Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-24

i uHulterWuly opposed 10 African slavery III Ahell-
, ca, and we are in favor of all practical efforts
+ for its entire abolition. But we do not propose to
c interfere with slavery in the States. We believe
that slavery in the States is a local institution
I. that We have no legal authority to Interfere with
:. 1t in any way whatever. am content to leave
- slavery to the people of the States whero it ex-
e lists. recognize the Democratic doctrine Of State
y rights in its application to slavery as well as to
n other local afiirs, and while have seat in this
is Chamber shall resist all attempts to encr5ach
d upon the reserved rights Of the sovereign States
is Of the Union. will stand side BY side with my
Democratic Friends in vindcaticn Of the Virginia
N and Kentucky resolutions of 1898 and 1893, which
they endorsed at Baltimore in 1852.
s. will tell you, Mr. President, just what our posi-
&c ton is in Massachusetts. v stand upon the i'm
pregnable basis of the Constitution of the United
II States. We do not propose to encro5ch upon the
/ rights Of Southern brethren, but we claim that
under the express authority of the Constitution Of
n the United States we have ample power to abo!-
ish slavery in the District of Columbia. We oi
Massachusetts, and of the free States, are rcspJn-
s sible for the existence OF human slavery here in
the national capitol. Slavery exists here by the
authority, rather by the permission of Congress:
and the people of New England, Of the central
States, and Of the West, arc us responsible for its
= existence as are the of Maryland and Vr-
] ginia whose ancestors planted it here.
My friend from Con' ecticut, MIR. Gillette re-
e erred to the shocking and brutal sight of woman
n led by Il man on horseback along the streets near
u
? The Senator from Tennessee Mr.. Jones poured
c out upon the Senator from Connecticut, his nGg-
nation for calling the attention OF the country,
aud the world, to that degrading spectacle, wit
r messed by the wife of the New England Senator
e and several other ladies'. Sir, that spectacle was
= witnessed in North Capitol street, only few days
ago, while the representatives Of the free States
who have maiOritiGs in both Houses of Con
o greSs, were in session. The laws under which tina!
/ woman was dragged through the streets Of the
l,gt tl,aD 1agll
f greSs, The people of the free States know that
. they are responsible for the existence Of laws
5 der which this degrading perpctratcd. Sir,
e do ycn think the men who read Gods holy word
will silence the voice Of conscience and the halicst
and nUblest impulses of their hearts, and tamcly
+ permit this national ground to be dishonored by
;, such scenes? Sir we Of the free States feel that
| We have clear Unduubtcd, constitutional right to
/ abolish slavery here, and we mean to do it. Nps,
i SIR, we intend to do it, by securing majority in
i tins Senate and in the house of representatives,
and voting you, gentlemen Of the South, down.
e We propose to do 1T in no spirit of unkindncss,
= aud We do not believe that you will dissolve tie
Union if we repeal the laws, under color of which
d women may be dragged along the streets of the
d national capitol,
Then, sir we believe that over the territories of
l. the United States have absolute power and iu
rsdiction, wish to read to you from sound
&c denocratc authority on this point, and you know
q IN ny State the tendency istcwards democracy.
man OF the National democratic Committee of the
United States, the Hon. F. iIallett, a gentleman
IF OF talents and national reputation, he would
= not have been placed in position so iigh-n gen
:, tleman who was appointed District Attorney Ly
G the present administration, And, sir this admin
c istraon leans upon his arm to support it in that
u section of the country | will read one two of
these resolutions and wish to say that. in regard
: to them, there is in Massachusetts, hardly dis
: senting voice. At the time that they were written
Inn adj Ifp1 Ntr JInlla 'lro,~
+ National Democratic Committee, and Chairman of
the State Committee of Massachusetts, They were
Y passed oE the l0tI Of September lS40.
| Mr. Benjamin. Where?
5 Mr. Wilson. In the State Democratic Conven-
lion at Springfield, on the l0th Of September lS49
d They were published in the Boston Post the
: leading Democratic organ Of New England, then
y and now, edited hy Colonel Greene, a gentleman
1 who was appointed Navy Agent by the present
7 administration.
t Resolved, That We arc opposed to slavery in
every form and color and in favor of freedom and
free soil wherever man lives throughout Gods
heaitage.
Sir, the people of Massachusetts most heartily
respond to this resolution, proposed by The chair
man OF the national Democratic committee, and
adopted by six hundred Massachusetts Democrats
with shouts Of applause;
@ Resolved, That by common law and common
sense, as well as by the decision Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, lin Prgg eS Pennsyl-
. vania l6 Peters,) the state of slavery is mere
municipal regulation, founded upon and limited to
the verge of the territorial law, thatis the the lin
! its Of the State creating it.
. Resolved, therefore, That, as slavery does not
y exist by any municipal law in the new Territories,
and Congress has power to institute it, the local
:, laws of any State authorizing slavery never be
transported there, can slavery exit there but
- by a local law Of the Territories, sanctioned by
lntiv pf Stat in
creign capacity.
0 Now, Sir, we, in Massachusetts, agree with these
II resolutions. We believe we have tho power to
abolish slavery in all the Territories of the Union
IS that if slavery exists there it exists by the per
e mission and sanction of the Federal Government,
It and we responsible for it. We are in favor of
l. its abolition wherever we are morally or legally
T. responsible for its existence.
+ We of Massachusetts believe tho fugitive slave
II act of 1850 an inhUman and unconstitutional en-
y actment, and are in favor of its immediate and
unconditional repeal. The oxtradition Of iugtiyes
q from labor should be left to the States, where we
u believe the Constitution leaves it. | assure Sena-
ii tors from the South that do not propose in
c terlere in any way whatever with slavery in the
IL States but we are in favor Of abOshng it wher-
= ever it exists under the jurisdiction Of Congress
!: to Danish the question from the Halls Of national
= legislation.
;, believe, conscientousy, that if slavery should
# be abolished by the National Government in the
i District of Columbia, and in t3e Territories, the
i fugitive slave act repealed the Federal Govern
y ment relieved from all connection with, respon-
:, sbity for the existence of slavery, these angry
debates banished from the Halls of Congress, and
: slavery left to the people of the States that the
ot men Of the South who opposed to the existence
n of that institution, would get rid Of it in their
n States at no distant day. | believe that if slave
10 ry is ever peacefully abolished in this country
,e and I certainly believe it will bo--it must be
n abolished in this way.
ID The Senator from Illinois Mr. Douglas pro-
D. nounees al! the abotionists dsuniouists. If he
Of means to include men who think as | think, and
ID act act beg leave to say to that Senator thai
II he mistakes us altogether.
Mr.. Douglas. have a letter in my possession
is written from Boston, indulgng in the most will