Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1859 — Real Backbone Talk in Congress. [ARTICLE]

Real Backbone Talk in Congress.

Owen Lovejoy, of Illinois, was re-elected I to Congress last fall by a largely increased; i majority, and no marvel. He is one of the) able men of the House, as well as among the most independent and fearless. H:| talks right out in the presence and to the ) face of the would-be masters, as the reader 1 of the following verbatim report of a recent discussion, taken from the Congerssional \ Globe, will l>e ready to certify: ; Mr. Lovejoy—l move to .amend the j clause by striking out the words, “and lor; [the safe-keeping of prisoners.” I under j I stand that that means for the safe-keeping j of fugitive slaves. ' ) Mr. Cochrane—O, no; there are none in ; New York; ; Mr. Lovejoy—This being my understand-1 1 ing, I move lu strike out these words. I will not dwell upon t ie moral considera-i jtions pertinent to this matter. Ido not be-' . li. ve that the Constitution confers upon this I House the power of taxing me and taxing i my constituents to feed and < iotlic and keep I ' these fugitive slaves till t'beir trial comes ‘dn. If there is anything in the Constitution about it, it is that they are simply al-) ; lowed to be taken and carried back. And,) ‘ sir, it is a thing so utterly odious to the peo- ' j.’le of the free States, so utterly degrading, land so a'bhorrent to the feelings of humanii ty, North and South, that I go for adhering ) to the letter o.f the bond, giving nothing )Ut the pound of flesh. That is all we call I give, and we give that .reluctantly. if, therefore, 1 do not misapprehend the mettn- ) ing oi' this clause, 1 trust that it will be I ) stricken out. , Mr. Singleton The gentleman talks ) about “giving the pound of flesh.” I would ) be very happy indeed if the gentleman would j return the negro which lie helped to steal) |,ixay from one cf my 'constituents. j Mr. Lovejoy—l thank the gentleman for ) I culling the attention of the Committee to I j that matter. 1 never to'e away any of the 'gentleman’s negroes—he never i,'ghtfullv : ‘owned a negro. Every human being that. I God made belongs to bin.self against the) universe. And. sir, i! this Committee wish! to know—as my attention has been several times called to tuis, ami as s.mriilous let-; tecs have Deen read here—whether 1 help fugitive slaves, 1 march right up to the confessional and tell them that I do. There is’ no Luman being, black or white, t,hat ever ■ comes to my door and asks for food when ■ hungry, or shelter when hot-sole, s, but r»>i ceives it; and i: the invisible . pirit'if .-lavery ' 'expects to cross my threshold and forbid me ‘ i to t:| e hungry and shelter the house-) I less, 1 bid that demon defiance in the name of God! : Mr. Singleton—l would like the gentle- 1 jman to define what he calls ••stealing,” if ; that be not stealing. Mr. Lovejoy—Stealing is to take a man and keep him a slave. “He that stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, lie shall surely be put to death.”