Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-08-11
MFR. SIMMER.


MIR. SUMNER.
The Fond du Lac Freeman has the fol-
lowing on Mr.. Summers reply to Mr..
Bcniamin'S question whether the Free
States were bound, under the Constitu-
lion, to return Fugitive Slaves. After
quoting the conversation between Sena-
ators Benjamin and Sumner it says:
1t will be seen that Mr.. Benjamin was
civil in his question and answered the first
question of Mr.. Sumner frankly and une-
quivocally. After Mr.. Sumner eyaded
his question he refused to answer the
second Now then we despiSe such eqni-
vocation Mr. Sumner and every other
man who has an opinion at all, holds that
the Free States have contracted to deliv
err Fugitive Slaves or they have not. If
they have, why not say So and if they
have not. say that. Now, why did not
Mr.. Sumner do one or the other. Ba-
cause he was toe cautious to put his foot
into a trap that he set himself bit which
the Shareholders were cunning enough
to place right down before him. Had he
said yes. they would have asked HIM why
make such fuss about the Fugitive Slave
Act" Had lie said no j. they would have
pointed To his great speech against the
Fugitive Act. where he claims that the
Obligation is not national but compact
between the states. And This is the ey-
crlastiug dilemma that men are in, who
acknowledge the least legality to the sys-
TEN Of Slavery. Had Lysauder Spooner
been in Mr.. Summers place he would have
made an answer direct that would have
turned the tables upon them and burnt
into their souls what they know now,
that their system is naked piracy. 1t is
no pleasure for us To find fault with one
who is in many respects 50 faithful "A sen
tinel on the watch-tower of freedom, but
when we see our champions floored, be
cause they donot take ground upon which
they can stand, we have right to COM
plain, and do what we can to inculcatc
views in the minds of the people, that
will free us from such inconsiS tcncies.
Mr.. Sumner has already said that he would
not lac dog for southern Shareholders
rs an individual. Why can he not say
that his state, and every man in it, and
IS no such Constitutional requirement.
During the recent debate in the L. s.
Senate on the Rivcrand IIarbor Bill, Mr..
Chase offered as an amendment to insert
somewhere the following words:
Arising from the condition or circum-
stances attending the construction or plan
OF any particular work."
Mr.. Seward asked if the Senator had
fully satisfied himself as to<what circum-
stances his amendment would sanction
as sufficient cause for suspending the
Work} Would the same circumstances
which prevented the Sscnator from Mich
igan from going to Chicago a few ycaas
ago be suflicient?- Laughter.}
Mr.. CasS said he knew no gentleman
to whom conycnient circumstances had
been gilmore advantage than to the Sena-
tor from New York.
Mr., Rusk thought that if the brevity
Of that Chicago letter were followed in
speeches in the Senate, it wonld be most
! profitable.
/ Mr.. Seward sad ne was aware that, at
the time of putting his question, there
wasmuch noise and confusion in the cham
Der, Lut he was glad it had attracted the
Senator's notice.
Mr.. CasS said that some years ago the
/ wing party got up scheme called the
Cli'ago convention. He had never seen
a man who believed it had produced any
practical good and he bcieAcd at the
{ me it would not. He was invited and
did not go. He SAID that circumstances
did not render it convenient for him to
attend. That was the history of the
whole matter. laughter