Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-29

FINAL PROTEST. AGAINST SLAVERY IN
NEBRASKA.
SPEECH OF CHAS. SUMNER,
On the night Of The passage Of The Nedras-
Ell kd-Kansas BA. "a
Mr. PRESIDENT sit is nearly midnight. At
this lat. hourof a s sson drawn out tosupaccus-
toned length, shall mt fatigue the Senate BY
argument. There is a time for all things, and
the time for this has passed The determination
of the majority is fixed; but it is not ore fixed
than mine. The bill which they sustain, OPP
pose On former occasion ! met II by argu
ment which, though often attacked in debate,
still stands unanswered and unanswerabe At
present, am admonished that must be content
with few words of earnest protest against the
consummation of great wrong. Duty 10 my
self, and also to the honored Commonwealth of
which find myself the sole representative in
this mn date exigency, will not allow mt to do
less
But have special duty, which would not
omit. | have on my desk remonstrances against
the passage of this bill some of which have been
placed within my hands since the commencement
of the debate to day-and desire that these
voices, direct from thu people, should be heard.
With the permission of the Senate, will offer
them now
The Chair, (Mr Stuart.) The remonstranc $
can be received by unanimous consent.
Several Voices Let them b. heard.
Th4 Chair The Chair hears no objection.
Mr. Sumner Taking advantage of this per-
mission now present the remonstrance of
large number of citizens Of New York against
the repeal of the Missouri ompromise.
| also present the remonstrance OF the clergy
and laity of the Baptist denomination in Michi-
gan and Indiana, against the wrong and bad faith
contemplated in the Nebraska bill. But this is
not all ae0r
hold in my hand, and now present to the SEN
ate, 1875 separate circumstances from clergymen
of every denomination, in Maine, New Hamp
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
connecticut constituting the six New England
States. These circumstances are identical in
character with the larger one presented by my
distinguished colleague (Mr. Everett Whose
term of service here ends in few days, by VII
untary resignation, and who is now obtained at
home by illn"ss-and were originally intended as
part of it, but did not arrive in season to be
annexed to that interesting and weighty docu-
mcht They are independent in form, though
supplementary in nature-he ping to swell the
protest of the pu'pi's Of New England
" it'll pleasure and pride now do this service
and, at this asst stage, in,erpose the sanctity Of
the pulpits of New England, to arrest this alarm
ing outrage believing that he remonstrants
from their eminent character and influence, as
representatives of The intelligence and conscience
of the country, are peculiarly entitled be heard
and, further ; be ieving that their reno strances
while respectful in run, embody just conclusions
both of opinion and fact. Like them, sir. do
not h. state to protest here against the bill vet
pending before the Senate, as a great moral
wrong as breach of public faith as meas
ure full Of danger to the peace, and even exs-
tence Of our Union. And, sir. believing in God
asl profoundly do cannot doubt that the opening
of an immense region to so great an enormity as
Slavery, is calculated to draw down upun our
country his righteous Judgment
In the name of Almighty God, and in his
presence" these remons,Iants protest against the
Nebraska bill In this solemn language, which
h s been strangely pronounced blasphemous or
this floor, tn re is obviously no assumption of &c.
cleslasiical power as has been perversely charged
but simply devout obs rvance of the scripture
injunction +" " hasoever we do, in word or deed
do al in the name oft e Lord Let me add
also, that the remonstrants, in this very language
have followed the example of the Senate, which
at this present session has ratified at least in
porIant treaty. beginning with these precise
words "ln the name of A mighty God" Sure
ly if the Senate may thus assum to sp"ak tn,
clergy NAV do likewise, without Just criticism, a
least in this body
Butt am unwilling, particularly at this time
to be betra. ed to anything that sha seem lk
defence of the clergy They need no sucl
thing at my hauds There are men in this Sen
ate, justly eminent for eloquence learning and
ability but there is no man here competent. ex
cept in his own conceit, to sit in judgment on thu
ergy of New England. Honorable Senators
who have been SO # with criticism, and sar
casm, might prof; by their example. Perhap
the Senator from South Carolina, (Mr Butler
who is not insensible to scholarship, might learl
from them something of its graces Perhaps thu
Senator from Virginia. (Mr. Mason who fLd
no sanction under the constitution for any remOn
STRANGE from clerg, men, might learn evel
from them something of the privileges of al
American citizen. And, perhaps, the Senate
from Illinois ('lr. Douglas,) who precptate'
this odlOus measure upon the country, nigh
learn from them something of political wisdom
Sir, from the first settlement of tn Sc shores
from those carry days of struggle and privation-
the trials of the Revolution = the clergy hav
been associated. not only with the piety and tn
| learning, but with the liberties of the country
For long time, New ENGLAND was vernet
by their prayers more than by any &C O. tn,
Legislature, and, at IA later day, their voices aid
I'd even the Declaration of independence. Tn
clergy of our time may speak, then. rot onl
from their own virtues but from the echoes tina
yet live in the pulpits of their fathers.
For myself, desire to thank them for thei
generous int rposition. They have already don
much good in moving the country. They vii
not be idle In the days of the Revolution, job
Adams, yearning for independence, said "Le
the pulpit thunder against oppression" An
the pulpits Numbered. The time has come to
them to thunder again.
There are essons taught by these remonstran
ces, which, at this moment, should lot be nm
needed. The Senator from Ohio, (Mr Wade.
on the othe side Of the Chamber, has openly de
car+ that the Northern Wings can never agai
combine with their Southern brethren in supper
of slavery. This is a very good augury. I'll
clergy of New England, some of whom forget
full of the traditions If other days unce mad
their pu'pits vocal for the Fugitive Slave bill
now, by voice of learned divines eminent Dish
ops refined professors, and faithful pastors, utter
ed in solemn rem0nstr nee, at last unite in put
ting permanent brand upon this hateful ins,i
tuition In consistency with this act, from thi
time forward, they can never more render it an
support. ! hank God for this Here is sig
full of promise f r Freedom. s 7-0.u
These remonstrances have especial sgnifcnnc
} when 1t Is urged as it has beel. often in this de
bate, that the proposition still pending proceed
from the North Yes. sir. proceeds from tn
Norlh-for that is its excuse and apology. Tn
ostrich is said to hide It's head in the sand, an