Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01

change and the South should DO quiet and easy
hose Senators who had voted for the Wmo proviso have
been reelected the Senate of the United confess
has no great tendency to satisfy my mind that there any
great improvement going in the free States would
rather have affirmative action to satisfy that refor
nation going and that the South might hereafter expect
something than she has heretofore received.
Upon what this fugitive slave bill founded In the
first place it is to carry out the constitutional right which de-
clares that ugves from service shall be delivered up And
every officer every judge every governor constable, sheriff.
and all the State officers, civil and military, members of the
Legislature included to keep that constitution
and support 1t. But although they support il,
there is law in the State of Massachusetts, making cri
mna offence If they comply with that constitutional obga-
ton. If they aid in the apprehension Of fugitive slave
the constitution which they to support requires
them to do the law of Massachusetts says they shall be
fined in prison for twelve months pay fine Of thou
sand dollars This what the South has to rely upon for
the faithful execution of this law Although had not anti
cpated open public resistance to the execution of the law
did anticipate that they would be successful enough by no
flying the negroes, and running them of in the that
have described Whenever total stranger among
them for the purpose of securing his slave, he is compelled
to make known the object of his visit and defeat the faith
full execution Of the law In order that might the
passage of this fugitive slave law with view to carry out
the constitutional rights Of the South, had to make
PROMISE And in that compromise TO surrender up
the equal rights of the South to that part of the territory of
the United States for which had poured out their
blood upon the battle fields of Mexico and for which pay
least proportion of the expense for the purchase OF
these territories. This all surrendered, together with
enough of Texas to make two States in order to secure the
passage Of the fugitive slave law and after we have done it.
told that this is which meets with little
favor 10 the North that il positively be repealed
Mr.. DOWNS. May inquire Of the Senator in what
provision there was any thing surrendered up
Mr.. TURNEY. Look at the constitution Of California,
and you will find that that territory all gone and that when
Southern carries slave there be will become free.
That may be news the Senator, but it is not to is
all surrendered up with this compromise to get the fugitive
slave bill passed We have got it passed, and understand
that four five gves have been recovered under its
provisions and perhaps they might have been recovered if the
law had been passed Yew told that the laws have
been executed in good faith How many have been off
upon the appearance Of the owner know not have re-
erred instance which took place in Michigan, when the
owner gentleman from Tennessee attempted recover his
slave who was notified Of his appearances in the vicinity by
Of the members Of the clubs that have spoken Of and
assisted in making his escape to Canada II would be very
thing to appehend slave where these men
Of every stranger who appears in the vcniy and
learning his business and giving notice to slaves that they
pursued and aiding them by aordng facilities TO make
their way into Canada. No, sir think the people Of the
South will have make up their minds that the law will not
be faithfully executed 1t useless to mislead them do
not believe this be faithfully executed where all the
feelings and sentiments Of the people among whom is to be
executed to it. Not that they will rise in mob
and resist the law but they will notify the negroes whenever
any attempt made them and aid them in making
their escape.
Mr.. CHASE. regret exceedingly that the Senator from
Kentucky Mr CLAr) has thought fit to bring this affair TO
the notice u the Senate For my own part after the mea-
of the last session had been adopted quite con-
tent that they should be referred to the judgment of the peo
pe and postpone further discussion until that judgment
should be pronounced. opposed them when they were
pending opposed them because they did not meet the ap
proval of my judgment. voted for but Of them, and
that the bill for the suppression Of the slave trade in this
District voted for that and against the rest But repeat
was quite willing that the public mind OF the country
should receive these judge hem and decide upon
them believed then, and believe now, that the ultimate
judgment of the country will be pronounced against them
know that this opinion is not very general one in this
chamber but believing, do, that the not
such the public sentiment of the country demanded can
not doubt that upon full and thorough examination they
will receive the public condemnation.
But especially regret that have this subject Of slavery
pressed upon this time. For ten months during the
last year had continual debate in this chamber upon the
slavery questions The whole public business of the country
Hardly any great public unconnected with slavery
received the action Of Congress during the whole session
We have again assembled The opponents Of the compro
mise have absaned from introducing discussions of these
TOPICS interfering with the progress Of business We are
the las. days of the session, and what grea. public
measure has been matuIed for final action Sir hardly
any of any considerable importance has received the
action Of this body at ALL 1t but day two since,
that for the alleged of want Of time, postponed
the discussion of very important bill providing uniform
regulation of the fees Of public officers bill which, If
passed. would have saved many thousands annually the
treasury. We had before us, when the matter in
debate introduced into the Senate bill in which the
people of the country take great ineresthe bill for the
reduction of postages We had spent three days in its
sderaon, when the introduction of this business arrested its
progress Two days of the nine which remained of the
sion have been consumed in unnecessary debate and the
discussion remains unfinished The whole country is inter-
esed in the which has been thus deferred and haz
aded Probably upon subject have we received SO many
and such urgent petitions from the people of every section
Then there the bill for the improvement Of the rivers and
harbors of the country and especially Of the West For
years this justice has been denied the section Of the
country which in part represent. We have now bill be-
fore making amends for this long delay but this
beneficial measure must also give place to this particular ag
taton All the important appropriation bills also, and other
matters of great public interest," yet to be acted upon
and the whole body of private claims remains entirely ne
elected really hoped that in this state Of the public bust
the agitation Of question relating to slavery would
be renewed at the present session. wish, and at future
lime mean to discuss all these questions freely but do
not wish them thrust before the Senate to the entire
exclusion of the public business of the country.
Sir it seems to me somewhat remarkable that the very
Senator who has vehemeny denounced agitation and
agators should himself have furnished the occasion Of almost
debate slavery topics during this session. The me-
mortal relative to the African slave trade brought into the
Senate by the Senator from Kentucky and referred to COM
mtee, with speech, and that led to discussion. The
under debate received it's introduction here from the
distinguished Senator and believe there has been but
occasion upon which the subject of slavery has been
discussed in this chamber during the present session, when
the honorable Senator himself has not introduced the PROPOSE
lion which gave rise the debate. And yet pro-
missed peace and quiet and harmony have believed
do not believe, and unless the future developments shall
convince of error shall believe that the
which the sanction of this body given the last
ZION will be productive Of quiet and harmony. We have
been told here to-day that those measures in the series which