The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-31

vocate in the Senate the measures which he advo-
Gates before his constituents.
! have nothing further to say, Mr.. President
regret that have been constrained TO speak at all
/ oil matters personal 70 myself But under the
circumstances, felt it my duty to say what
have said
Mr. Butler. hope the paragraph which has
been referred to will be read
Mr.. Chase. Let it be read | sent il to the
Clerk for that purpose
Mr.. Mason | wish to ask the Senator. If he
will answer one or two questions, for my informa-
ton, and the information Of the country un-
derstand him 10 state that he did not offer that
resolution that he never voted for il, and never
would vote for it. | gather from the same news
paper publication that that resolution was offered
at meeting OF the friends of that gentleman, con-
vened by his influence, and at which take il for
granted he was present Now, ask him to in
form me and the country, whether, by whomsoever
1t was offered, that resolution not passed in
his presence hope, also, that the extract will
be read.
The Secretary read the extract as follows:
=" In ls43, Messrs. Chase and Lewis published
call for an Abolition Convention at Columbus.
The Convention met and among its doings it
adopted the following resolution, which was pro-
posed by Mr.. Chase, a. propu persona:
- RsSotred, That we hereby give il TO be dis
tinctly understood 10y this nation and the world,
that the AboiVipnOiS, considering thatthe strength
OF our cause lies in its righteousness, and our hopes
for 1t in our conformity to the laws Of God, and
our support for the rights of man, We owe to the
sovereign Ruler of the Universe az a proof of our
allegiance 10 Him, in all our civil relations aud
Offices, whether as friends, citizens or as public
functionaries, sworn to support the Constitution
OF the United States, 10 regard and treat he bUd
clause Of ihe MarnReat, wh.HsusT applied ~ the
Of fngHire SidDe, As UTTERLY NULL AND VOID, and
consequently as forming no pant Of the Constitution Of
ihs 6"ped SdfSs WHENEVER VIZ ARE CALLED UPON
As SWORN TO SUPPORT IT
Mr.. Chase. | do not know that | understand
correctly the inquiry of the Senator from Vir-
giDis Mr. Mason
MIR Mason. My inquiry is whether the hon
orable Senator knows and can inform me whether
that resolution was offered and passed mt a meet.
ing convened at his instance.
MIR. Chase. do not know Mr.. President how
far it is deemed proper to 90 into subjects of this
character here. Certainly an investigation of
this sort in the Senate, strikes me as somewhat
out of place but will state for the information
of the honorable Senator that the resolution in
question was not proposed and adopted at any
convention held or convened at my instance in
the State Of Ohio Ii was not proposed or adopted
at the convention referred to in the newspaper
md passed in n convention held at Buffalo, in the
State of New York | have forgotten the year,
but think in lSi3. have answered the specific
inquiry Of the Senator, and might leave the sub
ject here but perhaps it would be we'll since this
matter has been brought before us, to state fur
Their what is within my knowledge in reference
to it. The resolution was presented at Mass
| Convention of what was called the Liberty Party
| was present and was a member of-the Commit
tee on Resolutions The resolution in question
was submitted TO this Committee who declined
| to report il for the action of the Convention IL
was opposed by me in the committee room, but
cannot say how far the action Of the Committee
was attributable TO that IL was afterwards intro
duced to the Convention, when | was not present
by its author, and was adopted, after a speech
from him, as often happens in such cases without
discussion examination Ii did not express in
my Judgment, the sense Of the Convention or of
the party. Is the Senator satisfied
Mr. Mason. Perfectly, sir.
MIR. Chase. Having referred to the political or
ganization known as the Liberty Party, ! will
take occasion TO add, that, in my judgment, a
body Of purer men was never associated in poiti-
cal action. They were men who had honesty
enough to speak as they meant, and courage
enough to act as they resolved.
MIR. Mason. desire TO be heard upon the bill
now before the Senate
Mr.. Chase. intend to PROPOSE as the time for
adjournment has nearly arrived, that the bill be
passed over Informally.
| MIR. Hamlin. II there is nothing else before
the Senate, will move that the Senate now 60
into Executive session.
Mr.. Mason. desire that this subject should be
passed over informally.