The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-03

tnem met the appreciation OF my Judgment. "
cept the single measure for the abolition OF tho
slave trade Ia this District. For that voted,
and the rest | opposed, But, | repeat, was
quite willing that the public mind Of the coun-
try should receive these measures, judge them,
and decide upon them. | believed then, and
believe now, that the ultimate judgment Of the
country will be pronounced against them i
know that this opinion is not a very general ore
in this body; but believing, as | do, that the
measures were not such AS the public sentiment
OF the country demanded | cannot doubt that,
upon full and thorough examination, they will
ultimately receive public condemnation.
But especially regret that we have had this
subJect thrust upon at this time. Why, sir,
for the space of ten months during the last year
we had continued debate in this chamber of
this entire class of questions. The whole of the
public business o. the country was postponed
for the accommodation of that discussion
Hardly any great public measure received the
action Of Congress during the last session; and
now, since we have come together this session,
we have spent nearly three MONTHS and what
great public measure has been ripened for final
action! Very few measures of any considerable
Importance have received the action of this body
ut all. II was but day or two since that, for
the alleged reason of want of time, we postponed
the discussion of very important measure
the bill providing II uniform regulation Of the
fees Of officers in courts of the United States
and when this subject which we are now discuss
Ing, was brought before us, W. were considering
bill in which the people of the country take
deep Interest," bill for the reduction of postage
Three days were devoted to the discussion of
that measure, and now two days are nearly con-
sumed upon this affair, and it still remains I'M
finished. The whole country is interested in
that measure. Upon no subject, probably, have
we received so many letters and such urgent pc.
titions from every quarter.
Then there is the bill for the Improvement of
the rivers and harbors of the country, which de-
mands immediate consideration. For many
years justice has been denied to the section Of
the country which in part represent, in the i'm
provement of its rivers and harbors. We have
now a bill before us making some amends for
this long delay, and yet this bill must 60 over,
among other measures, to give place to this agi-
tation. We have, also, all the appropriation
bills yet to be acted on, while the whole body of
private bills is entirely neglected.
In this state of things, had really hoped that
we should not have any discussion upon the sub
jcct which has now been unfortunately intro
duced into the Senate. desire, and at future
time expect to discuss these questions but
W. uo1 WISH Ihal tttcy oiihii Uc uTiSRcu lItO Ut
bate to the entire exclusion of the public bust
ness of the country.
II does seem remarkable, Mr. President, that
the very senator who has most vehemently de-
nounced agitation and agitators, should himself
have brought before the Senate, during this SEES
sion, almost every question relating to slavery
which has received any degree of consideration
A memorial relative to the African slave trade
was brought into the Senate by the honorable
senator from Kentucky, and on his motion re-
ferred to a committee he making speech Which
led to discussion The matter now before us
has received its introduction here from the same
distinguished source; and | believe there has
been but one occasion upon which the slavery
question has been debated in this chamber, at
this session, upon which the honorable senator
from Kentucky did not himself introduce the
proposition which gave rise to that discussion
And yet We were promised peace, and quiet, and
harmony rs the result of the slavery measures
of last session.
never did believe, do not now believe, and,
until future Developments shall satisfy me of
error, never shall believe that the measures to
which the sanction of this body was then given,
will be productive of quiet and harmony. We
have been told here to-day, that those measures
in which the South concurred were passed by
ceived the appreciation of the North, were passed
by Northern votes. Now, is quiet and harmony
to be expected when the parties who are to form
the compromise are neither of them satisfied
with its terms! When each party rejects that
portion OF the compromise which is distaStefnl
to its particular section, how can it be considered
settlement! Sir, it is not settlement IL
has no attribute of settlement. This one Flu
gitve slave act, to which the attention of the
Senate is now called, will of itself produce more
agitation than any other which was ever adopted
by Congress.
Here in my place | opposed the passage of
that measure. opposed it because believed
with the senator from Massachusetts, now no
longer a member of this body Mr.. WEBSTER,
that the obligations in regard to fugives from
service which the Constitution imposes were de-
volved upon the States believe, with the
senator from Virginia, Mr. MAsoN,l that it is
:" a federal obligation" and agree with the SEN
ator from South Carolina Mr. BuTLERl that it
is ga compact between the States' It is
compact TO be executed by the States, as the
other compacts 10 the same article are to be ex-
ecuted, in good faith, and each State is to be the
Judge Of the measure of its constitutional obi
cations, and Of the particular legislation which
is necessary to fulfil them. Now, what was the
state Of things some twelve years agol 1t will
be remembered that at that time the transaction
occurred out of which originated the Prigg con-
troversy At that time New Jersey had her
laws providing for the restoration of fugitives
from Iabor--Pennsylvani had her laws, agreed
upon between the Legislature of that State and
commissioners sent from Maryland for the pur-
pose Of procuring the action of Pennsylvania
upon the subject Ohio had her laws, founded
upon the application of commissioners from
Kentucky, and sanctioned by their appreciation
am bound, in passing, to say that they never
received my approval, but they did receive the
appreciation of a majority of the representatives
Of the people, and they were concurred in as
sufficient and satisfactory by the commissioners
from Kentucky. Indiana had her laws, Illinois
had hers, and Iowa had her laws And so, Mr.
President from the ocean almost to the base of
the Rocky mountains, there stretched an unbro
ken chain to State legislation, making ample
provisions in relation to this subject. This
being the state of things the Supreme Cont,
in the case of Prigg against Pennsylvania, de-
cided that the States had no constitutional power