Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-22
CONGRESS.
SENATE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1851.

Msae asking for the repeal modification Of the fugitive
slave law and inasmuch the subject of that law s before
the Committee the Judiciary move that this memorial
be referred 10 that Committee.
The motion was agreed to.
The petition in the following terms
To the Senate aud House Of
Wberea. Congress at session. did bill ent-
tied amend and supplementary 10 An ae' enieu
respecting iugves iron ara
I79s which ad enactment was approved oy tne President
@ anasr,Snee residents Of Of Buruha,
the county Of Waldo and State OF Maine that act
m in coaact with constitution OF the United States, and
90 Infringing upon the duties which we owe 70
a - and 10 Gcd being unwilling 70 comply with It's
n.;.ons or submit its penalties earnestly ask its speedy
repeal modhcauoh' .
. m ,;on. sbould 20 to the COMMITTEE the Judiciary
Ms, Of them have been laid on the table, though know
h some have found their way to that committee. But
Give notice shall have nothing TO DO with them There
s gentlemen of that committee who may take charge Of
this petition il they think proper but give this notice be-
cause h perfectly immatera to whether that law is mo-
ditied or not.
M, ATCHISON quenty and said May inquire
h., was the character Of the emor which referred
10 the Commttaa the Judiciary II.
The PRESIDENT. II a memorial for the repeal or
modification Of the fugitive slave law
Mr. ATCHISON. move, then, that the vote by which
il was referred to the committee be recepsdered make the
notion because good reason why memorial pre-
sented by the Senator from Maine upon the subject of the
rene o
as those Of similar character which were presented BY the
Senator from New Mr sxwARD) or the Senator from
New Hampshire (Mr HALE)
Mr HAMLIN. II is known to all that have presented
v.rous peiops Of somewhat similar character, and that
have myse moved lay them the table, not because
believed right but because that was IN accodance with
determination Of the Senate. This memorial which asks
for . modification Of that law, and believe the Committee
m ,bs Judcsry have bill before them for that purpose;
and coming from such respectable this memorial
dd asking for modification of that law signed by members
Of The State Senate and others who have been members OF
our executive council and State Legislature and oners Oh
o most orhy c,izens in discharge of my duty could
not do otherwise ask that the memorial may receive
as favorable consideration those which ask the Senate to
consider bill which has been referred TO the COMMITTEE on
the judiciary. EvennaDded Justice ieiuncs na. sucu
course should be pursued
The PRESIDENT. On looking at the memorial, the
Chair finds that the several pieces of paper
pasted to printed petition the top whether was there
when the paper was signed orighay cahho' oe
from the paper itself.
as 70 the character o measure he refers to the bill in
troduced by the Senator from Indiana, MI BRIGHT) be-
eve the bill 10 which the Senator refers does not propose to
alter the law but simply to declare what the late law was
For nv own part recognising what have done deni-
tive settlement vote for any thing that will tend to
agitation therefore move 70 ay he ueec' on 'ne
The PRESIDENT. The proposition is to reconsider the
vote by which the memorial referred to the committee
Mr.. FoOTE. Very well then withdraw my notion
Mr.. CHASE. think the Senator from Mississippi is
mistaken ss to character Of the bill introduced BY the Se
nator from Indiana (M BRIsHT Il does to
plain the late law for it does not need any explanation and
hardly think that any explanation which might be gwen to
il would amount much if did, But proposes to revive
the old law 80 far as enforce the penalties which i'm
posed by it. nasmuch the district court Of Indiana have de-
cded that the Of 1850 repealed the law Of 1898 far
as that concerned The district court Of Indiana has de-
cided. ......@.: .@t
Mr.. FoOTE. think not. 4
Mr.. CHASE. Well it is feared that the district court Of
Mr. FOOTE. understood the Senator from Indiana to
say that it was simply Of disputaon there and being
So il was looked upon desirable that the proper neprea
ton of the law should be fixed do not understand that
there has been any adudcaon that there serious
apprehension that the courts Of Indiana would not decide
they will be bound to decide ultimately.
The PRESIDENT. The question is on reconsidering
the which the memorial referred, and not the bill
presented by the Senator from Indiana
Mr.. CHASE. am of the state Of the question,
and did trespas the rules OF the Senate at
all. think may be proper say that if no such decision
has been made there has BEEN stated by the Senator from
Mississippi apprehension that such decision may be
made The Of 1850 provides for heavy penalties, much
greater than those Of the Of 1893, and being upon the
subject it is supposed that may be repealed
pass from that subject That bill, however, whatever
may be the character of it has been referred to the Commit
on the Judiciary. There petiton vouched for
by Senator from Maine coming from gentlemen of the
very first character in his State, praying for similar objects
and submit to the Senate, without single word of observa-
ton further whether they prepared make distinction
between memorials petitions, and bills upon side Of this
subject and those upon the other side
Mr. SEWARD. Mr.. President, the record Of the Senate
shows this the character of its action this subject
That when petition relating the laws concerning ugves
from service presented REFEREED if its object
render these laws stringent than they adudi
Gated to be- bill the effect of which is to increase the
reos of the law has received reference Petitions for the
amendment of these laws TO render them less rigorous,
are denied reference That discrepancy The record
shows another viz that when petition is submitted the
Senate on the of Senator from Pennsylvania, pray
ing even for ameoa'on repeal of these laws it
object presented by Senator from New York. is denied
reference. .r a.,.. .,.. .....-
shall against the reconsideration of the reference
which has been made we'll because in favor of equal
and Justice both sides Of this question: because it
my duty to insist upon equal and exact justice from the
Senate all its members But shall vote against the
consideration for another For the that think
il inudcous and most unwise to deny reference
petition of any class of citizens of the United States whether
they be such those who have here the petition
presented by the honorable Senator from Maine, consisting Of
what has been called here the elite Of society, whether it
be here by plain, unassuming republican citizens
hold that all entitled equal legislative respect and
sderaon, and stop inquire to which Of the two
classes petitioners belong never have obtruded upon the
Senate the character, e rank of person whose
annexed to petition relating TO the present subject pre-
scented by myself.
But there is still another that | glad to
have opportunity sa,e and that is that the object of
the Senate be suppress agitation, judgment they
take exactly the wrong do it. For years upon
branch refused in form another receive and con-
tho of affac