The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18
WHOLE NO. 172.


properly with all mankind would feel that
had disgrsced the name Of man if did not con
slider the incendiary villain that had stirred up
such mischief in my domestic circle as my enemy
And ii | did not long as a drop of blood
coursed in this good right arm, treat him as such,
| should consider, sir, that had degraded the
form of man.
The petition was resd--the venerable men Of
the Senate grew solemn Mr. Butler Of South
Carolina rose with emotion. He said 3:
My friend from Texas says God grant that the
progress of this thing may be arrested but, Mr.
President, | am afraid utter truth when | say
that that progress is not destined 10 be arrested
Sir, two Of the mist distinguished Senators on
this floor have exerted their voices and their in
huence TO arrest il and what has been the conse-
quencel IL has brought down upon the NestOr
of the Senate, as the Senator from Kentucky
Mr. Clay is sometimes termed, a systematic at
! tack from different quarters. And what has been
the fate Of the distinguished Senator from Mas
sscsuse.ss1 Mr. Webster Why, public meet
ings have been held, aud he has been denounced
in every form and for what For ayowing the
broad duty Of good filth in compliance with trel-
ties and the compromises of the Constitution.
Mr. Foote | must confess that [ am not SO
much excited on this occasion as several Of my
beloved friends here, or "a | have been myself
upon several former occasions ] rather think,
sir, that the action which has been commented
upon-the introduction Of certain petitions here,
and the agitation kept up in connection there
with-is simply part of the policy of a certain
class of poll lei ms in the North with the view 10
the cultivation las we have heretofore had very
broadly admitted before us) Of sort Of local
popularity, with view 10 their own personal ad-
vancement | do not believe, indeed | feel
sured to the contrary, that in the States Of the
| North there is such a condition Of public sent-
ment as will justify the movements Of certain
| persons, here and elsewhere, upon the questions
referred TO- Nor has anything which has oc-
Cured this morning induced me to believe that
the Union is in greater danger to-day than IL was
| on yesterday or the day before yesterday. The
old saying is tSat t darker. ;eriod Of The pjsbt
ia Just before day and trust sir, that the morn
ing of our deliverance is now dawning upon us,
and that the period Of darkness and gloom has
well nigh terminated.
| In allusion to Mr. Seward, who presented the
petition, and who, il is thought, has some inau-
ence in nominations for office, Mr.. Foote an
nouned his purpose hereafter to vote against all
nominations in which he had reason to believe
were concerned any gentlemen who should pre-
sent such petitions in the Senate
After further conversation, Mr.. Clay felt called
upon to come to the rescue of the Union, put in
jeopardy by this paper missile.
MIR. Clay. | will move then, to take up the
petition on the subject of the enrolment Of the
slaves of this country in the militia, for the pur-
pose of making motion, and, without further
argument upon the subject, invite the Senate to
act upon it; expressing hope and | shall call
| for the yeas and nays for that purpose that this
petition will be rejected by the decisive and In
dignant and unanimous vote Of the whole body.
| move you, sir, to take up the petition and will
then move to reject the prayer Of the petition,
and call for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered Mr.. Seward
in brief way stated his position. He believed
the right Of petition inherent and felt it his duty
to present whatever petitions were in'rusted to
| his care without assuming TO discriminate
defend and vindicate those which | rise In
my place to defend and vndcate and leave
| without vindioation or defence, and for future
consideration, those which present without vim
dication or defence This is my rule Of action.
Other Senators have different rule. They
think they have a right, and that they are bound
to discriminate between petitions which they
will present to this body and those which they
will not. do not impugn their motives do
not assail them in the least. should have lived
TO but little purpose, Mr. President, rs long as
have lived, if | had not learned from my own in
frmitles the obligations Of justice and charity to
the motives of others. shall not shrink from
the performance of what is my duty, under any
circumstances Of censure. ! 20 little further in
explanation because shall vote for receiving this
petition. shall vote against the resolution to
reject 1t.
Mr.. Clay, lin his seat) The motion is to re-
| ject the PRAYER OF the petition
Mr.. Seward. ! thank the honorable Senator
| from Kentucky for the information | under
stood IL to be motion to reject the petition itself
A Senator. Oh, no TO reject the prayer of
the petition.
MIR. Seward | am in favor, as have said, of
the emancipation of the slaves in this country,
and in all Countries but, as ! have said before,
| am in favor Of obtaining that object only by
peaceful, lawful, and constitutional means and
where the Constitution interdicts, there ! stop.
To receive this petition and reject its prayer, as
one that ought not to be granted, is in exact ac-
cordancc with the course have before proposed
in regard TO petitions for n dissolution Of the
Union II belongs to the States where slavery
exists, to abolish II there. To arm and organize
the slaves would be q means Of violence 10 effect
emancipation unconstitutionally In violation Of
State rights
And now whatever may be intended for me,
here or elsewhere, | beg honorable Senators to
understand this as the rule Of my conduct for the
future shall never assail the motives Of any
member Of this body. | shall never defend my
self against any imputation Of motives made
against me. If such imputstions are made, in
whatever shape they may come, ss they have done
In various shapes here | shall pass them by In
silence. They will not in the least disturb my
equanimity.
Mr. Clay. I rise to say single word, and that
H. TO express hope that there will be no further
discussion, but that the vote will be taken. and
taken in the manner | have suggested, with a
solemnity and unanimity which, am sure, will
have n good effect. The petition, be 1t remem-
bered, has been received. There can therefore
be no reproach against the Senate for not receiv-
ing IL. The question now Is, shall its prayer be
granted? And that prayer Is TO do what no man
can conceive or dream OF without horror and dis
may. The proposition Is to embody every slave
In the United States In the militia of the United
States. Sir, trust honorable Senators are pre-
pared 10 vote upon this question. The Senator
who sits near me Mr.. Seward has, In very
cain, orderly manner, expressed his views. Though
we may not agree with him, let US say nothing
more but 20 to the vote, and vote, by singular
instance OF unanimity and decision, against the
abominl able prayer Of the petition.
The motion was put from the Chair, and the
yeas and nays having been taken, resulted 80 fol-
lows;
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Ben
ton, Borland, Bradbury, Bright, Butler, Chase
| chusetts Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge Of Iowa,
Dodge, Of Wisconsin, Douglas, Fetch, Foote,
Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Hunter, Jones, King,
Mangum, Mason, Miller, Morton, Norris, Pearcs,
Phelps, Rusk, Sebastian, Seward, Shields, Smith,
Soule Spruance, Turney, Underwood, Wales,
Walker, Webster, Whitcomb, and Yulse--4s.
NAYs-None.
SO the motion was unanimously adopted.
Zone cannot but smile at the excessive ner
vousness Of the Senatorial body. Some people,
We fear, have found out the peculiar infrmity Of
certain Of Its members, and take miscblevous