The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-31
THURSDAY, JANUARY "a, 1850.
SENATE.


After the reception of resolutions, memorials
and reports Of committees, Mr.. Clay asked the
Senate to take up q resolution submitted by him
yesterday, for the purchase Of the manuscript
of the Farewell Address Of General Washing.
ton. 1t was taken up and Mr. Clay addressed
the Senate
Mr.. Fooe made few remarks, with view 10
show that Mr. Clsy's remarks in regard to Dis
union were applicable chiefly to the friends of the
Wilmot Proviso
After remarksfrO other Senator's the resolu.
ton was read the third time and passed
1t directs the Committee on the Library to
purchase the manuscript copy of the Farewell
Address of Washington, If it can be purchased
on reasonable terms.
The Senate went into Committee of the Whole
on the bill reported by Mr.. Butler in relation to
fugitives from service CT labor.
Mr. Butler said, the evil this bill was intended
TO remedy, was increasing 1t was estimated that
the South sustained loss annually of 5000 900
from slaves running away, and this he attributed
10 the interference of persons in the free States
lie had little faith, however, in the efficacy Of the
bill. The Federal Legislature had too little
power to carry out the constitutional provision on
the subject lie held that the States were bound
under the Constitution to cooperate in the arrest
and delivery Of fugitive slaves, and 10 they felt
for many years after the adoption of the Consti-
tuition. But times had changed lie reviewed
the legislation of the several States attempting
to show that it was intended to defraud the own
ers Of slaves of their rights.
. He found fault with 80 much of the decision
Of the Supreme Court in the Prigg case, as pro-
nounced any legislation by the States in aid Of
the claims af the master, unconstitutional. That
Judgments bht within its scope subjects that
were not in i&ue, and which ought not to be af-
fected by it. lie was especially severe on New
York, and directed some of his denunciations
against one Of its Senators, MIR Seward person
ally. "a Governor Of that State be said, ''per-
haps a politician consulting popularity, or one
who had a conscience that took refuge in a mo-
rality that was above that Of other men, and above
the obligation OF the Constitution Of his country,
as ! would say-openly assumed the ground that
he would not deliver up fugitive from justice,
upon the application Of another State, lift should
only appear that he had been charged with steal
ing or inveigling a slave from bis owner-hold-
ing, as understand that he would not regard
anything felony that was not so regarded by
her own laws. I believe his course was repudi-
ated by his own Legislature; and from the high.
est Judge to the lowest tpstah, he has no countc-
mn nee for bis sage ouinionD
Further on he remarked
With regard TO the State Of New York, Of
which now propose to speak, 1t may be safely
said that he%legislaton has been cumuatively
unconstitutional. Her own courts have so de-
cided; and becoming tired Of this kind OF war on
the slsvebolding States she seems to think 1t
most expedieni, or her demagogues think 80, to
give herself up to agitation. believe one OF her
Senator's loot my friend who sits near me, MIR.
Dickinson owes his seat here, In some measure,
to this species Of agitation--an agitation whose
waves are always beating Mt the base OF, fear, a
crnmbling Constitution-an agitation as unwise
AS it is criminal-an agitation that requires firm
ness to resist It. There are but few men In any
republic who have frmuess to resist these popular
tendencies; but their character 10 preserved In
history, and impartial posterity delights to con-
trast them with popular demagogues, who are
satisfied II they can stand, Tor the time, on the
wreck Of their country. The latter are like the
reed that reproached the prostrate oak with the
imprudence Of breasting the storm
hold popular agitators the worst kind Of men
they preserve mean life frequently at the ex-
pense Of q whole nation.
] I'VE may remark, that Mr.. Butler 10 In the