The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-12
AN ELOQUENT SPEECH.

During the discussion Of the resolutions in
ham, at Smyrna, in the House of Representa-
tives yesterday, the Hon. Gerrit Smith, of New
York, rose and said
Perhaps, MIR. Speaker, | should not have
presumed to RISE had been duly influenced
by what the gentleman from Alabama has just
now told us of the characteristics of states
man. For, in that gentleman's esteem, the
heart does not enter into the composition of a
statesman. With him, the statesman is a crea-
ture all head, and no heart. With me, on the
contrary, the heart is of more account than
the head-and that, too in all the possible
circumstances of life, including even the prov
ince Of atesmanship. higher authority
than the gentleman from Alabama makes
more of the heart than of the head. His com
mand, as well upon the statesman as upon ev-
cry other person, IS My son, give me thine
heaYtn The heart first, and the head after
wards. The faculties of man drive ON but to
mischief and ruin, unless the heart be first
given to the right and the true.
| End, that gentlemen of Alabama agree
in their definition of statesman. Another
gentleman from that State, Mr.. Phillips
when reviewing my speech, fortnight ago,
kindly informed me that | am but sentiment
alst, and not a statesman. To use almost pre-
cisely his words Though | had attained some
notoriety in the country as sentimentalist
had never risen to the dignity of a statesman"
beg that gentleman to be patient with me. |
may yet become the dignifed heartless, frigid,
conventional sort of being, that makes up the
accepted and current idea of statesman.
They say that Congress is a capital place for
making a statesman of one, who is willing to
come under the process. They say SO, for the
reason that Congress is capital place for get.
ting rid of all sentiment, and sympathy and
conscience. Now, | cannot say that am very
ambitious to have realized, in my own person,
the popular idea of statesman Neverthe-
less, beg the gentleman to be patient " th
me- When shall have been ia Congress a
few weeks longer, may so far have lost my
heart, and killed my soul, as to be candidate
for the honors of statesman. And then the
honorable gentleman will, no doubt, be will
ling to take me by his own right hand and
install me into that dignity which he and
other statesmen 80 se'f-cOmplacently enjoy.
But to come to the resolutions like them
exceedingly and should rejoice to see them
pass unanimously | ike them exceedingly,
and especially because they avoid all questions
of nationality and citizenship; and leave the
justification of Capt. Ingraham to rest on the
naked ground of humanity. was much
pleased to find the distinguished gentlemen
from Virginia and South Carolina Mr.. Bayly
and Mr. Orr, defending the resolutions in this
light Delighted was |, when heard the gen.
tleman from South Carolina Mr. Orrl de-
clare in such impassoned language that hu-
manity is, of itself, ample justification for Cap
tain Ingraham's conduct.
Capt. Ingraham, according to the implication
of the resolutions, ard according to these gen.
tlemen's Interpretation and defence of the res
olutions. obeyed the simple law of humanity
that law, against which, TO use bic language,
"there is no law" Not only is it paramount
law, but against it there can be 10 law. Capt.
Ingraham recognised no law for kidnapping
and depressing his fellow man. He believed
that law is for the protection Of rights, and he
would not acknowledge as law what was for
the destruction of rights and, therefore, with
out pausing to inquire into any enactments of
Turkey or Austria, he generously and nobly
surrendered himself to the commands of the
law of humanity, and delivered koszta.
Capt Ingraham saw in Koszta D,dn-a kid.
mapped and oppressed man-and, therefore, he
determined to set him free. The manhood of
Koszta was all the warrant that Captain Tngra-
ham needed to demand the liberty of koszta.
Captain Ingreham's sympathies are not bound
ed by State or National lines They are not
controlled by questions ofnationalty and citizen
ship; but where he sees his brother kidnapped
or outraged, thither does he Let bis sympathies
go out effectively for the deliverance of such
brother.
| was glad, sir, to hear the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Chandler in the course of
his eloquent speech, quote the maxim Bis dat
qui cato dat" Che gives twice who gives quick J
to incite us to the prompt passage of the reso-
luton. Well does Captain Ingraham deserve
the benefit of this opposite and happy quota
ton, for he acted bravely and beautifully un-
der the inspiration, if not of another Latin
maxim, nevertheless of the sentiment Of another
Latin maxim: MAJ human me alienurn,"
nothing ths concerns man is foreign to me-
Yes, Captain Ingraham honored this sublime
maxim, which was coined by slave for
Terence, its high-souled author, was Roman
slave
Pass these resolutions, Mr.. Spoaker--pass
them promptly and unanimously. BY doing
80 we shall honor humanity and honor our
selves; by doing 30 we shall rebuke our Gov
eminent for having taken, three years ago, the
diabolcai position, that they who rescue their
kidnapped, and oppressed, and outraged, and
crushed brethren, merit, at the hands of this
Government fines and imprisonment Pass
these resolutions, and you will put the seal of
your emphatic condemnation on that diaboli.
cal position and you will cheer the hearts of
those who have rescued such poor brethren
and of others who are determined to rescue