Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-01
SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES SUMNER.
~ ON THE
BOSTON PETITION FOR THE REPEAL or TIL
FUGITIVE SLAVE Law.
H. ssna.s ofsAs TINTED STATES, june %, 1884

Mr.. SUMNER, Mr.. President, begin by an
swering the interrogatory propounded by the
Senator from Tennessee, Sir. JONES he asks,
"Can any one suppose that, if the Fugitive Slave
Act be repealed this Union exist?" To
Y which reply at once that if the Union be in any
way dependent on an act--lcannot call IL law
so revolving in every regard as that TO which he
refers, then II ought not to exist. To much else
that has fallen from that Senator do not desire
to reply He has discussed at length matters al
ready handled again and again in the protracted
debates of this session.. Like the excited hero OF
Macedonia, he has renewed past conflicts,
i And thrice he routed all his foes,
And thrice he slew tho slain"
\ OF what the Senator has said on the relations of
Senators, North and South, of particular party,
il IL not my province to speak. And yet cannot
turn from ii without expressing, at least, single
aspiration, that men from the North, whether
! Wings Or Democrats, viii neither be cajoled or
driven by any temptation, lash, from the sup
port of those principles of freedom which are in
| separable from thetrue honor and welfare of the
country. AT last, / trust there win be back
bone i'm the North.
NV colleague has already remarked, that this
memorial proceeds from persons OF whom many
were open supporters of the alleged Compromises
of 1885, including even the odious Fugitive Slave
Bill. have looked the long list, and, so far
as can Judge, find this to be true. And, in my
opinion, the change shown by these men is typi-
cal of the change in the community of which they
constitute a prominent part. Once the positive
upholders of the Fugitive Slave Bill, they now
demand its unconditional repeal.
/ There is another circumstance worthy Of espe-
cial remark. This memorial proceeds mainly
/ from persons connected with trade and commerce.
Now il is a fact too well known in the history Of
England, and of our own country, that these per-
/ sons while often Justly distinguished by their
| individual charities and munifcence, have been
lukewarm in their opposition to slavery. Twice
| in English history the "mercantile interest"
frowned upon the endeavors to suppress the atroc-
ty of Algerine slavery steadfastly in England it
sought to battle Wilberforce's great effort for the
abolition of the African slave trade; and, at the
formation of our own Constitution, it stipulated
a sordid compromise, by which this same detest-
ed Remembering traffic, was saved for twenty
| years from American Judgment. But now it is
| all changed-at least in Boston. The represent
atives Of the mercantile interest" place them
selves in the front Of the new movement against
slavery, and, by their explicit memorial, cali for
the abatement of grievance which they have
recently bitterly felt in Boston.
Mr.. President this memorial is interesting to
me- first, as it asks repeal of the Fugitive Slave
| Bill and secondly, as it comes from Massachu-
sets. That repeal l shall be glad at any time,
now and hereafter as in times past, to sustain by
| vote and argument; and trust never to fail in
any just regard for the sentiments interests Of
Massachusetts. With these few remarks, would
/ gladly close. But there has been an arraignment
here to-day, both Of myself and of the Common
wealth which represent. To all that has been
said against myself or the Commonwealth
far as it is an impeachment of either-so far as it
subjects either to any just censure, Iplead open
ly for myself and for Massachusetts, "not guilty"
But pardon me, if do not submit to be tried by
the Senate, fresh from the injustice of the Ne
braska Bill In the language of the common law,
j throw myself upon "God and the country,
and claim the same trial for my honored Com
monwealth.
So far as the arraignment touches me person
ally, hardly care to speak. 1t is true that have
not hesitated here and elsewhere, to express my
open, sincere, and unequivocal condemnation Of
the Fugitive Slave Bill. ! have denounced it as
at once violation Of the law of God, and of the
Constitution of the United States. In violation
of the Constitution, it commits the great question
of human freedom-than which none is more
| sacred in the law-not to solemn trial, but to
summary proceedings.
1t commits this question-not to of the
high tribunals Of the land--but to the unaided
Judgment of single petty magistrate.
1t commits this question TO a magistrate, APP
pointed not by the President with the consent of
the Senate but by the court !. holding his Office,
not during good behaviour, but merely during
the win of the court; and receiving, not a regu-
lar salary but fees according to each individual
case.
Ii authorizes judgment pdrfe evidence,
by afidavits, without the sanction of cross-ex-
animation.
1t denies the writ Of ha5eas corpus, ever known
as the palladium of the citizen.
Contrary TO the declared purposes Of the fra
mers Of the Constitution it sends the fugitive
back Eat the public expense
Adding meanness TO the violation Of the Con-
| stituton, il brides the commissioner by double
fee to pronounce against freedom. If he dooms
man to slavery, the reward is ten dollars but,
saving him to freedom, his dole is FIVE dollars.
But this is not all. On two other capital
grounds do oppose this act as unconstitutional;
first rs il is an assumption by Congress of powers
not delegated by the Constitution, and in dero-
CATION of the rights Of the States and, second
IT, Ms ii takes away that essential birthright of
the citizen, trial by jury in question of personal
liberty and suit at common law. Thus obnox-
ious, have regarded II as an enactment totally
devoid Of all constitutional obligation, as IL is
clearly devoid of all moral, while ii is disgrace
ful to the country and the age. And, sir, have
hoped and labored for the creation of such a
public opinion, firm, enlightened, and generous,
rs should render the act practically imperative,
and should press, without ceasng, upon Congress
for its repeal For all that have said on this
head have no regrets or apologies but rather
ioy and satisfaction. Glad | am In having said
il; glad am now in the opportunity Of affirming
Il all anew Thus much for myself
In response for Massachusetts,, there are other
things. Something surely must be pardoned to
her history. In Massachusetts, stands Boston In
Boston stands Faneuil Hall, where throughout
the periIs which preceded the Revolution, our
patriot fathers assembled to vow themselves to
freedom. Here, in those days, spoke James Otis,
full Of the thought that the peoples safety Is the
law Of God Here, also, spoke James Warren
inspired by the sentiment that death with all its
tortures is preferable to slavery And here, also
Numbered John Adams, fervid with the convic-
ton that conserving TO slavery is sacregious
breach Of trust Not far from this venerable
hall--betweeu this temple of freedom and the
very COURTHOUSE, to which the Senator Mr..
JoSEsl has rcferred-is the street where, in l77o
the FIRST blood was split in conflict between Brit