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Show 96 touch slavery in its own region, lest insurrection and tumults should follow change, still feel, that the fugitive who has sought shelter so far, can breed no tumult in the land which he bas left, and that, of consequence, no motive but the unhallowed love of gain can prompt to his pursuit ; and when they think of slavery as perpetuated, not for public order, but for gain, they abhor it, and would not lift a finger to replace the flying bondsman beneath the yoke. Thus this provision of the constitution is virtually fading away ; and, as I have said, no human power can restore it. The moral sentiment of a community is not to be withstood. Make as many constitutions as you will; fence round your laws with what penalties you will, the universal conscience makes them as weak as the threats of childhood. There is a spirit spreading through the country in regard to slavery, which demands changes of the constitution, and which will master if it cannot change it. No concerted opposition to this instrument is thought of or is needed. No secret understanding among our citizens is to be feared at the South. The simple presence to their minds of the great truth, that man cannot rightfully be the property of man, is enough to shelter the slave. With this conviction we are palsy-stricken, when called upon to restore him to bondage. Our sinews are relaxed ; our hands bang down ; our limbs will not I J 97 carry us a step. Now this conviction is spreading, and will become the established principle of the free States. Politicians, indeed, to answer a party end, may talk of property in man, as something established or not to be questioned ; but the people at large do not follow them. The people go with the civilized and Christian world. The South should understand this, should look the difficulty in the face ; and they will see that, from the nature of the case, resistance is idle, that neither policy nor violence can avail. And, what is more, they have no right to reproach us with letting this provision of the constitution die among us. They have done worse. We are passive. They have actively, openly, flagrantly violated the constitution. They have passed laws, threatening to imprison and punish the free colored citizens of the North for exercising the rights guaranteed to every citizen by the national compact, i. e. for setting foot on their shores and using their highways. This wrong has been too patiently borne; and in one way we can turn it to good account. When reproached with unfaithfulness to the constitution, we can bold it up as our shield, and cite the greater disloyalty of the South as an extenuation of our own. It is best, however, that neither party should be unfaithful. It is best that both, enlightened as to the spirit of our times, should make new arrange- 9 |
