The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-30
REMARKS OF


Mr. KING Mr.. President, as stated on
yesterday, when / offered the amendment to the
amendment of the honorable senator from Mis-
sissippi, it is my intention merely to make a
statement of the different measures proposed by
the select Committee of Thirteen, and to assign
as concisely as possible the reasons that would
Influence my vote on each of these measures
taken separately. This becomes the more neces-
sary, inasmuch as | have on several occasions
differed with my friends from the South, as my
votes have manifested; and, us j have reason to
believe, in consequence of that difference, the
position that have occupied with regard to that
report of the Committee of Thirteen, has not
been only misunderstood in the country, but
even misunderstood by several honorable Sena-
tors. shall proceed, therefore, to state sue
cinctly, the reasons that will influence me, and
have influenced me from the beginning, in sup
porting certain portions of the bill as reported
by the Committee. Yet at the same time must
declare here, as have declared on every occasion
to individuals who took the trouble to converse
with me on the subject, that unless the bill un-
dergoes considerable modification, it is utterly
impossible for me--belieying, Us do, that the
rights Of the South will not be secured by this
bill in its present shape-to give it my support
AS it is not my intention to engage in any dis
measures that have been reported by the Com
mittee of Thirteen, / hope the Senate will in
dnlge me in stating what were the grounds upon
which consented in the Committee to the re
porting of the bills not now under consideration.
/ have no intention to enter into discussion Of
the merits of those bills. If that permission is
accorded to me, ] will call the attention of the
Senate to the first bill, being the bill to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia. think
that my friend from Virginia, Mr.. HUNTER, who
spoke on yesterday, misunderstood the proyi-
sions of that bill, or he would not have made
several of the objections which he urged upon
the Senate. If, however, in the course of the
examination, it is found that the objections sug-
gested by the honorable Senator do exist, ] feel
confident that they will be so amended as to
steer clearof those objections or Inconvenience,
and am ready to admit that the provisions
found in the law of Maryland emancipating this
slave, which is proposed to be applied to the
District, is Objectionable and should be stricken
out. l take it for granted that the honorable
Senator is not opposed to the principle Of the
bill itself And know, as well as can know
anything in which was participation, that it
was the intention of the Committee so to arrange
the bill rs simply to break up those slave pens
that have been established by negro spectators
within the District of Columbia, against the
wishes of the great majority Of the people of the
District, and which arc calculated to shock the
feelings of Southern as well as Northern men.
stated at an early period of the session that
never saw the day when would not vote in
favor of breaking them up. will do so now |;
and have too high confidence in the humani-
ty, in the proper feeling of the Southern people,
to believe for a moment that they will condemn
me for doing what my conscience tells me that
strict duty demands. The next bill to which
wish to call the attention of the Senate is the fug
tive slave bill To that my honorable friend
from Virginia also found very serious objections.
Now with regard to that bill, there is not Sen
ator upon this floor, as far as know-perhaps
there may be one or two eXceptions-thnt has
not manifested, either by word or by acts, a
disposition to enforce that provision of the Con-
sttution of the United States, which requires
that fugitive slaves should be delivered up
Some speak-and was sorry to see such a
proposition find countenance in high quarters
in favor Of a trial by Jury in the State to which
the fugitive has fed, which would render the law
entirely imperative. But will not now discuss
that The bill is on your table; and whenever
it comes up, unless it is presented to the coun-
try in its proper light, | shall then perhaps find
it my duty to give my views on that particular
question.
But with regard to the opinion of the honora-
Bile Senator, that the record evidence required
was calculated to defeat the very object that the
bill had in view, why, sir, there was not a men,
Der of the committee that did not believe it was
giving additional security, inasmuch as record
evidence when it could be obtained, would be
respected more in the free States to which the
fugitive had fled, than any other kind Of evil
dence. But further than that, it relieved the
| owner of the slave from the necessity of taking
persons with him to establish the identity OF
the slave. This accumulation Of evidence does
not prevent the pursuit of the slave; notat all
the owner of the fugitive slave may obtain it or
not, as may be most convenient to him. 1t was
considered to be accumulation, and therefore to
give additional facilities to the owner of the
slave in obtaining his property. Sir, there was
another motive, which perhaps was very proper
one to enter into the consideration OF this sub
iect 1t is that wherever the law was to be
executed, it is Of the first importance that the
sentiment of the country should not be shocked
by the execution Of it, but that it should chime
in, as far as possible, with the feelings and even
prejudices OF the people. 1t was supposed that
this evidence would command the high respect
of the people generally, and thereby facilitate
the recovery of the fugitive. But even if this
the free States-from one portion of the com
munity, from one portion of the country
mean the Democracy of the Northwest, stand
prepared to make it as stringent as any Southern
man requires it to be made, so as to insure the
purpose intended to be accomplished, and to
render it as effective as possible.
Therefore, ! think that my honorable friend
should be satisfied with the bill MS it now stands,
until it properly comes up for consideration and
amendment. Then any suggestion that will
give strength to that bill, so as to enable the
Shareholder to recover his property, guaranteed
to him by the Constitution of the United States,
would be admitted by a large majority of the Sem
ate. | pass by that question Igave my assent to
reporting this bill, believing with my Southern
friends, that we were arranging it in such way
as was best calculated to effect the object we
had in view. We were DESTROYS, and our North
ern friends were willing that we should do
everything in our power to render the bill effec-
tive and satisfactory. Mr.. President, the next
subject to which would call the attention of
the Senate, is Immediately connected with the
subject matter before us and it is, perhaps,
one Of the most difficult points to settle which