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Show 38 2. The next spring, 1851, kidnapping went on in all the North. Kane ruled in Philadelphia, Rynders in New York. Boston opened her arms to the stealers of men, w~o barked in her streets, and howled about the Cradle of Liberty,the hidina-place of her ancient power. All the municipal authority 5 of the town was delivered up to the kidnappers. Faneuil Hall was crammed with citizen-soldiers, volunteers j n men-stealing, eager for their- " Glorious fir st essay in war." Visible chains of iron were proudly stretched round the Court House. The Supreme Judges of Massachusetts crouched their loins beneath that yoke of bondage, and went under to their own place, wherein they broke down the several laws they were sworn and paid to keep. They gave up Thomas Sirns to his tormentors. On the 19th of April, the seventy-sixth anniversary of the first battle of the Revolution, the city of Hancock and Adams thrust one of her innocent citizens into a slave-prison at Savannah; giving his back to the scourge, and his neck to the everlasting yoke.* 3. In the spring of 1854 came the discussions on the Kansas-Nebraska Bill; the attempt to extend bondage into the new Territory just opening its arms to the industrious North; the legislative effort to rob the Northern laborer thereof, and give the spoils to Southern slaveholders. Then came the second kidnapping at Boston: a Judge of Probate stole a defenceless man, and made him a slave. The old volunteer soldiers put on their regimentals again to steal another victim. But they were. not quite strong enough alone; so the United-States troops of the line were called out to aid the work of protecting the orphan. It was * Parker, ubi sup. No. XI. Additional Speeches, &c., Vol. I. Nos. I. II. 39 the first time I ever saw soldiers enforcing the decisions of a New-England Judge of Probate; the first time I ever saw the United-States soldiers in any service. This was characteristic work for a democratic army! Hireling soldiers, rnostly Irishmen,- sober that day, at least till noon,- in the public square loaded their cannon, charged their muskets, fixed their bayonets, and made ready to butcher the citizens soon as a slaveholder should bid them strike a Northern neck. The spectacle was prophetic.* 4. Now, in 1856, New-England men migrate to Kansas taking their wives, their babies, and their cradles. The 01d Bible goes also on that pilgrimage,- it never fails the sons of the Puritans. But the fathers are not yet dead;- " E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires." ~h~rp's rifle goes as missionary in that same troop; an Indispensable missionary, an apostle to the Gentiles whose ~odil! pres:nce is not weak, nor his speech conte~ptible, In M1ssoun. All the parties go armed. Like the father the pilgrim son is also a Puritan, and both trusts in God and keeps his powder dry. A compa~1y went from Boston a few days ago, a few of my own fnends and parishioners among them. There were some five and forty persons, part wmnen and children. Twenty Sharp's rifles answered to their names, not to speak of other weapons. The a blest 1ninister in the United States stirs up the " Plymouth Church" to contribute firearms to this new mission; and a spirit, noble as Davenport's and Hooker's, pushes off from New England, again to found a New_ Haven in the wilderness. The bones of the regicide sleep In Connecticut; but the revolutionary soul of fire flames forth in new processions of the Holy Ghost. * Parker, Additional Speeches, Vol. I. Nos. V. VI.; Vol. II. Nos. I.-IV. |
