Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-20

part are for the constitution and the Union and God ersn
they may remain and if they do nothing can oyerturn
either the or the other. Applause
sorry hear it said because thought il was uninst
that the madness and folly of the expedition to uhs
Southern Why, the South had more to do with il
than the city of Boston, II thing just likely to arise
in the city Of New York New Orleans but that New Or
the place proposed to be attacked unjust
my Judgment to say that such violation Of law per-
petraed by the South, found any apology usif-
cation in the general mind at the South than found in New
York Massachusetts, No, sir the honorable member from
Connecticut told the truth the other day. and obliged
him for telling the truth do not it is unusa with
him, laughter but mean il is unusual in the of this
debate hear the real truth spoken He told the truth in
respect to these acquisitions to the which led the for
hem and to the treaty which consummaed them. II was not
the North and South who rival parties that transaction
1t party twas the party that supported Mr. Polk the
election for the Presidency and supported his measures while
in the Presidency The South undoubtedly, all the party Of
the Administration, took the lead but the North belonging
to the party of the Administrations, followed; and followed
sir not little Iuus did the steps Of his father pas
sJus agus but the North kept up fully and entirely with the
lead of the Southern gentlemen of the party. And,
therefore, glad the honorable member from Connecticut
instead Of giving normal and stereoped speech against the
South told the truth about the history Of these acquisitions
There other topics which will pass said some
thing former occasion about the imprisonment Of black
citizens of the North who 60 South in the fcommerce
and there arrested That Of serious complaint
We that England has complained oft think it is
constitutional think iii evil that ought to be redessed
and never yet could any necessity for It. am fully
persuaded that there might be other means relieve the cities
TO which these vessels co. without committing what is
sdered outrage upon the rights Of those who when
home, considered American citizens Sir, at the
time am bound to say that know nothing in the world to
prevent any free citizen Of Massachusetts, imprisoned under
the law of Carolina, from trying the question Of the constu
ionay Of that law. He may apply at to judge Of
any United States Court for writ Of habeas corpus. do
not think there H therefore, any great occasion for making it
matter for public discussion, for think it is cal
tnfou
bound say, however, that the gentleman who from
Massachusetts, for the purpose of having this question tested
of most excellent character and every way worthy
of the high regard Of all the people of the South.
Sir, was IN Boston some month or two ago, and happen
ed to have occasion say and did say that the public mind
in Massachusetts and the North aborng under certain
Preudices and that should take occasion, which did
not then possess of stating what supposed these pudces
that subject In the frs. place, think, Of course that
the people of Massachusetts, in the people of the North
there is prejudice arising out Of any i'll will any Of
Patriotism any want Of good feeling to the country It all
arises from misnormaon from the result Of those aborious
Efforts made necessarily for twenty years. pevert in
way the public judgment and the public peace Now, the
fruit OF this is exaggerated of the evil Of the reca
nation OF slaves, either from Massachusetts, other States.
What produces that The do exist. There has
not been within the knowledge Of this generation in
which any taken from Massachusetts and back
slavery, by process Of lawnot And yet hundreds
OF people in Massachusetts, who read nothing the abolition
grapted ne6e cases weekly
that men, and sometimes families with children dragged
back and consigned to slavery in the South
Mr. HALE. Will the Senator allow me to ask one
question
Mr. WEBSTER. Certainly, sir.
Mr. HALE. wish to qure if the honorable Senator is
not mistaken in point Of fact with regard individual
having been taken back from Massachusetts
Mr. WEBSTER If so, shall be glad to be corrected
Mr. HALE. think an individual, by the name Of Pear
son. was taken and brought back from Boston within three
four years.
Mr.. WEBSTER. twill state how that was That was
case Of kidnapping by person who claimed pretend
ed TO claim the nego and with him by force What
mean to that under the constitution and laws
OF the country in this generations has been back slavery
from Massachusetts, stated BEFORE and state now that
Of violent seizure by kdnappng have occurred, and may
occur again. 'a"' ~, .. ..,@
Now sir this prejudice has been produced by the ncessant
alon OF abolition doctrine, by abolition presses and abol
ton lecturers upon the mind. No dumhead in the
longest days march necessarily beaten than
the feelings of the public in certain parts Of the North They
have been beaten ncessany every month"; and every day.
andaevery hour, by the din, and roll and ruba-dub of
the abolition presses and abolition lecturers and that it is
which has created these preudces Sir the principle Of the
restitution Of runaway slaves not Objectionable unless the
constitution is Objectionable. If the constitution right in
that respect then the principle right and the law author
zing its exercise right If that be so and if there be
abuse Of the right under any law of Congress- any other
law, then what is there to complain of Now say, not
only far can earD has there been Of the reca
nation of slave by his MASTER which ended in taking him
back again to slavery in this generation but add far
have been able to back in my researches far have
able to hear earn there has been of
false claim. Who knows, in all New England, of
! false claim set up against fugitive slave There may
been but do not know OF any, Nor there any
ianger, when all the community alive upon the subject
ls they are, especially at this time.
But pass that and say that what extraordinary
that this practice of restitution, which has existed hum
ired years in the country and without complaint sometimes
subject of agreement between the North and the South
md sometimes as matter of comfy between the North and
he South, should at once in the length Of time have
mentioned, become subject of much excitement happen
have in my hand letter from Governor Berkeley, of V
ynia, to Governor Endcott of Massachusetts, written in
644 than two hundred years ago; in which he says
hat certain gentleman namng hm has lost slaves
he supposes they have away to the jurisdiction of Gov
rnor Endicot. Their names SO and so And-what
he gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. CLAr) will be glad
lear, precedent for the proper Of proceeding
uch casesths gentleman made appear in that they
we're his slaves, and had away. He goes say,
We expect you to all kind offices for the restoration of
hese servants to their masters, part will
ervants which may to jurisdiction At that date
do not suppose there were many slaves in Massachusetts
ut there was an extensive system Of apprenticeship Hun
reds and thousands Of persons bound apprentices
nd often ran away, and were likely to Virginia
lsewhee and believe it true, this letter states that
hey were returned upon the demand of their So
rue is that that it was found necessary, in the early laws
to make provision for the seizure and
etum Of apprentices, and in all the revsons Of the
tatues of Massachusetts that have been made, that pro-
islon has remained. Here s and it provides that
apprentices may be secured upon the application of the
laser and put into Jail till they be sent for by their
masters nor is there any trial by jury in their say,
neeforc, that this exsggeraon Of the evil and mischief and