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To
A. G. Browne, who wished him to come to
Boston to assist in preventing the repeal of the personal liberty law, he wrote, January 24, declining on account of duties at
Washington:—
But, believe me, I would do much, and suffer too if need be, to save our beloved Commonwealth from the shame of a backward step.
There is not a personal liberty law or habeas corpus statute on her books which will not be mentioned among her glories when these events come to be written.
He wrote, January 29, a long and earnest letter to
Henry L. Pierce, then a member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives, and afterwards serving with him in Congress:—
I was glad when you were chosen to the Legislature; but I did not know then that I should have the special occasion for gratitude which fills me when I think that you are there to meet with steadfast opposition all those timid counsels which seek to overthrow our Massachusetts safeguards of personal liberty; for I did not then imagine that the Republican party, fresh from its greatest triumph, would be willing to sacrifice these safeguards. . . . If the influence of the surrender were confined to Massachusetts I would try to bear it,—cover my face with my hands, concealing my shame.
But I see clearly that it would be the signal of a surrender of still other things throughout the free States.
If Massachusetts yields anything now to the outcry of the traitors, other States will yield everything.
My conviction of this is so strong that I sincerely feel that you, who are now defending our Massachusetts laws, are defending the most vital principles of human liberty in every State of the Union. . . . This I know: Massachusetts can gain nothing by the proposed system of surrender; but if it is entered upon she will lose her high place as the steadfast, fearless, and uncompromising friend of human rights, and she must lose something of her self-respect.
I write at my desk while we are discussing the railroad to the Pacific.
The bill has just passed the Senate; this is good news.
But every triumph of civilization increases my pride in Massachusetts, which has done so much for it on this continent.
God grant that she may not take a backward step, and set her face towards barbarism!
To
E. L. Pierce, who had maintained before the legislative committee the conformity of the personal liberty laws with the national Constitution, he wrote, February 7:—
I honor and thank you much for your speech, which is able, wellsustained, and eloquent.
If the scales have been doubtful, this powerful effort ought to determine the question.
But I trust that at last our Massachusetts honor is safe.
Do give me some assurance that it is so. At this moment not a letter of our personal liberty law must be touched.
If anything is really commanded,—and I insist that it is not,—pray save us from this humiliation, at least till after the 4th of March.
Of course, it will be easy for the committee to keep back their report.
People here fear compromise.
I am anxious; but in my judgment nothing can pass which will really satisfy the
