Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-25

Issue witt! the Senator from Kentucky Oh tie uestiu
whether this law would he executed not lie con,
fideged that the law far is practical execution was
concer "a dead letter He had full belief in the de,
ella alton OF the President that he would execute tie
law he could He considered, however, that the Prs-
sijent had begun wrong Ia the first case where the
era ts escal cd the slaves lost their masters be-
cause OF the evasons, prevarcaons, delays, and equ
vocaons of those whose duty it was to enforce the
law aud administer justice. 1t was the duty of the
President Immediately to have dismissed the marshal
The!aw, lift to be enforced must be executed with
alacrty, zeal and cordially 1t must be executed with
adeslre, on the part OF the people among whom ii ia
executed to have it carried out because j. is the law
and without any OBJ tacles or distractions being thrown
in the way OF its execution ln this the party was
arrested time was given properly, perhaps to him for
his defence; there place prepared to conine
him. it being the Intention to keep him in the court room
from Friday TO Tuesday. How could his rescue have
been prevented? The laws OF Massachusetts prohibit
the imprisonment OF parties arrested under this law in
the lails OF that commonwealth. He thought II wrong
to denounce the population of Boston, when by the
laws OF Massachusetts, it is made penal offence for
any OF that population aid abet in the arrest or i'm
prisonment oil the fugitive, The Senator from Ken
lucky was right IN denouncng the conduct OF those
gagged In this open resistance, but he SHOULD have gone
one step further and denounced the State Of Massachu
sets as ta to her federal obligations She was false
to those obligations tor making which she received
consideration. She agreed to this compact to surrender
these tugitives, and received consideration
Her Legislature has been in session since the pas
sage OF this law, and these laws preventing tn execu
ton OF the Constitution still stand the statute book
The Senator from Massachusetts said the other day
that the people of that State law abiding people
and would not resist the execution of the law He
would ask the Senator whether those citizens by not
forcbly resisting the law were dschargng their federal
obligations to render up tugves from labor or servcel
1t they were, it was keeping the word OF promise to the
ear. but failure in complying with its demands.
When the Senator from Kentucky said the law was
generally executed, if he meant that it was executed
without open resistance. he correct but if he in
tended to say it executed with the aacrity or in
the spirit OF the federal compact, he mistaken Mr.
NJ then detailed the circumstances OF the Harrisburg
cases. where the expenses amounted TO 81 $50, and the
negroes when sold brought $780, thus making a
ha lance in favor OF the m aster of $50
In the Long case, which occurred at New York the
expenses amounted to nearly the value otthe slaves be-
sides, the claimant subjected several vexatious
suits lie would respectfully call the attention of lhe
appointing power to the varons delays and evasons of
duty and would recommend that the least evidence of
this should be cause for inst ant removal.
MIR. DICKINSON said that the Senator mistaken
about the case OF Long In that there suits
brought against the claimant In that case he consider
ed that the issue was fairly made up and tried between
those who desired that the law should be and
those who intended peaceaby TO resist it. The latter
had been defeated The of Long did much to prove
that this law could be executed. After the long and
patient hearing given that case, none other will be like
ly to arise which will produce difficulty. The law
having been judically settled will not be again idly
agnated. The law was denounced at that time I'M
constitutional and suspendng the haheas corpus.--
This was the cry OF every demagoeue and fanatic
were those declarations.
Mr.. HALE said the Senator from kentucky had chare-
ed him with always rising after him in debate with
view OF contesmg the palm OF oratoy and eloquence.
This remark OF the Senator explained SANDER which
had been circulated about him. which was that he Mr.
H. always took occasion TO speak when the galleries
planned the SANDER.
Mr.. CLAY. Do you to say that have circu
lated any SANDER about you!
Mr. HALE. No, sir; not at all
Mr.. CLAY. Well, sir, what do meant
Mr. HALE. WE'LL lswill not answer any question
put to me in that tone, in the Senate out Of the
Senate. l am not to be senced or put down by any
one whether tall man short man.
He then denied that he had any intention ofconest
ing tor the palm OF oratory with the Senator. As
garded his opinion of himself and the opinions enter
tanned ofhim by others, he freely admitted that there
might be two opinions, but he did think he stood
| alone. He did not think he would have to 90 out of
The Senate 10 ind the man who could say that Of the
Senator from Kentucky there more than one OPT
mon. What he meant by saying that the SANDER
against him was explained by the remark oil the Sena-
tor was, that together they showed that the Senator
selected such occasions himself
MIR. CAss concurred with the Senator from Ken
lucky in his contemplation ofthe late proceedings. He
was no defender OF the Administration but he had the
utmost confidence in believing that the President would
do his duty. Ii the laws were defective he would vote
to clothe him with full power execute the law He
deprecated the remarks of the Senator from Virginia
that this law could not, not and would not be
executed. lie considered that the Massachusetts, laws
obstructng the execution this law ought to have been
cleared Oft her statute books long ago. But whether
they repealed not they would not prevent the
execution of the law. He considered The Senator wrong
in suppospg that voluntary action by the peo of the
Tree States was necessary to due execut on OF tho
law. He considered that Longs case was a great
triumph of,he law. lftime given, the law would
work smoothly. The waves could not be expectedto
subside at once. He alluded 10 the conduct of the
miscreant Thompson and said that it member OF
Congress did in England what Thompson did in this
country, he would be sent to Botany Bay.
Mr.. Mason replied He considered the reason why
tho law was otProperly executed by the people othe
North was, that they considered odous they consd-
cred it law in which they had no hand in passing
Of the thirty Senators from the free States only three
had voted for the law These were the Senator from
pennsylvania, (Mr. Siurgeonn and the Two Senators
from Iowa.
Mr.. DICKINSON said that hewas pres mt and would
have voted for the law but his colleage, who OPP
posed to it, was called home, and they had agreed TO
pair OIL He had made a speech in favor Of the bill.
and but for this reason would have voted for it,
Mr.. SEWARD said that his colleagues alement
correct. He (Mr. 81 detained from his seat by
illness, and he unable to attend. Were it not for
this he would have voted against the BILL and his col
league fnr.it.
ySMr Mason resumed ar spoke at length ofdelays and
obstacles thrown in the way of the execution of the bill
Mr. DICKINSON said that il there contest in
questions o. the reclamation OF property, there would
be no necessity for any law. The delays in Longs
case were with the assent OF the claimant who was
willing The law should bettested fully and fairly. He
was detained in New YORK ten days only His per-
sonal expenses were paid and he was furnished with
the best counsel, who paid by gentleme of New
York. His only loss, therefore, was his time. This
case showed concusvely that there was a feeling in
the country in favor OF carrying out the law.
Mr.. CLAY again repeated the various instances in
Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michi-
gan in which the law had been executed. and con-
tended that every where the law had been executed
except in the city of Boston. He maintained that the
marshal ought to have been removed.
He replied to the Senator from New Hampshire
and disclaned any desire TO stop the Senator, He
knew his own powers physical and int Ilectual. too
we'll to undertake such gigantic efforts He would
shrink from homicide more than any other Of
fence and certainly stop the Senator would be to kill
him The Senator was like George Canning, he must
come into the Senate every day to ;ar his vocabulary
The Senator had declared the OF the President
ridiculous Mr. C.. related the anecdote of an old maid
who denounced Napoleon in the most unmeasured
terms, and to whom French officer replied that he