The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-20
DEFERRED DEBATE-In SENATE.
MONDAY, February II, 1851.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE La

signed by d. l.. Milliken, William Milliken, j.
H. Haines, and other residents Of Burnham, in
the county of Waldo, in the State of Maine,
asking for the repeal or modification of fugitive
slave law; and inasmuch a. the subject Of that
law is before the Committee on the Judiciary,
move that this memorial be referred to that
committee.
The motion was agreed to.
The petition is in the following terms
TO the Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of The United States ::
Whereas Congress, at its late session, did
pass bill entitled An act to amend and sup
Elementary to an act entitled An act respect
ing fugitives from justice and persons escaping
from the service Of their masters" approved
February IL, 1893, which said enactment was
approved by the President September 10, 1850 /:
We, the Undersigned, residents of the town
of Burnham, in the county of Waldo and State
Of Maine, regarding that act AS in conflict with
the Constitution Of the United States, and also
as infringing upon the duties which we owe to
benevolence, TO humanity, and to God, and be-
ing unwilling to comply with its acquisitions or
submit to its penalties, earnestly ask it's speedy
repeal or modification.
Mr.. BUTLER. have no objection myself
that any of these petitions should go TO the
Committee on the Judiciary Most of them
have boon laid on the table, though know that
some have found their way to that committee,
But give notice that shall have nothing to do
with them. There are gentlemen of that CON-
mttee who may take charge of this petition, if
they think proper; but | give this notice be-
cause it is perfectly immaterial to me whether
that law is modified or not.
Mr.. ATCHISON subsequently rose and said :
May ] inquire what was the character of the
memorial which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary?
The PRESIDENT. twas a memorial for
the repeal or modification of the fugitive slave
law.
Mr.. ATCHlSON. move, them that the
vote by which it was referred to the committee
be reconsidered. | make the motion, because
can see no good reason why memorial pre-
scented by the Senator from Maine, upon the
subject Of the repeal of that law, should not
be laid upon the table, rs well rs those of a
similar character which were presented by the
Senator from New York Mr.. SEwARDl or the
Senator from New Hampshire, [Mr. HALE
Mr.. HAMLlN. 1t is known to all that /
have presented various petitions of somewhat
similar character, and that have myself moved
to lay them on the table, not because believed
it was right but because that was in accordance
with determination of the Senate. This is a
AhObiViAdi WHICH, doho IOF " HOOlICutlOn OF Ln0L
law, and | believe the Committee on the Judi
ciary have bill now before them for that pur-
pose; and coming from such a respectable
source az this men, oriai did. asking for modi-
fcation of that law, signed by members of the
State Senate and others who have been mem
bers of our Executive Council and State Legs.
lature, and Others of our most worthy citizens
in the discharge Of my duty could not do 9th
erwise than to ask that the memorial may re.
ceve as favorable consideration as those which
ask the Senate to consider a bill which has beer
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Evenhanded justice requires that such course
!, should be pursued
The PRESIDENT. On looking at tn,
memorial, the Chair finds that the names are OF
several pieces Of paper pasted to printed pc
tition at the top. Whether it was there wher
the paper was signed originally cannot be ascer
tained from the paper itself
Mr.. FOOTE ! think the senator from Maine
is mistaken as to the character of the measure
if he refers to the bill introduced by the senator
from Indiana, Mr.. BRIGHT | believe the bill
to which the senator refers does not propose to
alter the law, but simply to declare what the late
law was. For my own part, recognizing what
we have done as deinitive settlement cannot
vote for anything that will tend to renew agitn.
ton. therefore move to lay the subject on thu
table.
The PRESIDENT The proposition is tc
reconsider the vote by which the memorial wa
referred 10 the committee.
Mr.. FOOTE. Very well; then withdraw
my notion
Mr.. CHASE. think the senator from Mis-
sissippi is mistaken rs to the character of tn,
bill introduced by the senator from Indiana, Mr.
BRIGHT IL does rot propose to explain tn,
late law, for it does not need any explanation
and hardly think that any explanation which
might be given to it would amount to much il
it did. But it proposes to revive the old law so
far as to enforce the penalties which are imposed
by it. inasmuch as the distrc. court of Indiana
have decided that the law of 1850 repealed the
law Of 1893 as far as that is concerned. The
district court of Indiana has so decided
Mr.. FOOTE. think not
Mr.. CHASE. Well, it is feared that the dis.
trict court Of Indiana will so decide.
Mr. F')OTE. understood the senator from
Indiana 60 say that it was simply n matter Of
disputation there, and, being so, it was looked
upon as desirable that the proper Interpretation
of the law should be fixed. do not understand
that there has been any adjudication, or that
there was any serious apprehension that the
courts Of Indiana would not decide as they will
be bound to decide ultimately
The PRESIDENT. The question is on re-
considering the vote by which the memorial was
referred, and not the bill presented by the senator
from Indiana.
Mr.. CHASE j am aware of the state Of the
question, and did not mean to trespass on the
rules of the Senate at all I think il may be
proper to say that if no such decision has been
made, there has been, as stated by the senator
from Mississippi, an apprehension that such a
decision may be made. The act of 1850 pro-
vides for heavy penalties, much greater than
those of the act of 1893, and teing upon the
same sublectmatter, tits supposed that it may
be repealed.
pass from that subject. That bill, however.
whatever may be the character of it, hns been
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary -
There il now petition, vouched for by the sen
ator from Maine as coming from gentleman o,
the very first character in his State, praying for
similar objects and ! submit to the Senate
without single word of observation further
whether they are prepared to make distictou
between memorials, petitions, and bills upon
o. Rsde Of this subject and those upon the other