Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-08-18

W w 'na', Dut speak Q him as he stands hist0-
rically connected with that cause which is dear tc
you and me.
And so FAR rs have knowledge he had not up
to January lS49 given any public evidence Of bis
adherence to the doctrines which now constitute
the basis Of the Republican confession Of faith.
He had been bred among Shareholders, educated in
the belief that slavery just proper and neces-
sar5. Hc was the only Wing representative from
Illinois, and while at home was surrounded by a
pro-slavery sentiment but little modified from that
OF Kentucky. His party was just coming into
power, while he was about to retire to rrivate life
precisely at the time when be could have claimed
the highest Executive favor that was due his State
He saw a few members standing aloOf from the
Democratic and Wing organizations, seeking by
every honorable means to call attention Of the
louse and country to the crimes Of slavery. They
were called "dgitators" and he lue Of denarca-
ton. which separated them from other members
was well defined. These men were seeking to in
form the country that in he District Of Columbia,
Fugitive Slave Law far more barbarous than
any that has ever been n rec, in our free States
was maintained on enactment by which free per-
sons we're seized and imprisoned, and after prov
ing their freedom, were compelled to pay expen-
ses, or be sold into slavery. The fugitive slave
Law Of 1893 had become dead letter upon our
statute book perfectly useless to the stakeholder
and would that Mr.. Lincoln, or any other man
] had been able to repeal the heathenish enactment
in force within the District Of Columbia even by
extending the act of 93 over it and permit me
also to say that Congress had as much power to
egsate for catching slaves in the District of Col
umbia as within the States. The power to do
either was an usurpation and the small band to
whom reler endeOvoring to call public at
tention to the Fact that our government had by
Congressional enactments authorized the commits
sicn VI revolving crimes, in the District Of Colum.
bia, in our Territories, and upon the high seas.
To effect this object, Mr.. Palfrey of your State,
asked leave to introduce "a bill repeating all such
acts and parts Of any and all acts of Congress
that sustain slavery or the slave trade in the dis
trict of Columbia" The bill, if law, would
have left every STAKEHOLDER Id possession of his
slaves, and every slavedealer at liberty to pursue
his vocation according to that popular soveregnty'
which our Democratic friends now advocate. But
J / trustahat you nor dry other man will charge Dr.
Palfrey with such intent. His motion, mot the
billy was blow aimed at that despotsm which
had held him and bis friends in abject silence.
lie intended the country should understand tha t
the slave trade and slavery in The District of Col
umbia was to be attacked. exposed held up to the
tisgHst Ef Iankind that members of Congress
could and ought to speak out to place the su3jec.
before the country, and to act against it,
! On the 18th of December, your humble servan.
went farther than Mr.. Palfrey or Mr.. Lincoln.
asked and obtained leave to introduce bill grant
ing to the people of the District of Columbia the
privilege to express by vote their desire to main
tain or abolish slavery and the slave trade within
said District. In presenting this bill had not the
most distant idea of passing law that should
leave the slave holder to determine whether he
would hold slaves, or the slavedeaer to say wheth-
er he would follow his acursed vocation or not.
My object was the same which | attributed to Mr..
Pallrey, and determined to make my bill SO ac-
ceptible upon it's face, that members would not
object to It's introduction. In this I Succeeded.
| obtained leave to introduce it, 1t was formally
read first and second time, and stood upon the
question Of engros ,ment, when member from
Mississippi discovered that it gave the slaves the
same right TO vote that it gave the masters. This
fact was announced, and there was a sensation
among shareholders and conservatives, and my
poor bill was laid upon the table in double quick
time. But my object was obtained.
Now, sir, when you or others shall Judge me il
the present, in the future, let your opinions ~
formed by the 10hole record, by the surro undin,
facts and circumstances, by my words, my acts
my votes but pray you not to lake the bill
then introduced, as expressing my opinions. Thi
is the rule which in past time has been applied b
statesmen OF all parties, aud desire to be judged
by it. Mr.. Lincoln has a right to be judged by it
The next movement on this subject was by ou
excellent friend Daniel Gost of New York. 1t wa
directed against the slave trade in the District
Columbia. He was more fortunate than Mr.. Pal
frey or myself. The slave holders had becom,
nervous under the repeated blows given tie insti
tuition, and some OF them appeared desperate. Mr.
Goh on introducing his resolution demanded the
previous question, that being the only mode by
which he could get a vote upon it. To avoid such
vote motion was made to lay the resolution on
the table, when Mr.. Venabe Of North Carolina
addressing Southern members in undertone
called on them to vote against laying il upon the
tsble and to vote in favor Of the previous question:
80 as 10 make eUery man North and South shOlo
his hand. If this article should meet the eye OF
that gentleman would assure him that to this
day feel grateful for the proposition be made.
l By the aid of Southern men We obtained direct
vote upon adopting Mr. GOtt's resolution, and it
was carried. 1t was unex pected victory for the
time being, but motion 10 reconsider was made
and the discussion postponed until the 10th OF
January. On that day Mr.. Lincoln had bis bill
read to the House, and declared his intention to
introduce il as amendment to Mr.. Colts reso-
lutioh5 il The motion to reconsider should succeed
He stated that he had conversed with fifteen of the
principle citizens OF Washington City who thought
that such proposition would meet with the ap-
proVai of the people Of The District. He did not
represent that the bill was satisfactory to those
fifteen citiEens much less did he represent it as
satisfactory to himself, but be did express the
hope that il Would nnact kha annroval of the nao.