Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-11


ever been expressed have been altogether unable 10 hear
And yet This report proposes TO admit California WIN nese
almost mess boundaries, which sweep tne "hoe iacc
coast and substantially comprise the whole 70, most ha
vauable of newly acquired territory Anu ns 70 CUM
promise sr.;o.;.,c
The next proposition is the establishment OF Territorial 10
yernments for the remainder of the newly acquired erroy
without the Wimot poyiso. AS substantive ProPosuof,
have no objection 10 this indeed, il is acceptable to me-
and as doubt not to every Southern man. And Why s,
are we willing to this Because does an act OF justice TO
the people in that territory promotes hs pubic l1ees' ana
respects the Constitution Of the United States, and the rights
and eauaty of the States under it, But s, when we look
TO the ground upon which this proposition based what do
we fl in the report any thing said about the consttu
tional power Not word, sir. That p lint, SO important,
involving what the South regards her vital interest," and
presenting the only dry ground upon which the ark OF her
safety can rest, is wholly overlookedceanly untouched
What is the meaning OF this omission Is il because this
power conceded short retrospect indicates that this is
So especially when CONNECTED with the expession in other
words Of the sentiment of distinguished Senator from Mas
sachusets WEBSTER not now in his seat reproduced
here that the laws of Nature and the will Of God exclude
slavery and will forever exclude il" from that territory And
whatever others may think, believe otherwise than
that the effect if the intention, of this is virtually 10 con-
cede the constitutional power.
The next proposition is to fix the boundaries of Texas
And this proposed be done by hearng her OF her ar
proportions and paying her in money for the surrender OF
her sovereignty This is question upon which lexas hef
self can speak properly and she duly represented here
Yet as the proposition involves the action OF this body as well
as of Texas while shall discuss it. will say that can
find no constitutional for its adoption by US and In
the estimate placed upon State sovereignty can
think of no sum- in dollars which properly tempt Texas
accede it. Count that sum in million, or tens o Millions
and it would to be but " mess OF poage IN
payment for rich inheritance.
The last proposition shall notice now is the proposed
amendment the fugitive slave bill So far making con-
cesson adng protection to Southern concern
ed this proposition worse than nothing would
be nothing But this d,es not stop here Under the SEM
bance protection of the rights of the to his slave IN
my opinion strikes the most serious, not fatal blow, at
those very rights and along with them at the value OF slave
property and the peace Of sovereignty throughout the Sou
The present law is bad enough all admit for it only
fails enable the slave to his runaway proper
ty but in the modes Of its execution permits the nfcon
alike gross ndgnty and serious pecuniary less
upon him who, under the solemn guarantees of the consu
ton and The clear and positive Of the statute book
but seeks his And why is this The difficulty lies not
in the constitution, the legislation of Congress in this
respect All the good that be derived from those
has my opinion been obtained nay, sir, exhausted The
difficulty does however, lie in The people Of the Stare
holding Staies. Their sentiment (and perhaps their in
teres) opposes them all such laws and believe there
is no principle of human conduct fixed,
clearly exemplfed in practice, than that law be
usefuy operative in any community which in conraven
ton Of the opinions and feelings of that community
For this the present law the subject OF recover
ing fugitive slaves wholly imperative for any useful pur
pose-a mockery to him whose rights involved
But if the present law be bad the proposed in this report
is great deal worse for, if understand it. it complcates
the proceeding already complicated, and would lead
consequences, believe of neminable difficulty and
barrassmen It proposes preliminary step, that before
the shall pursue his fugitive slave he shall obtain
copy of the record of court his warrant and authority
for recamng his property. Armed with this record the
may if the officers Of the non-save tate choose
spect it. bring back his slave his home Under the
present law here would end the proceeding But under the
proposed greater troub the vexaous and mor-
flying Of ALL awaits him for here be has engage in
at law, aud have jury trial. with his slave! To say
nothing Of the obstacles and difficulties such require
ments would add to those already in existence to
that few things could be offensive degrading, and nur
to the slave owner and still fewer tempting to in
subodinaton the part of the slaven word,
tainy destructive Of the due relation between and
slave than the practical operation of such scheme To my
mind the ingenuity of would require long tme and
wide scope, to either discover scheme faugh
with mische-mischief most fearful and fatal in its results.
Cnder the operation Of such law this slave has only
abscond to involve his in suit law with all the
complication and expense of jury trial And slave
Of the whole three hundred thousand in the Southern
States who would not be LIABLE any moment, be in
yoved in difficulties Of this kind The Of one hundred
or Of five hundred slaves may, single day. find the whole
business Of his plantation suspended all work stand, and
himself upon defend one hundred five hundred
at law before jury Of bis country Such may be oper-
alton OF such law as is proposed pretend say
that such would be the the have indicated as
possible yet that such would, to avery great extent
no doubt and that to the full extent is possible think
no one seriously question But in is favorable
pect who will say that such provision Of law would
mockery to the slave and insult least if gevous
injury to the owner Besides, would ask where is any
power found by Congress to pass any such law Ii is seri-
ousy questioned by Of the best minds of the country
whether under the constitution Congress has power pass
any law at all this subject and these believe that this
power, and along with it the duty which the constitution
confers and imposes rests in and is obligatory upon the
several State Governments And to this position do not
hesitate to give my assent But whether the general
power be thus denied Congress not interfering
with the relations between and slave within the States
where slavery exists and above ALL that of establishing
courts for the purpose and making and trying between
master and his slave, contrary my peconceved
opinions and so pugnant to my of proprety that
must be excused for rejecting only with pomptness but
with some degree Of feeling.
shall further into the discussion Of these subjects
this tme reseviHg, before said what else may desire
to say to future and more fitting time have gone far
because the questions involved Of much and such vital
interest to my constituents and the whole country
and the propositions offered for settling these questions
variant from my vews that unwilling that the peo
pie whose representative should be unnformed Of
think, and what mean do, in relation them. And
out from this chamber along with the osions to which
they stand opposed.
Mr. HALE rise perhaps rather occupy the attention
OF the Chair than the Senate confess that am
surprised at the in which this report has been recev
ed am in favor Of its printing, and propose suggest
few reasons why Irecoect my reading Of history that
is said somewhere that Henry VIII of England was on the
point OF putting 10 death of his Queens for some most
outrageous heesies which she had avoyed She excused
herself by slyng that she did really entertain those here
cal noon but had merely advanced them for the purpose
hearing his eoqrence in reuting them. confess that was
lncn to think that Of friends on the oher side of
the chamber had taken up the policy of Henry VI Queen
and did not really entertain III, notions which they avanced