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

palm Of oratory. Now, sir. | know myself and |
hing too weli for that. But, sir, am glad he ~
made thakyema& forjt explains 10 me Islander
that had Ten ctyculated against ~, which have
been uts19y - IoasAo ext&ein. II has been
suggested 70 ~ that hass sometimes taken oc-
casion td1et ne and psken speech when the gal
the senator from Kentucky explains it.
Mr. CLAY. Gpterposing.) Does the senator
mean To say that have propagated any Islander
Mr.. HALE. Oh, no, sir; no, sir.
Mr.. CLAY. What do you mean, them
Mr.. HALE. | do not answer questions put in
that style. here or elsewhere. am not to be put
down by loud talk. or talk in an undertone, by any
tall man or short man. And when the honorable
senator undertakes to tell me that my vanity II
such that exceedingly over-estimate my powers,
and that there are two opinions in the community
and in the Senate about these powers, submit
that thatis all true. And submit that, if there
be man on the footstool Of God that ought to
know that there are two opinions about him, we
need not 20 out Of the Senate to find that man.
Laughter. And am not alone in that by any
means. Nor, Mr., President, am to be driven
from the expression Of such convictions as en-
terrain, in such q manner can command, and
with complacent a look ~ ! can put on, within
the rules Of the Senate, at such times a. my duty
and my Judgment dictate.
will now explain remark which thought
did not need explanation by any body else except
the senator from Kentucky. | said that had
heard SANDER outside Of the Senate, that | had
sometimes taken occasion to speak when the gal
1ery was full Of ladies', and said that that fact
was explained by the intmati0n of the senator
from Kentucky, that always followed him, and
he always selects that occasion himself. Laugh
teri That sir, is the only explanation that has
occurred TO me that can be given to the fact that
| have occasionally followed him. I can assure
the senator and the Senate that have no such
ambition and il such occurrences and colnci-
dences have taken place, it has arisen from the
fact that casually, accidentally, or purpossly, the
honorable senator has appeared as the peculiar
advocate and champion of measures upon this
floor which in my Judgment demand thekreproba-
ton Of individuals holding sentiments that en-
terrain. And sir, am not the coward to suppress
them at his nod or bidding, at the nod and bid
ding OF any body else.
But leave that subject; for do not intend to
be driven away from the subject before us by any
personal illusions made by anybody. And do
not intend to say single word in vindication of
Massachusetts. am not SO vain as that, vain as
the senator thinks me. But want to call the at
tenti0n of the Senate to historical "reminiscences,
which may possibly suggest to those who want
to find an evidence Of the course Of Massachusetts
upon this subject where to 60. remember some
two three years ago-and | think there are
members of the Senate who remember it-that an
honorable member from South Carolina Mr.
BUrLER was making some remarks in reprcb a-
ton Of the legislation Of the free States upon this
very subject Of the surrender Of fugitive slaves.
The present Secretary of State, then member of
this body, in his place (it was years after the
legislation which the honorable senator from Vir-
ginia [Mr. MAsoNl has just ready and said that
1t did not become him TO appear as the champion
Of all the free States, and he would not but (sad
he) whoever intimates that Massachusetts has
been wanting in any of her federal obligations will
c. 4 Il. Skosu
anywhere and everywhere it is made. That was
remark made by that distinguished individual
upon the floor Of this Senate some two or three
years ago, II seems to me, then, that those who
want appropriate vindication Of the legislation
Of Massachusetts upon this subject had better APP
ply to him who so willingly volunteered himself
as the champion Of that legislation. So much for
that. will not trespass upon the rights that be-
long to Massachusetts; for she is the last State in
the world that would ever call upon anybody ex-
cept her own sons to vindcate her fame, her soil,
or her integrity-the very last, and he would be
the vainest man that ever lived who should think
OF volunteering in such war.
But the senator from Kentucky has undertaken
to magnify this negro mob by connecting it with
the efforts of what he pleases to style Abolition
lists (Which, by the way, Is pretty comprehen-
| sye term) all over the country; and the old cry
is brought in" England is at the bottom of it;
there is an English emissary sent over here in the
not improbable that the annunciation will spread
as it goes out from the walls Of the Senate, that
this great negro mob in Boston, against which
the republic il preparing to exercise it powers,
was actually instigated by the emissares of Eng
land, and the first thing we know call will be
made upon the British minister to know whether
the government Of England sanctions or toerates
such thing.
Sir, it is utterly idle There is no breath Of
man that can blow this thing into any thing that
is worth the parade made about it. 1t is one Of
the simplest isolated affairs that ever occurred, Of
a momentary impulse and Of successful resist
ance to law. 1t has been done in every civilized
community, and in every State of the Union, prob
ably, and it will always continue to be done, no
doubt so long as mankind continue they are
now. And if upon every such occasion as this so
great parade is to be made, you will only bring
the government into contempt You make the
whole body Of the people disrust the efficiency Of
the institutions of the government in their regular
operation. Instead of Strengthening. you weaken.
Instead of giving respect you take it away. In
stead Of adding strength to your government, you
but make it weaker and weaker. Ii is for this
reason am utterly opposed to taking any further
notice of this matter. II the constituted author-
tiles of Boston shall advise the President that
there is shadow Of doubt that they compe-
tent carry the laws there, then, and not till
then, will it be time for the government to inter
fere.
Mr.. CASS. Mr.. President, have listened
with patience to this discussion. There il great
deal to excite the Indignation Of the senator from
Kentucky, and concur in much that he has said.
With respect to the course of the administration,
which is condemned by the honorable senator
from Virginia, it is part Of my business to de-
fend it; it has able and jealous friends enough on
this floor to do that; but owe it to truth and can
dor to say that, far as | understand the mea-
sures Of the President, approve them, and be-
lieve he is determined to do his duty firmly in re-
spect to this law; and as one member of the
Senate will say that if the law is defective, am
willing to clothe him with any necessary power
within the limits of the Constitution. | am pre-
pared to do that
But rose principally to say that regret to
have heard the remarks Of the senator from Vir-
ginia, mir. MAsos.l He will permit me to say
that cannot see any good that will result from
that strain of observation. | do not see any use
in a member Of this Senate getting up and an
nouncing to the public that the law will not be ex-
ecuted. II does no good, and believe myself, as
one, that the senator is totally mistaken Why
will it not be executed' The senator from Vir-
ginia and the senator from Massachusett the 9TH
day, seemed 10th to say that public opinion was