The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-14


name even Of our blessed Saviour treated with sacrege
and contempt BY these pIopseatosof Divine natural
law, which they had discovered, above all human laws
our Saviour. are 10 be rejected false will these men
condescend 10 show their authority or their credentials
Tor pTopagaing this law Of Natlseihs new Divine
q es as o. ss
to be enforced in some quarters OF the world Why. sir,
there is large class that say--and think il very
plausible law Of NsureTl man, no mailer ey what ia
has acquired vast estate, much than necessary
for the subsistence OF himself and famy-iha who am
standing by and starving am entitled by the law OF Ma
TO take portion OF these accumulated goods, to
save me from the death with which am threatened
There really would appear TO be some plausible show OF
reason for this Here you with your barns and your
warehouses full OF goods collected from all quarters OF
the gobeiull OF that which conduces to the subsst-
ence OF myself and my iamy-whle am standing like
Lazarus at the gate OF the rich man. pershng with hun
ger. does not the law Of Nature allow me 10 take
enough of your superabundance to save me a little
while from that death which is inevitable unless
dot Trace out this pretended law OF Nature about
which scarcely any OF the pretended philosophers
themselves agree-take il in reference TO one OF
the most interesting and solemn ceremonies OF life Go
to Mahome,an cou ntry and the follower OF the Prophet
get; come TO Christian land, and the follower OF the
Saviour will tell you that you are entitled to but one; 30
to our friends. the Mormons, and they will tell you that
OF progress of civilization, OF enlightenment there
persons who will rise up in public assemblages and de-
nounce the church. and all that regarded as sacred thai
belongs to -denounce even the Founder OF our Divine
religion, whom all profess to revere and tell YOU
Notwithstanding the solemn oath which they have taken
by kissing the sacred volume TO carry out into full effect
all the provisions OF the constitution OF their country that
there is law Of God law OF Nature, which they have
found, and which nobody else has been able 10 discover
paramount and superior to this law OF the constitution
and that they do not mean TO obey this human law but
this Divine law, which BY some inspiration unknown, BY
means undisclosed, they have obtained knowl-
edge OIL are not SO VAIN as to imagine that any con-
tk,t, u.tnAaa
these
This committee. in its report has allowed trial BY
jury in the place where that trial ought to take place. II
takes place any wherein the place which, by proper
Interpretation Of The constitution of the United States
would TO be specified. What is its language! 1t
is, that "a person held to service or labor under the laws
oil the State from which he escapes"-iaips Of the State
from hie he fed this should determine the question
of the amendment which the committee has proposed in
order to do away with both difficulties and prejudces in
the non siavehoding States, proposing TO give him
trial by jury in the State from which he has fled The
statement in the report Of the committee is perfectly true
that the greatest facilities are always extended TO every
of color in the slayeholdng States who chooses to
for his freedom. have never known an instance OF
failure the part OF person thus suing for his free
DOM to recover Judgment in his favor, If there were
found slight grounds in support OF his claim. do
not say what now affirm in spirit OF boasliDg but
never appeared against slave but once in all other IN
stances Than that have appeared for him. and with
out charging solitary cent Such is the course believe
OF the liberal and eminent portion Of the bar through the
whole southern country. In one case ] made an ex-
cephon Il was in the case Of very particular friend.
and said to him Sir, will not appear against your
negroes unless am perfectly satisfied that they not
entitled TO freedom and ii, during the progress OF the
trla, should become convinced that they are entitled
TO their freedom, shall abandon the case" Upon these
conditions appeared but there was nothing like proof
to show that they were entitled 10 their freedom. Yes
sir, venture TO say that all that relates TO the attain
men OF freedom and the administration OF justice, moth
ing in the slavehoding States transpires that is
mol honorable credtabe and consistent with humanity
Now MIR. President, the only measure remaining upon
which should say word, perhaps, is the abolition OF
the slave trade in the District of Columbia think that
the first man ever heard in my life denounce that trade
was southern man-John Randolph, OF Roanoke. be.
eve there has been time the last forty years that il
il had been earnestly pressed upon Congress- there would
not have been found majority-a majority from the
southern Sates-n favor OF it. The bill which the CON-
mee has prepared and reported is founded upon the acts
of Maryland, the laws OF Maryland were when this
District coded to the Union. Maryland has changed
her laws since-what their exact condition is, do
know | have heard that they changed at the last
session. and have doubt that they viii be changed
again IN year or two, Some years ago Il would have
been thought great TO the feelings and wishes
of the North 10 have abolished the slave trade in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. But see some OF the rabid abo
hiion papers denouncing II as amounting TO nothng-a
something which they would hardly ask for.
Nov, will my friends upon the other side OF the house
allow 10 say word or Two upon their course with
spect TO this subject As you well know, Mr. President
al the beginning OF this session. the Provso called the
Wilmo Pfoyiso, was the most apprehended, and was
matter which desired TO be got nd OF BY those CON-
ing from the slayeholding States Well by The operation
OF causes upon the northern mind friendly TO this action
hopes have tanspred that trust will be Frustrated
in the progress OF these that the North, at
least sufficient portion oil to render the measure harm
less, are now willing 10 dispense with the Proviso.
When three months ago, offered certain resolu,onsand
has been said rather by way OF reproach that these
measures reported by the committee simply carry
ing out my own plans, though my friend from North
Carolina, Mr.. MASGUM,] al the moment, pointed out
that they differed essenailywhenl offered these reso
luuons, knowing what consequences, and. sometimes
eared fatal consequences, might result from the North
insisting upon that Provso, by way OF compensation in
one OF the resolutions oered-the second one- stated
two facts OF law, two principles OF law that thought
ought TO satisfy the North that ought longer to in
sist upon the Wmot Proviso. These truths not
principles. know well as did in February.
that there are others who do not with in this
opinion. Every senator, however, decide for him
self the country must decide for itself when they
TO examine these measures.
Well, when southern friends found that they had
got md OF the Provso they highly satisfied and
shared the satisfaction with them and, II am not msta
ken, the most OF them concured with when offered
these resolutions, with the exception OF thing They
said TO me- Mr. Clay you had not put those two
uous principles your resolutions would have been
satisfied with the scheme" That constituted the main
objection 10 IT, Well, you have got rid OF the Wimoi
Proviso Now you have got rid, as far the enactment
- concerned, OF the two principles to which have
fefred Yet lament TO cay that fear there Of
our southern friends who not satisfied, who yet say
there Is the Wmot Provso in another form, lurking
the laws OF Mexico, and lurking in the fact TO which my
friend from Massachusetts, Mr.. WEBsTER1 adverted,
when he said that the laws Of Nature adverse
the Introduction OF slavery there. Thus you find that
the sde that which desired is attained vet
the other hand you find that there further and other
dhcultIes IN the way, TO prevent the contamination OF
this most desirable of all even,s-the adjustment Of