The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-04-25

Republican side.
1r. Martin (va. ri hope gentlemen from the
south will let him talk as he pleases; but 60 away
and not isten to him.
A member, on the Republican side-Well, go.
ISLAND not on the order of your going, but 60 at
once"
Mr.. Loyejoy-Mr Chairman, say claim the
privilege OF going anywhere and everywhere
within the limits Of this American Republic, as
free citizen, unmoles,ed, and of uttering, in an
orderly and legal way, any sentiment that /
choose TO utter; and yet, are allowed to do it:
Are We, for that, in these United States, to be
subjected 70 violence, outrage, tar and feathers,
barning, imprisonment and the gaiiows: Answer
that question. | know gentlemen say that self
preservation is the first law Of nature; but if
you cannot keep slavery and .'i~-- n 20 DISCUS
sion, fhsn 4 soy, In Gods name, before free dis
cussion and all the rights Of free citizens are TO
be sacrificed to that Moloch of Slavery, that No
loeb must be inundated at the shrine Of liberty,
free speech, free discussion, and all those rights
that cluster around an American citizen. Why,
Mr.. Chairman, a citizen Of Rome, when the
scourge was already appraised, and about TO fall
upon him, il he uttered the cry, II am Roman
citizen" it arrested that scourge. We'll, Sir, is
not there more Of charm, is it not prouder
position to be an American than TO be Roman
citizen. And are we in the nineteenth century,
living under this Constitution, with our free in
stitutions-aTe our persons and our rights to be
less sacred than they were under the old Roman
administration eighteen centuries ago and more.
That 10 my response 10 the question why l re-
commended the circulation of the Helper book
Now, what about John Brown, Cries of LET
us have il" This affair of John Brown brings
US to tho reality Of things. This raid c0nfronts
us with slavery, and makes Us ask is slaveholding
right, and if go, what right has it, When the
curtain rose, and startled the nation with this
tragedy, John Brown lay there like a wounded
lion with his head upon his paws, a sabre cut on
bis brow, bayonet gashes in his side, the blood
oozing out, and life itself apparently ebbing fast
around were certain little specimens of the ca
nine species, snufiiug and smelling, and finally
one them yelped out Mr.. Lion, was the old
war horse that pastured on the Western Reserve
with you in this eIpsdition,' The lion slowly
raised his head, cast di.dainful side glance upon
the inquirer, growled out a contemptuous mega
tive, and reposed his head as before. In regard
70 John Brown, you want me TO curse him. l
will not curse John Brown. You want me to
pour out execrations upon tho head of old Ossa-
watamie. Though all the slaveholding Balaks in
the country fill their houses with silver, and prof
Ter 1t, will not curse John Brown. do hon
estly condemn what he did; from my stand. point,
and with my convictions, disapproyc Of his &C.
ZION, that is true; but believe that his purpose
was good one-that, so far as his own motives
before God were concerned, they were honest
anu truthful; and no man can deny that he
stands head and shoulders above any other
Character that appeared on the stage in that ira
eedy from beginning to end-from the time he
entered the armory there to the time wh.,, Lo
was strangled by Governor "Fussation." Gen
eral laughter.
He was not guilty of murder or treason. He
did unquestionaby violate the statute against aid
Ing slaves to escape; but no blood was shed, ex-
cept BY the panicstricken multitude, till Stevens
was fired upon while waving flag of truce.
The only murder was that Of Thompson, who
was snatched from the heroic protection of a
woman, and riddled with balls at the railroad
bridge. Despotsm has seldom sacrificed three
nobler victims than Brown, Stevens and Hsztt.
As remarked, Mr.. Chairman, this brings Us
TO confront slavery, and ask what right this Cali
ban has upon earth? l say no right. Ny hon
est conviction-and do not know why gentle
men need take offence; they need not unless
they chO0Se-my honest conviction is, that all
these slavehOlding laws have the same moral
power and force that rules among pirates have
for the distribution of their booty; that regula-
tons among robbers have for the division Of their
spoils; and although do not believe gentlemen
have behaved very handsomely to me, l am GO
ing to add, notwithstanding, that do not mean
70 say that gentlemen who are Shareholders would
be guilty Of these particular things-that is not
the point-I am talking about this matter in the
court Of conscience, in the court of right and
wrong; and ! insist that any laws for enslaving
men have Just the same moral force as the ar
ranoemeut ,monc rohbers and ni-ates for d;str.
buting their spoils. Iwant to know by what right
YOU can come and make me slayes I want to
know by what right YOU can saw that nv child
shall be your slave? Iwaut 10 know bv what right
YOU saw that the mother shall not have her child.
given to her from God THROUGH the martvrdom Of
maternity Hear tb,t soft exou;site warbIe of n
mothers love:
.r,., ,,,,.,,h,
A birdlng sought my Indian nest.
And folded, All so lovingly,
It's uny wings upon my breast
Now where is the wretch who would dare to 90
up and take that fluttering and painting birding
from the bosom of its mother, and say, at is
mine; will sell it like calf will sell it like
pig" What right had that mother to her babes
Was it because she was "Fanny Forester" the
gifted authoress? was it because she was the
wife of venerable and yenerated missionary
No. it was because she was it's MorurR. and ev.
ery slave mother has lust as GOOD title 10 her
babe a. "Fauny Forester had 10 bers No
laws can make il right to rob her I saw in
Gods name, INV child is mine 4: and vet | have
no right TO mine that a slave father has not TO
his child. Not a particle. The same ARGUMENT
that proves NV right 70 INV ncrsonaI Iibe,tv
proves the right of eyery human being to his.
The argument that proves NV right to INV chill
dren gives the same title. the same sacred claim.
to every father. They. as /. get it from their
cd .rJ M b,r,.,, r,.o.,,,ort o,r ,,,,l 81.