The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-27

and seems but Just towards them that the United States
should do It, IL IS due TO Massachusetts, and other States
which have similar causes OF complaint; and is the
time and this the place TO do justice and aay excitement
in all quarters
Mr. BUTLER | am by no means prepared, Mr..
President 10 into the discussion OF this question this
afternoon. have argued II before the Senate and
II were allowed suitable time Tor preparatlon could
again vlndcae the laws OF the State which in part
represent The proposition, broadly made that il IS IN
the power Of Massachusetts 10 make citizens OF that
Stale have different rights in South Carolina from what
persons placed IN similar circumstances III South Carolina
would have. is one thai would arrest the attention and
sanle many persons besides those who reside in that
Stale and why this proposition of the from Mas
sachuseus should be wholly directed to South Carolina
or the southern States which hold slaves | certainly
cannot see because understand that Illinois and some
OF lne other northwestern States have in their cons,tu-
tons prohibtory clause denying 10 persons OF this
description right to become citizens Of their respective
States.
Now, sir, I assert that there is no such thing as a
colored man becoming acilzen OF South Carolina by the
laws Of that State There is such person capable OF
onalnns maj Status Tree man o. color there has 70
a ntehs and purposes, as many civil rights as have.
He can sue and be sued and he has The right OF habeas
corpus He has all the rights Of holding properyas fully
az white man. He may own land and, by the by, he
may negroes Many persons OF color hold slaves.
and have all the rights which white have, except
what may be called The complete right OF citizenship.
NOW, sir, contend there is such thing State
continuing TO citizen of that State when he shall 90
into another State privileges superior TO those allowed
to persons OF similar character in the State where he
may go. say II IS against the constitution But this IS
subject which will not undertake to discuss al this
time, unless this amendment OF the senator from Mass
chusets is insisted upon do not think it gerInane to
the bill but ii is conlended for shall feel bound
go as lar as can INTO The subject to show that these
things complained OF in the State OF South Carolina AMI
IN other southern States more Than done in
some of the non-savehoding States Illinois has
tanly section IN her constitution recognising such per
sons as incapable Of becoming citizens, and denying
them local residence; and it would be novel princi
pie in political relations say that is in the power
OF Massachusetts 10 confer upon my slave right TO
turn and to clam right in South Carolina that he had
forfeited by his escape from A slave away
IRON me IN South Carolina, and goes TO Massachusetts,
where by some process he obtains his freedom and is
perhaps made governor OF the State generalfor sup
pose he may be made such
i Mr.. DAVIS, lin his seat) Certainly.
Mr.. BUTLER. Well, SIR, General SNOWFALL returns
to South Carolina and to his master and tells him.
81 am citizen; | demand right to walk your streets
and every other right belonging TO white men demand
right TO come into your church, and all the other rights
which any OF the free citizens OF South Carolina have
Why, sir, it would be shocking know il is thought
TO be in the abstract very innocent kind of legislation
but IN The concrete gentlemen do not understand what
| they are egslalng upon.
But do not contend to go into argument upon This
question now. If this amendment is insisted upon how
ever shall ask to go into II tomorrow, when think
/ Mr.. FOOrE (in his seat) We are familiar with the
Mr.. BUTLER Perhaps the gentleman is more familiar
Mr.. FOOTE. thought the honorable senator made a
very luminous and satisfactory argument upon 1t some
time since and bear II III my memory.
Mr.. BUTLER. | could get the materials in little
time by which could argue this question; but am
hardly prepared to do II now
feel IN justice bound, however, to say one thing IN
reerence to the gentleman who was sent from Massa.
causets 10 Charleston and the treatment he received
thee think after the many reiusals which had been
lnnaei 10 Massachusetts, when she insisted on send
ing blr Hoar there the circumstances were such upon
his arrival well calculated To excite popular feel
ing He was a gentleman of marked courtesy and deli
cacy, and he went there accompanied by his daughter
SO far from allowing the crowd 10 get to the house OF this
man aud insult him, be being OF high character
and standing his proe in his own Sae my friend
Mr. Rose. invited his daughter TO his house and tnen
said 10 Mr.. Hoar, "We do not require you TO leave
Charleston; you are perfectly welcome to our society,
and We will receive you II you will only give up your
commission and not interfere with this question" Now,
do not say that the gentleman moi placed IN
barrassng position He had received his commission as
for him to be placed in Now sir justice TO the peo-
pie OF South Carolina, must say that there was no mob
The fact was, IL is true, that there was some popular
feeling, and the gentlemen who waited on hm told h,
IL II you will give up your commission, you shall remain
here, and pledge ourselves that you shall not be mo-
Tested" Well, the gentleman replied that his honor
quired that be should retain his commission He was
tnen told If that is your situation, intimate TO you
that you had better leave the State" Upon thai inma
ton he did leave and there was not hand raised to
touch him. II he had consented 10 resign hIs commls
sIon could have remained ~ quiet and his daughter
could have enjoyed his society without scarcely having
known that there had been any attempt al all at popu
lar umut Even il she had not been separated from her
father during his stay there-such was the decacy with
which the matter was treated. which in some States
would scarcely have been aware OF any disturbance.
know this thing has been variousy represented; but
these the prominent facts OF the and might get
the particular facts If II were necessary. only wish 10
put this matter right before the community
Now, in regard 10 this undertaking 10 carry the
OF one OF these persons claiming 10 be citizens OF Mas
saehuseits before court, IL would be novel exhibition
indeed Many oi us have sent free persons TO the North
have done II as the representative OF estate, and
know OF many colored persons who have lett Charles
/ ton, and gone to the North. There were some by the
name OF Jones who went 10 the North, and have since
besought the legislature OF South Carolina TO allow them
10 BY special act but refused. And yet,
under the eterce sci mp here would be very easy Tor
Massachusetts to make those persons OF color citizens OF
that State, and require that they should be allowed 10
return to South Carolina IN violation OF law.
have said before, sir, that the old acts o Congress
very explicit in saying that so lar regards sailors
gagged in the foreign OF the country, they shall
be citizens or native persons OF coors--distngushng
between citizens and native persons o color Now, SIR
these the old acts OF Congress when Massachusetts
and South Carolina in a condition OF cordial
understanding with each other and there no con
fct between them with regard TO policy OF this kind.
Such were the laws passed IN 1890 regulating seamen
and those acts will be found to contain clause expressly
declaring that engaged in the foreign commerce
shall be citizens native persons OF color showing that
II contemplated by the trainers OF that law that
free persons of color should be regarded citizens of
United States. The black man who becomes a sailor
confines himself to the domic of the State that confes
upon him the privilege OF citizenship and deny the prop
oshon that is in the power OF one State to confer upon
any individual the rights which the status does not
allow him in another State, and claim for him those
/ rights when he goes to that State.
But this is proposition foreign to the subject OF the
! bill IL is proposed here to try the question OF this right
Ii is experiment which, If successfully tried, will de-