The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-19

/
clans will go into it by pairs, of different kinds
to make an improvement by agamation,--as
Mr.. Burke said OF familiar class, a Mosaiac
work, here black piece, and there red one,
&c" The beneroient plan is to put 10 The sword
all who are to be excluded from the ark or
who cannot be admitted into it by party pass
port
know that the honorable senator said that
his resolution originated in an enlarged patriot
ism, having no reference to party tactics Sir,
| have always remarked that when patriotism
become, SO dffused and enlarged, it becomes
rather weaker than stronger. | did not know
what the honorable senator was aiming al, but,
AS said then, knew what the effect would be.
Now, before alude to or notice some remarks
which specially claim my attention, will dispose,
by way Of explanation, of some of the charges
or complaints perhaps should say, which he
made against those who had charge of the flu.
gtive slave bill. He intimated that they did not
do their duty TO it. Perhaps the charge was not
made so strongly a. to accuse them of bad
faith in relation to it, but it was something like it.
Mr.. FOOTE, Of Mississippi expressly
dsclamei it.
Mr.. BUTLER The charge was, that they
had not brought forward the bill with that
promptness, and urged il upon the consideration
of the Senate with the energy, which the occa-
sion, in the opinion of the gentleman, and some
Of his special friends, called for. | made an
explanation in reference to the bill once before.
1t was at the first session Of the last Conpre. $
called up at an early day, and made my speech
upon it as the chairman Of the committee aud
my friend from Virginia Mr.. MAsoNl had also
made speech upon it, when, the late Senator
from New Jersey Mr.. DAYTON having the
floor, the whole discussion was suspended, to
give the Senator from Kentucky, not now in his
seat, Mr.. Clay, an opportunity of bringing
before the Senate his measures OF compromise
No objection was then made to letting the bill
drop for awhile; but before the Committee of
Thirteen had matured and disposed of their
work, suppose the suggestion was made to
bring up the fugitive slave bill as a separate
measure Perhaps it was intended to make il
test in advance. Some Of US who had charge
Of the bill might not have been inclined to
yield too readily to the suggestions of those in
whose course of policy We did not exactly
agree, there may have been fair difference
of opinion to the mode Of using the fugitive
slave bill. But when the bill was brought up
under the suggestion of the honorable gentle
man, and with the understanding that his North
ern friends and allies would support it, how
many of them voted for it! The two gentle.
men from Iowa Alessrs. DopGe and JONES
voted for the bill, and the honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania, no longer member of this
body, Mr. STURGEON, voted for the bill. The
honorable gentleman from New York, Mr.
DICKINSON no longer here, would have voted
for it, and explained at the time the reasons
why he did not, having paired off with his col
league. There were bat three Northern sena-
tors who voted for it. Let the country under.
stand now, for the first time, if it never has been
understood before, why honorable gentlemen
from the North, who are now so vehement upon
the subject of these compromises, did not vote
on that bill, either for or against it. When the
compromise measures have swum to the shore.
there are some willing to stretch out the hand
of aid, but were unwilling to run the hazard of
the Hood when it was uncertain as to the fate
of the bill referred to. Did they avoid that
vote! or were they absent by accident when
the vote was taken! Some of those gentlemen,
know, gave their moral support to the bill:
but | state the fact, that it was not until the
bill had gone to the country, ard obtained its
favorable Judgment, as they suppose, that some
gentlemen became its open advocates. So much
for that
Now for another complaint and charge, which
the honorable Senator has made which may ap-
ply to myself that is, denying the Pre- ,ident
power to enforce the law. beg to bring to the
ate ton of the Senate the report which sub
mited in relation to the Presidents message,
calling for additional Legislation to enable him
to enforce the fugitive slave law.
Mr.. FOOTE, of Mississippi thought that
was distinctly understood by the whole Sen.
ate in stating that had no aluson to the hon.
orable Senator in connection with this matter
recoected his report, and have had occasion
i :. !.
mendaion lie expresses some opinions in
the report in which | do not entirely concur.
But was exceedingly struck with portion of
the language used in the report, expressing con-
fdence in the disposition of he executive to
perform his duty faithfully in executing the
powers vested in him on this important subject.
Mr. BUTLER. wish to have the report
read not so much for any vndcation of myself
as that the Senate may understand my views.
The Secretary read the report, as follows
g In submitting. my views on the message Of
the President referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee, it is not my purpose to express my dissent
from the general and unqualified conclusion of
the majority OF the committee, to wit that it is
unnecessary at this time, by further legislation,
to give the President power over the militia and
military forces of the government for the pur-
pose OF suppressing instructions and combi-
nations to obstruct the execution of the laws.
There are some subjects of the message
presented to the consideration of Congress, and
which address themselves specially to the con.
sideration of the committee, upon which feel
II duty to express an opinion, lest by silence
there might be a tacit recognition of one of the
assumptions and an appreciation of some of the
recommendations of the message.
Previously to the act of 1907 IL seems 20
have been the implied understanding of all the
departments of the government that the Presi-
dent was confined o the militia, 'to suppress in.
surrectlons against the State government and
TO suppress combinations against the laws of the
United States
"The act of 1895 indicates the occasions and
prescrbes the manner in which the militia
shall be called out and employed. The Presi.
dent cannot order out the militia to suppress
Instruction against the State government, with
out being called on to do so by the Legislative
or executive authority of the State concerned. |
"fo suppress combinations against the laws
Of the United States, it is the duty Of the Presi.
dent to Judge Of the occasion for calling ont the |
militia On all ocrasone for ,a1t;r, /