The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
A SCENE In THE SENATE.

Last Tuesday in the Senate, during the morn
ing hour, Mr.. Hale presented the petition of sew
eral hundred women of Dover, N. H., protesting
any more slave States.
The question of reception was raised, but the
usual motion to lay on the table failed On this
motion, Mr.. Douglas took the ground that, as the
Senate had decided to receive petitions from the
South protesting against action, be should now
vote to receive this petition from the North,
which also protested against action There should
be one rule for both sections
Mr. Butler of South Carolina tried his hand at
putting down MIR Hale, with what success, the
following report will show:
Mr. Butler. Mr. President, | have petitions to
offer, resolutions and other matters, really re-
curing immediate action; otherwise there would
be no necessity for ac;ing upon them at all. Yet,
sir, every morning gentleman who is in the mi
nority is monopolzing the whole time of the Sem
ate by petitions, such as this, breeding mischief
and this without rebuke, and almost with the
countenance of those who voted for these resolu-
tons Can this be tolerated that the time of this
Senate and the Legislature Of the United States
shall be appropriated by mischievous ncendiaries
who claim the right to introduce resolutions, me-
MORALS aud propositions of this kind to the SEN
ate2 Why, sir, have business now that think
ought to engag the attention of the Senate, but
cannot bring it before them, for every morning
that gentleman takes up the whole time. He has
the whole Senate TO himself mere minority
comes here and makes all this mischief, and stands
unrebuked, so far as | can see, by the Senate. !
know sir this is part Of his existence. know
that in what am now saying, am giving him
! IL Ii TaAI In Iva
mischief 1t is the very food that sus,ains him
know sm not rebuking him. Sir, it is uoleya-
bic, that miserable minority, mischievous in
cendiary q madmap, If you choose 10 cali him so,
should come here and interfere with the rights of
other men upon this floor.
amidst cries of Order Order he sat down
inhsmed with passion
Mr. Hale. have word to say, sir, to the
Senator from South Carolina, Mr.. Butler He
says that live upon mischief, and that be gives
| me the food live on. IL that be the case he is
responsible for it, and not myself But to be more
serious; he is pl, ased to denounce me as miser-
able minority, and complains of my trespassipg
upon the privileges of the Senate. ] leave that
question to be decided by the community, who it
is that trespasses upon the time OF the Senate,
Sir, he will have to talk longer and denounce
more, before he can convince me that this has
been my prerogative.
have "taken up the whole time of the Sen
ate ~ Have l. sir? For two mornings and only
two, have presented anything of the kind since
the year 1850 commenced one of them was the
other day, and the other was this morning So
far was from saying anything 10 take up your
tine that confined myself simply to stating what
the nature Of the petitions was. The talk did
not come from the I" miserable minority but from
a majority. | will not apply any adjective to
them. hut have enough at hand, that could use
il | chose The mischief comes from majority,
that seeks to tread down the mincrity-thst de-
sires to make them more miserable than they
really are. miserable as we are, think the
Senator will find out that our power Of speech is
not exhausted; and while We may exercise it
within the privileges Of the Constitution, he will
find that it will be exercised at any and at all
hazards.
We are not to be frightened out Of our rghst
upon this floor by denunciation, or even by the
threat of danger personal to ourselves. Small
and few as we are, we are not miserable towards
that can be frightened from the assertion or the
maintenance of our rights. New Hampshire
blood, coursing in New Hampshire veins, from
the commencement Of this Government, in the
Senate, in the House of Representatives, and
upon the field Of battle, has attested her rights
and she has sons that will still vindicate those
rights against all her foes, come maen they wiU,
hon they mil, and wh,re they riU She will not be
intimidated by threats, or any language OF the
sort.
The stern emphasis with which Mr.. Hale
spoke sent thrill through the Senate, ana an
attempt at applause in the galleries, Immediately