Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-05-12

iulatlon which this senate sent across the At
lantic to the people Of France. on their deliv-
erance from thraldom, have hardly ceased,
when the supremacy ofmob-la law and the des-
tfucilon OF the Freedom OF the Press, are
threatened in this Capitol Of the Union
without farther remark, ! move that this bill
be referred to the Committed on the Judicial
ry.
Mr.. B0gby-l rise for the purpose Of Civ
ing notice that whenever that bill shall be re-
ported by the Committee-iC it ever should
bel shall propose 10 amend it by a section
providing a sufficient penalty for the crime
Of Kidnapping in this District. | was struck
by a remark made by a Senator from New
Hampshire. He adverts to the rejoicing of
the people of this country at the events now
in progress in Europe, and thence infers that
the slaves of this country are 10 ba permitted
to cut the Threats of their masters. | shall
certainly. Sir, attend to this subject.
MI. Hafe-To avoid misapprehenSion |
purposely abstained from saying a word in
regard to anything that might even be sup
posed TO lie beyond the ease which it ia the
object OF this bill to meet. | did not make
the most distant ~allusion to Slavery. | re-
trained from it pnrposely because | wanted
to present to the consideration of the Senate
the simple question Of the integrity Of the
law and the rights ofproperty unembarrassed
by considerations of the character alluded TO
by the honorable Senator from Alabama. |
shall accordingly unite with that honorable
Senator in favor Of a law against Kidnapping.
because ii | am correctly informed by indi-
vlduals upon whose testimony ! place the
most implicit credit, that one of the most out
rageous cases of kidnapping was committed
within cirht of fhia fapitoI M lpprpr anp
than yesterday, and that too in the case OF
an individual having in his pocket aninjunc-
ton issued by the highest judicial authority
in this District to restrain all persons from
molesting him. Yet, in violation Of the in
junction, he was forcibly seized, not only
without law, but against law-not only in
utter neglect, but in fragrant contempt Of the
most sacred guarantee Of the Constitutions
This outrage was perpetrated within the linn
lis OF the city. in the very nelghborhood oil
the Capitol. | will, then, go with the Sen,
ator from Alabama, heart and hand in the a.
, doption of any legislation for the prevention
of such outrage; but | must say that that i
. very foreign to the object OF the bill which
have introduced.
5 1.-THE bill was read by the Secretary, anC
is in substance as stated by the Senator from
: New Hampshire in his opening remarks.
t Mr.. Cuih0un-I suppose no senator ca
: mistake the object of this bill, and the Occur
renee which has led to its introd uction. Now
0 Sir, | am amazed that even the Senator from
r New Hampshire should have so little regdr,
| for the laws and the Constitution ofthc coun
try, as to Introduce such a bill rs this. with
out including in 1t the enactment of the sc
p verest penalties against the atrocious &C
: which has occasioned this excitement. Sir
gentlemen, 1t would seem. have at last C ON
10 believe, that the Southern people aut
Southern members have lost all sensibili,y o
feeling upon this subject. | know to wha
, this leads. | have known for a dozen o
: years to what all this is tending. When lhi
subject was first agitated, ! said to my friend
there Is but one question that can destroy thi
Union and our institutions, and that is, thi
very slave question, for | choose TO speak o
5 it directly. | said farther, that the only way
n by which such a result could be prevented
was by prompt and efficient action-that i
the thing were permitted to 90 on, and tn
S Constitution to be trampled on-that if
q were allowed to proceed to a certain point, j
c would be beyond the power of any man o
any combination OF men to prevent the result
J We are approaching that crisis, and evidenc
II Of 1t is presented by the fact, that such a bill
= upon such an occurrence, should bo brough
in to prevent The just Indignation Of our pee
pie from wTeaking their vengeance upon III
atrocious perpetrators of these crimes, or thos
who contribute to them without a denuncld
ton Of the cause, that excited that indigns
ton. | cannot but trust that | do not stan
a alone IN these views.
n | have for so many years raised my voic
upon this subject, that ! have been consider
ed almost the exclusive defender of this gree
g institution of the South, upon which not OF
J. ly its prosperity, but its very existence d.
g ponds. l had hoped younger members wh
have come into this body, who represent pc
tons of the country at leas, as much intere.
ted as that from which | come, might hay
taken the lead and relieved me from The nj
cessily of ever again speaking upon this sui
ject. trust we will grant no leave to intrt
n duce this bill-that we will reject it, and
anything be referred to the Committee on Ii
'e Judiciary, it will be to make penal euac
10 ments-to prevent these atrocities-ihese p
70 ratlcal attempts on our own rivers (thes
Ie wholesale captures) these robberies of sevei
ty odd OF our slaves at a single grasp. ID
n lay is dangerous on this question. The CT
a. sis has come, and We must meet it-and me,
y 1t directly-and | will add we have amp
re means to meet it. We can put the issue
the North, if they disregard the provisions
the Constitution in our favor-if their SCI
going vessels cannot safely come up into OF
ports we can prevent them from coming her
and thus make tho issue at once. If II
stipulalions in the Constitution in our favor
are not to be respected, why should we re
ID pect those in othersl | do not intend to MAX
II a long speech on this occasion, but | woul
hero feel myself to be lacking in my duty
the people Of the District, to the people 9th
y South, and to the people ofthe United States
20 had not raised my voice against the intr'
duction Of such a bill on such an occasion.
4" Mr.. IVesroH-l am not going to make