ioners of mine, and besides I have been
appointed "minister at large in behalf of all fugitive slaves in
Boston." I have helped join men and women in wedlock according to the
customs of various sects and nations. There is one wedlock, a
sacrament, but many forms. Never before did I marry two lovers with
the Sword and the Bible--the form of matrimony for fugitive slaves:
out of that fact perhaps Mr. Attorney can frame an indictment that
will hold water. "If it only resists law and obstructs its officers,"
quoth he, "it is treason, and he who risks it must risk hanging for
it!"

At the great Union meeting, November 26, when Mr. Curtis said "I
should like to ask the Reverend Gentleman in what capacity he expects
to be punished for his _perjury_," I said, "Do you want an answer to
your question, Sir?" No doubt that was obstructing a (prospective)
"officer," then preparing for process. How easily could Scroggs make a
"misdemeanor," or "a seditious libel," out of that question! Allybone
would call it "treason," "levying war."

Thirty-six hours after the Union meeting, on Thanksgiving day, 28th
November, 1850, in a "Sermon of the State of the Nation," I said:--

"I have sometimes been amazed at the talk of men who call on
us to keep the fugitive slave law, one of the most odious
laws in a world of odious laws--a law not fit to be made or
kept. I have been amazed that they should dare to tell us
the law of God, writ on the heavens and our hearts, never
demanded we should disobey the laws of men! Well, suppose it
were so. Then it was old Daniel's duty at Darius' command to
give up his prayer; but he prayed three times a day, with
his windows up. Then it was John's and Peter's duty to
forbear to preach of Christianity; but they said, 'Whether
it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more
than unto God, judge ye.' Then it was the duty of Amram and
Jochebed to take up their new-born Moses and cast him into
the Nile, for the law of king Pharaoh, commanding it, was
'constitutional,' and 'political agitation' was
discountenanced as much in Goshen as in Boston. But Daniel
did not obey; John and Peter did not fail to preach
Christianity; and Amram and Jochebed refused 'passive
obedience' to the king's decree! I think it will take a
strong man all this winter to reverse the judgment which the
world has passed on these