Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-02-25
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&C N G r E S S.
the death penalty

SATURDAY, Feb. o.
SENATE.-The debate on the reference OF the
Presidents Message being resumed.
Mr.. Downs argued at length that the Fugitive
Slave Law was executed and would continue to be
executed in good faith and as promptly as the most
sanguine expected. A great change he said had
taken place at the North since the passage of the
compromise measures. The Wing party in N. Y
cannot elect man to the Senate Of the United
States unless he be in favor of the law The Pres
dents calling on the military he considered great
evidence of his patriotism.
Mr.. Clemens said he was not one of those who
voted Tor the compromise acts, but was one who,
after their passage, considered they should have
fair trial. One only of those acts was in any way
liable to be repealed disturbed, and that was the
Fugitive Slave Law. If he believed that law was
dead letter. he would say the day for the dissolu-
ton of the Union. He said the people of Ala
bama had pecuniary interest in the law, for they
did NOT lose one negro in five years but they had'a
deep interest IN the question of the execution of the
laws, for if one provision of the Constitution
not share the same ae Mr. Clemens r said hat
the law had been executed everywhere except in
Boston.
| Mr.. Borland debated the Compromise acts. He
expected no good results from this law and had not
been disappointed. He saw no suppression of agi-
tation resulting from the compromise +; there was
excitement now-slaVery was discussed, and sever
al days were spent on -and on all these occasions
agitation took place. The subject had been intro
duced by the Senator from Kentucky.
MIR: Iurney spoke at LENGTH pointing out the fail
ure of the compromise acts
| Mr. Dodge Of Iowa, defended his State from the
charge of preventing the execution of the Constitu
tlonal rights OF Southern citizens he considered
that the President Lad done perfectly right. If
blood-shedl to follow the Presidents Proclamation
let 1t come now. There are traitors at all times
and there might be a few in the vicinity of Boston.
tie did not regard this mob as evidence of the sent
ments OF the people CT Massachusetts, but he pre-
TERED to think the demonstration made at Sprng-
held, IN regard to the miscreant and insidous mon
ster Thompson, better indication of their feel
ings.
Mr. Douglass explained the legislation of Illinois
as always being adverse to the immigration of free
negroes. The Senator from Ohio has declared that
the decision of the supreme court in the case of
Frogs IN Pennsylvania had practically expunged
the constitutional provision, this remark implied a
gross caunny on the people and officers of the free
States.
Mr.. Chase explained that it was the duty Of the
States and not Of the federal government to execute
THIS provision. but the supreme court in the decision
referred to had denied the rights the States to pass
such la Ms.
MIR. Cass alluded to Mr. Hale's daily assertions at
the last session, that the Compromise would be
failure, and that any who voted for it would he
stricken down. He commended that except in the
New York case-EIr Dicki nson's-,he nrcnbocy
had been falsified