Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-11
Great Slavery Debate in the Senate.


Mr.. Hale.-It is an extremely novel mode of
terminating a controversy by charitably throwing
the mantle of maniaca responsibility over ones
antagonist But the honorable Senator puts
words into my mouth which never used. did
not say that the owners had no properly in their
slaves. | said that the institution exists, but l
have not given any opinion upon the point to
which the Senator has alluded | have never
said anything from which the sentiment which
he imputes to me could be inferred, 1t does not
become me- know, to measure arms with the
honorable Senator from South Carolina, more par
ticularly since he has been so magnaHmous as
to give notice that he will not condescend TO ar
que with me But there is more than one man
in this country, who has, whether Justly or UNI
Justly, long since arrived at the conclusion, that
if | am maniac on the subject of slavery, am
not monomanac, for | am not alone in my mad
ness. But sir, | am not responsible here or else
where for the excitement that has followed the
introduction of this subject. | intended simply
to give notire of bill calculated to meet the ex-
igeney. The honorable Senator from Florida
calls upon me for proof of the necessity of this
legislation, and says that no violence has been
committed in this District don't know what
he calls violence.
Mr. WestcOtt-There has been no violence
except the running away with some negroes.
Mr.. Hale.-Well, / believe that some hun
dreds of individuals assembled in front of print
ing Office in this city, and assaed the building
with missiles, obliging the persons engaged in
their usual employment to abandon their legal
occupation. If that does not come up to the
genteman's definition of violence, do not know
what does. | was DESTROYS Of introducing this
subject without an appeal to any matters which
might supposed to lie behind. | believe that
these matters have nothing to do with the subject
under considerations But other gentlemen have
chosen to give this subject different direction.
Now, in the bill which have had the honor TO
introduce, the provisions are almost identical
with the law which has been in existence in ma
ny of the States, and is now on the statute-bool
of Maryland.- To its enactment here exception
has been taken, and | am quite willing that the
country should know the grounds on which OPP
position is made. If the subject be painful it
has not been made so by me. As to the threats
which have been made of bloodshed and assas-
sinaton | can only say that there have been sac
riices already, and there may be other victims,
until the minds of all shall be awakened to the
well for the preservation of the freedom of dis
cussion, as for the protection of the slave-owner
Mr.. WeStcOH.-l should like to know of the
Senator from New Hampshire if he can say,
that any non-saveholding State in this Union
has passed a law by which in case Of the abduc-
ton of slave by an abolition mob the county
or town is to be made responsible for the act
Mr.. Hdic.-I do not know, Sir
Mr.. WestcOH-It is time enough then when
such law is passed to protect the property of
save-owners, to talk of law to indemnify for
the destruction Of property of abolition incendi-
aries.
Mr., Foot-The Senator seems TO suppose that
wished to decoy him to the State of MISSISSIPPI
pi | have attempted no such thing. have
thought of no such thing. have openly chal-
lcnged him to present himself there or anywhere
uttering such language and breathing such an
incendary spirit as he has manifested in this
body, and have said that Just punishment would
be inflicted upon him for his enormous criminal
ity. have said farther that if necessary, would
aid in the infection of the punishment. My O.
pinion is that enlightened men would sanction
that punishment But says the Senator that
would be assassination. think not. am sure
that the Senator is an enemy to the constitution
of his country-an enemy Of one Of the insttu-
tons of his country which is solemnly guarar
teed by the organic law of the ldnd-and in so
far he is a Iawess person. am sure, if he would
go to the State of Mississippi or any other slave
State of this confederacy and utter such language
he would Justly be regarded as an incendiary in
heart and in fact, and as such, guilty of the at
tempt to involve the South in bIoodshed, violence
and desolation, and if the arm Of the law hap
pened to be too short, or the spirit Of the law to
be sumberous, have declared that the duty of
the people whose rights were thus put in danger
would be, to infct summary punishment upon
the offender. But, says the Senator, victims
have been made and there are other victims rea-
dy. | am sure that he could not persuade me
that he would ever be victim. have never
deplored the death of such victims and never
shall depore it. Such oficous lntermeddling
deserves its fate. | believe no good man who is
not maniac, as the Senator from New Hamp-
shire is apprehended to be, can have any sympa-
thy for those who lawlessly interfere with the
rights of others. He, however, will never be a
victim He is one of those gusty disclaimers
a windy speaker-a-
Mr.. CrjHcndca-lf the gentlemen will allow
me, | rise to question Of order. Gentlemen
have evidently become excited, and hear on all
sides language that is not becoming call the
gentleman to order for his personal reference to
the Senator from New-IIampshire
IMr. F6Ot-I only said in reply to the remarks
of the Senator from Hampshire
Mr.. Crjttenden-I did not hear what the Sen
ator from New-Hampshire said, but the alluslon
of the gentleman from Mississippi | consider to
be contrary to the rules of the Senate.
Mr. F0ote--I am aware Of that but such
scene has never occurred in the Senate--such
a deadly assailment of the rights of the country
Mr. johnson of Md-Has the Chair decided
Mr. F0Otc-Let my words be taken down.
Tee Presiding OGcer-In the opinion Of the
Chair the gentleman from Mississippi is not in
order.
Mr.. FoOtc.-What portion of my remarks is
not in order
The Presiding OGcer.-The gentleman is
aware that the question of order is not debata-
BILE.
Mr.. Westcot-I ask whether the words OBJ
iected to are not, according TO the rule, to be
to writing
Mr.. Footc--I pass it over. But the Senator
from New Hampshire has said that If I would