Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-26
speech of MIR. Mcclerpand of Illinois.


The Convention adjourned
Speech of MIR. McClernand of Illinois.
On the 9th instant in the House Of Representatives of
the United States, Mr.. Giddngs made motion to refer
all that part of the Presidents Message which related
domestic affairs the Judiciary Committee. This
motion gave him an opportunity to make an abolition
harangne, of an hours length He was followed by
Mr. McClernand, who made the five minute speech
which give below at the conclusion OF which the de-
bate stopped by the almost unanimous vote OF the
House.
THE REFERENCE OF THE MESSAGE.
Mr.. McCLERNAND addressed the committee for
five minutes, in opposition to the resolution of the gen.
tleman from Ohio, follows:
Mr. Nice. did not rise TO follow the gentleman from
Ohio his wanderngs upon the subject of slavery his
only object to repudate for himself his district and
for Illinois large, the dsoya sentiments which had
been advanced and ascrbed to the people Of the North
generally Mr.. McC. believed that the great mass of
the people of the North free from the contagion Of
the revolutionary sentiments, which had been advan-
ced. The people of the non-slavehoding well
the people of the saveholdng States law abb
ding and patriotic peope-they revered the constitu-
ton, attached to the Union, and were willing to
fulfil their public duties.
The gentleman from Ohio objected the fugitive
slave actthe act lately passed by Congress. He was
opposed to it because, as he alleged it outrage
upon human rights and reproach to a civilized and
Christian community. The gentleman should not de-
ceive himself nor the public. The question here was
not whether ssScry right or wrong, but what our
duty as law givers This was the question. The con-
sttutlon provided that ugltves from service should be
delivered upon claim of the party to whom such service
labor may be DUE Without this provision the con-
stitution would not have been adoptcd-at least
informed. The faith of the States became pledged
to carry into effect this provisions the faith of the gov
eTnment became pledged; and in pursuance Of this
solemn obligation, Congress passed law in 1893, early
alter the organization OF the government to carry
to practical effect This law was passed by Congress
ncadt If
who voted for the law; and it signed and approved
by Washington under the sanction of his oath of Office
This the example of the Father OF his Country and
his eomparios in the struggle for personal liberty and
national independence. Are the gentleman from Ohio
and his adherents pure, patriotic, phi
anthropc than those iustrious nien Have they done
more fol- tie good of mankind than their ancestors?
Scarcely
The law of 1893 fulfilled its purpose for number of
years it fairly and in good faith eecHted and flu
glves from service were delivered up in all the
slavcholng States but in the OF years voluntary
combinations organized who. by various arts
duced slaves from their homes and y secret means
veyed them distance from the jurisdiction OF the
slavehoding States Not only this business carried
on secretly and by stratagem but not unfrequcny the
party claiming the restoration of the ugitives in
suited and violently maltreatcd. This practice became
crying grievance The great mass Of the ust-mnded
men of the country admitted it to be So and deprecated
its existence; the South became dstrusul of the North
and the North began become aenaed from the South:
thus things growing every day. Out of
these sprung the amendatory lugtives slave
1t designed to remedy acknowledged grievance,
and to fatal tendency sectional disrust and
Twill, and finally to disunion
Now, if the act is wicked who responsible for it
Not those who bow the supremacy of the constitution
and lawsnot those who yielded obedience to the law Of
49, passed by revolutionary patriots and saocs, and
which approved by Neutrality-suspicious. of these: but
those the contrary, who have counseed the dsrc-
gard and violation of that law who have resisted its
ccuton, and rendered nullity upon the statue book
frrItla anil
ty for the amenatOry fugitive slave act and upon them
rests and should rest the responsibility. Yes, out Of
their lawless and rcbelous doing sprang the aendato
ry act.
The gentleman from Ohio makes his objection too late
The law which he denounces is but the luilmcnt of
constitutional Injunction and his objection should be
made to the constitution ITSELF rather than to the law
Is he opposed the constitution Would he tear that
sacred instrument into fragments to CRAFTY his wild
dreams of instant and universal emancipation! Would
he do this? II so, let him make clean breaset him
the fact. Is candid is honest to profess loyalty
and devotion to the constitution and at the time to
reject its nunctons? Let the abotionists If they WILL
strike the constitution ITSELF this is the OF what
they lenounce evil Let them for a conven-
ton to change the constitutions Or if they arc too mpo
tent for that let them to iorcble means OF revou
ton. This course would be more open and manly, al
though it might be penalty responsible than the
demanded and toruous which find favor with
Of them. But they will yet venture upon this alter
natve-t is fraught with much danger. The very ex
cess and madness of such attempt would react and
drive from them thousands of honest but delued men
it would precpitate hiaeous catastrophe, only
contemplated by a few desperate leaders.
The amendatory is identical in its main features
with the act of 1793-ts provisions only strin
gent and eiicacous and that is the difference between
them. Under the old bystanders in the free States
were liable to be required by the ministerial officer
assist in executing it they were liable upon
cent and acknowledged principle of law. Under the
law they required to do more, except that
the duty Of compliance is enacted in the law itself IL
the President had said less in his message upon ths sub
ject, he would have been wanting in public duty The
Constitution authorizes and requires him execute the
laws and he is sworn to do so. hopo he will do so:
for one will assist him in doing So far my voice
and strength will 90; and should he omit do So will
be equally prompt 10 denouncc the delinquency The
friends of the Union divided from its enemies
not abstraction, not speculative question of
philanthropy but upon the question whether the Consti
tuition and laws to stand and be respected. The
will the stability and value of boosted in
situations For one would maintain the supremacy of
the Constitution and unexpectedly if could and if
the United States ard Iy the whole power of the militia
of the country and the same. Think is the sentiment
of the great mass of the people North and South.
The question being agreeing to the amendment of
Mr.. Giddings, it was rejected.
Public Lands.
The Report of the Commissioners of the several Land
lie domain. From it we learn that the whole quantity
L. IT,. H. Ind