Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-02-18

NETT mas represented. why, sir, the {
assertion of every moral principle, the
reading of the gospel, every exhortation '
to do justice, every sermon, every prayer
of faith, tends 10 emancipation. not only
in our Southern States, but throughout
the world. But when members hold
seats here, they are supposed TO act in
their legislative capacity, and only on
subjects over which they have cohstiiu-
tional Jurisdiction. No persons act in
this body but members; and the charge
of the President is, that members Of Con-
greSs hare ogitated the subject of enamel
patton in tie Southern States.
Now, sir, have served long in this
body, and have been regarded as the
most ultra Anti Slavery member for
nearly twenty years; and if the Presi- |
dent intended to involve any present
member in thi. - rye, he doubtless re-
ferred to me. will say very frankly,
that never presented petition, resolu-
lion, bill, proposition, or motion, nor
have l ever proposed negro emancipa-
ton in the Southern States, in any
speech 1 ever delivered in this body
nor do think such proposition was
ever made or presented in either branch
of Congress. On the contrary, in al
most every speech l ever made in this
House, 1 have taken care to deny all
constitutional power to interfere with Sla-
very in the States, either to uphold or
destroy it.
Sir, my life has not been spent in he
dark corners of the earth. l have 1 n
spoken in this body /; l have " i'll N
much; but in no writing or speec /,
made here or elsewhere, can any n an
lay his hand on proposition for eman-
cipaling the slaves of our Southern
States by Congressional legislation. |
wish we had the power, and the inde-
pendence to use il: would at once vote
TO strike the fetlers from the limb Of eve
ry human being upon Gods footstool.
But. sir. suppose Northern men had
} really believed Congress possessed The
power to emancipate slaves in the South
ern States, would they have felt it their
) duty to consult the President upon the
propriety of speaking their sentiments
: Thank God, we are not amenable to tha
{ officer. We hold our seats here from
the people; our commissions are from {
: power higher than that which he holds
To that power we acknowledge fealty
hut not to the President.
. But, sir, while the history of Congres:
can show no assertion of right in Con
gress TO carry Freedom into slave States
our record slows numerous instances il
which members from slave States have
asserted the tight to carry Slavery int
our FREE St0tes. l think it was in 1888
that distinguished member of this body
from Virginia, [ Mr.. Wisel asserted the
right of shareholders to carry slaves upOr
: the soil of our free States. Indeed, Yir
ginia,. in her sovereign capacity, now
claims that right, and is contesting
caae in which that question is involvsd
In 1919, distinguished member from
Georgia, Mr.. TOombsl asserted on thi
floor that it was the constitutional duiy
of our Federal Government TO sustain
the shareholders possession of his slave
wherever the American flag may float
and since that gentleman has held sea
> in the Senate, he has outraged the feel
u ings of New England. and the whole
North, by declaring that he will, eye
call the roll of his slaves under tn,
shadow of Bunker Hill Monument
that he will pollute that holy grOun'
5 which drank the blood Of Warren anc
e his compatriots, while fighting for Free
dom, by the footsteps of Gods image il
manacles
Il Sir, these men had the right TO speal
? then sentimsnts-to unfold their mora
: powers-and utter the doctrines whicl
they hold 10 be true. They were as in
: dependent of The President as that off
cer was of them. They were no NOR,
: responsible to him than he was to them
and stand here to defend the freedom
: of speech, both to the North and The
: South. And however opposed theil
views were 10 my own, they had a per
feet right 10 utter them. But where
slept the thunder of the President wher
l these doctrines of enslaving the Nortl
T. were put forth Are all his reprOach
es reserved for the advocates of Liberty
u Has he no reproof for those who would
: carry Slavery into his own native State
Is he willing to hear the clanking o
D chains upon the granite hills of New
Hampshire? Sir, l .repudiate and de
It nounce such impeitinence. let it come
$ from what quarter it may. 1 was sen
. here to think my own thoughts, AM
e speak my own words, and give utteranc
TO my own doctrines, without askini
n permission of the President or any othe
IS human being.
,f Not content with reading this lectur
n to Congress, he goes one step further
1t and assails the people for agitating th