Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-05-01
GBe 9allg pg.
FRIDAY. MAY l. 1851.
veies of abe Empise s,a.e.


We have before alluded to the action Of th'
Legislature of New York, on the recent infamous
decision Of Judge fancy, as greatly ahead o.
Massachusetts. To show the light IN when 'he
New York act is viewed, as to its spirit and feal
impert. We give below an extract from the speech
Of Speaker Littlejohn, who left the chaif o. 'i's
Assembly to advocate the measure when II vas
before that body. The first resolution express
vs of the eu,boaied sentiment of the great state
Of New York, accompanying the act reads;
- pss,1,.d That this State s0iH not at'ow
.y., s1;55;n her borders IN ANY FORM, OR
TsSppS Any pRETENoE, for any time, HOWEVER
SHORT"
Would that the Legislature of Massachusetts,
could be equally bold and explicit in its ut
terance of the popular sentiment of our own
State, on this point; and that it could have
a presiding officer, in either branch, sufficiently
up 70 the times to give utterance to such noble
truths as the following. Said Speaker Little
John, in defence of the New York act
care not where oppression may be. There
stand, ready to repel and resist It. l recognize
no power under Heaven that can make man
slave recognize no constitution, no law, that
can deprire a man of his personal rights and lib
erty; aud l, as citizen of New York, am ready
70 place this State in that attitude.
Suppose New York takes that ground-what
then? Some talk of revolution, as II that were
TO be the dreaded result. Sir, love that word,
when it is revolution as against oppression, Rev.
oution, in that sense, has entwined about 1t, and
in IT, the word Liberty. There is no nation under
Heaven where freedom, if it have any, is not
founded first in revolution. preach not revolu-
ton here tonight, because it is not necessary.
But do say that when the Courts undertake to
deprive citizens of their liberty, it is our duty to
take position. | know that State after State will |
follow the lead of the State whose motto is lex
celsior" When this great State, with her three |
millions and upward of freemen, takes that po- |
stion, then know that death'blow is struck |
against African slavery.
THE Speakers five minutes here expired, when |
by consent he proceeded.
The Speaker, resuming-This is my position.
If this law be unconstitutional, place my feet |
on the Constitution of the United Stotes. No
where does it contain the word slavery" Place
that instrument in the hands of man, born even
and bred under despotism as absolute as that OF
the Autocrat of Russia, accustomed to its exac-
tons and its tyranny, and entirly Ignorant OF the
fact that its Constitution had ever been question
in this particular--ask him to construe it. Could
he point to line or word that recognizes slave
~ in it? place myself on that Constitution,
and / would not permit a fugitive from the South |
to be taken from our limits. What then? What |
power can compel US to aequesee Will James |
Buchanan march troops into New York to coerce |
US INTO submissioni We know that no attempt |
will be made thus to coerce this State, when it
takes this position. We know that this will be
"bloodless revolution'-a revolution Of public
opinion, the whole North putting itself on the
Constitution Of the United States, and declaring
shat at the North, at least slavery shall not ex-
list
/ hope this low will be enacted. don't know
what members think of it. / do know what their
constituents think. / know that if this question
was presented to them, they would take the po'
sition do--that of the Freedom of the People,
Freedom of the citizens of New York.