Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-02
SPEECH OF JAMES n, MASON EsV"

making proposals to H rsa a9i ne Differed IN
her ssd ST m q Td aD sl May 1880 o-or
The SENATE having under consideration inc ,n rnon
beina the bj TO admit California as oale l.I nd New
w. s,ahI;ah Territorial Governments Tor oli'i .iu
~ so d nak;np proposals to Texas for the es'aphS"
Of her western and northern boundaries
M sir in The remarks which intend to snn n
The Senate on the subject of this o 70 bih are recon-
may all the measures combine hronb il in in order that
av no;n ont those parts upon which we may gd fear
the committee and those upon wc J IRE, advert TO
we shall not aset Though they do not form paI' OF
rho Hill nndcr consideration, have oeeh % nor, ne
and are recommended BY the com.,ee which ,hp, report
par " .le And wish TO do because, Us IL sceIis "
me one of the provisions in the DIN i.a'.s no mscon
le, oile u a.yes has been subject OF some his'
lon OF art Of gentlemen with whom usually ac
Indeed Of several Senators from me oouui ,h rotor is
,nonSmont nroposed by the committee W Mh..i nre
anehohlens Ills authority to the claimant OF uglute
Glove when he goes The State IN whicii suci
ronnd 10 take with him record evidence ;n,v and
him ~ reclaim the fugitive without iuiuei 1 , ocn
,i,i y. I ,esimony Ii has been thousftEy some s.
,lsmcn who probably have not fully mr., NJ
h; len would be found Objectionable on uu pun "
.hls poss When this measure proposed I'D me CON-
~. :, eeued 10 mc-and yet entertain the olhoh
,h,, !, would become valuable advantage 10 ao IT, ;I h
- a,au who pursuc them into the free suites. - ii' ~
d g n,lIuen will look it, that II Is not n'aue le
yience on which slave shall be recovered. ne
claimant not required 10 arm lSe,l Yer nm s,rnDI
inc,;nod ~ think, if il Is brought mo Fiacuc 'a
,here will be very many occasions on wicn eai ban s
-, ., h, 20 recourse this record evidence bu nov"
- III; may be- the provision is cumulative ony, ana no
and the claimant may take such record OF us
pense with it, and rely upon the oral testimony o.
re he deems best think therefore, that the proposihon
as recommended by the committee viii be iound Vai'pc
SUGGESTION and in practice will go far to facilitate and e
nish the expenses attendant on Tile ieciana''h o "s'
slaves. =, u, .ouo Lii, ,,,;.,, h,s no. n
recommended BY the committee and to which, am sorry 10
cay do not give my assent IL is that which PROVIDES iil
when fugitive shall declare that he is free man. the claim
ant shall enter into bond to secure 10 the fugitive trial by
nrv in the State from which he has fed. When this was
rst proposed in the committee II seemed to me mat II
would be innocuous at any rate, whether me provision
amounted much little il was one which might very
safely be Welded Although gave no direct sanction 10
when proposed in the committee acqucsced SO lar as 10
apree to recommendation, reservng to myself the
right of offering such considerations on me supec 10 e
Senate as might afterwards suggest themselves am DIS
posed now think that cannot give my assent TO II as
member of the Senate The first and greatest objection
have is that practically Think IL will be found to operate
in,iously 10 the who rccaims his slave because
pending the time within which the slave Is emitted TO tr
the master would be able TO dispose OF him. and we all
know that in nineteen of twenty where fugitive
slave is recovered is advisable TO dispose OF him mmedl-
aely: FIRST of the example and secondly because
by abscondin he has forfeited the confidence OF his owner
and il might therefore, prove serious mischief 10 retain
him in that equivoca position under the bond OF his master
But in any view such provision is wholly snperfuos be-
cause every savehoding State ample provision made
by law TO the rights OF slave who asserts right
10 freedom They allowed 10 sue in lorna pduPeriS
security required of the insure his safety pend
" TO prepare his for trial. which always by jury IN
addition to which the required TO furnish him pro-
per counsel 10 conduct the case There Is anocr reason
which presents itself very fociby TO my mind II nneces-
ary rammels and embarasSes the owner OF tins species OF
property and in manner inconsistent with the iu night oil
reclanaion secured him by the Constitution by the
Constitution the fugitive slave is 10 be delivered up on
claim of the party and II is IN derogaton OF hls right 10
deliver him only condition think therefore, when we
come 10 consider that BILL il will be found on al sides mat
il will be best 10 avoid that provision.
Another BILL that which proposes TO abolish what Is called
the save trade in the District of Columbia Is one OF those
measures from which dssented in the committee, and
from which shall continue 10 dissent Hit is intended as
part of the general compromise which IL is said the bill
under discussion presents fear that far Senators from
The South are concerned-o n large majority OF them al
lcast-i; will constitute an insuperable objection
Sir upon this subject were my own opinion untia-
melted never could and would give my assent 10 the
passage of such law al this time by Congress Yet con-
slider that all discretion this subject taken from me-
By resolution of the General Assembly Of Virginia. passed
Al the last session. the abolition OF the slave trade IN The DIS
rct o Columbia bv law OF Congress is made OF those
events upon the occurring OF which the Governor OF Virginia
is required the Legislature forthwith thai The
State may be placed in proper position to meet H.
Mr.. FOOTE. Will The Senator from Nirsinia allow me
To interrupt him for moment!
Mr. MASON Ii for any personal or other explanation,
have no objection yield the floor, but would rather Pnr
sue my remarks uninterrupted However, The Senator from
Mississippi can have the moor -
Mr. MASON. am perfectly willing 10 be corrected in
any Misrepresentation, but gentlemen must be aware that Ia
discussion dcranges the of thought and necessarily
impairs and binders the operation of the mind Unless
therefore, it be for some purpose OF personal exPanaon
with that view that on Welding the floor, added that did
the hope that the Senator from Mississippi and IN
tended the remark apply Senators generality would al
low me to proceed without interruption. Certainly, If say
any thing of personal character orwhch requires explains
ton, will cheerfully yield to an Interruption
| Now sir, the fact. | think | should hardly have
announced TO the Senate resolutions from tho Legislature
Virginia. any subject involved in our action or on whcl
was to act, without knowing what was about. Sir
have the resolutions here; and intend presently to ask tn
Senate to allow have them read. They We're passed
the Goth of January l9 and those to which had par
ticular reference are in these words:
"Rcsolved That we regard the passage of law by Thu
Congress of the United States abolishng slavery or h
slave trade in the District of Columbia direct ATTACH
upon the institutions oil the southern STATES 10 De resisted
at every hazard.
'Resoyed Fha in the event of the passage by Congfos
Of the Wilmot provso any law abolisEng slavery t
slave trade in the District Of Columbia the Governor o
this Commonwealth is requested Immediately TO convene
the Legislature of this State d it should have ADJOURNED
TO consider the mode and measure of redress
Mr. CLAY. What is the date OF those resolutions!
| Mr. MASON. The date is January, 1912
Mr. CLAY. For January, 1850 presume.
Mr. MASON. No. they were passed In ~, and are Sill
in force for they revoked Or rescindcd. How
ever Mi President the bill which proposes 10 abolish tn
slave trade is called in the District OF Columbia form
par, Of tina, which is now under consideration have
advcrted it only because it is in the recommendation
the committee and understand it, is suggested as par
of general scheme of adjustment pass however IRON
these topics the bill Immediately under consdera
,ion and which is generally known the "compromis
h' Sir, il my misfortune, as announced on form
day this floor 10 differ with the majority of the com
mtcc in the opinion that the proposed by TIM
committee could be received by the Southern States
basis which the unhappy controversy that has arisen
could be adjusted feel myself however entitled 10 speaI
only for the State which in part represent here and as Il
her speaking under the instructions contained in The
resolutions, part of which have read Just the Sc
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which forbid me to do any act give
any vote which will admit the right of the Congress of m
United States in any manner either directly indirectly &c
exclude tho people OF the Southern States from having free
any of the territories belonging TO these States
and taking with them any Of their property These resolu
tons earmed by the General Assembly Of 80
modified only regards the prohibition of slavery in tho
territory by the expression of willingness yet TO conform
10 the spirit and terms of the Missouri compromise
Mr. President the prohibition of slavery in the territories
formed the great point of division between the parties in The
country; that upon which the Southern States rallied
during the last winter and presented according my
collection an undivided front against the Wimo proviso
as it is caed-or the alleged right in Congress prohibit
slavery in any of the territories which have acquired
from Mexico.
Now sir am fully aware that in the efforts, and will
say great efforts that made 10 bring the minds OF the
American people concurrence in the proposed
by this BILL those who oppose it, either Senators Repre-
sentaves are denounced through the press uras the
meaning being that all who do admit that this bill
ported forms the true basis which the controversy should