The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-03
TIE REPLY OF MASSACHUSETTS,.

may 10, 1856.
Mr.. PREsIDENr-You are now called to redress a
great tIansgression. Seldom in the history OF
nations has such question been presented Tariffs,
army bills, navy bills land bills, are important and
justly occupy your care; but these all belong to the
course Of ordinary legislation. As means and in
struments only, they necessarily subordinate TO
the conservation of government itself. Grant them
or deny them, in greater or less degree, and you
will nfict no shock. The machinery of govern
ment will continue to move. The State will not
cease to exist Far otherwise is it with the eminent
question now before you involving, it does, liberty
in broad territory and also involving the peace OF
the whole country with our good name in history
for evermore.
that the Territory Of Kansas, more than any
other region, occupies the middle spot of
North America, equally distant from the At
lantic on the east and the Pacific the west; from
the tepd gulf stream the SOUTH constituting the
precise territorial centre of the whole vast couti-
nent. To such advantages OF situation on the very
highway between two oceans are added soil OF I'M
surpassed richness, and fascinating, undulating
beauty Of surface, with health-giving climate cal
cuated to nurture powerful and generous people,
worthy to be a central pivot OF American institu-
tons.
spacious mediterranean country was open only to
the savage who ran wild in its woods and praircs;
and now it has already drawn to its bosom popu.
lation Of freemen larger than Athens crowded
Wituu UeT usGOIlC RdIcs, WHICH, uCI BULLS, III
der Miltiades, won liberty for mankind on the
field of Marathon; more than Sparta contained
when she ruled Greece, and sent forth her devoted
children, quickened by mothers benediction, to
return with their shields or on them; more than
Rome gathered on Her seven hills, when, under her
kings, she commenced that sovereign sway which
afterwards embraced the whole earth; more than
London held. when, on the fields of Greasy and Agn
court, the English banner was carried VIGOROUSLY
over the chivarous hosts of France.
Against this Territory, thus fortunate in position
and population, crime has been committed which
is without example in the records Of the past Not
governors will you find its parallel, and yet there is
an ancient instance which may show at
least the path Of justice. In the terrible i'm
parchment by. which the great Roman orator
has blasted through all time the name Of
Verres, amidst charges of robbery and sacri-
leges, the enormity which most aroused the
indignant voice Of his accuser, and which still stands
forth with strongest dstinctness arresting the SYM
pathetic indignation of all who read the story, is
that away in Sicily he had scourged citizen Of
Rome-that the cry" l am Roman citizen" had
been interp0sed in vain against the lash Of the
tyranl governor. Other charges were that he had
carried away productions OF art, and that he had
violated the sacred shrines
1t was in the presence of the Roman Senate that
this araignnent proceeded IN temple OF the Forum
amidst crowds-suc as no orator had ever before
nades, even clinging to the housetops and neigh
boring slopes-and under the anxious gaze OF wit
nesses summoned from the scene Of crime. But
an audience grander far-of higher dignity
gence-the countless multitude of succeeding gene.
rations. in every land where eloquence has been
studied or where the Roman name has been recog
niseG-has listened to the accusation and throbbed
with condemnation of the criminal.
Sir, speaking in an age of light, and in o land of
constitutional liberty, where the safeguards of cleo
tons are justly placed among the highest triumphs
of civilization, iearlessly assert that the wrongs of
much abused Sicily. thus memorable in history,
were small by the side of the wrongs of Kansas
where the very shrnes Of popular institutions,
sacred than any heather altar have been desecrated
where the ballot box, more precious than any work
in ivory marble from the cunning hand of art has
been plundered; and where the cry am an Anne
rcan citizen" has been interposed in vain against
outrage Of every kind, even upon life itself. Are
you against sacrege? ! present 1t for your execra.
ton. Are you against robbery? hold it up to
your scorn. Are you for the protection Of Ameri-
can citizens? l show you how their dearest rights
have been cloven down, while tyrannical usur-
patton has sought to install itself on their very
necks!
But the !wickedness which l now begin to
expose is immeasurably aggravated by the mo-
tive which prompted it.. Not in any common
lust for power did this uncommon tragedy
have its origin. It is the rape of virgin Territory,
compelling it to the hateful embrace Of slavery and
new slave State, the hdeous offspring Of such
crime, in the hope of adding to the power of slavery
in the national government. Yes, sir, when the
whole world alike Christian and Turk, is rising up
to condemn this wrong, and to make it Kissing to
the nations here in republic force sr-aye, force
has been openly employed IN compelling Kansas to
the pollution of slavery all for the sake Of political
power There is q simple fact, which you will vain
~ attempt to deny but which in itself presents an
essential wickedness that makes other public crimes
seem Like public virtues
But this enormty, vast beyond comparison, swells
to dimensions of wickedness which the imagnati IN
tolls in okain wlpO IL "a understood hat
tiis purpose are hazarded the horrors Of intestine
ieud not only in this distant Territory but every
MneIe .nIougnSnt the country Already the muster
al Even now, while speak, porten3s hang on an
the arches Of the horizon threatening to darken the
broad land which already yawns with the mutter-
ings of civil war.
The fury of the propagandists of slavery, and
the calm determination Of their opponents, are now
diffused from the distant territory over widespread
communities, and the whole country, in all It's ex-
ing strife which, unless happily averted by the
triumph Of freedom, will become war-fratricidal,
parricidal WARMTH an accumulated wickedness
beyond the wickedness Of any war in human an.
Providence and the avenging pen Of history and
constituting strife, in the language Of the al Gent
writer, more than foreign, more than social me Q
than civil; but something compounded Of all these
srifes, and In itself more than war; sed pois COM
mune guoddam omnibus ct plus guam beilum.
Such is the crime which you are TO Judge. But
the criminal also must be dragged into day, that
You may see and measure the power by which all
this wrong is sustained. From no common source
could it proceed. In its preparation was needed
spirit Of vauting ambition which would hesitate at
nothing hardihood of purpose which was insen
sible to the judgment Of mankind; madness for
slavery which should disregard the constitution the
laws and all the great examples Of our hislory; al
so consciousness of power such as comes from the
habit of power combination of energies found only
in hundred arms directed by a hundred eyes; a
control Of public opinion, through vena pens and
prostituted press; an ability to subsidze crowds
in every vocation of ,life-the politician with his
local Importance, the lawyer with biz subtle tongue,
and even the authority Of the Judge on the bench;
50 that none, from the President to tie lowest Dor.
der postmaster, should decline TO be IL tool; all
these things and more were needed; and they were
iogEa tp the slave power q on gepggla There,