The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-25

that many sincere regrets woud be ie in that country.
however sentimental might be the paragraphs in the
Mr.. MASON. take j, for granted that the honorable
from Michigan Mr. CAss did not intend to mis-
law will not be enforced. cannot pretend TO look
50 far into lulurl,y What said this (and repeat
) that il the honorable senator from Michigan considers
that this law has heen executed IN such way yield
the fruits OF The law in every where the slave is
moi recovered by effective violence and resistance the
law he does not interpret the execution OF the law as
do, mean 10 say that except IN some instances-s0me
few nslances--ihs law, lar as am informed has not
yielded the fruits OF such law for when the property is
returned % the owner the cost OF getting HIM back is
equal TO the value of the property II the honorable
alor from Michigan that this is an execution OF the
law, with which the slave States TO be satisfied,
ehend ne misintepres the feeling OF the people OF those
States have not said that this law will never be exc
ca'ed' nave said, and repeat, that the law cannot
De executed-t Is not in the power OF execute it,
faith and call upon the honorable senator from Mich-
igan 70 lei me know when the law has been executed
Th DILIGENCE alacrty zeal. and good faith, not upon
the part OF the ministers executing the law only but the
people among whom il was to be executed.
Sir easy to trace this thing % s tns sosses |!
prevails amongst the people where these fugves goa
settled and abiding hostility to that nstu,ion--whch
makes them treat this law the law OF foreign power.
they did contribute by their votes to pass For sir,
the fac, remains upon the Journal OF this Senate thai
when that law passed here during the last session.
il passed by the votes OF the slaveholdng States;
there but three, out Of the thirty senator's rep
resenlng the free States, who voted Tor that law in
stance the honorable senator from Pennsylvania over the
way, [Mr STuRGEpN,l and the honorable senators from
Iowa. Messrs DODGE and JONES
Mr.. DICKINSON. would thank the honorable SEN
ator TO add to his statement, if he will allow TO inter-
rupl hun, that my colleague Mr. SEWARD who is sup
posed to be pretty srons opposed to this law, and my
self paired off stated the fact in speech that made
IN favor Of "a the law at The time OF its passage -
Mr. SEWARD. If the honorable senator from Vlr-
gina will allow me, will say that my colleague has
stated the truth upon that subject He would undoubt-
ely have had an opportunity for voting for the law IT
sickness, which rendered impossible ior me to sit
stand had not prevented my being here to vote agains
Mr. MASON am not challenging the votes Of sen.
aors, but am stating the acts--the historical facts
satisfied, perfectly satisfied that every gentleman who
did not vote upon that occasion had proper and SUFFICIENT
reasons for it, am the last to challenge the ac-
ton OF any senator upon this floors but suchs the fact
"tferd sCriptI mani" Three senators only from the
free States voted for that law all the others who vood
to the number OF twelve, believe--voted against it.
Now, we can see, and know, and understandWed do
der stand and feel every dayhat the why this
law not successfully executed in the free States that
the spirit OF the people against the law and the objects
OF the law. a
The honorable senator from Michigan asks me il | ex-
pecl every man. woman, and child to rise up and
after these fugitives, in aid OF the law. will point to
what occurred in his city La the city where he lives, AN
attempt this law resisted by violence al.
though successfully resisted understand that there
slave arrested the city OF Detroit time du
ring the last fall, and mob gathered and the military
were actually called out, E
Mr. CASS. If the honorable senator will allow me
to interrupt him, will say that there was fugitive ar
rested there, and the military called out There
was demonstration but eff)rt OF resistance. nor IN
my opinion, or in the opinion OF the whole country.
would there have been there That s the opinion OF
every wenormed man there that the slave could have
been taken away without the military being called out
Mr. MASON. There was certainly a strong demon
sraion or the military would not have been called out
Now, is thing not TO lend sufficient aid in carrying
this law into execution and another thing nterpose ef
icent obstacles | have said this law will not be
executed; but say that as long this spirit prevails
he at ia IN he n
done only at equal to the value OF the property
claimed Now, sir, reference TO the case OF Long, in
New York, the honorable senator from that State under
takes TO correct in this fact, that there suits
actually brought against the claimant there That is the
only fact in which he does correct No suits were
actually brought against the claimant there they
brought against the claimant the Crafts case in Boston
do not remember that in my remarks ascbed to that
case the TACT that suits were brought against him.
one fact only IN which was wrong. ! say there
great deIays-evasons resored to by those who con-
Quoted the defence. for the purpose OF deay-aa far ~
could understand for the purpose OF defeating the ends
and execution of the law and although they did not sue
cessfully defeat IT, lar final judgment
cerned they did so far as the value OF the property was
concerned.
adduce the OF New York simply for the purpose
Of showing that this law did not render the fruits had
rgh, to expect from j. II IS no answe, to this os,ec
tlon when am told by the senator from New York that
the expenses paid by voluntary contributions OF the
citizens. ii may have answered in that but how
very few Of the other claimants who 20 into the free
States would find the citizens ready to bear their expenses
have not the disposition TO Tor do not entertain
the opinion that anything done in the city OF New
York. by the ministers of the law, which necessary
TO carry the law into execution, anything left undone
by them But speak OF showing the lmpossbility
OF executing the law such as TO make valuable
when the people amongst whom II Is to be executed are
hostile the law That the only purpose for which
aivered to IT
Mr. DICKINSON. All recovery of proverty, under
any law, subject 10 controversy and to condensation
II there TO be contestaon the country
law would be necessary. II individuals 10 have
the power go and take what they claim the prin-
clpe TO be, let him get who law would be
necessary Blu, every law supposes that there viii be
more or less condensation Now in this where the
delay complained Of the says that the only fruits
Of the law lost That depends entirely upon what
this individual values his time al He there about
ten days his own expenses were paid the most eminent
counsel that the city and State OF New York afford was
furnished him free OF expense; he eaertaned Tree
Of expense, and lost nothing but his own tme--thet H.
save why then, he went back without the fruits Of what
he sought. 1tbf
But portion of that delay caused by the declara~
ton OF the claimant himself that he wished the matter
fully and fairly tested, as IT under the new
law and excited much OF the public attenton-and he
wished every fair facility given TO have the law fairly
tried Another portion OF the delay caused the very
which he unable TO proceed Now, il does seem to
me that, unless we somewhat anxious not to have
the law executed, will cite this case because,
far from showing that the law be executed has
shown that strong public opinion in this locality at
least was IN favor OF its execution for one undH-
takes to struggle against public opnIon far ~ to vof
unteer to pay the expenses they will not do unless
they believe they justified by thai opinion.
Mr. CLAY; 1t is with regret that have heard the re-
Il A. ll-- N..x.A.a