Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-03-06


# obscure and shifting boundaries whic
! divide libel from history or discussion.
o MrCAMPBELL. reply that a news
: paper is supposed to be published for put
: lie informrtion. There should be a pow
S er somewhere to judge of the criminalit,
of articles published.
0 Mr.. HUTCHINS. What fear is tha
f after the demoralized state of publ
f sentiment in the free States, which som
of these compromising propositions ma,
bring about, that it will be very easy t
$ find pretenses for causing the suppression
! of publications of the character L hav
| mentioned.
Mr.. STRANTON. 1 hope my colleague
will answer the question directly, whether
he is favor of permitting papers to be pub
: lished for the purpose of stirring up insur
rection.
, Mr.. HUTCHINS. No, sir, I am not
and l am not in favor of establishing any
new doctrine whereby anti-slavery publ
cations may be suppressed under the pre-
text that they may be published with the
intent" to stir up insurrection. l do moi
want to compromise the liberty of the
press, that slavery may have additianal
protection and guarantees. l am not in
favor of further restricting the liberty Of
the press.
|, Mr. CAMPBLL. Neither am I, but I
am in favor of placing proper guards upon
the licentiousness of the press.
Mr.. HUTCHINS. If it is not proposed
to change the existing law, why is the
subject referred to by the committee? |
commed the sentiments of that brilliant
grafton of Sir James Macintosh to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, or anybody
else, who under any pretense whatever,
shall undertake to stife freedom of speech
or restrict the liberty of the press in this
country.
Mr.. cox. 1 wish to make an inquiry
of my colleague. wish to know whether
understand his answer to the question of
my colleague, Mr.. STANTON. l under
stood him to say that he would not be in
favor of publications which are calculated
to promote serPile instructions Is that
the answer he gives?
Mr.. HUTCHINS. Yes, sir; but not in
the crGct LGnguoge of your question.
Mr.. COX. | ask him, then, if he would
be in favor of The publication of such doc
uments as Theodore Parker's programme,
in which he lays down the doctrine that
slaves may MURDER, steal, and rob, for the
purpose of obtaining their freedom?
Mr.. HUTCHlNS. believe have not
read that prodf;knrae. 1 do not recollect
its contents &
Mr.. EDGERTON. I viii answer the
gentleman.
Mr.. COX. 1 put no question to that
gentleman. l ask my other colleague
if he will answer.my interrogatory?
Mr. HUTCHINS. will reply to my
colleague in this wise. presume am
not as familiar with the platform Of prin-
ciples of Theodore Parker as he is. do
not know whether or not, have read his
programme. l have read some of his SER
mons and anti-slavery publications. fl
have read the programme to which the gen
tlcman refers, 1 cannot now call to mind
its language, and could not, therefore. say
whether or not would favor its publica-
ton. 1 would not make its publication
criminal.
Mr.. COX. 1t is published in the New
York Tribune
Mr.. CAREY. I object to any further
interruptions.
Mr.. HUTCHINS. Mr.. Speaker, have
made my criticisms upon the report of the
committee of thirty three, trust. in all
kindness and respect for the members of
that committee. | believe the doctrine is
dangerous, and l protest against it.
Now, to the specific remedies proposed
by the committee: l am opposed to under
taking to save this Union at the present
time by a compromise of any sort by which
any new guarantees shall be given to slavery;
and L will briefly give my reasons why
some of the propositions reported by the
committee of thirty three, which would
under other circumstances, command my
vote, will not nOa0 receive my assent
What do we understand by compromise?
My dictionary teaches me that it is mu-
tual giving up on each side of some contro-
versy or some question that there is dis
pute about. Now, 1 want to know what
concession on the part of the slave States
this committee of thirty-three, or anybody !
else, has recommended for our considera-
ton? What right do they concede by any
proposition that has been submit ed? l
say, not one single thing. except the amend
ment to the fugitive slave law, and that !
amounts to very little in my Judgment
Yet We are called upon day after day to
ignore party platforms and principles. and
to compromise, by coneeding all that is de-
manded to placate those who are in rebel
lion against the Government
Mr.. Speaker We have had great many
final settlements of the slavery question,
and every one of them was to be an ever
testing fnality. The compromise measures
of 1880 were to inaugurate a political
when the lion of slavery was
to lie down with the lamb of freedom, so
reconciled that child might lead them
Sir. who violated the compromise of 1920?
Who violated the compromise of ISj0?-
~NoN III AANS SNoNGS VI lulo CnlOhs w. I
sir; l assert as a fact, that in no single
instance, where it was surprised this ques-
ton of slavery was compromised and set
tied as between the free and slave States,
have the free States, directly or Indirectly,
violated it. If they have, 1 challenge the
advocates Of slavery upon this floor to show
it. But in every instance these compro-
misses have been disregarded by the slave
holding interest. In 1854 the interest of
slavery procured the repeal of tue Missouri
and the interest of freedom re-
sisted it.
am opposed to any compromises. They
have not been, and cannot in the nature of
things be, productive of permanent good or
asting peace. They only postpone and
,ompEcate the difficulties. l do not see
Why any one should desire to increase the
influence and power Of slavery. 1t has