Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-04-24

tive Slave Act.
l might go further, and, by the exam
pie of South Carolina, vindicaie TO Massa-
chusetts, and every other State, the right TO
put such Interpretation upon the fugitive"
clause as it shall think proper. The Leg
islature of South Carolina, in a series OF
lowing proposition:
"ReSoiUed, That free negroes, and persons
of color are not citizens of the United States
tcithin The meaning OF the Constitution which
confers upon the citizens of one State the
privileges and immunities of the citizens of
the several States"
Hero is a direct assumption of alright TO
determine the persons TO whom certain
words of the Constitution are applicable
Now, nothing can he clearer than this: If
South Carolina may determine for itself
whether the clause relating to "the privileg-
es and immunites of citizens" be applica-
bic TO the colorcd citizens of the several
\ States, and may solemnly deny its applica-
bility, then may Massachusetts, and every
other State determine for itself whether the
other clause, relating to the surrender of
persons held to service or labor" be real.
| ly applicable TO fugitiuc SLAVES, and may
solemnly deny its applicability.
| Mr.. President l have said enough TO
show the usurpatlon by Congress under the
"fugitive" clause of the Constitution, and
to warn you against renewing this usurpa-
ton. But have left untouched those 9TH
er outrsges, plentiful as words, which en-.
ter into the existing Fugitive Slave Act,
among which the denial of the writ OF
haJedS corpus; The authorization of judg-
ment Of er pdrte evidence, without the
sanction of cross examination; and the
surrender Oft the great question of human
| freedom to be determined by mere COM
missioner. who according to the require
ments Of the Constitution, is grossly incom-
| peteut to any such service. have also
left untouched the hateful character of this
enactment, as a barefaced subversion of
every principle Of humanity and Justice.
And now, sir, we are asked to lend our.
selves anew 10 this enormlty, worthy only
of indignant condemnation weare asked TO
impart new life 10 this pretended law, this
false act OF Congress- this counterfeit enact
ment. this monstrosity Of le ssation, which
draws no life from the Constitution as il
clearly draws none from that Supreme Law
which is ttbe essential ronn,,jn lico 70
every human law.
Sir, the bill before YOU may have the
| sanction Of Congress. and in vo, otbar
ways you NAV seek TO sustain the rppitive
slave act. But IL will be in vain Won nm
dertake what no legislation can accomplish.
Courts, too, may come forward and lend
their sanction. All this. too. will be In
vain. l respect the learning of Judges: I
reverence the virtue, more than learning.
| by which their lives are o((cn adorned.
But nor learning, nor virtue, when with
mistaken force, bent to this purposc. can
avail. l assert confidently, sir, and ask
the Senate TO note my assertion. that there
is no court, however endowed with ill.,
diciai qualtcsl or surrounded by public
confidence, which is strong enough Ia lin
this act into any permanent consideration
or respect. II may seem, for "a moment, t.
accomplish Inc icat. Its decision may be
"nu "so"i's' y iei-
,"Ii.'I,' ""'" y" SiH'eiI'
-, ,,n,s. '' "e ''' v''""o' DS
- ~. "s '"''e 'o o'','etS '''' 80 uo-
- s'o"'' "Ou'u "'"s d" anger
n.r,a,, :, a., - us y" ~ NV" e,''S eoui''
:, ''''s - S"''''''
"" e'' 81 ~ N'1' " "uPPoi' t"'' en'I-
~ ''"''o'S nave "o' "es"a'co 10 aFo"
~ ''."N uo"" N"e iecent regis
.a'eu''''.u " Su1e'u Tue 'io-
u'ine"''' says
% ." 4''''' "aa'"S'
-. "e,o :" '"e He"A'e'
'"' J0A'Ou'
60 " ". '''@'''' We ""e he"ru "nole
- 's"eN' 40 u "''eAuy eu'i'y Oh
nom Hou's'sha' lMr'
ne"Ja"''"'j ~ p'"'"''Ne tones mas sci iorth
'"e ElouuO VI p'o'eeu'ns' anu more 'han
o"e 'o'e'e'en "'a'e nas "een SUN uoheu 10
Juus mem ~ ""u'u oe easy 10 snow oy
''i''o"' 'uqu"S' 'na' '"is "nole charse Is
"'''ou. just 'ou"u'''on, ana that all tue
.osis'a''on' ." u'ucn conuehiheu' Is asciear-
| ue'ehsiole unuer Tue constitution, as II
Is mer'orio"s IN purpose
Sir, the only crime of these States is, that
Liberty has been placed before Slavery.
Follow the charge, point by point, and this
will be apparent. In securing to every per-
son claimed as a slave the protection OF tri-
al by jury and the habeds corpus, they sim
ply provide safeguards, strictly within the
province OF every State, and rendered nee.
essary by the usurpaton of the Fugitive
Act. In securing the aid of counsel to ov-
cry person claimed as slave, they but per-
form a kindly duty, which no phrase or
word in the Constitution can be tortured to
condemn. In visiting with severe penal
ties every malicious effort TO reduce a fell
low man to slavery, they respond to the
best feelings Of the human heart. In pro-