The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON d. c. DECEMBER H. 1850

Committee on Revolutionary Pga,ioa5-Mr Waldo
of Connecticut, (Chairmanl
CO"imties on Iuaid Psasioas-Mr Letter Of
Iowa, Chairman
COMMITTEE on ROqds aad Cgpo1,-Mr Robinson of
Indiana, (Cbairman)
COMMITTEE on Po,aas-Mr. Walden of New
York, (Chairmanl
COMMITTEE on Pu5ic PDildiays and GrOaads-Mr
Stanton Of Kentucky, Chairman
COMMITTEE on Rerisqi and Unfinished Busiasss-
MIR. Cobb Of Alabama, chairman
Commi'fes on Acc0U1S-Mr Mason OF Zen
lucky, Chairman
Committee on hRlGge-Mr. Fitch Of Indiana.
Chairman
Commutee on Eagrarug - Mr. Hammond Of
Maryland, (Chairmanl
JOINT C0amEtfe on The LbTqTv of Congyess-Mr
Holmes Of South Carolina, Chairman
Committee on EIpHdrWeS IL HE STATE DsyGr,-
n7t-Mr Bingham Of Michigan, (Chairmanl
Committee on EypHdiwss ~ The Treasury D..
Hent-Mr. Caldwell Of kentucky, (Chairman)
Committee on ErJ>a99ues IN me Var D,p7y,.
ment - Mr.. Dimmick of Pennsylvania, Chair
mani
COMMITTEE on Elpaadi,,res IN tie Navy D.par'.
Det-Mr. Holiday of Virginia CCbairman)
COMMITTEE on Expenditures IN the Post OFce De.
partnse"t-Mr. Thompson Of Iowa, Chairman
commute on JstyFHONUftS on me GHblLc Buzz
mgS-Mr. Beale of Virginia, jCbairmsn)
Committee on Enrolled Bdls-Mr Widrick Of
New Jersey, Chairman
The House went into Committee Of the Whole
on the state Of the Union, when Mr. Bayly offered
the usual series of resolutions for the reference
Of the several portions Of the Presidents mes
sage to the appropriate committees.
Mr.. Giddings offered an amendment viz
THAT so much of the said message as relates
TO our domestic policy be referred TO the Com
mittee on the Judiciary" He said that he did
not anticipate that the message that would be
considered to-day, therefore be had not prepared
himself to enter into an investigation of it,
There were some things in the message which he
heartily approved OF, such as its general charac-
ter, its boldness, and its patriotic frankness Ii
was due to that functionary to say, that they are
such as can be understood. There was no decep-
ton or uncertainty in any portion of the message.
This much he most cheerfully accorded That
relating TO our domestic policy was the most in
teresting part Of it, The President tells Con-
gress-
My opinions will be frankly ex pressed upon the
leading subjects Of legislation and if, which do
not anticipate any actshould pass the two Houses
OF Congress which should appear to me unconsti-
tutional or an encroachment on the Just powers Of
other departments, or with provisions hastily
NNINeN1 "hN AhNiJ W IIohuCt consequences lDJu-
rious and unforeseen, should not shrink from
the duty q returning it to VOW ~n;'t Nreasons,
for yOur Further consideration"
lie MIR q referred to this to say that IL was
frank and open. The President has seen fit to
reverse the order Of the party which bropsbt bin
frNo lrurvr Invested himself q AZ the trim
mels which it threw around him in relation to the
veto. And he avows the sentiment as TO the ex-
! ercise Of that power as strongly as it was con-
| ,1oI II.
frankness | approve, and only regret that il
should have been disguised before the Pres;den.
tial election, and revealed afterwards. In the
campaign of lS4S, we were told that no law was
to be vetoed by the President | recollect that q
Senator Of Ohio, Mr. Corwin now in the Cabi
net 80 informed the People of that State, with a
view Of inducing them to vote the Wing ticket.
He spoke about the abuse of the veto power, and
said that this was to be put down forever. But
the President has Invested himself of the tram
mels, and shall undertake to show the object of
his avowal. If you look to the latter part of the
message, no doubt remains The Fugitive Slave
act is to remain on the statute book, and he re-
CARDS it as necessary and If bill shall be passed
for its repeal, he will interpose the veto. This
frankness is commendable, and is worthy of that
high functionary of our Government
In another portion Of the message he says that
it is the duty Of the President to that the laws
be faithfully executed. Why is Congress thus
informed? Ii was well understood that at the
last session law, called the Fugitive Slave act,
was passed, under the operation Of the Previous
Question and by slcncing the voice Of the free
States. And now, after some difficulties have
been encountered, the President says that the
law shall be faithfully executed For myself |
shall regard such language as menace. Ii is
that the People Of the North shall submit to the
dictation of the law, or the President viii call
upon the military forces to execute it. The re-
mark is unworthy of the President to menace
freemen. However, in the nineteenth century,
freemen are not to be governed by swords and
cannon but by law. Let me say that the act can
not be enforced by sword, bayonet, and cannon.
Ii is due to the President and our brethren of the
South, and to the world, that il should be known
and understood that the act never has been, is
not, and never can be enforced The President
has not the power to enforce the law; and mean
what say. When the law commands the free
men of the North 10 leave their workshops and
dwellings, to give chase to fugitives to put iron
on their limbs and eturn them TO bondage, ! say
that it is not in the power Of the President, nor
his army and navy, to force them to do It.
The Committee rose the House agreed to ter
inmate debate instantly on going again into Com
mittee IL then went into Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, and after some
remarks from Mr.. McCernand of Illinois, de-
nouncing Mr.. Giddings's speech as sedtious and
reasonable, and few remarks from other men,
bers, the resolutions of Mr.. Bayy with some
amendments were concurred in They were then
reported to the House. and adopted
The House. without the transaction Of further
business, adjourned.