The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20
An ANIMATED DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

with the Slavery Question took place in the Sem
ate, in which the Free Soil Senators acquitted
themselves handsomely. We have room this
week only for the abridged report Of it given in
the ReyuJlie:
Mr. Hamlin presented the petition of residents
OF Waldo county Maine, praying repesl or
modification of the late act Of Congress for the
delivery of fugitiyes from service or labor
Mr.. IL, in presenting this petition, said that, as
the subject Of modification of that law was al.
ready before the Judiciary Committee, he moved
this memorial be referred TO the committee
No objection having been made, the petition was
referred Subsequently,,
Mr.. Atchison moved that the vote by which this
petition was referred be reconsidered He saw
no reason whya petition presented by the Senator
from Maine should be referred, and similar petit
tions presented by the Senator from New York
should be laid upon the table
Mr.. Hamlin said the Judiciary Committee had
the subject Of modification Of the Fugitive Slave
law before them the bill introduced by the Sen
ator from Indiana, Mr.. Bright, and several peti.
tons, had been referred to the committee This
petition was signed by several members Of the
Legislature, and by men who had been State
councillors. They were mostly all known to him,
and he vouched for their responsibility. He had
repeal of the Fugitive Slave law, and had moved
that they be laid upon the table; this he had
done because such had been the decision of the
Senate, and not because be thought it was right
The Chair said the petition was composed OF
several pieces Of paper, with names written there
on, and at the top Of which was pasted the printed
petition.
Mr. Chase opposed the motion to reconsider
and urged the propriety Of the reference-par-
ticularly after the reference Of the bill of the SEN
stor from Indiana.
Mr. Berrien pointed out the wide distinction
between the prayer Of these petitioners and the
subject-ma'ter of the bill of the Senator from In
diana.
Mr. Seward said that the record of the Senate
showed that petitions to make this Fugitive Slave
law more stringent are received and referred to
the committee. bill to make the law more
rigorous was received and referred and petitions
for q modification of the law, and to reduce the
rgors of the law, are refused reference The
record also showed the fact that petitions for n
modification Of the law, presented by the Senator
from Pennsylvanis, we're referred to the Judiciary
Committee, while similar petitions, presented by
the Senator from New York, were denied ref
erence. He would vote against the reconsidera-
ton, because he was in favor Of exact justice to
all parties.
He had been denounced as an agtator and iu
this connection took occasion to say that, since
the passage of this law ne had rs Ny sptech or
writing, done anything to cause agitation He
was willing to allow the people to consider and
act for themselves upon this subject as well as all
others; and when they appealed to Congress by
their petitions he thought il the duty of Congress
to consider their requests.
Mr., Badger remarked upon the clear and obvi-
Gus distinction between the object sought to be &C.
complished by the bill introduced by the Senator
from Indiana, and that Of the signers of this petit
ton. He then replied to the position taken by the
Senator from New York, that unless the Senate
received every petition and referred them to COM
mittees, and acted upon them it would be denial
Of the right Of petition.
Mr.. Bradbury considered there was no practi-
cal difference whether this petition were reported
to the committee or not The subject was now as
fully before the Judiciary Committee as it could
be-; the bin Of the Senator from Indiana, and the
several petitions referred to il some months since
on motion by the Senator from Pennsylvania,
Mr. Cooper. placed the whole subject before the
Committee. The committee have considered these
matters, and have come to the conclusion that le-
gislaton upon the subject is unnecessary and mex
pedicnt. He was sorry the motion to reconsider
had been made, and, with a view to dispose of the
subject, moved TO lay it on the table. MIR B be-
ing requested by several Senators, withdrew his
motion
Mr.. Butler said that he considered the act OF
last session only as q slight obstruction thrown
in the way Of the torrent of agitation, which
would be easily thrust aside When the petition
was referred, he then said that he would have
nothing TO do with tho matter, s As no had said at
the last session. he now again declared that hence.
forth he would do nothing to resist the presenta.
| ss- a.. Ill - 4
proper to send to the Senate on the subject o
slavery. For it might as well be attempted Il
quiet maniac with lullsbys as to attempt to stoI
the course Of fanatic by reasoning.
Mr. Hale stated the operation and working o
the law to have been wanting in uniformity. II
New York the alleged fugitive was given up, ant
was brought back to slavery; in Philadelphia
they went little further, and freeman wat
kidnapped and the commissioner doomed him tc
slavery he was, however, sent back to freedom
again. And now, by the paper Of this morning
be saw that fugitive ID been rescued by mob
and taken from the United States courtroom
There would seem TO be little conformity in the
| operations of this law. He was net for agitation
here he desired when he wished to agitate, tc
be among the people at home. lie was an sgita-
| tor. He shrunk from none OF the imputations
| implied in the name Of an agitator O'Connell
| tor. II was the name applied TO all those who
have ever endeavored TO shake of oppression and
raise the condition of man. The men Of the Rev.
oluton were agitators. Everything great tina,
had been done in the cause Of liberty was done
by agitation. Agitation was the element in which
the State lived. 1t was the life principle. With.
out it. the State would become stagnsnt, aud fetd
corruption would follow. Like the pool mention
ed in the Scriptures it became stagnant and cor.
rupt till an angel agitated its waters and restored
its purity
Mr. Berrien was sorry that the Senator from
New Hampshire, in advising that speeches in
tended to produce agitation should be transferred
from the Senate to the stump, had not himself set
the example.
MIR Foote was GLAD that the Senator from N ew
Hampshire had avowed himself TO be what every
one knew him to bean agtator. fIe had glo.
ried in being an agitator of the typeof o Conne
be was sure that the Senator was welcome to all
the glory he could desire from the association.
He had read in the paper an account OF the oc-
currence in Boston, in which an armed mob Of
negroes had taken fugitive from the courthouse,
and had hurried him of, as was supposed, to the
Canadian frontier.
He had called on the Secretary Of State, and
from what he had been informed he considered
that he was authorized In saying that the Gov
eminent would do itsduty, and that the law would
be enforced.
Mr. Cooper was opposed to agitation lie was
in favor Of sustaining and preserving the acts Of
last session. lie thought no good could result
from agitation on this subject of slavery. II the
Revolution was the result of agitation as the SEN
ator from New Hampshire said, 1t wss n very
different kind Of agitation than that now sought
to be continued it was an agitation against
common foe. He believed If petitions of this
character were treated as other petitions were,
one cause of agitation at the North would be re-
moved.
He would vote Against the reconsideration.
MIR Hamlin read letter from one OF the sign
ers Of the petition, in which the writer, who was
known TO Mr.. IL, said il had been signed by all
those whose names were attached TO IT,