Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-05-04
Congress.
Great Debate on Slavery, Civil
Rights and Mob-Law.
FROM Housrox's OFFICIAL RrroR1s.


FROM HousroS's OFFICIAL REroRrs.
In SENATE, Thursday, April 90.
Agreeably 10 notice, Mr.. Hale asked leave to
introduce bill for the Protection of Property in
the District Of Columbia making any city, town,
or corporate place liable for injuries done by
MODS.
Mr.. HALE-I wish to make single remark.
in order to call the attention of the Senate to the
necessity of adopting the legislation proposed by
this bill. The bill itself is nearly an abstract of
similar law now in force i'll the doning State
OF Maryland, and also in many other States of
the Union. The necessity for the passage OF the
bill will be apparent to the Senate from facts
which are probably notorious TO every member
of the body. Within the present week, large
and riotous assembluges of the people have Ia
ken place in the District, and have not only
Threatened to carry into execution schemes ut
terly subversive to all law, with respect to the
rights ofpropery, but have actually carried these
threats into execution, after having been ad-
dressed, upheld and countenanced by men of sta
ton in society, whose character might have led
us to suppose that they would have taken diff.
ferent course, and given wiser councils to those
whom they addressed. 1t seems to me- then, that
we have approached time when the decision is
to be made in this Capitol whether mob law or
Constitutional law is to reign paramount. The
ply makes any City, Town, or incorporated place
within the District, liable for all injuries done to
property by rlotous or tumutuous assembages
Whether any farther losisla.o&o1 the part of
Congress will be necessary, time will determine
But may be permitted to say, that at the pres
ent moment we present singular spectacle to
the people of this country and to the world
The votes of congratulation which this Senate
sent across the Atlantic to the People of France
on their develance from thradOm, have hardly
ceased, when the supremacy ofmob law and des
trucion of the Freedom of the Press, are threat
ened III this Capital Of the Union. Without far
ther remark | move that this bill be referred TO
the Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. BAGBY.-l rise for the purpose Of giving
notice that whenever that bill shall be reported
by the commlttee-if it ever should be i shall
propose to amend it by a section providing suf-
icient penalty for the crime of kidnapping in
this District. | was struck by remark made by
the 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
liners that the slaves of this country are to be
| permitted to cut the threats of their masters.
shall certainly, Sir, attend to this subject.
Mr.. HALE.-To avoid misopprehension pur-
posely abstained from saying a word in regard
TO anything that might even be supposed to lie
beyond the case which it is the object ofthls bill
sion to Slavery. ! refraned from it purposey
because wanted to present to the consideration
of the Senate the simple question of the integri-
ty of the law and the rights of property, unem-
barrassed by considerations of the character al
luded to by the honorable Senator from Alabama
| shall accordingly unite with that honorable
Senator in favor OF the law against kidnapping
Because, if am correctly informed by individu
ais on whose testimony place the most implicit
credit one of the most outrageous cases O
kidnapping was committed within sight of this
capital, no longer ago than yesterday, and tina
too IN the case of an individual having in hi.
pocket an Injunction issued by the highest judi
cal authority in this district TO restrain all per-
SONS from molestlng him. Yet, in violation O.
the Injunction he was forcibly seized, not only
without law, but against law-not only in utte
neglect, but in fragrant contempt of the most sa
cred guarantee of the constitution. This cut
rage was perpetrated within the limits OF the CT
ty, in the very neighborhood 81 the crp.tol.
will, then, go with the Senator from Alabami
heart and hand in the adoption of any Legislation
for the prevention of such outrages; but mus
say that that is very foreign to the other objec
OF the bill which have introduced
Mr. BENToN.-There is some very pressing
business awaiting the action of the Senate, anC
| do not know that the remarks which have beer
made are applicable to any motion pending a
present. May ask if there be ANY question
pending!
4 The PRESIDING OrFicER-The question is
shall the Senator from New Hampshire have
leave to introduce his bill.
Mr.. CALHOuN.--What is the bill
The PRESIDING OFFIcER,-The bill will be
read
The Secretary then read the bill which is as
follows
['rhe nature of the bill has been stated above
T AIR. CALHoUN.-I suppose no Senator can mis-
take the object of this bill, aud the occurrence,
which has led to its introduction. Now, Sir,
am amazed that even the Senator from New
Himpshire should have SO little regard for the
laws and the Constitution OF the country, as L
introduce such bill as this, without including
in it the enactment of the severest penalties
gainst the atrocious act which has occasonet
this excitement. Sir, gentlemen, 1t would seem
| have at last come TO believe, that the Southern
| people and Southern members have lost all sen
sblity or feeling upon this subject | know L
what this leads. | have known for a dozen q
years to what all this is tending When THU
first subject was first agitated, ! said to my
friends, there is out one question that can DIES
troy this Union and our institutions, and that is
this very slave question, for ! choose to speak o
it directly | said farther, that the only way by
which such result could be prevented was b.
prompt and efficient action that III the thing wer,
/ permitted to 20 ON, and the Constitution to b.
, trampled on-that lift were allowed to proceed
4, to a certain point, il would be beyond the powe
of any man or any combination of men to pre-
. vent the result. We are approaching that crisis
and evidence of II Is presented by the fact, tina