[John S.] Rock to Frederick Douglass, June 2, 1856
BOSTON, June 2nd, 1856.
The excitement in relation to the villainous
outrage upon Mr. Sumner has not abated.—
The fountain of popular indignation through
out this section of the country is inexhaustible.
For once, I think the tame conservatism of
Massachusetts is partially aroused. What it
will result in, remains yet to be seen. The
Legislature have taken prompt action in the
matter, and have demanded the expulsion of
Mr. Brooks. I wish I could believe, that, in
case the House should refuse to accede to this
demand, our Legislature would have the "back
bone" to call our Senators and Representatives
home. This dissolves the Union, "let it
slide."
The New England Anti-Slavery Society held
their Anniversary in the Melodeon, on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday. The attendance
was very large. Messrs. Garrison, Phillips, Re
mond, Foster, Parker, Burleigh, Brown, Locke
and Pillsbury, were the speakers. On Wednes
day evening, some six or seven hundred assem
bled in Faneuil Hall at the collation given to
welcome Mr. Pillsbury. Mr. Edmund Quincy
presided; and speeches were made by Messrs.
Quincy, Garrison, Phillips, Purvis, Remond,
and Robinson. The arrangements were good,
and it was a success. During the sessions of
the Convention much time was used in criticiz
ing and debating the consistency of Mr. Sum
ner's course. Mr. Foster was very severe upon
him, and considered him and his policy danger
ous to the cause of the salve. Mr. Sumner
was partially defended by Messrs. Phillips and
and Garrison. I think, upon reflection, they
must admit that Mr. Sumner is both consistent
and honest. The last quality was not disputed.
Mr. Sumner made a great speech some two
years since declaring "Freedom National—
Slavery Sectional;" he did not say that he re
garded Slavery as supported by the Constitu
tion. The last speech that he made in this
city, last year, at a grand rally in Fanueil Hall,
he said that there was not a word in the Con
stitution sanctioning chattel Slavery; and he
then and there challenged discussion on that
point. This, in my mind, makes Mr. Sumner's
course consistent. He understands the Con
stitution as an anti-slavery document, and as
such, he swears to support it, "as he under
stands it." The position may be false, but it is
consistent; and I regret that Mr. Foster did
not know Mr. Sumner's position, before he cen
sured him so severely. I regard Mr. Sumner
as one of the greatest and best statesmen that
the world ever produced. I know he has the
confidence of the oppressed, in whose behalf he
has labored so devotedly. I was anxious to have
a word to say on the resolutions, but misunder
stood the arrangements, and, was necessarily
crowded out. I was a little provoked at this,
and wanted to complain of somebody, but as it
was my own fault, I could only resolve to do
better in future.
A resolve is on the tapis in the House, which
proposes to grant $20,000 to the Kansas suf
ferers. It is bitterly opposed by the Border
Ruffian party.
An amendment to Mr. Hale's amendment re
repealing the Personal Liberty Laws of 1855, was
passed to be enacted on Thursday, substituting
the majority report of the Committee, and leav
ing the bill in its original state with Section 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, and 15, of the original bill, and
Sections 6 and 10 of the substitute repealed.—
It came up in the Senate on Thursday, and was
indefinitely postponed. Yeas, 25—nays, 6.—
Mr. Odiorne moved a reconsideration, which was
lost. The bill is now in , and is liable
to remain so. The outrage upon Mr. Sumner
has saved us this Law, which is but the com
mencement of the reaction which is yet to take
place.
A Mass and Delegate State Convention will
be held in the city of Worcester on Wednes
day, to nominate delegates to the Philadelphia
Convention on the 17th of June.
ROCK.