The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-07
YORK HERALD SATURDAY JANUARY l. 1seo-TRPLE SHEET

no installing the object Of language like this You
wish 70 convey the impression that do not in .he
Senate stand ymy words and acts AT home. 5r,
you had associated my name with tho scnti-
ment that u was The right aud duty of the
North 10 ircte slaves u resistance" aud wien
asked by Mr.. Brown in respectful language,
tone ana manner 10 explain the mater, l aid so
by sta ing the true character Of the meeting; anl
tsis yon are pleased To dcn0uncc rs suhm~siyc -
an attempt 10 deprecate the trowns a strfes NJ
the II solent lords OF the ASH Th- charge AZ base
and dastaidy Ny words 10 Congress, uuriDS the
past five years, the record. That record Will
81 ow that have never qualified, disavowed OF re-
tracied one word or act ~ ule out ~ the senate.
That record vii. show that have spoken more
liainly ana more severely o slavery and TIE slave
power 10 the face Of Shareholders Ia the course of
debate than have out of the Senate before SYM
pathlzing thropgs. During Tie past fifteen years
have travelled more Than fifty thousand miles in
seventeen Sass and de'isercd nearly six hundred
addresses 10 many thous9 lds of persons. l have
been connected with the pubiic press, and have
written much upon the issues growing on. OF the
slavery question; but, at all ,imes and upon all
Cssions in the press and before the people in con-
ven'ions and IN legislative halls, at bone ana IN
Washington, have maintained but one position
that Of peaceful legal and constitutional
t,ond 0ppoSttl on 10 The erension OF human sldDery
IA A,aericd and 10 IT'S existence ,otere the Nation
al government IS responsible for II. TO this post
ton shat adhere Uit, ,nNeyible tirmness, and
sch,ie dbhor stdoery and pty the lot of The bond
man shall not cease "a remember that slavery IN the
states Is local, not nhtioHa ana mat our uppedlS
must he address ed not to the slaves to resist their
masters, not to armed nvasiocs hut to the reason,
the heart and conscience of our countrymen Of the
South upon whom rests the fearful responsibility
of the slave system.
You cha,ge me and other Senators with attempt
ing 40 throw glamour in the eyes Of Southern
III. mbers, "-you say that would have them think
that regret and Condemnation OF Brown and his
objects universal at the North, and you assert
that the 'nasses of the North are III sympathy with
Brown and his deeds" That The people Of the
North deeply sysypaLiise auth The person u attri-
Iutes. u Broom, that they admire ne rare
herOism Of character manifested by hum, no
one can doubt, but that they approve
OF his invasion of Virginia / dr not for
moment believe. Pending the recent election in
New York, addressed thousands Of people in
Brooklyn. Syracuse, Rome Watertown, Aub1rn
Geneva, and other places, aud during the canvass
OF two weeks everywhere expressed my re-
gret and condemnation Of his armed invasion Of
Virginia, and during that time cenversed with
one who did not regret and deplore it. And in this
State and in this town, where you declare the
people approve of Browns lawess act, have met
few, very few indeed, who approve that act. Ny
conviction is, that while the people Of Mdssdchu-
sets are nearly unanimous IN their sympathy for
the fate of Br0irn, and an The admiration of his
personal qualities, they are quite unanimous in
their " regret and condemnation" of his lawess
raid at Harpers Ferry. Believing this to be the
sentiment Of the people of Massachusetts, and Of
the North, have so stated IN public aud in private.
| may be mistaken in my views, but feel confident
mat am not III i am mistaken, II tue Time
has come when the liberty loving and law
abiding people of Massachusetts are convinced
as you assume they are that it is the right
and duty Of the North to incite slaves to resistance
and to aid them in itthat it is the hight and duty
OF Northern men to gather in armed bands to invade
slaveholding States ito iDcite slaves resistance
and to aid them in it'--then / am not the re ere-
sentative Of their sentiments and opinions. Within
the Union and under the constitution shall, In the
future in the past, in public and in private life,
give my voice and vote for just and peaceful legal
and constitutional action against slavery. This is
my position. l believe it to be the position of
vast majority Of the people whose representative
am. When Massachusetts abandons this policy of
peaceful, legal and constitutional reform, which
patriotism, humanity and religion sanction, and ac-
quues me to uphold the doctrine that lit is their
right and duty TO incte slaves to resistapce,' and
to organize armed bands and invade sister States
Ito aid them in it-there will be vacant chair for
her to fill in the Senate of the United States
HENRY WILSON.