Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 04 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 04 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
The undersigned venture to make a single comment further on the
report accompanying the bill. This report, not content with assigning
reasons for its proposed bounty, proceeds to take cognizance of the
conduct of the people of Massachusetts, the citizens, the soldiers,
the marshal and his deputies, the mayor and police of Boston, in the
recent transaction, and assumes to hold the scales of judgment. In
this respect it evinces an indiscreet haste, similar to that already
displayed in acting on the present proposition, without authentic
evidence, and during the pendency of judicial investigations. It
appears from the public journals, out of which all our information
on this matter is derived, that the conduct of several public
functionaries, on this occasion, in Massachusetts, has been seriously
drawn in question. The marshal of the district is openly charged with
making the arrest of the alleged fugitive under the fraudulent pretence
that he was a criminal,--a scandalous device, which no honest man can
regard without reprobation. The mayor of Boston is also openly charged
with violation of the primal principles of free institutions and of
the law of the land, in surrendering the city for the time being into
the possession of a military force, and thus establishing there that
supremacy of arms under which all law is silent. But on these things
the undersigned express no opinion. They desire only to withhold all
assent from the blindfold ratification which the report accompanying
the bill volunteers, without reason or occasion, to the conduct of
public functionaries, as well as of others, who, according to some
evidence, may have acted very badly.
CHARLES SUMNER.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
JAMES OTIS AN EXAMPLE TO MASSACHUSETTS.
LETTER TO THE CAPE COD ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 30,
1854.
Here, again, is an effort against the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave
Act.
SENATE CHAMBER, July 30, 1854.
Dear Sir,--I have been honored by the Cape Cod Association with
an invitation to unite with them in their approaching festival at
Yarmouth.
Amidst these unprecedented heats it is pleasant merely to think
of the seaside; much pleasanter would it be to taste for a day
its salt, refreshing air, especially with cherished friends, and
stirred by historical memories, in these times bracing to the soul.
But my duties will keep me here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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