Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-17

shall ask the people of the District whether we
may separate ourselves from the support of sln- !
very here; we will do It of Our own motion, our
own Judgment. We viii not share tho guilt noi
the disgrace Of uphodng the slave trade here.
of sustaining the practice of rearing boys and
girls for the market in this city. We are not GO
ing to interfere with slavery here; we Will cease
to interfere with that institution; but NC will
encourage freedom not slatery. We do not in
tend to say that men here shall be free. God and
nature have said that--and will protect the
rights which our Creator has conferred on man
kind.
i And further say to the gentleman, that, in the
next place. will take good care to follow III The
footsteps of jefferson, and Of the Congress OF
1887, and exclude slavery from every foot of ter
ritory belonging to this Government by ta@ ct
Congress-
say again. have had some experience here, !
and EXPECT to be member of the next Congress
lind do expect as | expect to live and get back
here, to see the next Congress bring in bill,
and pass it through this body, that shall strike
the chains from every slave within the territory
of the Federal Government. This, sir, is the great
and principal issue on which nearly all men of all
, parties at the North unte, which no party can
, withstand Some may hesitate on OTHER points,
but this is which we intend to unite IN all
elections, making it test with all candidates for
I office but we will do it without excitement
Q QLaughtcr.) With this, however, is connected
, another the exclusion of any slave State which
: may seek admission to the Union. We will never
give to anotker State tie odious superiority over
ourselves of holding an Influence over the free
States proportoned to the number of their slaves,
allowing five slaves to be equal to three of our free
men, The man who would thus degrade the free
: men of the North will be regarded as traitor to
northern honor and northern interests. We intend
doing this, and | would respectfully say that no
threats of dissoving the Union will deter us. That
mode of frightening people Has been too often,
4 and too long resored too 1t has lost its prestige.
d 1t has ceased to frghten our school girls We
5 hope to act like statesmen, like thth who have
r their country and their country's good DIT heatt,
= who labor for freedom and for the good of man
. kind.
We expect to maintain the rights which VIC our
T. selves hold under this Government. We intend
l. that freedom, the liberty of man shall be the OBJ
l. ects of this Government and not slavery. Under
If stand-fUr have been misrepIesented Tor twenty
e years. have never thought of interfering with
e the rights of slave States have never maintained
st upon this oor by the Waysde, by the heslde, nor
have J. in public or in private life minated that
we possess the power to interfere with slavery IN
the States. On the contrary, repeat, that while
IL protect the Constitution, and assiduousIy main
d. tain it in its full force, will take to main
tv tain the rights which it coniers upon the Nort1,
1t as well the privileges of the South; we will
MS maintain the rights Of the free States al well aa
nd those of the slave States Our rights in Ohio are
lie equal to those of the other States We mean to
us WELD the Government for the purpose of main
t tanning the freedom of every foot of soil subjected
,e to the laws of Congress- and against the extension
RS of the slave power by admitting any new slave
n States.
l. The next point NJ Chairman, is that cf prohi-
= biting the sale of any human being undef process
e. issued from the Federal courts We will not pros
l. tue the process of the Federal is to the pur
S. pose of selling men and women at public auction
e want my friend to understand this issue in its full
r length and breadth
Next, we will repeal the law Of 1907, authorizing
the coast wise slave trade. We will not trrtect
the slave trade ON our southern coast, nor will we
lend our power TO encourage men while dealing in
slaves. The rirate that hangs at the yard-arm on
the coast OF Africa is less guilty, IN our opinions
than the man who deals in christian slaves in this
city. We will therefore repeal the law referred to-
which authorizes the transportation of slaves un-
ie der the flag Of the United States. 1t is or flag,
= and it shall not be prostituted to such damnabe
IS and disgracefu purposes. We will purify it, and
~ leave slave-dealers to take of their slaves in
q their own manner. We will not suffer our moral
Vi purity to be contaminated by this infamous traffic
In human flesh We will lustrate ourselves from
TX it. We will purify the Government from it. DO
rs nottalk about the dissolution of the Union; we
mean TO elevate the people of the southern rs well
as those Of the northern States. Our object is the
IT. increase Of nclli 5ence virtue and happiness OF
X all the people.
III Mr.. Chairman, besides all this VIC drc of the
- opinion that we will let the shareholders catch their
F. own slaves. We will not 90 one step beyond the
!" :" law of 1893 That law gave process, but al
lowed the STAKEHOLDER to catch his slave it he could
w ~ and permitted the slave to escape if he could
',e That law was signed by Washington. 1t was an
-, enactment of those who had signed the Constitu
" ton in part. That law gave no process, author
~ lied no officer to issue process made it the duty
10 no officer to arrest slave; nor did it require nor
~ thern men TO aid in such arrest nor to pay the ex
~ pense Of taking such slave back to servitude. Th
- law Of $50 is in all these points urc institutional
- Our feelings revolt 1T these provisions-we vii
:! not carry them out, nor will we obey them.
~ therefore say that the furhest extent to which w
" will 20 will De to restore the law of 1893. We vii
not catch your slaves for you. 1t is humiliating
We degrading TO our natures Why SIR, let me as'
~~' ~ the gentleman from Virginia whether he Eou
- ,uyu out, after and catch slave for any ohe
=. man under Heaven?
Mr. Letcher. Go on.
~. Mr., Gildings. Will you answer? | will reply
= TO any question pror0hnded to me on this impol
eu tant subject But as the gentleman from Virgins
''l ''l does not answer will ask the gentleman iron
!! PENNSYLVANIA, Mr. Wtte whether he would rul
after, chase down, and catch slave for slavehc
10, der?
oc- Mr. Letcher I have not surrendered the Hoo
~, ~, to the gentleman. | want him to go on. Whe
eh' he concludes intend to Comment on the revela
tons whieh he hhs made, and may yet make beior
ou he concludes.
ion Mr. Giddings. am commenting on the las
om point. We will live tip to all Cur constitutions
ave obligati0nS there stop II you can catch you
the slaves when they get away into our northern State
,;le do it; we will not catch them for you we will nc
ier oppolnt ohcers ior the PurPosc ol I'M 'nG
;ith VIC will not pay for catching them, The Constr
ton imposes nd such obligation upon us. Cate
to your slaves as you can, but do not ask us to la
The aside our feelings of manhood, our moral prime
ery pies, our independence, and screspect to cate
tie them for YOU.
will Mr. Chairman, can just here give an illustr
b." ton. A fugitive slave came to me and asked n
ted, advice ms a lawyer 1t was when we were und
ade the old law and did not hesitate to advise al
ain counsel those who called me. Looking the ms
we full in The face, said: " Do you believe, sir, tn
the God created You with the soul and feelings of
pie, mani That lie endowed sou with the inalienah
sign right to life, liberty and happiness| II do" W
With his prompt and earnest reply. Have you q