Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21

Mr.. EWING. no assault a. all, but narrative
Of what occurred here but q few weeks sgo
Mr.. BERRIEN. Il is the amest and most impotent at
tempt at an analogy that presented the consdea
ton of body Of intelligent men, introduced letter.
not called upon for the name Of the writer said il
letter addressed by respectable citizen Of Baltimore formerly
TO member Of this Senate who would vouch for his resec-
liability. Now sir is there any analogy between these
cases | did believe, upon the testimony which had
ceived that that letter entitled to credit and argued
from il as so entitled. But with respect the
which the Senator from Ohio contests il is statement of
fact which could have been within the knowledge of the
Senator from Ohio but Of which the writer Of that letter might
had personal knowledge Consequently notwithstanding
the contradiction Of the Senator from Ohio, that letter remains
ne stated take the responsibility of avowng my belief
in the truths stated in that letter. did the time do
SO now did upon the authority which have referred,
and which stated to the Senate Whenever amy Senator
shall present letter other paper giving reference the
authority upon which he relies for giving cedence to it, then
he will be in the condition in which when presented
the letter to which the Senator from Ohio audes not in that
of the Senator from Massachusetts,.
Mr. EWING. One word with respect to that letter.
If my memory me, stood in precisely the stua
ton in which the honorable Senator places The memorial of
the ship and ship masters OF Boston, which the honor
able Senator says evidence whatsoever they had
personal knowledge Of what they stated The writer Of
that letter. if am mistaken, and if the Senator
me- in California at the time the constitution
formed may be incorrect TO that fact but my impress
that he not and that he does say he speaks
senng the in California well known and asis
known the Senator from Georgia, distinguished gen.
lemsn from his State, Mr. t. BUrLER KNe, who has
denied in most express in card published by himself
that he had said single word upon the subject Of the
restriction OF slavery human being in California That
denial published before the Senator read the letter the
Senate.
Mr.. BERRIEN. That denial was published, presume.
have it. take on the statement The Senator
from Ohio But the statement to which | referred in
the debates Of the convention in California and made by
member Of that body.
Mr.. EWING. No such statement was made there.
Mr. BERRIEN Not about conversation with that gen.
Mr. EWING. Not at all, with respect to the matter in
question.
Mr.. BERRIEN. Was there no conversation with that
agent in which he requested that they would include the
WHOLE in order difficulty in the way Of legislation
Mr.. EWING. Oh! certainly
Mr.. BERRIEN. Which unquestionably had reference to
that.
Mr. EWING That not the subject in controversy be-
tween said not word about the boundaries Of Cali
fornia
Mr.. BUTLER. certainly have no angry feeling about
this controversy, but the Senate will bear witness that this
is the fifth time that this law Of South Capna has been in
roduced by the Senators from Massachusetts, with view to
pronounce their censue and condemnato, Of it. upon the
ground that is nhumane and that is teang this black
in way not contemplated by the constitution, and
pugnant the sentiments Of that extremely sentimental PEG
ple Laughter Now sir did not introduce the subject,
but rise to say, upon this occasion, that Massachusetts,
al the other States north Of the Potomac suppose that by
any legislation here they compel under duress Of law
induce South Carolina to give up this poceght Of reguat
ing this class of PERSONS they vastly msaken for South
Carolina will give up Moreover, ST, do not think
that these complaints Of the way in which hese beings are
regarded comes with very good from Massachusetts
Why, how does Of their reverend grave WRITER'S Doctor
Beknap say that the negro children are regarded there
[Laughter.l He says:
g Negro children reckoned hcumbrance in
family e and when weaned were given away like puppies
MI. WINTHROP. How many years ago was that
Mr.. BUTLER. It was in l7sl, I beiev,.
Mr.. WINTHROP. Oh! ,,s
Mr.. BUTLER will say the Senator from Massachu-
ses that have very great respect for his ancestors Yet
though have great respect for that Senator himself ALSO
do not believe he is any better wiser than his ances
tor who landed on Plymouth rock. [Laughter.l
Nh. WINTHROP. wish was half as good. But the
Senator is slightly mistaken to dates My did not
land Plymouth rock all he came over ten years after
wards, to Salem.
MI. BUTLER. Well was only showing you how
your ancestors regarded these creatures With regard to
the witness whom the Senator from Massachusetts, has pre-
duced here-ths Ranlett-I had conversation with
gentleman coming from the navy yard this morning. and he
said he had doubt that If there any truth in the story
this Ranett into Charleston with the negroes for
salvage and finding that if he took the negroes they would
have to divide it, he left them there and took all himself
Laughter
Mr.. WINTHROP. And have conversed to-day with
two gentlemen who say that they know Captain Rane and
they testify that he is captain of high responsibility and
intelligence. One Of them says that he his own
ship, and is just about to sail voyage his behalf
only hope he will not have gone before he has opporu
nifty Of explaining this matter for himself
Mr. DOUGLAS. My own State has been frequently re-
erred 10 10 this debate containing provision in her
sution similar to the complained Of in South Carolina
Louisans, and other States Illinois has provision in her
constitution making the duty Of the Legislature provide
efficient means for keeping all negroes from coming into the
State who not natives Of residents n hetae the
time Of the adoption of that instrument Here them is clear
Of legislation Of this description in free State, and
would much rather this controversy going betweeR
two free States of the Union than to made sectional
question between slave and free State We, too, have
constitutional provision upon this subject and before that
constitutional provision adopted by overwhelming
ory Of peopet having been submitted to the people
separately and independent Of the balance of the constitutions
to get expression of the popular voice the sub
vided that negro into the State he required
procure white man to 90 his security for behavior and
in the event Of his failing to give the security be hired out
to service for if at the end Of the year he still failed
to give it he hired for another year; and until
he could find some white person go security for bis good
behavior, and that he would become charge upon the
public Such has been the legislation Of my State from
the time she first admitted into the Union and pre-
has been the in other free States Those pro-
visions were rgidy enforced and now when hear that
Massachusetts cannot get trial Of the constitutional question
involved in that legislation, will assure the Senators from
that State that If they will to Illinois, We will furnish
them all facilities to test the constitutional question We
willing to have the right tested as we are concerned
The trial. then, take place between two free States
hostile feelings melted and where we can have fail trial
upon the constitutional questions involved We beleve that