What should concern Massachusetts is not the Nebraska Bill, nor
the Fugitive Slave Bill, but her own slaveholding and servility. Let
the State dissolve her union with the slaveholder. She may wriggle and
hesitate, and ask leave to read the Constitution once more; but she
can find no respectable law or precedent which sanctions the
continuance of such a union for an instant.
Let each inhabitant of the State dissolve his union with her, as
long as she delays to do her duty.
The events of the past month teach me to distrust Fame. I see that
she does not finely discriminate, but coarsely hurrahs. She
considers not the simple heroism of an action, but only as it is
connected with its apparent consequences. She praises till she is
hoarse the easy exploit of the Boston tea party, but will be
comparatively silent about the braver and more disinterestedly
heroic attack on the Boston Court-House, simply because it was
unsuccessful!
Covered with disgrace, the State has sat down coolly to try for
their lives and liberties the men who attempted to do its duty for it.
And this is called justice! They who have shown that they can behave
particularly well may perchance be put under bonds for their good
behavior. They whom truth requires at present to plead guilty are,
of all the inhabitants of the State, preeminently innocent. While
the Governor, and the Mayor, and countless officers of the
Commonwealth are at large, the champions of liberty are imprisoned.
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