Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-11

senate; sumner, in his lac sp-c.A oa tAe
emancipation OF slaves IN the Distric; of Co
lumJia, took Le ground that the arp7oTr'a-
ton of money by CJa-sss. l,r tAa, purpose
could in no sens BE- taken DIS an acknow-
lcd-emeat that there was or could bearisi e
tai property in human beings. The case.
he said, Was analogous {, tie ransom ol cap
tiy5s by d payment of money. This had been
thelrlc,i.s of CHRISTIAN nations 1r long
period The B .r5ary States formerly made
clutyes, and they were sold ana held there as
Slaves. Other uati.us. our own with thc
rest. ua.I money for their cn,much.sgmeut
and release, not because they wero ri-htiuliy
capuyos ~ slaves but because &c was easier
O, eT.ct tae object in ,lat way than ny war.
TIE following Is an extract .rlm Mr.. sum
mrs speech on ttat sutjec,
Petitions uer, lr,s,ut,d 90 Congress for ho
c1TtiT,e, alI several interesting reports were
maae ty the Secretary oi state, ln which hc said
il was REGARDED as important that IN the FIRST in
] stance at redemption by tho United State, our
price SHOULD be lzed al the lowest point There
are, also, several mc.-8ses Of Washington on the
subject, calling upon Congress " 20 provide what
/ SHAH seem most e1peditnt.' Tie question stated
was between war and ransom. The Senate, by
formal resolution, advised ransom, and the Prcsl-
/ dent tleu announced. ' will proceed TO take
uscs for the ran.om Of 0Lr citizens Ia captiv-
| i;y at Ai-iors. 1ais Important business met with
many interruptions. Clmmod re Paul Jones, who
/ was iutrustcd with T., died. Col. Humphreys w1s
not allowed 10 reach Aieiers. During al this
time our people zmaried IN boniag~
The country meanwhile was aroused. People OF
. all classes yiol iE generous efforts. 40 public
/ celebrations the t0a-ts "Hap7incss for all, and
"J Universal liberty were proposed, partly IN sym
patty with our wretchCd Waite fellow citizens IN
/ bonds. The story OF the ''Alecrine Captive, re-
printed IN London, was tie prototype Of Jnele
/ Toms Cabin. col. Humphreys proposed 10 raise
I money by lotteries. At last, by act Of Congress
OF the 20th y arch 1894, one million dollars weCe
I appropriated for the ransom Of our people, being
| precisely the sum as Is now proposed T. be
/ paid fer ransom here. The treaty with AlgieTs
when obtained, was 4 sacrihce Of pride and not Of
honor. 20 the necessity Of the occasion. But
amidst all Its unqucstonatlc humiliation, It was
a treaty Of emanc cpation; nor did our people cou-
slider nicely the terms on W ich such good was
secured. 1t was hailed by Washington, IN mes
sage to Congress, as gratifying to every feeling
| heart Frum a document in cur state papers, II
appears that annual appropriations, during sever
/ al years, were made iur TINS purpose, amountln &
! 70 upwards OF two millions OF dollar. T. all who
now question the power Of Congress, or the poll
cy of exercising it, commend this account in its
various items. II we consider tae population and
the resources at the time, the amount Is not incOn-
siderable. But the proves Of Decatur was after
warls enlisted TO DO BY arms what was not COM
Z pletely done by ransom. Great Britain was
aroused to q naval expedition, which abeli he'd
slavery in the Bsrbary states. And thus ended
white slavery in the Barbary States. a single
brief fort OF war puts an instant close 90 this
wicked practice. In looking back upon its his
tory we find much to humble our pride, If we are
disposed to mourn that our Government stopped
10 ransom those who were Justly free without
price, yet We cannot fail 70 gather instruction
from this great precedentSlivery Is the same in it
essential character wherever 1t exists except per
haps that it has received some hsrshness her,
among Us. There is no argument against Its va
lidity At Algisrs which is not equally stroas
against its validity a. Washington. Ia both case
1t Is unjust force oTsauized into ldw.