The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-06

TRI-WEEKLY,
wEEKry 200
DEFERR DEBA L +
IN SENATE,
MONDAY, Feb. "a 1851. Z
THE BOSTON SLAVE CASE.
Continued.
Mr.. CHASE. Does the honorable senator
mean to enumerate me among those who have
expressed wish for the destruction Of the
Union?
Mr.. CLAY. No, sir! No, sir! mean only
to say he is in their company lLaughter.]
Mr.. CHASE viii the senator allow me to
add word. If am in that company do not
know it,
Mr.. CLAY. mean in the company Of the
Abolitionists. If the senator will disavow and
repudiate Abolitionists of all shades and cOlors,
I shall be extremely happy to hear the disa-
vowal.
Mr.. CHASE. Mr. President, If the senator
will allow me, will say word.
Mr.. CLAY. Certainly-with great pleasure
Mr.. CHASE. Mr. President, do disavow
most emphatically all association or connection
with any class of persons who seek the disco
luton of this Union. l say now, as said at
the last session, that we of the West are in
the habit of looking upon the Union rs we look
upon the arch of Heaven, without thought
that it can ever decay or fall" In that senti-
ment fully participate. | am aware, Mr..
President, there are some AbOtiOnists, anti
slavery men--names are OF little consequence
who regard the Constitution as at war with
~ x.ytb la
am not of them. But if the senator, when de-
nouncing Aboiitionists, means to include in his
reproaches all those citizens who, within the
limits of constitutional obligation, seek to res
cue this government from all connection with
slavery, | can claim no exemption. am one OF
those who mean to exercise all legitimate, con-
stitutional power to restrict slavery within the
limits of the slave States in all places under the
exclusive jurisdiction of the national govern
ment-to maintain every person, of whatever
race or origin, in the enjoyment OF personal
freedom. That is my position.
Mr.. CLAY. am perfectly aware of them
finite variety of Abolitionists. Some hold to
one extreme, and some to another, and some 60
to neither. have not yet heard the senator
disayow that he was an Abolitionists; he only
says that he is not disunon Abolitionist.
Mr. CHASE. do not know what the term
Abolitionist means, in the usage of the senator.
do not know to what class of persons the sem
ator means to refer, when he denounces and
stgmatizes people as Abolitionists. If by that
epithet he intends to designate that class of
persons of whom say am one-wh0 wish to
maintain the Union, but not allow slavery within
he sphere of the exclusive jurisdiction of the
national government then l am doubtless an
Abolitionist. But if by that term he intends
only to describe those who would break up the
Union or interfere with that State legislation,
do not acknowledge its applicability to me-
Mr.. CLAY. Upon my word, if the senator
does not know what an Abolitionist means--one
who has understood its practice to some extent
and its doctrine for good many years. un-
derstood he holds his seat upon this floor by
some half dozen votes given him by the Abo-
ltionists--if he does not understand what Abo
lltionism means, am sure l am unable to in
struct or inform him. They act together. There
pushing their principles to greater extreme
some who would pull the ministers of God from
the pulpit, and abuse them and PROSTATE then
in the streets of Cur Cities if allowed to do it.
some who denounce religion, who denounce the
Constitution of the Union, who denounce the
States in which the institution Of slavery exists
Whether the senator be one of them, it is not
for me to say. / am very happy to hear him
avow himself friend of the Union. But, sir,
this Union is to be destroyed or preserved by
various means There are two or three de-
scriptions of persons constituting the great abo-
ltion movement of the country-Free-soi,a bo-
ltion, or whatever you choose to call it. If
those who disavow extreme abolition will, never
theless, upon the questions which arise in Con-
gress or in the county, be found upon the sides
of the Abolitionsts, and cooperating with them
to support measures which they insist upon, and
men whom they alone will support by their suf-
frages for public office; now, sir you may say
there is difference, and characterize the various
classes as you please, but the result and inevita-
BILE consequences of this associaton-of them
all--are, unless resisted by the potency of the
law and power of public opinion dangerous to
the Union ITSELF
Sir, an agitator The honorable senator
who spoke last placed himself in the attitude of
one who is DESTROYS Of peace, and quiet, and
tranquility, and imputed to me a spirit of agita-
tation. The honorable senator came into the
Senate with all the authority Of prosecuting
attorney into court of justice, his green bag
dangling by his side, his brief in his hand his
notes in his pockets, and his authorities in his
head, and brings the counts in his Indictment
against me to make out that | was an agita-
ZIONIST, and he tranquil senator. / did-what
sir? The Executive of the United States had
communicated to us a document, showing to
what a nefarious and atrocious extent the slave
trade was carried on under the flag of the United
States from the coast of Brazil to the Western
coast of Africa. ! called the attention of the
Senate to the fact; proposed a measure !;
moved a resolution to instruct the committee to
inquire into the subject, and to report bill to
prevent these abuses of the American flag-to
suppress, so far as we could suppress, that Afri-
can slave trade, against which we have so many
laws directed. One of them declares it Is piracy
itself believe the senator opposed that refer
ence. If he did not oppose that reference. he
made some speech upon the occasion; my OBJ
ject being upon that occasion to enforce the
laws of my country, as upon this occasion my
object is to clothe the Executive of the country
with all powers sufficient 10 remove forcibly all
obstruction to the execution Of the law. dur.
ing the whole of last session was rasing nv
humble and feeble voice in favor of peace and
tranquility and the Union Of these States.