Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-11

reJoice to be able to say, that large proper
tioh OF the intelligent and patriotic people OF
new Hampshire do not concur in the views eX-
pressed by the Senator this morning They take
the ground that the people Of the United States.
the Constitution and the Union, have guaranteed
the rights Of the South, connected with this prop
erty, and that the people of New Hampshire have
no right at all to NEEDLE with the subject. Why,
IS 1t not fact, that gentlemen, members of this
body, among them the distinguished Senator
from Massachusetts, whom | regret not to see in
his place. are known to be more or less hostile to
the institutions of domestic slavery, but have nev-
er entertained the doctrine, that the Congress of
the United States has any jurisdiction whatever,
over the subject? They have held that any at
tempt directly or indirectly, to effect abolition
by Congressional legislation is at war with the
spirit and letter of the Constitution
Mr. HGie.--Wl the Senator allow me to in
quire if he can point out7a single instance, in
which have made any aggression upon the
rights of property in the South
Mr.. F0Ote-That is the very thing am a.
bout to show When the Senator from New
Hampshire undertakes to assert that those North
ern men who do not concur with him are "cra-
vens," he uses language Of false and scurrillous
import 1t is not the fact that his language will
be re-echoed in any respectable neghborhood in
New England. His sentiments will find no res
pense or approval in any enlightened vicinagein
New England, and therefore he has no right to
say that those who are faithful to the principles
of the constitution and fail to re-echo the fierce,
Mnatical, and iactious declarations Of the SEN
ator are "cravens" in heart, and deficient in any
of the noble sentiments which characterzes high
spirited republicans
Mr.. Hah.-I did not use such language
Mr. F00te-Did the Senator not use the word
"craven?"
Mr.. Halc.-If the Senator will allow me, |
will inform him that when the Senator from South
Carolina remarked thct he supposed it was
thought that the South had lost all feeling, re-
piled by asking if it was supposed that the North
had no sensibity-that we had bowed our faces
to the earth with our backs to the sun, and sub
mtted to the lash so long that we dare not lock
up!
Hr. TOOte.-The declarations of the Senator
from New Hampshire just amount to this, that if
he met me on the highway and addressed me
gravely or humorously-for he is quite humor-
GUS parsonage should say design to take that
horse which is now in your possession, and then
announce that he wished to enter into an argu-
ment with me as to whether | should prefer that
the animal should be stolen from the stable or
taken from me on the road. How could meet
such proposition! Why should say to him
either you are maniac, or, if sane, you are Il
knaye. And yet this very case is now before us.
The Senator from New Hampshire introduced
bill obviously intended to rob the people of the
District of their slaves. | will read it and show
that such is the import of the bill. | do not
know anything about the paper to which refer
ence has been made 1t has been sent to me as
to other Senators during the winter, but always
refrain from opening it. The editor of it may
be an intelligent man. | have heard that he is.
He is certainly an abotionist 1t may be that
he has not in his paper openly ayowed, as the
Senator from New Hampshire seems very plain
y to indicate, that he has approved Of this late
attempt to steal the slaves from this District
But the publication of such paper has tended
to encourage such movements
Mr.. HALE.-When did avow that approved
of this movement?
NJ, FooTE-I will show it from this BILL
challenge the Senator to produce any such stat
ute from the statute book Of any State of this
Union.
Mr.. HALE have said that the bill is in sub
stance identical with one of the statutes of the
State of Maryland have that statute before
me and will hand it TO the Senator.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland. Allow me to see
it.
Mr.. Foote.--How are we TO understand the
Senator! He will not acknowledge that his OBJ
Ject is to encourage such conduct, and he shuns
the responsibility. When we charge upon him
that he himself has breathed in the course ofhs
harrangue of this morning the same spirit which
has characterized this act, he says most mildly
and quietly, "By no means--I have only at
tempted to introduce bill corresponding sub
8tantally with the law on the statute books of
most of the States of this confederacy" And
the Senator supposes that all of us are perfectly
demented, or do not know the nature Of the case.
the circumstances, or the motives which have ac-
tuated the Senator Will he undertake to assert
that he would ever have thought of such bill
if these slaves had not been abducted from the
District, in opposition to the consent of their
owners, by the parties engaged in this marauding
expedition! lie cannot DENY it, and therefore
am authorized to come to the conclusion, that he
the bill for the purpose of covering
and protecting that act, and encouraging similar
acts in future. What is the phraseoogy of the
bill? The honorable Senator here read the
bill. Who doubts, now, that the object of the
Senator from New Hampshire was to secure the
captains of vessels and others engaged in any
attempts byvolence to capture or steal the slaves
Of this District No man can doubt it, Then,
ask, have used language too harshl and is it
not fact, that the Senator is endeav0ila ta.asss
wade responsibility which he is not wiIllAs
Mr. Haie.--Will the Senator give way for a
momontl | will read an extract from the law
of Maryland to which referred. Will the Sem
ltor be good enough to look at my bill while
readl
The extract is omitted.
The honorable Senator will surely do me the
Justice to say, that the bill was not draughted
with reference to any particular case, such as
hat to which he refers. had not the remotest
reference to the protection of individuals con-
,erned in transactions of that character; but if
should undertake to say that had not reference
% demonstrations growing out ofthat transaction,
should be saying what was false, for it was
hese demonstrations which induced me to IN
reduce the bill.