Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03


there higher power over u.s. and have heard Of late
years that crime to recognise power higher than
human power.
MI PRATT, Tin his sea.) No one denies that
Mr.. HALE. do remember instance recorded in
ancient and sacred history Analogous to this II s recorded
that certain occasion the princess and governors and
mighty Of the realm got together and suggested to tho
king Of Babylon publish decree that whoever should put
up prayer petition to any other than he king, for the
space of three dayst limited 70 three days only let
II be OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES be cast into q den OF lions.
have not heard that decree was IN force more than
three days, and the operation oft such that never was
renewed Ia Babylon And have heard Of any
country, civilized savage where is has been crime to
acknowledge, individuals men1bes Of civilized gov
there is king Of kings and lord Of ords before
whom even the stubborn pride Of repuaics must bend the
knee.
Mr. FoOTE. Will the gentleman allow me to remark
Mr.. HALE. shall be through in a moment.
Mr.. FOOTE. Risony asaor question.
Mr. HALE. wsh this matter be put distinctly before
u.s. wish that asindvduals mary understand whether
is necessary in order to occupy seat on this aoor to put
the provisions Of tbs constitution above the behes,s Of the
king of kings and whether when we reveTeny stood up
and kissed His holy book and called upon Him to help
to maintain its precepts in heart we msntain that our
constitution above His supreme authority Sir it
is crime to deny that our constitution above st sothor
y, am criminal II the Senate is to be expurgated
Of every body who believes that sentiment let the work
commence and let it commence new. Let the preamble
show what Sthe offence Of which they are guilty. Let
it be stated that they believe, high and exalted the
sentiments they entertain of the wisdom and power of
the constitution which fathers formed may be, that
they reverenty believe that there power higher even
than that power whichepubcs well kings must bow
in submission. Sir, if that be crime, plead guilty
will put the Senator from Myand any body else to
the troable of proving it. Iadm 1t believe it. believe
that you have right to bring the supremacy OF your Re
public into conflict with the commands of the Most High.
believe that sentiment in its boa dest sense, and have here
ooe supposed that the action of based
the reveen admission Of this principle and that we
had not yet in the psnitnde e our and in the un
,dled state of pride, that pitch of presumption
hat to be consderet onee against the consttu
ion to bow reverenty to the Most High.
Mr.. PRATT It very es ~ matter to oppose an ar
,umens based upon another Sir does the Senator from
ew Hampshire ssy in his place that he understood me to-
that did not believe IN su pene power, or that OBJ
sced to the Senator from New ork for looking higher
'ower higher law than any human power Did the
senator understand me He knows he did not and yet
,e has risen here IN the which peculiar him.
,sng SCI phrases to suit occasion-phrases which,
well they may suiiceraDa occasons-however they
nay exhibit the talents of the thor Of he have just
much application state of facts another He
the facts salt the phras and does apply tho
phrases to suit the facts Now have not said that had
Ugh respect and there is not Senator who
does believe tht have high respect for
hat higher power whose is frequently desecrated
,ere, the Senator from T!ew Hampshire.
Mr.. HALE. I call the Senator order.
The PRESIDENT. The Sc nator will take his seat, and
et the words be written down. I
After seme conversation the discussion proceeded.
Mr. PRATT. Now, Mr. President, the higher law Of
which spoke not the Divine law to which the Senator
refers and before they apply that Divine law,
suffer ths Senator with whom this dispute originated to be
the position 10 which hss placed his advocates
here must this aat the constitution Of the United
States isvoatve of that higher laws that here is the consu
ton which violates the lava Of the Supreme Being, and that
therefore to support that consfution al
ony . m a. asTol ao a thai he 70 support
aw. Ihumhy conceive that tho position of the Senator in
vhichhs placed BY his advocates NOT altered from b,
which be has taken
Now if the Senator from New Hnnpshre means to avow
he opnion which have expressed and expressed by
he Senator behind him, CMr SEwAnD,) then say that, if
make the molten to exclude the Senator from New York,
hancude him with the motion with the pleasure in the
,orld Now sir here acting fairly togethe equals
look at the constitution of couDty and nothing it
hich vioatye of any higher Law which pledged to
beg in preference it, Senators say that the portion Of the
constitution of the United States which protects the
property in slaves voaseof the supreme law and that
supreme law, being hghsr that the constitution, they
ound to obey it. Now, say that the Senator who enter
ns that opinion is not property qualified to be member of
his body, and should not be permitted to remain in il.
Mr.. HALE | ask the Senator from Maryland when he
YER heard me say so
Mr.. PRATT. Say what ;
Mr.. HALE. When did say that held that part Of
constitution which recognises the hong slaves pro-
,ry as contrary to the divine law and that did not feet
ound to support it
Mr.. PRATT. never heard the Senator rora New Hamp-
hich commencedhat the Senator argued that there
higher law of which he spoke He argued against rae and
eld up rebuke because denied what he now denies,
nd he never entertained stated that he understood
at the time, and he knew thai be understood and
that he might break the force ohs remark he
which did not exs-hat is that had uttered sen-
,ents of of respect for the Supreme Being that had
ivocated that which sacegous towards the Supreme Be-
,g, for whom he entertained profound q respect
But will dean the Senate longer with this sub ject.
started with the proposition that there is contained in the
oeeches of the Senator from New York. he spoke and
believe they written and printed, sentiment that
higher law than the Constitution Of the United States
nd, although he has support that constitution, yet
lat violates this higher law and he is not bound support
at ALL Now, the Senator from Connecticut, in his EXPOSE
Of what the Senator from New York meant said that
higher law in harmony with the constitution Why, we
II believe in that aw-a least do sincerely and humby
eeve in that higher law promulgated from heaven Now,
be Senator from Connecticut says be understood the Sena
from New York conne his remarks to such under
tandng Of this higher law to be consistent with the
tution. The Senator from New York never could have
nean that, because he said that overode the constitution
bound to obey in preference to the constitution We
acknowledge this higher law being consistent with the OBJ
cations support the constitution itself Il only the
opposition thar the constitution be vioave of this higher
that the remark Of the Senator from New Yok have
ny sense in it.
After few remarks from Messrs. BALDWIN, CHASE,
nd FOOTE the Presiding Officer inerered to check this
iscusson, and the question being taken upon the amend
nent OF Mr. SEWARD, was rejected by the following vote
YEA-Mr Seward-l.
NAYS-Messrs Atchson Badger, Barnwell, Bel, Ben-
on, Berren, Bradbury Bright, Butler, Cass, Clarke Clay
;ooper Davis OF Mississippi Dawson Dayton, Dickinson
Dodge, OF Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Feeh foots ueene'
iun;er, Jones, King, Mason, Morton Pratt Kuik,
shields, Smith, Souie Spuance Sturgeon Iurney, ohuer-
Waie alta