Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-02-24
Nh. SsnnOtl's Speech at the Stevens Tri.l.

The closing argume ent of Mr.. Sennott
of this city, the counsel for Stevens at
the recent trial at Charlestown. Va, con-
tanned some bold truths, which were
plainly uttered. Mr.. Sennott Is a Dem
oci at, but he did not consider it necessa-
ry 10 abjure his manliDess, get down on
his knees to the Virginia chivalry, and
say see what good Union man | am
how hate the Abolitionists-how ]
admire slavery ~ We make the follow
ing extracts from this speech, which will
be read with interest:
" But what produced abolition teach
ing and gave it its wide spread effect p
| will tell you. 1t was political rascali-
ty undertaking TO put down freedom OF
speech by force, and make men help on
the abolition movement who were not
then and who never will be abolitionists.
Let me prove it, gentlemen, by well
known historical facts. The mobbing
of abolitionists by their own fellow-cit-
izens had hardly ceased, when few
people petilioned Congress to abolish
slavery in the District, and also the in
ternal slave trade. The petitioners were
then Just as inconsiderabie as they had
been when first dispersed and half hang
ed, for they were the people who had
experienced that treatment, without be-
ing contented or improved by it.
And now, were they left unnoticed ?
were they quietly and sen>ibly sent about
their business No, your Honor ; no
Mr.. Foreman. If any quiet and sensi-
BILE counsel had prevailed, the politicians
occupation was gone. The mischief
makers then in Congress seized it as a
godsend. They wanted something &c
twaddle about, and they reached into
the ark of our covenant for their subject
They laid their dirty hands upon the sa-
cred right of petition, belonging as &
birthright to the sovereign people of the
United States. They broke up the
hearthstones Of the edifce of the Unior
to pelt away few of the poor tenant,
with the fragments, and then affected
surprise at the indignation Of the owners
From that dilapidated house, through
Kansas, the road leads straight to Har
pel's Ferry, and this poor prisoner came
in that direction before you. Now, gen
tlemen allow me to give some iniorma
ton that | hope will not diSplease you
I If it does, excuse 1t, for it is true, anC
presented from good motives. | know
the sentiments OF the people where
live. mean the people, not the poIiti
clans, who have no sentiments that the,
are not ready 10 sell. We are all SCUM
on the slavery question; for We all de
] test slavery-all of US. We cannot hel
, detesting it. But we ardently desire t
; let it alone. II is your institution-nc
: ours, thank God. Hands of-let
! alone-mind your own business thes
= are the expressions that suit US 20 US
when Northern men attempt TO meddI
: practically with you. But then We hay
b an institution which is ours, if not youl
( it is freedom Of speech, and we wal
i you not 10 meddle with that. II is n,
n your business, but mine, if | like TO liste
{ to, and do 90 to hear my honored a
quaintance, Wendell Phillips, or that
IS am proud Of the friendship of DR.. S. {
r. Howe, or that ! admire the character
n William Lloyd Garrison. 1t is true "
5 cannot help yourselves, and am gl'
e you cannot interfere about it; but it
d an offense and an outrage for you ev'
= TO try-so do not try. Let US alone
l. hands of, if you please. Mind your ov
a. business. IL is our turn now TO cry ou
Of and however much we tue detest SLAYER
a ,lol't undertake TO keep Us from sayil
f. so or thinking SO, as long as We nev
4. meddle practically. with you and you
ii That meddiing, foolish men on both sid
r have undertaken to intefere in practi
ID with what did not concern them at all,
the cause of all our difficulties, from {
O. hanging of William Lloyd Garris
10 down 10 the execution of Captain Jo
10 Brown and the trial Of this young N
beside me.
And now, hear the determination
the young men Of the North. II
tneddling shall be stopped We numt
nearly one million Of actual voters. II
). I mean, who habiiualiy attend to maxi
;, money, and who commonly abstain #,
voting. We have hitherto cared no
ing for politicians or their gabble
: this Harper's Ferry Affair would ha
awakened the dead. Il viii not be ma
months before you will lind Us M