Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 6.djvu/310

Rh the teachings of universal human history. All these come with their accumulated force to help the moral feeling of America sustain the rights of man. The American Government has long been on the side of Slavery. The present administration is more openly hostile to Freedom than any of its predecessors. Mr. Buchanan is no doubt weak and infatuated, strong only in his wrong-headedness; his cabinet is palsied with Slavery. But he has done one service which was thought hopelessly difficult,—he has already made President Pierce's administration respectable. We complain of the New Hampshire general, but the little finger of Buchanan's left hand is thicker than Pierce's whole loins.

Since we met last the Federal Government has committed two outrages more. I. The first is the Dred Scott decision. The Supreme Court is only the dirty mouth of the slave power, its chief function to belch forth iniquity, and name it law. Of the decision itself, I need not speak. It is the political opinion of seven partisans appointed to do officially that wickedness which their personal nature also no doubt inclined them to. That Court went a little beyond itself,—out-Heroding Herod. Two Northern judges, only two, McLean and Curtis, opposed the wrong. I think nobody will accuse me of any personal prejudice in favour of Judge Curtis, or any undue partiality towards him. His conduct on other and trying occasions has been justly condemned on the anti-Slavery platform, and is not likely to be soon forgot, hor should it ever be. But I should do great injustice to you and him, and still more to my own feelings, if I let this occasion pass without a word of honest and hearty praise of that able lawyer and strong-minded man. He opposed the "decision," with but a single Northern judge to support him, with two Northern judges to throw technical difficulties in his way and oppose him by coward treachery, with five Southern judges openly attacking and browbeating him, with both the outgomg and incoming administration to oppress and mock at him, with subtle and treacherous advisers at home to beguile his steps and watch for his halting, did Judge Curtis stand up at Wash-