Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-03

Mark these words, and let them sink into your
minds. Each public officer, who takes an oath
to support the Constitution swears that he will
support il as he understands il, and not as il is
understood by others Yes, sir, AS HE UNDER
STANDS 1T, and not as IL is understood 5y Others
Does any Senator here dissent from this rule
Does the Senator from Virginia? Does the SEN
ator from South Carolina? [IIere Mr. SUMNER
paused, but there was no reply AT all events,
] accept the rule us just and reasonable; in har-
mony, too, let me assert, with that liberty which
scorns the dogma of passipe obedience, and asserts
the inestimable right Of private judgment, wheth-
er in religion or politics. In swearing To support
the Constitution at your desk, Mr.. President,
did not swear to support 1t as you understand It,
Oh, no, sir. Or as the Senator from Virginia I'M
derstands it, Oh, no, sir Or as the Senasor
from South Carolina understands it, with ken
mel of bloodhounds; or, at least, g dog in it,
paving to get free its hinder parts" in pursuit
of slave No such thing. Sir, swore to sup
port the Constitution as anderstanda; nor more,
nor less
Now, will not occupy yonr time nor am ! so
disposed at this moment, nor does the occasion
require it, by. entering upon any minute criticism
of the claNse in the Constitution touching the
surrender of fugitives from labor few
face of commanding rules of interpretation, all
leaning towards freedom that in the evasiye Ian
guage of this clause, paltering in double sense
the words employed can be judcially regarded
as justly applicable to fugitive slaves, which, as
you ought to know, sir, is often most strenuous
ly and conscentously denied--thus sponging
the whole clause out of existence, except MS a
provision for the return Of persons actually bound
by lawful contract, but which | now express
no opinion assuming, | say, this Interpretation,
so hostile to freedom, and derogatory to the
members of the Federal Convention, who solemn
ly declared that they would not yield any sane
ton to slavery, or admit into the Constitution
the idea Of property in man assuming, repeat,
an Interpretation which every principle Of the
common law, claimed by our fathers as their
brthright, must disown admitting, for the mo-
ment only, and with shame, that the Consttu-
ton of the United States has any words, which,
in any legal intendment, can constrain fugitive
slaves, then desire to say, that, as understand
the Constitution, this clause does not impose
upon me, as a Senator or citizen, any obligation
to take part directly or indirectly in the snrren-
der of fugitive slave.
Sir, as Senator have taken at your desk
the oath to support the Constitution, under
stand ii. And understanding it rs do, am
bound by that OATH Mr. President, to oppose
all enactments by Congress on the subject of
fugitive slaves, as fragrant violation of the
Constitution; especially must l. oppose the last
act as tyrannical usurpation, kindred in char
acter to the Stamp Act, which our fathers in
dignantly refused to obey. Here my duties,
under the oath which have taken as Senator,
end. There is nothing beyond They are all alb
sorbed in the constant infexible, righteous obi
CATION to oppose every exercise by Congress of
any power over the subject In no respect, by
that oath, can be constrained to duties ia other
capacities, simple citizen, especially when
revolving to my conscience. Now, in this inter-
probation of the Constitution may be wrong;
others may differ from me the Senator from
Virginia may differ from me, and the Senator
from South Carolina also and they will, each
and ALL act according TO their respective under
standings For myself, shall act according to
mine. On this explicit statement Of my constitu-
tional obligations, ] stand, as upon living rock
and, to the inquiry, in whatever form addressed
to my personal responsibility, whether would
aid, directly or indirectly, in reducing or surren-
dering fellow-man to bondage, reply again,
is thy servant dog, that he should do this
thing7n
And, sir looking round upon this Senate,
might ask fearlessly how many there are, even
in this body, if, indeed, there be single Sena-
tor, who would stoop TO any such serviceY I'm
I'll some one rises and openly confesses his will
ingness to become a Slave Hunter | viii not
believe there can be one Here Mr.. SUMNER
paused, but nobody rose And yet honorable
and chivalrous Senators have rushed headlong
to denounce me, because ] openly declared my
reputation of a service at which every manly
bosom must revolt Sire, / have found in
Bayonne brave soldiers and good citizens, but
moi one erecutioaer," was the noble reply Of the
Governor Of that place TO Charles TX Of France
after the royal edict for the massacre OF 1t. Bar
tholomew and such spirit, | trust, viii yet
animate the people Of this country, when pressed
TO the service of "dogsln
To that othar nuaQfiau which has hqeu nro-
posed whether Massachusetts,, by State laws
will carry out the offensive clause In the Consti-
tuition, according 10 the understanding Of the
venerable Senator from South Carolina, | reply
that Massachusetts, nj all times, has been ready
10 do her duty under the Constitution, as she
understands IL and, doubt not, viii ever con-
tinue of this mind. More than this ] cannot
say.
In quitting this topic, I cannot forbear to re-
mark that the assault on me for my disclaimer OF
all constitutional obligation, resting upon me as
Senator or citizen, 70 aid in making man
slave, or In surrendering him 70 slavery, comes
with an i'll grace from the veteran Senator from
Virginia, a State which, by its far-famed resolu-
tons Of 1898, assumed 10 determine Its constitu
tional obligations, even to the extent Of openly
declaring two different acts Of Congress null and
void and IL comes also with an III grace from
the venerable Senator from South Carolina, n
state winch, IN latter DAYS, mas arayeu HselI
openly against the Federal authorities, and which
threatens notification as often as babies cry
Surely the Senator from South Carolina, with
his siver-white locks, would have hesitsted to
lead this assault upon me, had he not, for the
moment, been entirely oblivous, Of the history of
the State which he represents. Not many years
have passed since an incident occurred Mt Charles
ton, in South Carona--not at Boston, in Massa-
chusctts--which ought TO be remembered The
postmaster of that place, acting under control
ling public opinion there informed the head Of
his Department at Washington that he had deter
mined 10 suppress all anh-sidvcrg publications,
and requested instructions for the future. Thus,
In violation of the laws Of the land, the very
mails were rined, and South Carolina smiled APP
probation Of the outrage But this is not all.
The Postmaster General Mr.. Kendall, after pru-
IDENTIFY alleging that, as he had not seen the pa
pers in question, be could not give an opinion OF