Speech of John Hossack, Convicted of a Violation of the Fugitive Slave Law | Page 5

crucified by law.
Again, Sir, it will be said that some whom the world calls Doctors of
Divinity and Doctors of Law have undertaken to prove that slavery was
guaranteed by the Constitution. If that be so, in the name of the Most
High God, tear out the red strip of blood; it was not written by the
Angel Gabriel, nor nailed to the throne of the Almighty. If slavery is in
it, it is "a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell."
But, Sir, I have one consideration more that I will urge why sentence
ought not to be pronounced against me. This law, which I think I have
proved outrageous to the rights of man, is so obviously at variance with
the law of that God who commands me to love Him with all my soul,

mind, might and strength, and my neighbor as myself, and the
Redeemer who took upon him my nature and the nature of poor Jim
Gray has been so particular in telling me who my neighbor is, that the
path of duty is plain to me. This law so plainly tramples upon the
divine law, that it cannot be binding upon any human being under any
circumstances to obey it. The law that bids me do to other men as I
would have other men do to me, is too plain, too simple to be
misunderstood. But, Sir, I am not now left to the general law of love in
searching for my duty in this particular case. Permit me to refer your
Honor to the oldest law-book in existence. Though it may not be in use
in this Court, yet I think it better authority than Blackstone or any
law-book that ever was written. It is the book of books. In that book, I
find some special enactments given to the Hebrew commonwealth, that
leave me in no doubt as to my duty in reference to this law. "He that
stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, he shall
surely be put to death." Again: "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master
the servant that has escaped from his master unto thee; he shall dwell
with thee, even among you, in that place he shall choose in one of thy
gates where it liketh him best; thou shalt not oppress him." These plain
statutes, with many more that I might give, leave me in no doubt as to
the mind of the unchanging Jehovah, in reference to man-stealing and
slave-hunting. Sir, the whole system of slavery originated in
man-stealing, and is perpetuated by fraud and violence and plunder.
Others may have their doubts as to their duty under this law; I, Sir,
have none. This law is just as binding on me as was the law of Egypt to
slaughter Hebrew children; just as binding as the law that said, Worship
the golden image, worship not God; just as binding as the law
forbidding Christ and his Apostles to preach the Gospel. Send me a law
bidding me rob or murder my neighbor, I must decline to obey it. I can
suffer, but I must not do wrong. Send me a law bidding me join hands
in robbing my fellow-men of their freedom, I cannot do so great a
wrong. Yea, send me a law bidding me stop my ears to the cry of the
poor, I can suffer the loss of all these hands have earned, I can suffer
bonds and imprisonment--yes, God helping me, I can give up my
life--but I cannot knowingly trample upon the law of my God, nor upon
the bleeding, prostrate form of my fellow-man. I go not to Missouri to
relieve oppressed humanity, for my duty has called me nearer home;

but when He that directs the steps of man conducts a poor, oppressed,
panting fugitive to my door, and there I hear his bitter cry, I dare not
close my ear against it, lest in my extremity I cry for mercy, and shall
not be heard. Sir, this law so flagrantly outrages the divine law, that I
ought not to be sentenced under it.
A single remark, and I have done. From the testimony, (part of which is
false,) and from your rendering and interpretation of the law, the jury
have found me guilty; yes, guilty of carrying out the great principles of
the Declaration of Independence; yes, guilty of carrying out the still
greater principles of the Son of God. Great God! can these things be?
Can it be possible? What country is this? Can it be that I live in a land
boasting of freedom, of morality, of Christianity? How long, O, how
long shall the people bow down and worship this great image set up