The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
REMARKS OF mR. MASON
OF VIRGINIA,

The compromise measures to BE- 6nai settlement Of al
n.r questions groTiag oui o ts subject Of domestic
sapefyi delivered IN the Senate Wednesday, December
IL, 1851.
MT. PRESIDENT | do not know that should have
taken part in the debate this resolution, but that
nave thought II proper, and perhaps necessary. to
Piace myself right upon some questions which have
arisen heretofore and adverted at former period
by the senator from Mississippi [Mr. FoorEl in refer
enco TO the action OF certain senator's from the southern
oates myself included upon the bill for the reclamation
inghve slaves, which passed during the last Congress-
and which formed of that series Of measures which
some gentlemen term the Compromise. In order that I
may pe distinctly understood upon this question: will
ask the permission OF the Senate TO read the remarks
made by The senator from mississippi during the present
session. so Tar az they refer to it. Those remarks,
ported, were as follow
would have been the houses Of Congress at
but for the fact that deemed poc by certain
southern sens,os who had special charge subject
report Dill for the reception and of fugvcs
from service until should be asceraned all o,her
questions connsoed with the subject Of domestic slavery
We're likely to DO satisfactorily disposed of in Congress
The Senate viii RENE mber my former ex position OF this
se sne o sot M Of an
when declared in hearing Of honorable the
the honorable from Michigan IMr CAss,l and
other senators from the States o the Morrill, present.
senator from Virginia Mr. MAsoNl The senator from
South carolina. 10 whom am now replying a very
them both the Importance Of the bill without de-
lay which, when should become law would secure full
Pledgng themselves for any bill which should be
thus which should be free from OBJ
ectons The motives of honorable senators in not re
ing this bill earlier have never unagned. do on the
present occasion They were doubtless conscientious
in the adopted by ihem as still do-the reason
given me for delaying the reporting of this BILL that the
=. that time. might prove impossible thereafter
the border States to energetic action in cooperation with
the other southern States for the vindoaon Of their esten
uai rights, never having been considered by be OF
elarac er sutoien.y sod % ene i to operate potentially
upon the deliberations OF Congress-"
Such the reference made to this subject by the sena.
tor from Mississippi, contained in the report from
which read He said there, and said correctly that like
reference had been made to the subject at former
time, his purpose being them was the other day.
show that those senators who it supposed had the
most particular charge OF the bill adverted had not
brought forward pressed upon the consde ration OF
the Senate in such the senator from Mssis-
sippi, and those northern senator's with whom he ad-
vised deemed it became them to do. have looked back
TO his former reference TO this subject and desire
give history OF the action OF The Senate that BILL and
OF the agency OF those having it in charge far the
same has been questioned by the senatorlha series OF
measures to which have adverted and which is called
the Compromise" 1t is well known that noiwilhs,and.
ing this batch OF measures had been aggregated into
bill called, after the fashion of the day. the omnibus
and tina, from being overloaded the passengers quar-
rellng by the way, the omnibus broke down. and each
measure was left TO take care OF ITSELF they sepa
rated. great effort had been made 10 keep them To-
geher. But failed and each bill stood upon its own
merits The bill for the admission of California passed
August l3 1850. II had on the day previous been
dereL to third reading On same day it passed,
motion was made by the senator from Illinois, Mr..
DoueLAs,l charmano OF the Committee on Territories, to
take up, next in order, the bill providing government
for the Territory OF New Mexico. The senator from
South Carolina, the head Of the Judiciary Committee
Mr.. BUTLER]-the committee that reported the fugitive
slave bill-inerposed and said that, according his
view, the bill for the reclamation OF fugitive slaves had
the precedence and should be taken up next in order
that time that the senator from Mississippi took
the first notice Of what he supposed and it would appear
yet supposes TO have been some delinquency either
the part OF the senator from South Carolina, who had
ported the bill, or my part, having introduced it, in
pressing upon the attention OF the Senate The senator
from Mississippi stated on that OCCASION he has stated
that at former period OF that session he bad been
specially applied 10 by some senators from the northern
States among whom he nstanced the senator from Mich
igan, Mr.. CAss, who had suggested to him to confer
with those senators who had charge OF the bill upon the
propnety and expedlency OF bringing il forward and
urging its passage; that he made that application TO
amongst others; and that il was declined | do not
recollect such application, though have doubt OF the
fact the senator from Mississippi has said But
have Just little doubt that various conversations took
place between the senator and myself and other senator's
and myself upon the expedency and wisdom, things
then Stood OF bringing 10 this fugitive slave bill in ad
OF the other measures with which had been con-
nected. and urging II upon the attention OF the Senate
What my reply 10 him was | do not know. | have no
doubt however II the senator's memory accurate that
he has reported il correctly. shall come presently to
that.
wish to show now from the record, because am de.
srous that !, ~ 20 before the country what steps
taken in reference 10 that fugitve-save bill how they
progressed, and where they terminated. have had ref
erence To the register and find that the 81 OF January
IS3Oa very early day after the Senate met-l gave no.
of my intention to introduce ,ha, bill. 1t was intro
duced January 4th, and on The same day on my notion
was referred to the Committee the Judiciary. Janna
y 10th the chairman of that committee reported TO The
Senate January 2ld | offered amendment to IT.
which, nj my instance, laid the table and printed
should say, however, that the 10Th OF January the
day upon which the chairman OF the committee reported
the bill, il his motion made the SPECIAL order OF
the day Tor January 23d one week OF On the 23d. as
appears from the register other business inteposed and
the motion o the chairman OF the Judiciary Commit
tee the special order deferred until the next day
On the oath the bill was debated pretty much at
ed IT, The Senate on that day adjourned until Monday
the 2sth, when engaged in the debate and spoke at
length on the bill Ga the 29,h ube next day. the very
distinguished senator from Kentucky MIR. CLAY,1 whose
from the deliberations OF this body and It's cause
we all depore introduced his resolutions for the purpose
cut OF the institution Of domestic slavery and on his
notion they made the special order OF the day for
the ,h OF February, six days of On that day, the SEN
ator from Kentucky addressed the Senate upon the sub
ect OF his resolutions and continued that address during
The next day, occupying the 5th and 9th. The debate
continued on these resolutions and the 18th Of Feb
ruary the honorable senator from M,ssiss'Pp, lNf
FooTrl gave notice that he should at an early day move
for special committee which the entire subject snouih
be referred On the 25h the debate still continuing on
those resolutions the from Msslssppi moved n
reference The debate then continued upon the Ieeou
ons OF the senator from Kentucky and upon resolutions
of like character offered in the mean time by senator
from Tennessee, IMr. BELL in connexion with the
motion made by the senator from Mississippi to refer
them. !.
vas ada the apeeia order of the day Tor January 2@th
A, ~tnd hv M