Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-27
The Presidents Position before the Cou,tr.v


In this days paper, we have collated from the
interesting and important debate, which took place
In the Senate of the United States on Friday and
Saturday last a series of extracts, embracing for
the most part the comments of different Senators
upon the course of the President in relation to the
late Boston affair. 1t will be seen that while the
Abolition Senators, Hale and Chase, denounce the
Proclamation and Message as being ridiculous,
and loudly condemn the Presidents purpose to en-
ploy military force for the execution of the Fugi-
tive law, and whilst Mr. Mason, of Virginia dis
ingenuously endeavors to attach blame to Mr. Fill.
more tor not acting more vigorously in the previ-
GUS case of the Crafts, more generous and more
widely distinguished leaders of the Democratic
party take honorable pride in doing justice to
Wing President, whom they know to be sedulous-
ly performing his duty under the constitution and
law The tribute paid to the patriotism of Mr. Fill
more's coarse by Gen. Cass, Mr.. Downs, Mr.
Clemens and Mr.. Dodge of Iowa, will 90 directly
to the hearts of the people, and arouse in every
magnanimous breast a sentiment of admiration
and approval. The eloquent praise of Mr.. Gle
mems of Alabama is particularly worthy of notice,
and is testimonial as credable to that higl-min-
ded Senator himself, as to the President The
remarks OF Gen. Cass, upon the strange coinci-
dence of views and predictions exhibited during
the discussion with regard TO the operation of the
Fugitive law, between Messrs. Hale and Chase on
one side, and Messrs. Mason, Butler Borland and
Turney on the other, are eminently Just and in
structive
This debate has served to give accumulated
weight to the evidence which was already abun
dant, that the anti.savery men of the North and
the enemies OF the Union in the South are practi-
cally cooperating 10 weaken public confidence in
the government, and thus pave the way for its
overthrow. Bitterly may the Virginia Legislature
rue the day when it reelected James H. Mason to
the Senate, trusting 10 pledges which were to be
nullifed by er post tacto disclaimers. 1t is our
deliberate belief that he is at this moment doing
far more to keep alive the slavery agitation, and
to prevent the execution of the Fugitive law,
which ne claims credit for reporting to the SEN
ate Ohough it is known that he was not its origin
ator) than all the covert agitators in the Senate
Afraid of the known sentiment of his State he
$1,000 ''o'A' VIC Hoiho vi blsuHloillSt, Dul MS
arguments and his prophecies must satisfy the
least discerning that the appella,ion would not be
misapplied. As the Republic we'll puts his case
Unless we misunderstood the position ofthe honora.
bic Senator from Virginia, he believes that the Fugitive
Slave law never can be executed in the northern States
because repugnant to the sentiments of the northern
people AT the same time he that if the law is
not executed, the failure will be sufficient cause for
dlssoving the Union. But MIR. Mason is the author Of
the law. 1t follows then that Mr. Mason advocated
phe would follow which re does not pretend to depre
cate. Worse than this, by hi. very Vaccinations. he
seeks to bring about the state OF feeling at the South
law equivalent to its entire and absolute
ton 10 distinguish between effort of this kind and
unreasonable purpose of Dsunion requires nicer tacu
tues OF discrimination than aue possess.