Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-02-22


Gom Michigan, for the term OF siN years iron
ihs g. cf March neNt
Nr Miller presented petition for line
tt steamers TO Africa
Mr.. Hamin presented petition asking
tia, naval vessels be sent to bring the Amer
leans home, who are now at California, with
out the means of returning.
Mr. Ilamlin presented petition from the
citizens of the State of Maine praying for the
repeal or modification OF the fugitive slave
law. It was referred TO the Judiciary Com.
miiee.
Mr.. Butler said he did not care whether
the petition was referred or not--he would
have nothing 10 do with the subject--the law
might be repealed or not.
Mr.. Butler considered the acts of The las,
session as temporary obslabes only in the
way Of the stream of fanaticism. He had said
at the last session and now, that he would
have nothing TO do with the subject, and
when petitions were sent 10 the committee,
he had declared that he would have nothing
10 do with them, one way or the other. He
would do nothing TO resist the reception Or
reierauce of any petition or bill, for you
might as well attempt 10 pacafy a maniac by
singing lullaby, as 10 attempt by commits
sioa to satisfy a fanatic.
Mr.. Hale said the fugitive slave bill had
workings very various in various sections -
Under it a slave was returned 10 his master
in New York in Philadelphia a freeman
was kidnapped and sent TO slavery-he was
returned, however ; in Boston, the bill was
worked so as to enable a mob TO take an al
legged fugitive from the court house. There
was little conformity in the operations of the
bill. He was for the repeal of the fugitive
slave law. He cared little for the agitation
here He would 20 before the people al
hume, and aeitale there, which was the sur
est place. He was an agilaior, he shrunk
from none Of the mpulaiions implied in the
epi,het of arilator-hc goried in being an
aGiIalor. All the grea, events in the progress
ut numau liberty were achieved by agiators'
Agitation was The element Of life TO the
State. If there was no agitation, the State
would sink into the frtid pool Of corruption
There is no purity without agilation-the
pool Of Bethesda became stagnan, aud impure
umil ii was agilated by an angel from
heaven. lie hoped agitation would never
cease.
NJ Berrien was sorry that Mr.. Hale, in ad.
vising the adjournment of agitation speeches
from the Senate to the stump, had not him.
self set the example.
MIR. Foote replied TO Mr. Hale. He hoC
read in the Herald an account of the mob il
Boston, and after an interview with the Sec
relarv of State, was free 10 declare, having
authority so to do. that the government ill.,
tended 10 do It's dnty, and that the fugitive
slave law would be enforced strenuousy and
vigorously.
Mr. Cooper was opposed 10 agitation. lie
believed the majority Of The people of Penn.
syIvana were in favor of carrying into exc
culoa the laws, particularly the laws Of the
LIST session, including the Fugitive Slave
Law.
Mr.. IIambliu read letter stating that the
petition had been siGued by all those whose
!. mes were attached to it.
Eir. Pearce said Mr.. Hale had made charge
o, Kidnapping in The Philadelphia case. Kid
mapping had a peculiar and legal sguilica.
ton. He knew all the parlies-knew the
commissioner, who was an eminent lawyer
and was man of honor, against whom the
charge of kidnapping was idle. 1t was one
Of those cases of mistake in indemnity, which
daily occurred in criminal cases The ale
ecd slave was retained, and that showed
how Gtoundess were the inlmaiions that
Kidnapping would result from the bill. The
Senator (lIale) also glored in the name Of az
ila'or--he abhorred it, and thought the Sena-
tor hal made a great discovery in declaring
that agitation was an element. He thought he
was unfortunate in likening his agitation tc
agitation which disturbed the pool by the
gentle Heavenly influence. All knew whC
was the first agilator--it WAS he who entered
Paradise and corrupted the heart of the frs
woman. None can tell who will be the las
a-ia'ur, bat most OF US can judge of the char
actar Of some of the successors Of the first
lLaughIer,
Mr. Rhett asked Mr.. Cooper if he under
stool him to say that Pennsylvania was sat
isicl with the fugitive slave law, and whe
ther the laws obstruclng the act of 1913 haC
been repealed.
Mr.. Cooper said that the majority of hi'
constituents were III favor Of executing The
law. The legislative acts spoken of had no
been rcpealed, because of local politics, no
necessary 10 be explained.
Mr. Rheit desred that the qualification
now made by the Senator should 60 ont viii
hi; speech. The laws of Pennsylvania haC
no, been repealed, nor would they be. Th'
mercantile interest of Pennsylvania and New
fcri; nigh, be in favor of executing the law
hut the interior counties would never exc
cute it.
Mi Hale thought Mr.. Pearce had mistaken
the character OF the first agia,or The Devi
went into Eden not as an agilaior, but 10 re