按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
subject。 He says： 〃They are themselves mistaken who take him to
be madman。。。。 He is cool； collected； and indomitable； and it is
but just to him to say； that he was humane to his prisoners。。。。
And he inspired me with great trust in his integrity as a man of
truth。 He is a fanatic； vain and garrulous；〃 （I leave that part
to Mr。 Wise；） 〃but firm； truthful； and intelligent。 His men； too；
who survive； are like him。。。。 Colonel Washington says that he
was the coolest and firmest man he ever saw in defying danger and
death。 With one son dead by his side； and another shot through； he
felt the pulse of his dying son with one hand； and held his rifle
with the other； and commanded his men with the utmost composure；
encouraging them to be firm； and to sell their lives as dear as
they could。 Of the three white prisoners； Brown； Stephens； and
Coppic； it was hard to say which was most firm。〃
Almost the first Northern men whom the slaveholder has learned to
respect！
The testimony of Mr。 Vallandigham； though less valuable； is of the
same purport； that 〃it is vain to underrate either the man or his
conspiracy。。。。 He is the farthest possible removed from the ordinary
ruffian； fanatic； or madman。〃
〃All is quiet at Harper's Ferry；〃 say the journals。 What is the
character of that calm which follows when the law and the slaveholder
prevail？ I regard this event as a touchstone designed to bring
out； with glaring distinctness； the character of this government。
We needed to be thus assisted to see it by the light of history。
It needed to see itself。 When a government puts forth its strength
on the side of injustice； as ours to maintain slavery and kill the
liberators of the slave； it reveals itself a merely brute force； or
worse； a demoniacal force。 It is the head of the Plug…Uglies。 It
is more manifest than ever that tyranny rules。 I see this government
to be effectually allied with France and Austria in oppressing
mankind。 There sits a tyrant holding fettered four millions of
slaves； here comes their heroic liberator。 This most hypocritical
and diabolical government looks up from its seat on the gasping
four millions； and inquires with an assumption of innocence： 〃What
do you assault me for？ Am I not an honest man？ Cease agitation
on this subject； or I will make a slave of you； too； or else hang
you。〃
We talk about a representative government； but what a monster of
a government is that where the noblest faculties of the mind； and
the whole heart； are not represented。 A semi…human tiger or ox；
stalking over the earth； with its heart taken out and the top of
its brain shot away。 Heroes have fought well on their stumps when
their legs were shot off； but I never heard of any good done by
such a government as that。
The only government that I recognize；and it matters not how few
are at the head of it； or how small its army；is that power that
establishes justice in the land； never that which establishes
injustice。 What shall we think of a government to which all the
truly brave and just men in the land are enemies； standing between
it and those whom it oppresses？ A government that pretends to be
Christian and crucifies a million Christs every day！
Treason！ Where does such treason take its rise？ I cannot help
thinking of you as you deserve； ye governments。 Can you dry up
the fountains of thought？ High treason； when it is resistance to
tyranny here below； has its origin in； and is first committed by；
the power that makes and forever recreates man。 When you have caught
and hung all these human rebels； you have accomplished nothing but
your own guilt； for you have not struck at the fountain…head。 You
presume to contend with a foe against whom West Point cadets and
rifled cannon point not。 Can all the art of the cannon…founder
tempt matter to turn against its maker？ Is the form in which the
founder thinks he casts it more essential than the constitution of
it and of himself？
The United States have a coffle of four millions of slaves。 They
are determined to keep them in this condition； and Massachusetts
is one of the confederated overseers to prevent their escape。 Such
are not all the inhabitants of Massachusetts； but such are they
who rule and are obeyed here。 It was Massachusetts； as well as
Virginia； that put down this insurrection at Harper's Ferry。 She
sent the marines there； and she will have to pay the penalty of
her sin。
Suppose that there is a society in this State that out of its own
purse and magnanimity saves all the fugitive slaves that run to
us； and protects our colored fellow…citizens； and leaves the other
work to the government； so…called。 Is not that government fast
losing its occupation； and becoming contemptible to mankind？ If
private men are obliged to perform the offices of government； to
protect the weak and dispense justice； then the government becomes
only a hired man； or clerk； to perform menial or indifferent
services。 Of course； that is but the shadow of a government who
existence necessitates a Vigilant Committee。 What should we think
of the Oriental Cadi even； behind whom worked in secret a vigilant
committee？ But such is the character of our Northern States generally；
each has its Vigilant Committee。 And； to a certain extent； these
crazy governments recognize and accept this relation。 They say；
virtually； 〃We'll be glad to work for you on these terms； only
don't make a noise about it。〃 And thus the government； its salary
being insured； withdraws into the back shop； taking the Constitution
with it； and bestows most of its labor on repairing that。 When I
hear it at work sometimes； as I go by； it reminds me； at best； of
those farmers who in winter contrive to turn a penny by following
the coopering business。 And what kind of spirit is their barrel
made to hold？ They speculate in stocks； and bore holes in mountains；
but they are not competent to lay out even a decent highway。 The
only free road； the Underground Railroad； is owned and managed
by the Vigilant Committee。 They have tunnelled under the whole
breadth of the land。 Such a government is losing its power and
respectability as surely as water runs out of a leaky vessel； and
is held by one that can contain it。
I hear many condemn these men because they were so few。 When were
the good and the brave ever in a majority？ Would you have had him
wait till that time came？till you and I came over to him？ The
very fact that he had no rabble or troop of hirelings about him
would alone distinguish him from ordinary heroes。 His company was
small indeed； because few could be found worthy to pass muster。
Each one who there laid down his life for the poor and oppressed
was a picked man； culled out of many thousands； if not millions；
apparently a man of principle； of rare courage； and devoted humanity；
ready to sacrifice his life at any moment for so much by laymen as
by ministers of the Gospel； not so much by the fighting sects as
by the Quakers； and not so much by Quaker men as by Quaker women？
This event advertises me that there is such a fact as death；the
possibility of a man's dying。 It seems as if no man had ever died
in America before； for in order to die you must first have lived。
I don't believe in the hearses； and palls； and funerals that they
have had。 There was no death in the case； because there had been
no life； they merely rotted or sloughed off； pretty much as they had
rotted or sloughed along。 No temple's veil was rent； only a hole
dug somewhere。 Let the dead bury their dead。 The best of them
fairly ran down like a clock。 Franklin；Washington；they were
let off without dying； they were merely missing one day。 I hear
a good many pretend that they are going to die； or that they have
died； for aught that I know。 Nonsense！ I'll defy them to do it。
They haven't got life enough in them。 They'll deliquesce like
fungi； and keep