Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-04-10
Extract from the Speech Of John
p. Hale.
Delivered in The Senate February 2Slh, 1855.

Delivered in the Senate February 2Sth, 1855.
Mr.. Hale's Speech is somewhat lengthy and
as we have already given one from Mr.. Wilson
upon the same question, we can afford space for
only the following extract
After referring to the non-interference OF the
President in the difficulties in Kansas, Mr..
Hale referred to the Fugitive Slave case.
Now, sir, | will call the attention of the Sem
ate and The country to case In which The Pres
ident did Interfere. | have before me the au-
thentic record of case lately argued before the
Supreme Court of the State of Massachusetts,
and amongst the printed documents of that case
was telegraphc despatch received from the
President of the United States, which l will
read. There was, in due course of law, an at
tempt made to return fugitive slave from the
CITY of Boston 10 the city of Alexandra, Viz
oina. The case was going on, in due course OF
law, in the city of Boston, in the State OF Mas
sachusetts, and the President interfered by
teeeraphic despatch to the Federal of ticlals In
Boston: lncure any expense deemed neces-
sary BY the. marshal and yourself for city mill
tary, or otherwise, 10 insure the execution OF the
law. (Sigued) FRANKLIN PIERCE" This was
directed to 6 b +. Ilallett United State Attor-
new" Well, sir, does the President of the Uni
ted STATES consider that the return of fugitive
slave is paramount to preserving to the people
the free exercise of the right of suffrage! Does
the fact that a whole territory was invaded, and
every one of its citizens prevented from exercis-
ing the legitimate right of suffrage at the polls,
constitute no case in which the President should
interfere for their protection? Aud yet when
there was slave to be returned, The President
of the United States would not trust TO the or
binary modes of communication, but telegraphed
to his officers that the Treasury was wide open
for them. Put your arms in up to the elbow,
help yourselves the Federal Treasury is at your
service" They did ii pretty literally, too, and
believe they were not satisfied until they had
taken something over 10000 of the funds of
the Federal Territory to send back one negro
Although the President may thus interfere, and
although the Federal Treasury may be put at
the mercy of the officers of this government in
the city of Boston, yet when the peaceful inhabl
tsnls of a Territory are invaded and conquered
and the ballot-box made to give way to the car
tridge-box without anything being done by him
to prevent it, we are told that the President has
done all his duty, and is entitled to the common
dation of the country; and his friends here CAME
forward-it seemed to me with some temerity, II
say the least-and challenge the appreciation o
the Senate and of the country
What followed the result of the invasion o
Kansas-ihis going over of Mlssourlans. as ad
mted and as shown! law was prssed AM
| will read yon that law, although 1t has beer
already read twice
eff any person print, write. introduce into, o
publish, or circulate, or cause to be brought into
printed, written, published or circulated or shall
knowingly aid or assist ia bringing into, printing
publishing, or circulating within the Territory
I any book. paper, pamphlet, magazine, hand bill
or circular, containing any statements, argu
men,s. opinion, sentiment, doctrine, advice, o
inuendo, calculated to produce disorderly, dan
gerous, or rebeious disafftcton among the slave
in this Territory, or induce such slaves to escap
authority, shall be guilty of felony, and be pun
lshed by Imprisonment, at hard labor, for teri
of not less han five years y
but as much longer as the Judge sees fit. Th
honorable Senate from Tennessee. Mr.. JONES,
in commenting upon this law, finds little fau
; with it. He thinks it is not quite sever
enough, but he says ii ought 10 have been pen
atty of death, and that every one offendin
against its provisions ought to be hung on Il yer
high gollows-- one as high as that old gaow
on which Hannah was hung. But, let US suppus
the law to remain as it is aud let us suppos
that court was organized in the Territory
Kansas for the trial of offenders against the law
what would be done with man who was foun
with document in his pocket, reading in TIL
way .
1.-The southern people have no rigM-natura
moral, or political-to enforce slavery upon tn
new Territories They have no more right
GO there and hold slaves, than they have 10
50 in New Hampshire. The Shareholders ha,
no more right to plant Slavery upon free terri
tory than zoe haze TO abolish Slavery in Soul
+ Cdrohna'
Do you think that would amount to an "inuI
do to say the least of it! Who is the autht
of that sentiment, The editor of the Ne
Hampshire Patriot. 1t is not one of his po
nartuan remains, but was published as late {
the 26th of December, l94S This is the decla
alton of the New Hampshire Patriot, and
suppose that all of us know the relation whic
that paper sustains to the present executive
the United States. If any Senator does not,
may find that one of his first offciaI acts after /
was elected President, was to present to this e'
ilor god-headed cane in token of the vel
: high estimation in which he held him, and II
, manner in which he had discharged his duties
, DO yoa not think man ought to take five yea
for that! Would it not come up to an " niue
do, or advice, or orinionl" That was in ls4
f Now let me go back one year. Suppose a m;
should be tried under this law, and this docume
= were found in his possession -
" Resolved, That we declare it OUR soLEN
CONVICTION, as the Democratic party have her
: tofure done, that neither Slavery nor inyolunta
: Sefpitade should heretofore exist in any terrific
q which may be acquired by or annexed to the Ur
, led States; and that we approve of the votes
our delegation in Congress in favor of the w
y mot proyiso."
What is that. One of the reso' u,ions pass
at the Democratic State Convention of Ne
Hampshire, In October l847 1t must ha
j. been hard dose for them, for | was one
: those Senators whom they were thanking
; voting tor the Wilmot provso. Who were 4
;, committee that produced their resolutions
= VIII read some of their names Amongst /
IL gent emen who reported that resolution W
@ John 5, Wells" the Presidents captain ge
il erai and standard bearer, who is stumpinq 10 4
State of New Hampshire for the office of Go
y ernor to day. He was some hopes of be
u cleo ed, but think more fears of being defeate
4. IN about two weeks.
!. Another member of the committee that reno
:. ed this resolution was Joseph H. Smith hiet
= respectable gentleman of my own vilage T
a President has shown his appreciation of Docl
+ Smith S patriotism judgement, and politics,
e appointing him to the highly important Office
inspector of drugs in the city of Boston, wi
salary of 81 900 year.
!, Another gentleman whose name | find amo
Il those who reported this resolution was Sam,
o Swasey. The President had such high q
probation OF his services that he thought
: must go little higher than an inspector
' drugs, and he was therefore appointed inspect
!, and measurer, at Portsmouth, with compens
e tonof over ST. 300 a year, also find upon t
n committee who reported this resolution the mai
, of another gentleman-Charles H. Peaslee, W
3 has been rewarded by the President with We