The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-26

sibly, but should think it one of the Vrestesi
efforts OF gcnius 10 magnify this into sonctLing
tremendous, something worthy Ut the rhetorical
powers OF the first patriots of the land !; think il
must be such an effort Of genius as has not been
seen in modern times that can possibly magnify
it into such All affair We are bringing discre-
dit and contempt upon our whole system OF
government by undertaking TO do anything OF
this sost. IA there any serious fear in the mind
OF anybody that the laws of the land cannot be
executed in Massachusetts! If there is, sir, they
cannot quiet these fears by any such proceedings
as these But, looking upon the whole subject
as entirely misplaced, msconceived, ill-judged
impotic, improper, njudicous, and weak, shall
be opposed TO anything except the most quiet
mode in which il can possibly be got rid Of
What that mode is, do not pretend to say.
Mr.. CLAY The course Of the senator from
New Hampshire Mr. HALE] does not surprise
me; it is perfectly in keeping and congenial
with his general course upon subjects of this
kind. He pronounces deliberate act of the
Executive of the country, our common Chief
Magistrate ms ridiculous. Now, sir, that is mat
ter of opinion, and being matter of opinion it
depends upon the opinion others may entertain
of the person who expresses it. But the SEN
ator will allow me to say that upon subject of
that kind, and upon rhetorical subjects to which
he has alluded, there are two standards OF OPT
Mon prevailing-one, that Of the member him
self and the other, that of the body Of which
he is a member. And if he will allow me to tell
him, the appreciation made by member Of his
own capacity for debate and readiness in it may
be much higher than will be shared in by the
residue of the members of this body.
Mr.. HALE, Gin his seat) That is matter OF
opinion.
Mr.. CLAY. And put my opinion against
| yours. But | must take occasion to say that
on scarcely any occasion have risen to speak
in this body when that senator has not followed
me, as if his great object was to compete with
me the palm Of cocution. | entirely yield to
the senator know the selfcomplacency with
which he generally RISES and no. e he will re-
ceive this surrender on my part Of any ambition
between him and me to contend for the palm of
oratory with the complacency with which he
usually rises in this body, and presents himself
before u.s. Laughter.
Now, what il the aim of this senator! To
consider this mob, this negro mob, as an isolated
affair, rs an affair Of the two or three hundred
negroes only, who assembled on that occasion
and violated and outraged the laws Of their
country. Is there any other man in the Senate
who believes that it originated among these ne
groes! Do we not all know the ramiied means
which are employed by the Abolitionists openly,
by word and by print everywhere, to stimulate
these negroes to acts of violence, recommending
them to arm themselves, and to Stay, murder,
and kill anybody in pursuit of them, in order to
recover and call them back to the duty and SER
vice from which they had fled
The proclamation is not aimed solely at the
miserable negroes, stimulated, no doubt, by
those outside of the courthouse who laid all the
plans, and some Of whom--one at least-was
at the door reckoning to the negroes to come
in--not negro beg pardon, white negro
standing at the door reckoning to the negroes
to come in. Does not everybody know that it
is not the work Of those miserable wretches,
who are without the knowledge and without a
perfect consciousness Of what became them, or
what was their duty! They are urged on and
stimulated by speeches, some of which are made
on this floor and in the House of Representa-
lives, and by prints which are scattered broad
cast throughout the whole country. The pro
clamation, then, has greater and higher aims. Il
aims IA the maintenance of the law; it aims n
putting down all those who would put dow,
the law and the Constitution, be they black o
/ white.
/ Sir, look at the manner in which a ioreigl
hireling has been introduced into this countr,
in order to propagate his opinions and doctrines
wifi xyard TO the subvcrson of one of the in
stitutions of this country. ! alude to n man
who is said to be member Of the British parli
ment, by the name Of Thompson. He has beer
received not in one place only in Massachusetts
but in various places, and the police on one Oc
casion assembled to protect him when they had
| mol the heart to assemble around court OF
justice to maintain the laws of their country.
Sir, let me suppose, if any member Of Con.
grcss could be capable of doing such thing
that member Of Congress should 60 to Eng
land-to Manchester or Birmingham, or any O
the large provincial towns of England-ant
there preach doctrines subversive Of the British
government should denounce their law Of pri
mogeniture, denounce the existence of the nobili
ty there, denounce the crown tself-how long
would member of Congress be permitted tt
denounce this port on of the ancient constitu
ton of Great Britain He would be driven on
by violence, and with scorn, contempt, and deri
sion of every British subject who had the hear
or manliness of n man and of British subject
And vet this daring, impudcnt, insolent member
of the British parliament comes here from Eng
land, and repeats his visit, combining himself
hitherto, as well at the present time, unless
he has recently left it, to the State Of Massachu-
sets and there be breaches his doctrines OF
sedition and disunion. And yet the member
from New Hampshire would have the Senate
believe that it is nothing but few negroes col
ected together around in a courthouse, Of whom
it is unbecoming the dignity and character Of the
government to take any notice! When the
whole northern country, to an extent, am hap
py to say, not very alarmingly great, is filled with
the doctrines Of abolition, denouncing slave
holders as thieves and murderers and calling
upon portions of the community to subvert anc
trample under foot the laws of the land, and the
Constitution tself-when the senator from New
Hampshire has seen, as he ought to have seen
that these poor negroes were bnt the catspaw'
of those who had not the courage to show thei
own faces, and the President has chosen to issue
proclamation, comprehendng not only the
blacks, but their aiders, abettors, and accessories
whom am more anxious to see punished thar
the blacks themselves he rises here with his
usual complacency, and says it is childish anf
ridiculous. Sir, call upon the Senate and cal
upon the country to stand by the President, ant
stand by the Constitution--to uphold their laws
| and to PROSTATE all opposition from what source