Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 6.djvu/321

308 rich commanded them—they would not "strike the hand that feeds them," for they know how

I speak of the general rule, and do honour to the exceptions. I hope you think me harsh in this judgment. Many of you, I see, are members of this House, and do not Know exactly the city you are strangers in. I believe it the best city in the world; but it has some faults which warrant my conjectural fear. Two things have happened, Mr. President, since our last annual meeting, which show the proclivity of the controlling class in Boston to support Slavery. The first took place on the 17th of June. One or two haberdashers and the hotel-keepers of Boston were anxious to celebrate the eighty-second anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill. The State and the City united in that good work. There was a Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature, joined with a Committee of the City Council. Here is the book, "printed by authority," giving an account of some of the proceedings. The Committee invited distinguished champions of Slavery to come and consecrate the statue of Warren. Here is the reply of Governor Wise, of Virginia. It contains an admirable hint. He hopes the Revolutionary times will return.

So Here are letters from the Hon. Mr. HiUiard, of Alabama, from ex-President Tyler, and from similar people, too numerous to mention in an anti-Slavery speech. There is a bill to be paid by the Commonwealth by and by, and some of you, gentlemen, will have an opportunity to vote the money of Massachusetts to pay for the liquor which intoxicated some of the great champions of Slavery whom the Committee invited to do honour to Bunker Hill by their bodily presence, and to Boston by their subsequent carouse. There will be a bill amounting to $1067.04 which I would advise the legislators to look at carefully, and see what the "items" are, and ascertain who consumed the "items" But let me return to the "great celebration,"—almost equal in glory to the battle itself.

The Committee invited the author of the Fugitive Slave Bill to partake of their festivities. Yes, ladies and gentle-