Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-16

0 could say nothing. We were constrained to look
| on in silence The constitutional guaranty that
'the Freedom Of speech should mover be abrid ged,
Y was then repuGiatcd and scorned. had sworn tu
support the Constitution, but my voice was hushed
by those rules, which are now remembered as
: a disgrace to this boov. | was shocked ut the
indication of war, with powerful nation, t'
sustain cOastwiso Commerce in human beings.
In order to enter my protest against such dis
grace 60 our nation, and the age in which we live
} drew up series of resolutions, to the effect thai
Congress possessed no rghful authority under the
Constitution to involve the people Of the free States
in war, and compel our Northern freemen to die
on the battle field ~ tie support Gf tbs infamous
traffic These resolutions regularly present
ed for the consideration Of this body. But scarce
ly had they been read at the Clerks table, when
! Shareholder and introduced resolution Of
censule against me, for diseharging duty which
owe The people and the Constitution. He, too was
frem Virginia-from that State which, in such
strong and eloquent language, has this day declar-
ed thai have authority to punish or censure
a member for any act which is not declared penal
by some prescribed idw. True sir as Ohio was
t then beng called, the member FROM Nirgi.
MIA could not bring his resolution regularly before
the Houses and when the Speaker had thus declar-
ed, the author passed it to doughtdced COL
a league of mine; who presented it, and demanded
the previous question.
Gentlemen from the slave States did not wait tc
inquiri for the prescribed rule statute declaring
the penalty attached to the crime Vt present. ug
resolutions. So far from that, they voted at once
to seal my own lips and those of my friends and
without permitting me orany friend of free speech tC
say word in my defence, tie resolution adop
ted bya vote of one huadrcd and ttrcnfy three tC
Sirty nine. | was condemned, unheard and driver
from my seat. Sir, spurncd the tyranny, y,and ap
pealed to the people They hurled contempt al
the efforts of the slave Powo. to- strike down the
f freedom of speech, to extinguish the lamp of Lib
erty which then Pickering in its socket, cast
ing but dim light upon upon the legislation of
Congress. They ordered me back to my post, and
directed me to md ntain the freedom Of of debate
AND AS TIE LORD, AND As MY soul LIvETm, | witt
NEVER SURRENDER IT.
But sir, gentlemen from Virginia, nor from 9TH
er slave States hesitated to seal my lips and con-
denim me, unhearj. Although rule nor law
had declared tho presentation of resolutions penal
in the whole of the slave States but two gentlemen
voted Igainst the resolution; these were Governor
! Pope and Hon. j. H. Underwood, of Kentucky.
mention their names with great pleasure, for they
manifest an honest independence which cOmmenGs
them to my favorable recollection. refer to these
cases to show that Southern members then held
totally different doctrine from that which they now
urge with such earnGstneSs. Can they suppose
this body will now change its rule of action and
face 10 the right about to suit the latitude of the
accused? l? | trust not. | shall not therefore hesi-
tate 10 follow the practice adopted by the Senate,
and by this body from the adoption OF the Consti-
Mr. sfrnmcns) has shown IL to havo been adopted
under the old Confederation, a. early IA 1856.
The contrast which have drawn between the
manners and customs of the free and slave States,
was never more marked than it has been in this
debate Every Southern member has expressed
an opinion on the question, has declared the Sc
verify of the language used by the Senator from
Massachusetts good cause for the assault made
upon him; while every member from the free
States who has spoken, has expressed his decided
opinion that it could afford no cause, excuse or
justification, for such an act AS have stated,
Mr.. Butler spoke the subject of Kansas thirty
six times during the present session; the people
Judged of the merits OF his several speeches. The
speech Of the Senator from Massachusetts was
published, and the people will do justice to that
also; and no act of the accused affect the
opinion Of the country in regard to its merts.-I
lie, however, took upon himself the responsibility
of avenging what he regarded q grievance, and
popular opinion will also pass judgment on his
act, and those who come after will do justice
to all.
While my venerable associate from Massachu.
setts (Mr. Adams) was on trial for performing a
plain constitutional duty, he assailed with the
biterest invectiye by Shareholders. The mem
Der now on trial from South Carolina, has heard
from the Representatives of our free States no
word of PERSONAL unkindness. Never was the
contrast between free institutions Of the North
and the Slavery of the South more distinctly
marked, nor their effect on society more visible
Violence, brute force, appeal to weapons, blood
shed, mark the pathway of one while reflection,
reason, justice, and the Gospel Of Feace control
the other.
Mr. Speaker this case has arisen from efforts to
abridgc the freedom of debate. The blows which
fell upon the head of the Senator from Massacha
sctts aimed at the freedom of speech. That
Senator had, in his place discharged tho duty
which he owed to himself, to his State, and to
mankind. | feel that every word was true and
iuSt and Such thn fpalinus of min tnpt of
the population of the North, But for this discharge
of duty he was barbarously stricken down in his |
place. had supposed the freedom of speech in
Congress to have been reganed. Our 'gag-rules,
as they were called, have been repudiated and
stricken from our Manual, and for years. we have
spoken as freely in this body as we have in our
popular assemblies. But now the contest hUs boen
suddenly renewed, and its renewal has been liter
ally marked with blood; and how long it will con.
tinue is unknown.
Sir this renewed attempt to restrain free speech
has awakened in my breast sad and painful recol-
lections. | was the earliest victim of that llib-
eral and proscriptive spirit. For years | sat in
this body with my lips sealed. We were not per-
mitted to speak of Slavery in other than tho most
respectful terms No member was allowed to utter
the dotrines of Jefferson or Franklin, of Hancock
or Adams. To regain the freedom Of speech, | |,
laborcd long and assiduously. | passed through
scenes of excitement and interest. | have been
assailed with the fist. have seen the blndgeon
hourished over me while speaking. In this Hall, |,
have seen the bowie knife menacingly drawn
upon me, within striking distance of my person;
and have heard the click of the pistol, as it was
cooked, apparently for my assassination. do not
think however, that was in danger; for persons a
who thus play the bully are generally suspected I
not to be very dangerous. Those scenes now CON I
stitute "reminiscences, in respect honorable to
the habits and manners of those who Justify them.
They occurred, too, at times when the advocates a
Of Freedom were socially oStraciSed in this city,
lud regarded with disfavor by all officers of Gov
ernment.
Against this social and official tyranny l con t
tended ieeby but steadily. The influence Of pop q
nlar opinion was at length brought to bear upon t
Congress, and our appeared to progress in t
manner most encouraging to the advocates of lib
,rty. This progress of freedom appears to have v
,roused spirit of corresponding hostility, and we
E,,I l,,aI acI