The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-21
AFFAIRS In fHg NATIONAL CAPITAL.



WASHINGTON, Feb. Ia, 1851.
Yxs Fs1tvs Slavs Lac-A Lipsiy Day in the Sc
sale The Dept! aIgnsdand Condemned as the
syst Astiaf1-1he Ad14aisiratlo~ a~d the Bos-
toa au-Resovtio~ Of Mr. Guy, SC. &c.
Sparkling sunny morning Large assemblsge OF
the " soverigns" at the Capitol, with strong IN
fusion OF the Yankees Of the Boston Committee Of
visitors Crowded auditory III the galleries OF the
Senate-wiih an unusual acquisition of handsome
women in white and pink bonnets. II was under
stood very early this morning. that the news OF the
Boston Fugitive Slave Case, brought to town by the
Nsp York Herald, had excited quite a stir at the
West End; and that Mr. Senator Foot, immediate
ly after breakfast had gone TO the President, on
the subject, after calling upon MIR Clay al MS
lodgings II was expected there might De some
thing done or said in the Sena rrfr nee 10 TINS
case, upon the presentation II thu usual daily Datch
of abolition petiuons, sgaInis the fugitive law. The
sequel fulfilled this Impression be, oHd our most san
guine expectations.
Mr. Hamln presented a petition from Maine, for
the repeal OF the fugitl'e slave law, and moved It's
reference 10 the Judci iry COMMITTEE. Mr.. Butler,
chairman Of that committee, did care whether il
referred or not; and upon that hint, the petit
lion referred Shortly after that, Mr. Atchi-
moved 10 reconsider the reference ord .r to
follow up the rule IN regard hese multiplying petit
lions, by laying this one u,on the table. Now here
was an opening. A motion 10 lay on the table can
not be debated but motion To Reconsider opens
up the whole field of discussion and very sprlght-
ly discussion was the consequence. When every
thing else utterly fails OF breaking the monotony of
dull speeches TO sleepy Senate ,orDg up the negro
question: and tie fur btg,ns 10 fly In the most beau
tlful style. So twas to-day
The telegraph has suprrceded the necessity OF a
report Of lhis debate We snail touch simply upon
TWO or three prominent points We think Mr..
Pesrce clearly established The fact, from the first
chapter of Genises, that his satanic majesty, the
devil, the first agItator; outstanding Master
Hale asserts that he stole mo paradise as thu
commissioner OF a fugltve slave law. We also
agree with Mr. Butler, thai he internal spirit stole
Inlo the garden of Enen IN the disguise of q ser
pent, whispering into he ear Of our poor cr,dulous
grandmother, that there Was "hlgher law" than
the law proclaimed as the law Of the locality.
Nor 90 we suppose II necessary for Mr..
Eootc 10 insist In reading Nj on. prove that the
devil and his angels wrte tRro"n headong out OF
heaven, as arch agitatOrs ihis going be hind
the record Mr.. Hale, however. made a good
case in behalf OF sguauor. No reform, great
good, no great improvement has ever been, or C an
ever be made without agi ahel Jpol that point,
from New Hampshire IT agitation, however,
i, as charged upon bun, flil - The mischief of
nulllhcaton, sediIlon, anoil9Un, and the "higher
law" The debate upo, ne gevil excited the
greatest laughter, al bs, apd A Hales expense;
and the result was, faton, and the lay
ing OF the petition upon tbe dbie
The resolution Of Nh Gay. 10 relation 70 the
Boston case, will, doubf, 5rag from the Prssi.
dent assurance of hi determination 10 enforce
the law; and probably semi racommendations for
the more vigorous ri force msnt 0t ths law.
The Boston affair has created IN unusual ex-
cite ment; and should NOT be surprised IL a de-
tachment OF United ~istcs troops were sent up
that city, TO and IN ths execution Of the fugitive
slave act, aud TO rept tn mob Of negroes and
nulitIers who resist II