The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-27

der circumstances OF this kind with mob protecting
him. and in State where the law imposes penalties for
who may give countenance to owners in pursuit OF
fugitive slaves Massachusetts has law OF the same
import; and Rhode island has adopted il totidsm vsbis
With regard TO the State OF New York, OF which
now propose to speak, u may be safely said that her egs-
ation has been cumulatvey unconstitutional Her own
courts have decided and. becoming tired Of this kind
OF war on the sayeholding States, she to think
il most expedient. her demagogues think so. to give
herself up to agitation. believe one OF her senators
mot my friend who sits near me. Mr. DIcKNsos)
his seat here IN some measure TO this species OF aga
tion-an agitation whose waves are always beating at
the base OF, fear, crumblng constutionan agitation
as unwse as il is crimnal-an agitation that requires
public who have rnness to resist these popular ienden
ces but their character is preserved in history, and
impartial posterity delights 10 contrast them with popu
lar demagogues who satisfied ii they can stand for
the time on the wreck Of their county The latter
like the reed that reproached the PROSTATE oak with
the imprudence OF breastng the storm.
preserve mean life frequently at the expense OF whole
nation When there are no positive acts, il is fair to
look to public men as exponents OF public opinion
far as understand It, know OF no law upon the sub
jectto sustain the act Of 1893 How fair their repre-
senatiyes stand upon the record, will not say; but
one OF them is known 10 be identified with every en-
deavor 10 obsuct the carrying out OF that act and TO be
hostile to and ready to make war, in every way. upon
that institution Of the South, far he can, either upon
As to New Hampshire. her absent senator mr. HALE1
will speak for her wherever he goes She is hardly
equivocal on this subject The laws of Connecticut are
VIII he sow me- to make
correction in regard 10 the State OF Connecticut The law
i simply this: i prohIbitssince the decision 81 the
Us Pennsylvania declaring State legislation on this sub
ject unconstitutional any Judge justice OF the peace, or
other officer Ct the State az such from acting in the
pose duty on the State magistrates and officers II in
icts penalty i simply declares the act OF the mags
rate or officer undertaking to act in that capacity e be
null and void II provides, nevertheless, that nothing
therein contained shall be construed to impair any rights
which, by the constitution of the United States may per-
70 %ap inc o. ahs
escaping into the State or to prevent the exercise IN the
State Of any powers which have been conferred by
Congress or any Judge or other officer oil the United States
in relation to such rights"
The State OF Connecticut had enacted law, prior to
the decision OF the Supreme Court! IN the case OF Prgg
U.s. Pennsylvania which provided for the exercise OF this
power by any Judge in the State who had authority,
der its laws, to issue the writ OF habeas corpus il pro.
yded also, for the security OF the free coored citizens of
them right to be heard before these Judges; and to
trial BY jury if either party desired it, OF the question at
" after the decision Of the Supreme Court in the case
referred to- that the power and duty to enforce the
stutona provisions for the surrender OF fugitive slaves
pertalned exclusively 10 the national government II
deemed proper that the officers and magistrates Of the
State should be permitted in their Official capacities, to
exercise powers not conferred by the State nor subject
TO be regulated by its laws but attempted to be conferred
on them bya government by which they were not ap.
pointed, and to which they in way responsible
Mr. BUTLER New Jersey has law Of similar pur.
port to that OF Pennsy lyania referred toone to protect
personal liberty, and to give trial by jury, &c.
now come TO the northwestern non-slaveholding
States, beginning with Ohio. She had black code,
believe II has been often modified that it is extreme
y difficult to understand il at this time. But her public
men are her opponents, some OF them. One-a
tor on this foor-has openly said in resolution said to
haxta haa. xOff
that, under an oath to support the constitution OF the
United States, he would feel at liberty under mental
reservation, to regard this article null and void
Mr.. BUTLER. | allude to the senator himself, and
to the resolution introduced by him in convention held
Mr. CHASE. Mr.. President, never proposed such
resolutions voted for any such resolutions
would propose or vote for such a resolution
MIR. BUr TIER L is attributed to the senator who has
Just his seat ii the accounts in the newspapers
Mr. CHASE suspect that il the senator relies upon
no better authority than the newspapers he will find
Mr.. BUTLER. should hardly have supposed that
such a remark would come from connected with
newspapers himself. Renewed la1ghterl When an
honorable senator arises upon this floor and dsavows
anything publicly charged TO him, shall give him credit
for it, and not contradict him.. ! can say that
heretofore this opinion has been attributed to both him
self and one Of the senators from New York, [Mr.
SEWARD They have been thought to be extra-consttu
tiona they have been thought 10 take an extra view
oil inns SUBJECT alt0gether.
But sir, come to the question Of fact Is il noto
ous that slaves do escape into Ohio, and that masters
cannot recover them' do not now speak OF laws
do not know that there any laws there, one way or
the other, upon the subject have looked over the
laws, and can lind no positive enactment.
believe the only sister OF the western States, moi
tainted in the way have named, is Iowa. believe
there is no law there but that there is rather DISPOSE
ton TO cooperate.
As have no specific laws before me OF the other
northwester States, is unnecessary 10 name them in
detail. They give no assistance, and allow and counte
nance aboltonists in carrying on their unconstitutional
depredations
Mr. President, there are gentlemen representing the nom
slaveholdng States who, readily conceive have
their difficulties Some, believe, have struggled against
them. Others have been the willing instruments OF their
constituents But sir, they have done wrong they
have perpetraied great injustice They have heaped
injustice upon the southern portion OF these United States
to an extent which they have not realized.
Some OF them assume 10 themselves an excellence,
under the professions OF high morality, that will not
say they deserve Any morality that to be above
observing the obligations OF common compact, cannot
understand lido not think that those who profess il are
better than the rest of would not have infer
drawn, that think them better than the trainers
rowing quotation-once eloquenty made of by
my friend IRON New York. who sits near mel may say
"The ambitious youth who fred the Ephesian dome, 4
Survived in fame the pious fool who reared IT,"
This constitution was reared the temple OF our lib.
critics and rights. The fires on its altar were kindled
and kept alive by PATRIOTISM justice, and wisdom And
shall il be now, that they only TO light rebands
burn II into ashes can say in good faith, that these
hrebrands have never been lighted any portion of nv