Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-01
.,,pry-rIRsr coNGREss-lsT SESSION
MoSpAy, JANUARY Is, 1850.
SEN ATE

MoxpAy JANUARY IS 1850
SENATE.
II, ,,ss presented petition for a suspension of diploma
=, ir,fcou-se with Austria.
ran Douglas resolution calling for copies of correspon-
,nin relation Nicaragua &C., was taken up, and agreed
to Emit, offered resolution declaring that II 10 e1psdi-
nrr,stablsh diplomatic relations with the German Con-
6aisn,on. Lies over.
hs states in which they lie, condition that they be
M in limited quantities. to actual Settlers at the cost OF
the surveys
ur MASON having the floor, proceeded to address tho
S,nate ss follows:
W President desire get this bill to vote before this
IN ,jer that may be enacted into law as soon ss
:rabe should il be the pleasure of Congress do.
Introduced the bi here, sir to discharge duty which
ave- 10 the people whom represent and in obedience TO in
n,ons OF the General Assembly OF the Stale of Virginia.
lam free 10 confess that, although the hill and the amend
msns have been framed with some care and the amendments
hy moi the appreciation of the Committee the Judiciary,
h,yr bu little hope that il will afford the remedy is in
dcd 10 afford fear Mr. President that the disease is
ssaed too deeply be reached by ordinary legislation.
Sar sir that me legislative bodies of the nonslavehoding
STATES and the spirit of their people, have inflicted wound
nnop he Constitution which will prove itself rulnus
S,5k fear i, will be found that this law will be Of
N, worth in securing the rights OF those for whose benefit
6nr they would be found of exceeding value and import
p a alone to the people of the State which represent
bu, all The Southern States now holding the African race
IN hon1e Sir only important but is indspen
ssb to The security Of their property and the integrity Of
r Institutions. WHAT the present state Of things The
property held BY that part of the United States valued at
hundreds Of millions of dollars is the subject Of wanton do
pfia,on BY the people Of the nslavehoding States, al
though The right this property exists not in the ordinary
tenure property alone but is secured by the fundamental
laws of this Government Ii is the subject of depreciation
Of wanton deprcdation-hy the people Of the
ng States under the sanction of their governments fear
therefore, seriously ear that pass what law may such
law will be found imperative; for no law be carried into
effect, unless it sustained and supported by the loyalty Of
The people 10 whom il is directed.
What are the provisions of the fundamental aw7 In tho
fourth article Of the Constitution there clauses pro-
ydn for the exadon of certain classes of persons escap
ing from State TO anoherclauses that lie in u1tapos
,ion conceived the time and written upon the
page End each of hemI submit not only Senators but
10 The wodeach of them plan distinct uncquivoca in
hei. import and the ends designed TO bo attained Now,
sir should succeed, though in plain and humble
manner direct the attention of the country the existing
state things in relation these clauses of the Constt
on ard s,aslc these people into rebellion against the
government of their own States this law if passed. will
main am afraid, dead letter upon your book
the present law is 1t provided in the fourth article of tho
Constitution as follows:
a pe:son charged in any State with treason felony
other crime who shall flee from justice and be found in
other State shall demand of the executive authority Of
the which he fled be delivered up be removed
,o the State having jurisdiction of the crime"
This the first clause Of eyraditiona clause operating
in all the Statesmade for the benefit of all the States and
each States is alike interested in having it executed
What il the other clause?
No person held service labor in State, under
the laws thereof escaping into another SHALL in
quence OF any law or regulation therein be discharged
from such service labor but shall be delivered up
claim Of the party 10 whom such service labor may be
due
Clauses sir having kindred purpose the one designed
effect the surrender of fugiyes from justice the other
designed 10 effect the surrender of fugitires from labor
each clause imperative upon the government framed under
that constitution and upon the States who parties to it,
Br this latter clause Mr. President which provides for the
If ia
the benefit of of the States and TO all 1t nues to
the benefit of those who unhappy now in the minority
minority, not in the number of States but In minority
in the numbers the people The save-hodng States sir,
interested in the faithful and proper execution OF
this second clause for extradton; and to look TO The
majority to that law against which their people have
been for than quarter of century in revoltay sir
In revolt think am warranted, then in the apprehension
expressed thai law which can be passed by the
Of the United will afford the remedy which this law
isntendc supply? ess it sustained and supported by
the people whom il is addressed.
Sir let me present another view Of this question The
clause which have read intendedupon the faith and
honor Of all the Stesto the owners OF these fu-
gtves from labor the surrender of such ugyes when they
escaped into other States This not the only clause OF the
constitution bearing upon slave property Far from it
These very States nonsavehodna States when they
became parties TO that compact not only with their eyes
open and their interests awakened conceded 10 the slave
holding STATES important privileges and advantages but Tor
which they derived ample equivalents These very people
who sensitive to freedom-whose unwilling ears
will bear the of savethese very people negotiated
upon the basis of slave property and received ample consd
Grafton for the privileges and securities vany in
woke Why sir they yielded to the southern States rep
resentaton based upon this property They did more sir
they agreed by this compact withdraw from the control
Of Congress altogether for twenty years the right 10 pro
bit the Introduction of slaves from abroad and they went
further and bound themselves under the solemn stpuatons
the instrument that when slaves escaped from State
another they should be delivered up, and for this and
every concession they received ample equivalents
They received that equivalent alluded TO by the Senator who
alta before ME, the Senator from South Carolina (Mr But
m the substitution of an ordinary majority for majority
o:wo,hrds in all laws affecting commerce and navgaon
aud many of them received still extraordinary equva
ents in concession TO all the States, whatever their size
be, Of equality of representation in this body One
Of the greatest difficulties that stood in the way of those
who framed this instrument the demand upon the part
Of the eastern States OF them at least for an eqa-
lily Of representation in the Senate; and not only was this
equality conceded but the further security given, that
such equality should be destroyed by future amend
men 10 the constitution without the consent of the State
10 be affected By ii.
These the equivalents that were given by those who
were then comparatively in powerte slavehodng States
for the guarantees now soekng TO enforce. How
stands the nowl II is fortune come from State
and Ohio of them longer holding slaves and the
other carved ont of the Northwestern Territory where slaves
were never introduced; and it is matter known 10 every
tnd child IN the Commonwealth of virginia, ihat II IS
sns impossible fugitive slave now in either Of
moss States would be bring him from the depths
o. Tie sea- Look al the law that passed in the year
s now upon statue books. Is it not dead letter in
Most not in all the nonsiavehoding Staes They have
prohibited their officers under pain of fine and imprisonment
o executing Tins law. And II ID IN such spirit that nis
h" resting the constitution Is treated by those who con-
tent themselves with Pharisaca expressions, whilc they
a"ht u- with want of loyalty to the constitution The
uVeotns Stecs in pursuit of their property Tor tho c
As o those Satcs into States where slaves not held
ar treated not only aiens but enemies; and that feel
s 10 tered among the people at every session OF tne
esi'id'ues This feeling Mr.. President. seems 10 have
grown np gradually There time. sir, when the stutes
eil towards each other really sister States as thcy are
generally called having community of interest in tho COM
pact nnoe which they are federated and community OF
nj
"'n believe stands in advance Of all others In deter
ueu Sp {" Resistance 10 this clause OF this constitution
ilte as the $780, before the constitution went
@ ehect-in her iaw for the abolition of slavery WIN
~ ~ at State reserved clause protect the citizens OF
''es In this right of recapture of fugltlves iwl
siF. desire that il may 60 into the history OF tne
as vel rs upon the statuebooks OF that State-
ms Is the CLAUSE.
ec H. Tint this act anything herein contained shall
M give any relief shelter any abscondng or runaway
Im or muao slave servant who has absconded or
anscond himself from his her owner or master or MIS-
NV residing IN any other State or county, out suen oT
@ master or mistress shall have like right and ad 10 90
u ean and take his slave servant as ne niynt
ac haa IN case this act had not been madc- Ldn iioo
-, a00'sh'Ag stareryin Pennsylvania.
c sI', such the spri, of Pennsylvania In l7eo
e "eh she under obligations to pass sucn ie"
was before the adoption of the present cohsu'u
"n II was the Si which then regulated the intercopI'.
" INC States before they federated under the plose'
hp'lion ,h before they had entered into that wrong a.