Year: 1859

Christian Anti.SIaveYy COnven-
| tiOn.


This body met at Columbus, Aug. 0,
and remained in session several days.
Among the speeches made on that occa
sion, we have only room for those Of
Messrs Peck, which will be found to be
worth perusing, and afford matter for re
| Election.


Prof Peck of Oberlin, said that he was
intimately acquainted with the operations
of the fugitive slave law, and his evil COM
munications brought him to bad place.
He had been eighty days in the Cleveland
Jail, and during that time, be had thor
oughly studied the subject. While there
be fell into despondency with regard to
public sentiment, which was increased by
the apparent general approval of the de-
cision of the Supreme Court BY the news
paper press of Central and Southern Ohio.
To this, however, he wss glad TO say there
were one or two honorable EXCEPTIONS
Since his liberation, Corwin had made a
speech at Xenia, in which he condemned
the fugitive slave law in the abstract, but
declared that while a law it must be obey
ed; and that if the penalty of resistance
were death, be would assist in bringing to
the block those who resisted it. He (Peck)
had been told that this extra internal dab
olism was received with applause at Xenia.
1t was, then, with no expectation of wit
Messing a display Of strong anti-slavery
feeling that be had come down to attend
this convention. But be had heard senti-
ments enunciated here, which caused him
to feel himself rather moderate. Now
were these men from Southern Ohio in
earneste He wanted to put them to the
test.


The fugitive law divided itself into two
parts, one commanding and the other for
bidding. First it commanded the officers
to give up the slave to his master, aud d.
rected all good citizens to assist the officers.
He would not say with the Marshal, that
be would see them damned first: that he
would rather suffer damnatiQn himself, than
afford them assistance. THIS law forbade
any one to promote the flight of the fugi-
tive. The Courts be believed, had decided
that we were not obliged to deny the run
away, food and shelter-which was great
favor to the Christian from the Courts
But if we so much as hinted where the
North star shone in the heavens, we were
subject to all the penalties Of that law, be
would assist him. Not till then. He ar
gued that the duty to promote the fugi-
ives flight was identical with the duty to
resist the law. When the Marshal show
ed him that commandment and authority
of God to assist in carrying out this law.
Under nearly all circumstances, if his arm
was stronger than the slave catcher's, he
would rescue the slave. He would not do
it in Kentucky, for there it would not ben
eft the slave, and might destroy bis own
future usefulness. But at home, and
wherever he could he would do it.


The return of a single slave stultifed
the public feeling of community, and led
the way to the return of thousand. 1t
was worth while for the souls sake to res
cue fugitive. He didn't know how it
was in GAINESVILLE or Xenia-where people
were TO brought to the block-but be did
know in one little community on the Re-
serve, no fugitive could be taken away ex-
-cept over the dead bodies of the citizens.


The officials of the Federal Courts at
Cleveland thought the course of the Ober-
lin rescuers was calculated to distract soci-
ETY., to dissolve the marital parental tie.-
He did not believe that if heaven ever oc-
casioned him to use the rifle, which he had
once loaded to defend slave against his
pursuers, that his wife would desert him,
or his children reverence him the less.-
Law was not al an end in Oberlin, nor es-
teemed the less. twas proud thing to
live where the fugitive was safe


He said just now there was great strife
between Conscience and Congress. He
apprehended no danger to the State from
the triumph of the former. He wanted to
know how it was in Xenia. Had they a
Corwin conscience there2 Were they the
oretcally or practically opposed to the fu-
gltiye slave law2


In our meagre sketch of Mr.. Peck's
earnest and powerful speech, We are con-
scious that we have done him justice. 1t
was a speech to be heard and felt. In con.
clusion be alluded to the visitation of God
upon the Deputy Marshal Dayton, whose
wife became hopelessly insane, and who
was separated from his children at Oberlin,
because he was afraid of the colored peo-
pie there.


Mr.. Giddings followed. He recounted
the leading circumstances of the Armistad
case and contrasted the meEciful treatment
the Spanish slaves received at the hands of
their ignorant and Pagan negroes, with
that of the fugitive at Cincinnati, Whom
an United States officer shot down before
his wife. And no one in the city bad the
greatness of soul to attempt 10 rescue the
survivor. She was torn from the body of
her husband, and consigned to slavery.


Mr.. Herkins said the Church had been
unfaithful to her duty.


Mr.. Giddings exclaimed-The Church
God save us from the Churchl What has
she ever done9 Where was she then?-
The murderer of that fugitive walked the
streets unmolested. The public mind was
fdebauched by the fact. because men had
surrendered to slavery the fugitive law was
| in oviSsopoa