*9 1
3,1

c a ? A r e not these m e n m a d ? A r e they not s p i n n i n g f or themselves a w e b , w h i c h , l i k e t he shirt of N e s s n s , w i l l , i n s t e a d o f protecting, i n v o l v e t h e m i n utter r u i n a n d despair? W h o in South C a r o l i n a d are n o w discuss s l a v e r y ? C a n C a l h o u n     c a n H a m m o n d plead, i f he w o u l d , for e mancipation? H a v e they not raised a D e v i l w h i c h the c ombined intellect of the State cannot lay, though death l ook t h e m i n the face, and the grave open beneath their f eet? " M a d m e n a n d fanatics," w o u l d y o u place K e n t u c k y i n the same category ? W i l l y o u not a l l o w us to be s aved n o w w h i l e it is t o - d a y     a n d w h i l s t the e v i l y ears c ome n ot? B y w h a t tenure do you h o l d your slaves ? Is it b y natural r ight, or by the constitution ? I f the constitution be o verthrown, is not the slave free ? W i l l t he other States r eturn h i m into b ondage ? W i l l t hey interfere to put d o w n domestic violence, w h e n b y y o u a l l l e g a l security i s first destroyed? W h e n you a v o w yourselves murderers i n purpose, w i l l t he N o r t h be thus cured of dangerous f anaticism ? W i l l n ot blood answer to blood, and the e arth c ry out unceasingly for v engeance ? I s not the l i b erty o f the press the common concern of the whole A m e r ican p eople ? C a n y o u plant your iron h e e l upoii. the ten m illions o f N o r t h e r n F r e e m e n ? A r e B u n k e r - H i l l a n d L e x i n g t o n i d e a l names, and do I dream w h e n I find m y s e l f planted upon a soil w h i c h w a s n a m e d i n s o l e m n d edication and remembrance of that l a n d w h i c h w a s w e t b y the blood of those w h o k n e w not h o w to be slaves, a nd l i v e ? C a n any p eople b e free w h o v o l u n t a r i l y y i e l d to i l l e g a l f orce a s ingle right ? D o I not o w e allegiance t o the N a t i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t     m a y she not c all o n m e at a n y hour to lay d o w n m y life i n her d efence ? T h e n d oes s he not i n t urn o w e me protection? C a n the s heep b e s afe w h e n a l l the watch-dogs are s lain ? C a n the nation b e free w h e n a l l the presses are m u z z l e d ? H a v e not the o rgans of two a dministrations m ade relentless w a r upon me, a p rivate i n d i v i d u a l ? W h a t is there i n m y person so terrible t o the slave power ? Is any thing more terrible to tyrants t han t he liberty of the press ? W i l l n ot emissaries from a s lave-holding P resident do i n the free States to-morrow w h a t is d one w i t h i m p u n i t y here to-day? D o not the c ries of the bloodhounds of national patronage, c r y i n g for