The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-15
NO. 428.

ployment to the free black man. | am not sur
prised at the degradation of the colored people of
| Indiana, who compelled to live under such
| inhuman laws, and oppressed by the public senti-
ment that enacts and sustains them. | thank God,
| sir, Massachusetts is not dishonored by such
| laws In Massachusetts,, We have about seven
| thousand colored people. They have the same
| rights that we have they go to free schools,
they enter into all the business and professional
| relations OF life, they vote in elections, and
| in intelligence and character scarcely inferior
| to the citizens of this proud and peerless race
whose superiority we have heard so vauntingly
proclaimed tonight by the Senators from Tennes-
| see Mr.. JONES and Indiana Mr.. PETREr.1
| Now, sir, | assure Senators from the South
| that We of the free States mean to-change our
policy. l tell you frankly, just how we feel and
just what we propose to do. We mean to with
draw from these Hallstthat class of public men
| who have betrayed us and deceived you; men
who have misrepresented us, and not dealt frankly
| with you. And we intend to send men into these
Halls who will truly represent US, and deal justly
| with you. We mean, sir, to place in the councils
| of the nation men who, in the words of Jefferson
Z" have sworn on the altar of God eternal hostil-
ity to every kind of oppression of the mind and
| body of man." Yes, sir, we mean to place in tho
| national councils men who cannot be seduced by
the Establishments, or deferred by the threats Of
| power men who will fearlessly maintain our
| principles | assure Senators from the South
| that the people of the North entertain for them
and their people feelings of hostility but they
| will no longer consent to be misrepresented by
their own representatives prescribed for their
| fidelity to freedom. This determination of the
people of the North has manifested itself during
| the past few months, in acts not to be msread by
| the country. The stern rebuke administered to
faithless Northern representatives and the annihi-
lation of old and powerful political organizations,
| should teach Senators that the days of waning
| power are upon them. This action of the people
| teaches the lesson, which hope will be needed,
that political combinations can no longer be sue
| cessfully made TO suppress the sentiments of the
| people.
| Mr.. BENJAMIN, | should be exceedingly I'M
willing to disturb the course of the Senator's ar
| gument, or interrupt his speech; but, as he is
giving us what certainly is very interesting to the
| country, an exposition of those views which he
| entertains, and of which he is the exponent on
| this floor, would the honorable Senator be kind
| enough to state-that we may understand fully
his views and those of his party-whether, in
conformity with the principles of that party if a
| Territorial organization were now superseded by
| State Constitution in any of the Territories of
| this Union and, by that Constitution, the people
of the State should adopt Slavery as one of their
domestic institutions it would be consistent with
| his principles to admit that State into the Union
| with that Constitution?
L
| frankly. stand here ready TO answer any queS-
| tions put by the Senator from Louisiana, or any
| other Senator The party with which act is
| new organization. 1t has, far as | know, in
/ Massachusetts, and in all the other States never
| expressed any opinions assumed any position
| on the question of Slavery. | cannot, therefore
| speak for it. The members Of that party in my
own State, in their individual capacity, would be
| decidedly opposed to the admission Of slave
/ States into the Union.
| Mr. BENJAMIN. | shall trouble the gentle
| man with one more question: if he will permit
/ me- | will ask that Senator if frankly and con-
scientiousy, ne believes that in the event OF the
\ repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, the State and
/ People of Massachusetts, would adopt effective
| measures by which fugitive slaves from the
| South would be captured and returned to their
/ owners
| Mr.. WILSON. l believe that if the Fugitive
1 Slave Act should be repealed, the Common
wealth of Massachusetts, will fulfil her consttu-
| tional obligations; but she will do it in her own
| way, as to protect fully the rights of every
| man within her jurisdiction.
| Mr.. BENJAMIN. / fear the Senator may think
| that these interrogatories unfair encroach-
ments upon his time, and ] shall not push them,
| if they unpleasant to him.
Mr.. WILSON. Not at all, sir am ready to
| answer.
| Mr. BENJAMIN. should like to understand
|
pies entertained by those whom he represents, or
| by the population of the State of Massachusetts,,
he really believes that in the event of the repeal
of the Fugitive Slave Law, fugitive slave would
| be captured and restored to his Southern owner,
under any circumstances?
Mr.. WILSON. ! certainly cannot say what
Massachusetts, would do, under any circumstan-
ces that may happen. But will say that, in my
Judgment, she would fulfil the obligations which
the Constitution imnoses unon her
Mr.. BENJAMIN. That is a satisfactory answer.
Mr.. WELLER. Yes, if they would only do it
do not believe they would. Laughter.
Mr.. WILSON. | have confidence in the fidelity
Of the People of Massachusetts TO the obligations
| imposed upon them by the Constitution of the
United States.
Mr.. RUSK. Will the honorable Senator allow
! me to interrupt hm a moment? As he is eX-
planning the opinions of a party, which will
be important for good or evil desire to ask him
a few questions. First, does that party regard
the States and their citizens as equal in rights
under the Constitution
Mr.. WILSON. So far as know the sentiments
of the members d that party, they regard the
sovereign States of this Union as equals under
the Constitution. This is the true American doc
trine; and certainly think they will go for the
equality OF the citizens Of all the States.
Mr.. RUSK. ] desire to ask him another ques-
ton, although assure him | am reluctant to in
terrupt him. Does that party recognise the right
in Congress to exclude, either directly or indi-
rectly the citizens of any State from equal rights
person and property in any of the Territories
of the United States ?
Mr.. WILSON. So far as the party with which
| act in Massachusetts is concerned, it has never
taken any position upon this subject butI will
say that ! do not know n man in the ranks of
that party who does not believe that the Congress
of the United States alone has the power to egis-
late for those Territories, and that nobody has
right to carry slave there and keep him in
bondage without the permission of Congress In
my opinion, Congress has no right to. establish
Slavery in the Territories, to allow the People
to establish it.
Mr.. RUSK. My question is answered.
Mr. WILSON. have spoken, Mr. President, !
in no spirit of unkndness towards our fellow |
citizens of the South of the sentiments, feelings
and purposes of the people of the North. | do |
not refer to the action of political parties. refer
to the people, without distinction Of party. Party
combinations are not strong enough TO repress |
the utterance or TO control the action of the peo
pie, aroused at last to the vindcation of their |
rights. If politicians, here or elsewhere, believe
they make any political combinations that |
shall ignore the issues forced upon the people of
the free States tell them frankly that they will
ANONYMOUSLY fail. The people Of the North are |
beginning to realize the responsibilities and duties
imposed upon them by the condition Of the |
country. They feel that the hand of prescription |
has been laid upon them, and they will no longer
consent to be prescribed for holding opinions |
sanctioned by patriotism, humanity and re-
ligion.
These sentiments and opinions are the matured |
convictions of my judgment, and while have a |
seat in this Chamber shall adhere to them with /
fidelity, and support them with firmness / hone
at all times to meet honorable Senators from the |