Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-01

jied or driven by any temptation lash from the sup
Jor Of those principles Of freedom which are insepar
lie rom the honor and welfare Of the country at
kasl trust there will be backbone in the North.
Nd colleague has already remarked that this nae
proasds frem persons Of whom many wero oPen s.p
porttr II the alleged compromises OF loov, a .a
eyenth, odious fugitive slave bill. have looked over
the Ion, list and so far can Judge, ma tns 70 oe
true md in my opinion, the change SHOWN py .hese
men is ypical of the change In the o. mnioh
they cclstute prominent part once tne Posi.se up
holder Of the fugitive slave bill, they now demand It's un-
! conditional repeal
Tree i another circumstance worthy of especial re-
marx This memorial proceeds manly from persons con-
ne,te with trade and commerce. Now it. is fact too
well Known in the history of England ana OF our own
county that these persons, while often justly dsun
guishd by their individual charities and munihcence
have ,een ukewarm in their opposition to slavery Twice
in Ensh history the mercantile interest frowned upon
the edeavors suppress the atrocy Of Agerne slavery
steadasty in England it sought to bafe Wnoerforces
effort for the abolition OF the African slave raue
and the formation OF our own Consultation, it stpu
ateda sord compromise by which this same detested
Heaven deying traffic was saved for twenty years rom
American Judgment But now 1t is all changed at ieas
in Bston The representatives of the mercantile IN
terelt place themselves in the front Of the new move
men against slavery, and by their explicit memorial COLL
for he abatement of grievance which they have recent
" bitterly felt in Boston.
An President this memorial is interesting to me, frst
as tasks repeal of the fugitive slave b and secondly
as comes from Massachusetts,. That repeal shall DC
gat at any me and hereafter, as in times past 10
in any Just regard for the sentiments interests OF Mas
saclusetts With these few remarks would gladly close
But there has been arrangement mere to-aay poth Oh
myself and Of the Commonwealth which represent. 10
all that has been said against myself or the common
weah-so far sit is impeachment OF either, 80 Tar
it subjects either to any just censure-i plead openly
for myself and for Massachusetts,, not guilty. bus
20 submit to be tried by the senate,
fresh from the Injustice of the Nebraska bill In the lam
guage of the law, throw mysefupon God and
the country and claim the same trial for my honored
Commonwealth.
So far as the arraignment touches personally, l
hardly to speak. 1t is true that have not hesita
ted here and elsewhere to express open sincere and
uneGuyoca condemnation Of the fugitive slave bill have
denounced il at 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 sacred in the law not
to solemn trial, but to summary proceedings.
IL commits this question: not TO one of the high ribu
nails of the land but to the unaided judgment Of single
petty magistrate
not by the President with the consent of the Senate but
by the court; holding his Office during good beha-
but merely during the will of the court and
ceving not regular salary but fees according to each
individual case.
1t authorizes judgment pars evidence by afida
yits without the sanction Of cross-examination.
denies the writ of habeas corpus, known the
Palladium OF the citizen. ..t
Contrary to the declared purposes Of the trainers of
the Constitution, sends the fugitive back " at the pub
lie expense"
adung meanneSS TO the violation OF the CONSTITUTION
it brides the commissioner by double fee to pronounce
against freedom. If he dooms to slavery, the re-
ward is ten but saving him to freedom his dole is five
dollars.
But this is not ALL On two other capital grounds do
oppose this act unconstitutional: first, it is
assumption by Congress powers delegated by the Con-
sution and in derogaton of of the States; and
secondly takes away that essential brthrght of the
citizen trial by jury in question of personal liberty
and suit at common law Thus obnoxious, have re-
garded as an enactment totally devoid of all constitu
tiona obligation is clearly devoid Of oil moral while
is disgraceful to the country and the age And sir
have Hoped and abored for the creation of such public
opinion firm, enlightened and generous, should rem
der the act practically imperative, and should press
without eeasing upon Congress for its repeal For all
that have said this head have regrets or apollo
gies but rather joy and satisfaction. Glad in hay
ing sadit glad am in the opportunity of affirm.
ing it all anew. Thus much for myself
In response for Massachusetts,, there other things
Something surely must be pardoned to her history In
Massachusetts, stands Boston in Boston stands the Fam
eu Hail. where, throughout the perils which preceded
the Revolution, patriot fathers assembled to vow
themselves freedom Here in thoge days. spoke James
OTIS full Of the thought that the peoples safety the
law Of God. Here, Also spoke James Warren, inspired
by the sentiment that death with all it's tortures is pre-
ferabe to slavery And here ALSO Numbered John Adj
ANS fervid with the conviction that .consentipg to sla
very sacrlegious breach Of trust Not far from this
venerable halbetween this temple of freedom and the
very courthouse to which the Senator Mr. JoSEsl has
the street where in 1870 the first blood was
split in conflict between British troops aud american ct
and among the victims Of that African race
which you so much despise Almost within sight is Bun
ker Hill; further off, Lexington and Concord Amidst
these save-hunter from Virginia appears and
the disgusting rites begin by which fellow to be
doomed to bondage Sir you wonder that the people
we're moved! Who can be wise, amazed temperate, and
furious, loyal, and neutral in moment ? No man.
1t is that the slave act with difficulty executed
md that of its servants persisted in the effort On
these grounds the Senator from Tennessee charges Boston
with fanatcsm. express opinion of the conduct of
but do say that the fanaticsm which the
Senator condemns is not in Boston, 1t is the same
which opposed the execution of the stamp act and finally
secured its repeal 1t is the which opposed the tea
tax. II is the fanatieism which finally trumphed on
Bunker Hill.
The Senator says that Boston is filed with traitors
That charge not Boston, Of 3D. the home of
Hancock and Adams Her traitors now are those who
truly animated By the spirit Of the American Reyolu
in condemnng these remonstrants you simply give pro-
per conclusion to the ntterance this floor that the De-
claration Of Independence is % self-eyidentn e
Here might leave the imputations on Massachusetts
But the case is stronger yet. have referred to the
stamp act The parallel is Of such aptness and impor-
lance that though former occasion presented
the Senate cannot forbear from pressing it again As
the precise character Of this may not be familiar
allow to remind the Senate that it was an attempt to
draw money from the Colonies through stamp tax while
the determination Of certain questions Of forfeiture under
TIE statute delegated not to the courts Of common
law, but to courts Of admiralty without trial by jury
This act denounced in the Colonies at once on its
passage MS contrary to the British Constitution on two
principal grounds identical in character with the two
chief grounds which the slave act is now declared 10
be unconstitutional: Ers, rs an assumption by Parlia-
ment OF powers not belonging it. and nfraction of
rights secured to the Colonies and secondly as denial
OF trial by jury in certain cases Of property On these