Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-02-22

decide whose conduct to and whose TO condemn
And believe that whenever this matter comes 10 Be under
STOOD the Of the citizens of Boston will he found TO
be such has been formerly in the history Of this country
They will be found good and peaceabe citizens, disposed at
all times TO maintain the laws OF the country and maintain
good order. at, ta1ts IA
disposed to see executed And when say this speak
sentiment which very through that portion OF
the country But nevertheless We are abiding peo
p and in my judgment the great mass OF the people
sachusets willing that thsaw like all other laws, shall Dc
subjected to the scrutiny Of the Judicial tribunals Of the coun
try they willing that the shall decide uponlts con-
unconstutonaliy and they wish tne IA"
altered doubt many do they will appeal 70 me
forum and ask modification Of il, or its repeal must 90
permitted 10 say while speaking upon this SUBJECT that
think oil attempts suppress the expression oil puoc
ion suppress freedom Of debate aud freedom OF thought
unwise.
Upon what subject OPen mPudent violation OF the laws Oh
your country ias #*al
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, The Senator from Ken
lucky does not understand me- spoke simply Of
upon the general merits and character Of this law. "A.
Mr. CLAY. Well, sir who has been opposing any as-
cusson upon the general merits and character OF this
Mr. DAVIS Massachusetts If the Senator will allow
me- Mr. President wish to say that had no references :.
the Senator from Kentucky at ALL but think 10 TACT
quite notorious that there has been great oPposon OUT
side of this Senate. fss >| ~
Mr. CLAY With regard to what has occurred In Con-
ssss and especially in the Senate ehsmosr the course mas
been without reproach. What 10 the state OF the case
law was passed the last session to enforce clear ana
explicit article Of the constitution IL was passed oy
considerable majority That law is in the progress OF oPe-
ration And what has been The course OF ne Senae mat
very Senate which passed the law Eve months ago. less
than Eve months agol We have acted upon It; we had
discussed, debated upon il, and decided upon It, we wi
now especially when there are indications OIL violence
and focble to the law listen to any attempt TO
repeal or modify the law Let the authority Of the Law be
maintained; let it be executed LET the defects if there are
any defects be developed during the progress OF It's execution
and when there spirit of obedience pervadng as ought
to pervad whole country then and not till then will the
time arrive when should look into the law and ascertain
whether there be any grounds Of objection calling for further
| legislation. ri ss.
Sir did not when up BEFORE say any thing about the
people of Boston or the people Of Massachusetts said
somethng-and hope does not disturb the feelings OF the
Senator who has Just spoken MR. DAVIS of Massachusetts,
express the indignation which feltat the outrage which
occurred in court Of justice do not know whether the
court room Is part Of but if not, near to Faneull Hall,
that great cradle of American liberty hope it is not
deemed unkind by from Massachusetts, or Often
v speak of that mob that dared to lay their sac
egous hands in the sanctuary justice upon the sword
justice ITSELF and to 1t over It's ocers and Minister'S
threatening them with its application. II it be- then IN my
place here and every where, denounce such resistance
whether made by white or black men,
Mr. DAVIS of Massachusetts,. have but word to say
in reply to the remarks Of the honorable Senator from Ken
lucky. heartily agree in much that be has said, and
lament this much he Does and sincerely
as he does What did say is, that peace
loving and aw-abidng people in the Commonwealth OF Mas
sachusetls and mean with that the fact that
are free people From the day that took against
Great Britain down this time, have claimed the right
and maintained the right and will continue to do IT. to dis
with freedom the measures OF those who govern u.s.
Now SIR go little further deprecae all violence to
any evils existing here. leave truth to combat error
and would let be done through freedom OF speech and
through freedom Of the press ask for nothing more and
laws which are passed here are found to be 10
their character the Judgment Of the people of that State
trust they will adopt but proper measures TO meet such
difficulties. They will bow in obedience TO the judicial tn
buna and they will leave these great questions in all cases
to be decided and settled by these tribunals and there be
any evils connected with this Government they will patient
bear them until that revolution for which the constitution
itself provides be worked out Why sir, peaceabe
civil revolutions of all revolutions in regard to public senti-
ment is that for which the constitution designed to provide
is the speedy in its character the most eficacou and
10 the only mode consistent with the institutions Of the
country Co. sir if you have evils to complain Of to the
ballot box and there the question and there settle the d
Guilty which exists influences Of freedom of speech
and freedom Of the press. Nogeneman this Aoor can de
pecae than do any disposition to violence or oppos
ton to the laws. rs IS ID
the States until they either repealed modified decided
be unconstitutional because the laws the public wcoa
sutionsly expressed That's my doctrine but at the same
time while advocate obedience law, shall deprecae at
all times any attempt suppress free discussions free
nation free inquiry into these subjects for that much
connected with the genius our Government the constu
ton ITSELF Why, sir it is in vain 10 attempt to prevent
public and free expression Of upon these subjects and
they be owned down. and it is vain and idle 10
| attempt. as6 4s.a gsA saH 1a >et.EIa n y
| Mr. HALE. am not going to oppose the passage OF
this resolution. Think glad that has been introduced
have listened with satisfaction to the torrent Of ndg-
nation which the Senator from Kentucky has poured out
against this obstruction of the execution of the laws But
confess should have been gra6ed if this indignation
had been exhibited in opposition to laws manesty for differ
ent latitude and upon different subject We relying
upon newspaper accounts have account though
do not know whether it is true not but have &C
count since this Senate has been in session, that judicial
officer of the Southern States has refused and did for
long time refuse TO execute the law Of the United States
for the surrender Of person belonging to another State
do not know whether the account is true or not but saw
in the newspaper and have much authority for that as
have for the account which find of the in
Boston. fg. 1ff.s 8la l7Een
Since have been member Of the Senate have
Of expedition got up Southern city to march into
foreign country, in opposition to law and treaty stpulatons
rbddng any thing of the kind but heard of
solution calling the President know what he had done
about it. recoec that after the expedition against Cuba
got up, resolution offered here and that resolution
rather of upon the efforts made by the Exc
| cutive to suppress it. aYsu.r aG5
Since have been member of the Senate, have known
mob to bold control for successive days of consider
able portion Of this city, under the Of the President Of
the United States, and there anxiety manifested then
to know what the President had heard Of it. know what
the President had done about il; TO know whethe in this
federal city, where all the authority of the United States Is
concentrated and where he bound by obligation
that could weigh upon civil officer to know whether be had
taken steps to maintain the supremacy Of the law There
inquiry made then. did not hear word about it.
But, said, am not opposed to the passage of this
solution, for will for but fear the Government Of
10