The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-08

proper law authorizing the judcatures Of the several
States OF this government TO do al that 10 necessary for
the recspure Of fugitive slaves, and the restoration Of
wherever speak upon the subjectl speak here and de-
sire to speak 10 the people OF the whole Morrill, say
that the South has been injured In this respect II has
right TO complain The North has been too careless upon
what think the constitution peremptoy and emphati.
cally enjoins upon II as a duty
Complaint rs made again, sir OF the resolutions that
emanate from the several State legislatures and are sent
here TO US not only upon the subject OF slavery in this
District, but sometimes recommending Congress con-
slider the means OF abolishing slavery in the States.
should be very sorry TO be called upon to present any
resolution. not reerrble to any acknowledged power in
Congress, and therefore should be very unwilling TO
ceive from Massachusetts, instructions to present resolu
aons expressing any opinion whatever upon slavery as
sons In the first place, do not consider that the legls
ature OF Massachusetts, has anything to do with IL and
In the next place. do not consider that here as her
representative have anything to do with it, And il the
legislatures OF the States do not like IT, they have great
deal more power TO put il down than have to uphold IT,
L has become, 10 my opinion, quite too common prac,
ce for State legislatures to present resolutions upon all
subjects, and nsructng here upon all subjects There
is public man that needs instruction more than do,
needs Information more than do, or desires more
than do but do not like TO have il come in too i'm.
peratye shape noticed with pleasure some remarks
made the other day in the senate Of Massachusetts, by
young man OF talent standing, and character for whom
the best hopes are entertained upon this subject mean
Mr. billiard He told the senate Of Massachusetts, that
he would vote for instructions whatever to be Tor
warded to members Of Congress- nor for any resolutions
whatever expressive OF the sense OF Massachusetts as 70
what her members OF Congress ought TO do he said ne
propety in one set OF public servants giving m
strucon and reading lecture TO another set OF public
servants--that to their master all OF them must
stand fall and that master is their constituents
wish these sentiments could become more common
greatly more common.
have never entered into the question: and never shall
about the binding force of instructions will say sim
ply ths that there be any interest pending IN either
Of these bodies, where am member, and Massachu-
ses has in that question any particular interest o. neT
shall pursue her instructions with gladness OF heart and
with all the efficiency that can bring to it, But if the
question be one that affects her interests ana a. the same
States, should feel myself more bound to regard her
particular wishes and Instructions than if were chosen
important private rights should feel myself bound to
regard the Instructions Of the man that appointed me-
II there ever was government upon earth, i TINS
this body, which should consider itself composed by
an agreement Of all; appointed BY some, but organized
BY general consent ofa sitting here under obligation Of
oath and conscience TO do that which they consider as
best for the good Of the whole.
Then sir there those abolition societies, OF which
am very unwilling to speak but In regard to which
have very fixed notions and opinions 90 not think
them useful think their operations for the last
twenty years have produced nothing that is good or
valuable At the same time know that thousands
Of them are very honest and good mem perfectly We'll
they must do something for the cause OF liberty
and in their sphere Of action they do not see what
else they do, but to contribute TO an abolition
press abolition society, or to pay an aDoliuon
lecturer do not mean to impute gross motives even
to the leaders of those societies; but am not blind
to the consequsnces cannot but see what mischief
il not plain 10 every man Let any gentleman who doubts
all this recur to the debates in the Virginia house Of del
made BY Mr. Randolph for the gradual abolition Of slavery
discussed in that house OF delegates Everybody spoke
Of slavery as they thoughts and very ignoninous and
SeSae Of he house Sou Of delegates ali published
They read by every coloed man who could read;
and if there was not coored man who could read they
y % o.
discuss this whole question: and to let that particular
part OF her population know much OF il as they could
learn. That was in 1882.
As has been said by the honorable member from South
Carolina, these abolition societies commenced their
course OF action in 1885, II is sad-l know not with
what truthhai they sent incendiary publications into
and did arouse, very strong feeng-in other words.
created great agitation in the North against southern
slavery What was the result. The bands OF slavery
3D. Public opinion in Virginia, just then opening to the
free discussion of this question: drew back and shut
itself up in its castle. wish know whether any
Mcdowell talked in Virginia They talked openly, and
sent their remarks the press in 1884, all knows and
we all know the cause. Everything that the agliang
The South. That is my judgment
As have said, know many OF them in my own
neighborhood are very honest and good peope-msled,
AZ think, by strange enthusiasm but wishing TO do
something they feel called upon to contribute, and they
40 contribute II is my firm opinion this day, that within
The last twenty years much money has been collected
and paid 10 abolition societies. abolition presses, and abo
on lecturers, would purchase the freedom OF every
woman, and childn the State OF Maryland,
and send them all to Liberia: have no doubt Of IT,
have not learned that the benevoence OF these abolition
societies has at any time taken that particular turn
Again. sir the violence OF the press is complained Of
The press is violent everywhere. There ourages-
repoaches In the North against the South and reproaches
not much better taste in the South against the North
The extremists OF both parties OF the country violent
They mistake loud and violent talk for eoquence and Tor
reason They think he who talks loudest reasons the
best We must expect that where the press Is free, il
and all It's evils entire and absolute freedom OF the press
essential for the preservation OF the government on the
basis OF free that exists, there
will be foolish paragraphs and violent paragraphs in the
press, as there are, sorry TO say, foolish speeches
and volen, speeches in the houses Of Congress- In Short
SIR must say that in my opnIon the vernacular tongue
OF the country has become greatly yltlaed depraved and
And Il possible for out debates in Congress TO vi
tate the principles Of the people, as much as they have
depraved their tastes, should cry out, God the
pubic Well, sir, in all this solid grievance
grievance within the redress OF
by the South, but the single TO which have refer
redthe want OF proper regard for the injuncons OF
the constitution about the restoration OF fugitive slaves.
Now sir, there complaints OF the North against the
South need not go over taem particularly. The FIRST
and the gravest isconsidcrng that the North entered
into the constitution recognising the existence OF slavery
the States. and recognising the right a certain