The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-10
\ CONGkESS OF TILE u. STATES
Thirsy-rsrss Conuwsss-F1rst session
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER as, 1850.
[gyEsisG sEssloS--Is. cosTisuATios.l



Ne@ s,ssArr. G awob ~ y asaoE
4H PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Bp "a .asi
A, WINTHROP beg The indulgence of the Senate
FOR single moment while make an explanation Of a
r. uil lie remembered by The Senate that during on ex.
,uos debate which occurred here most unexpectedly
week or two since, introduced letter from Boston
hmase in regard 10 the Imprisonment OF our free col
ed eamen in the southern ports That letter was made
s subject OF very anadyers0n, and the author
II i was siignatized as a person wholly unworthy oil
ssi, II was declared that his statements were entirely
y ,hey existed in all the southern ports and he left
mdsr impulations Of q most injurious character
Now il part Of my purpose td revive any excite
n On this subject at the present moment or TO disturb
M harmony Of the Senate with any matters Of contro-
.y il these closing hours Of the session But having
xrn the unwilling cause OF bringing into question the
character ol worthy Massachusetts sea captain. can
not consent thai the session should come to end with
ami saving few words TO relieve him from the reproaches
which have been cast upon him.
MI HUNTER. | hope there is 10 be no debate this
MI MI WINTHROP. ! will promise the senator from
Virginia, If he will permit me 10 proceed without inter
ruuiop that will not, nnder any circumstances, enter
no debate, and that will not exceed two minutes by
desire only to say. here and nsw In the simplest and
efes terms that have received from some OF the most
respectable merchants and shipowners OF Boston the
strongest testimonials OF Captain Ranletts intelligence
profession, capacity or honesty and speaking OF him
ss entitled to every degree Of consideration and conf
dence. have received, Also from the same sources,
many statements going to confirm the accuracy OF the
general facts which set forth in his letter. and prov
ng clearly that while there is room for the idea that his
language has something OF that exsggeraton which we
might expect to find in The o hand impulsive statement
one not much accustomed 10 write letters for the pub
eve, il was YET he letter q an honest man, who knew
what be was talking about, and who designed to tell
nothing but what was strictly true.
As the senator from Louisiana MT SouLEl has kindly
proposed 10 make an explanation on the subject OF the
louisiana law will no, anticipate him on that point
Ipnpose, however, without troubling the Senate fur
het al this lime, 10 append hereafter TO these brief re-
marks the e,iience which have received on this SUBJ
Jet including the deposition on oath OF Captain Ranle,t
himself, a..,@ss
Iee bound 10 say publicly to the senator from South
Carolina, lMr. BUTIERl-io whom have already shown
this deposition-'hat il proves that he wasscorrect in
thinking that question q saoage entered into the par
ucular which described in the letter but that
proves, ALSO that the case was adiudicated BY the
Chamber Of Commerce of Charleston, South Carolina,
who bore testimony TO the good conduct Of Capt Ranlet
on the occasion.
But will not respass further on ihe indulgence oi the
Senate, except TO repeat that, with the simple view of
vndicailng the character o honest Boston shipmas
trof most respectable connexions who has been in the
merchant service for thirty years, dschaging his duty
without fear and without reproach and whose character
Tor Humanity aested by the fact that within two years
ast he has saved twenytbree persons from sinking
ssl intend 10 place upon the same record which
ains the mputaions which have been cast upon him
the statements which have been furnished me in regard
10 the law and the facts in question.
llhe evidences upon this subject will hereafter be
published
Mr.. SOULE. feel much relieved from the oppor,u.
MY which Is offered Of correcting error into which
tell most involu1zrly, when the subject referred to by
The senator from Massachusetts was last before the Sem
ue was under the impression that The law from
which read had been altered but was still then
stood prior 10 lsf2. have since discovered that
Subsequent statute had modified the condition OF things
existing under the law OF 1880, with respect 10 peo-
pie OF color coming board OF ships from other States
Loulasna, so as to require the harbor ormasters 10
port hen 10 The municipal authorities, who hsreupon
ore % issue warrants ior the arrest o such persons But
hs law goes further in It's severity On the contrary,
provides Tor the exradition OF persons thus arrested 10
NE Maie from whence they comeat their cost, If they
s able TO pay thcmi at the cost Of TIE State II they are
Such being the law Of Louisiana since ls42 il seemed
me that was not only natural but right and proper,
hal should have been enforced Presuming this, nm.
nednsy wrots teegaphc despatch 10 the recorder Of
ne hrst municipality of New Orleans, ia order TO ascer.
AIN whether or not the cases under the law last
uoned were such as TO give countenance TO The loud
eamos rssed on the assertion that there were less
han hundreds that occurred in single year The an
.sei whsh have obtained, and which hold in my
band, shows that the In the FIRST municipality du-
hE the whole period which has apsed since s42 hardly
.sc o H. osss on% an 20
aee aio Of twelve year Tor each. desire TO set my.
e right with respect this matter nothing has
eesn uriher from my mind ihaa 10 do the least injustice
. any human being, be he from what quarter he may,
y any erroneous assertion into which may have been
Fuayed wish, therefore, 10 have them corrected,
as what have said goes and 10 exoneraie the person
nluo.d TO In the fomef debate from any imputation
sasea On statement Of the law and OF the facts under
no' IN accordance with the statement made here.
Mr BUTLER. would not on any consideration
nave any gentleman suffer BY anything that might take
se IN The conflict OF debate; and when my friend from
nassachuses appeals to to do justice individual
snore name has been involved and whose character has
somewhat by implication been reflected upon on such an
on, oo,s, VII. IN avery few words so far as can.
masters should have decided opposion 10 the law o
oou.n CsSollnA and other souihern ports, BY which
cooseo persons are committed TO prison, am not at all
~ y sna mat under the influence Of their feelings
.snu pNioon much 10 them,) they should have made
somewhat exaggerated statement Is perhaps naturally
20 De expected. ! am sure that the candor of Cant
ia WI eoncsde the truth Of what have Just said
~. ~, mas convinced me that he is willing TO
,eou tne inferencee which might have been drawn
tom the statements which have heretofore heen made nv
i've letter and The certificate Of The Cbamber Of Com
m.iee O Cbsreson satisfies me that he s respectable
man No temptation on earth, 80 far al I knpw NV
.s, could induce me TO do injustice 10 any ndi.
yldual N our political strife but am inclined to thnt
Geat with strong feeling of opposition 10 this law
sm han'eit has, - he says himself, INDUCED in
tmswnsi exaggerated statements. As an evidences
~ mai must state, in justice 10 the law itself and
nspraece under IT, that in South Carolina no individual
aas ever been sold under that law wish thai point
ind remembered. And. 90 far as concerns The two
Of whom Capt Rsn'ett has spoken, they OF
- were reeased; how released will not
~ ou sm rather inclined to think by the persons
$500; me vessel was consigned NV fread from
y.s, "a sac that there were about some thirty
- at number have been arrested in South Carolina
~. ~, am confident there has been no disposition Of
ihs ~shioIee That law. way 10 make il painful to