Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-05-06
AN EXCITING SCENE AND DEBATE ON sLA.
VERY, IN THE D. 3. SENATE.
PROTECTION or PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT or

VERY, IN THE U. 3. SENATE.
Protection OF PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
Agreeably to notice, Mr. HALE asked
leave to introduce bill relating to riots and
unlawful assemblies in the District of Column
bia.
Mr.. HALE.-1 wish to make single re.
mark, in order to call the attention of the
Senate to the necessity of adopting the legis-
lation proposed by this bill. The bill itself
is nearly an abstract of similar law now in
force in the adjoining 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 10 every member of the
body. Within the present week large and
riotous assemblages of people have taken
place in this district, and have not only
threatened TO carry into execution schemes
utterly subversive to all law, with respect to
the rights of property, but have actually car.
ried these threats into execution, after hav-
ing been addressed, upheld, and countenan-
ced by men of station in society, whose char.
acter might have led us to suppose that they
would have taken different course, and Civ.
en- wiser councils to those whom they address
sed.
Mr.. HALE.-I beg the indulgence of the
Senate for few moments. Though l did
not exactly anticipate this discussion, yet do
pofO I
the honorable Senator from Mississippi has
said, that it has been asserted, and he thinks
on good authority, that Senator of the Uni
ted States connived at this kidnapping of
slaves, ask him if he refers 10 mel
Mr.. FOOT.-I did.
Mr. HALE take occasion then to say,
that the statement that have given the
slightest countenance TO the procedure, is
entirely without the least foundation in truth.
have had nothing 10 do with the occur
renee, directly or indirectly, and l demand Of
the honorable Senator to state the ground
upon which he has made his allegation.
MIR. FOOT.-It has been stated to me and
certainly believed it, and believing it de-
nounced it. did not make the charge di.
rectly. My remarks were hypothetical.
am glad to hear the Senator say that he has
had no connection with the movement, but
whether he had or not, some of his brethren
in the great cause in which he was engaged
no doubt had much to do with it.
Mr.. HALE.-The sneer of the gentleman
4 lo
Der of the human family as brother, and il
it was done by human beings it was done
by my brethren. Once for all utterly deny
either by counsel, by silence, or by speech,
or in any way or manner, having any know.
ledge, cognizance, or suspicion of what was
done or might be done until heard of thi:
occurrence as other Senators have heard of it.
And challenge any one who entertaines a
different opinion to proof, here, now, and for
ever.
Mr.. BUTLER.-Allow me to ask one qucs-
ton with perfect good temper The Senator
is discussing the subject with some feeling
but ask him whether he would vote for &
bill properly drawn, inflictng punishment or
persons inveigling slaves from the District o
Columbia
Mr.. HALE.-Certainly not, and why Be
cause do not believe that slavery shoult
exist here.
Mr.. CALHOUN'-(In his seat, )-He wish
es to arm the robbers, and disarm the peopl,
of the District
Mr.. HALE.-The honorable Senator is d
larmed at my temerity,-
Mr.. CALHOUN.-(In his seat, III did no
use the word, but did not think it wort
while to correct the Senator.
MIR. HALE-The Senator did not use tha
term?
Mr.. CALHOUN.-No. l said brazen O
something like that.
Mr.. HALE.-The meaning was the same
1t was brazen then that should introduc
bill for the protection of property in ,hi
District-a bill perfectly harmless, but whic
he has construed into an attack upon the in
stitutions of the South.-I ask the Senate
and the country wherein consists the temt
rityl suppose it consists in the section {
the country from which it comes He say
that we seem to think that the South has lo
all feeling All! There is the temerity TIL
bill comes from the wrong side of certai
parallel Why, did the honorable Senate
from South Carolina imagine that we of til
North, with our faces bowed down TO th
! earth, and with our backs to the sun, had r,
ceived the lash so long that we dared nj
look up! Did he suppose that we dared nj
ask that the protection of the law should
thrown around property in the District
which we come to legislate
desire no war upon the institution
slavery in the sense in which the Senator III
derstands the term. will never be part
+ to any encroachments upon rights guarantee
, by the constitution and the law-not at a
wish no war but a war of reason--of pers
asion-of argument; war that should lot
to convincing the understanding, subduing Il
$ affections and moving the sympathies of Ii
0 heart. That is the only war in which Iwou
D | enaaue But il il said that the time has con