JOHN P. HALE

In 1848 a pro-slavery mob in Washington DC Gamaliel Bailey's anti-slavery publication, The National Era, which soon thereafter was the publisher of the serialized Uncle Tom's Cabin. Hale introduced a bill in the Senate outlawing rioting in the District of Columbia. The Southern Senators objected violently and this served as a catalyst for the for the most extensive public debate that had ever been held on the slavery issue. Hale probably intended this. He was the first public anti-slavery Senator.

In the first open slavery debate in the Senate the usual courtesy evaporated. John C. Calhoun attacked Hale's sanity for arguing against slavery.

In the first open slavery debate in the Senate the usual courtesy evaporated. John C. Calhoun attacked Hale's sanity for arguing against slavery.

In 1848 a pro-slavery mob in Washington DC Gamaliel Bailey's anti-slavery publication, The National Era, which soon thereafter was the publisher of the serialized Uncle Tom's Cabin. Hale introduced a bill in the Senate outlawing rioting in the District of Columbia. The Southern Senators objected violently and this served as a catalyst for the for the most extensive public debate that had ever been held on the slavery issue. Hale probably intended this. He was the first public anti-slavery Senator.