The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-06-12
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
VOLUME X X.
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH.
IN UNITED STATES SENATE,
OF TUESDAY,, MAY %.

The Bills from the Committee Of rhitteer
being under discussion, Mr.. Clay addressed
the Senate, in reply TO Mr.. Soule, as fol
lows:
Mr.. Clay. Mt. President: The debate O,
this day has been conducted with great r.
regularity. A single proposition IVES before
,he Senate aud that on an amendment to a
pancular section, as to the prohibition a.
rains, legslslion by the territorial lcgi,la.
lures, as TO tho subject of slavery, aud al.
though hat vas lac soli,nry QUESTION before
The Senate, Senators have ranged oui upon
the vide ocean Of discussion, embracing in
the cou,.e of their argument the entire sub.
&c, Of the Compromise. feel constrained d
m yindicliion OF he act OF The committee, o(
which was an humble member, TO meet
some of the Arguments OF tho Honorable
Senator's, aud | will begin with he last. The
Senator from Louisiana, Mr. Snu!e. fsds
h,nstll incompetent TO concur in The scheme
Of compromise which has been proposed. -
VIII that Senator condesccnd To present q
prolsc, oi his own for the satisfaction and re-.
cancellation Of The people Of this country 7
finding Of iaul', and This discovering with the
aid Of nagnif, ing glasses. Of defects, Of little
enimsicufe which are upon the surface OF
matter, that are not discefnible TO the naked
exc, is practice which can be attended With
no PRACTICAL benefit. II is The duly Of the
Senator who has just addressed Us, ns we'll as
lte duty ot nll who assail this Compromise,
10 give a project, or to tell US how they can
reconcile the conflicting interests Of tho dif
iefeul paris ol this cuunify, and harmonise
those dssrscied portions. venture TO say,
upoo every subject If which the learned Sen.
slor has treated, he has dore great inlustice
10 the ac's of the Committee and do not
mean 10 follow him Throughout, but | will
take . rsp,d notice Of his objections to the
various features Of this fepoI,. The Seaa.
tor bsgsn. /! ! am not mistaken, with an ob.
jrclion TO that which relates to the recovery
ol fugitive slaves, aud he said with an air Of
issat'sfsciion, if not of some dersian, that
The committee had brough. back that bill
With certain emhafrsssnsnis, instead of i'm.
provemeDis. brg him TO recolec,, S,r.
that the greatest AFFECTIONS which have been
made 10 The part RELAXING 10 fugises, come
from States which are not suffering maien.
al,y ander The evil complained of. | stated
the other day, and | will repeat II now. thai,
my own State is the most suil-nng State !;
and | venture TO s'aic that Louisiana Is The
least 81. But sei lhc Hon Senator. whea
~ Of the borjsf States are perfectly sat,,hed
] believe, with the PROVISIONS, sees in them
objections which are insufmouniabe. And
shat afc he emtauassmeuis Of which he
complains Why, tha, the slave owner IN
pursuit of hts fugitive property is TO carry
with him n record. That ! contend, is an
sdvsntagc-a protection TO the slave holder
"a great advantage; fnr that record will
command a respect ~ the Free States. and
give hiT o securtiy WHICH no affidavit before
q Justice can confer.
And With respec, TO the other subject re.
ported hy The committee that Of tilsi BY IN.
~, Where is the praciica, inconvenience
OF q iti,l taking place III Stale from which
The for,,,vc has fled Aud 10 pom, Of prac.
tcal effect, venture TO saw IL will no, occur
in ono instance IN thousand, because Nher.
ever The fugitive is arrested, and claims be.
fofc the officer who Is 10 gran; the certificate
s,mos, IN every instance be fund that this
claim for freedom is mere prctes,, and
when he gets hack 10 his own State he will
abandon the pretex,. Let !, be remember
ed, Too, that this is proposed a. y substitute,
as a satisfaction to The North FOR that trial
by Jury, for which they contend, aud which
] have insisted would amount to virtual sur.
render Of The Constitutional provisions
Mr.. President find myself in very pc
cular and most painful SITUATION in respect
TO ,he defence OF this report. hnd myself
assaed BY extremes every whereby under
cutrenis-by those in high mud low authori
ty, but believing as do, that this measure
only will pass, If any does, during the present
session, shall stand up in i,s surpot, agains
all objections .pringing from whatever quar-
Ter they may. Ii was bu, the other day tina
found myself reproached al the North fol
ui'ering calumny upon their institutions b.
saying tha, u trial by jury IN The case OF fu
| gtive slaves could not be relied upon as
remedy for master who had lost slave. -
As if had not commended and applaudet
The administration OF justice upon the sublec
OF fugitive slaves, so FAR as It respected, a
least, federal and State courts generally !
argued ,ha, Il you require from ken'uc
Kan who has lost his slave, that he shall re
sort TO trial by jury in Massachusetts on III
question of tho fugitive's freedom, it will b
requisite in consequence of such an sssertio
o. his privilege, that you draw testimon
from kcniueky-lhst you delay the trir
from time to lime-,ha, the power Of gram
ine n new trial shall be awarded--that a
appeal and supervising power will be M
cessary upon The 6na. trial. SO that when yo
sum up the case at the close, although u
owner may recover his property, he h,
spent perhaps twice tho value of his slav
iba. was the argument, and ye, ntthe Nor