free Democracy of this nation will take the
issue. We are prepared to go to the country
with it, to argue it before the people to sub.
NIT it to the decision of that tribunal, be.
fore which public men are accustomed tc
trembe
We ask no favors at the hands of those
who advocate the slave trade; and will
frankly say to them, that | apprehend that
they will recede from the position which the