The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-26


promised and By many believed, the very oppo-
OF all these much desired and valuable blessings are
aud aaiaon a. we had here during the las, sess;on n
Congress on this subject there IS more and worse
and certainly more occasion Tor IT, Fearful as were the
apprehensuns which held the public mind OF the country
ia hladom during the last year. they not At any
rate e true grounds for them were not SO fearful, be-
cause not so pabe by half as they were at this
time. So far then. from this law having answered the
purposes and fulfilled the promises Indicated by Its terms.
and made by It's advocates, il has, in my opinion done
haIn rather than good
do not question the sincerity of senators who say
hey believe this law has been and will be faithfully
ecu'ed that It has answered the purpose for which il
was passed that It has fulfilled its mission OF peace
harmony and the preservation OF the constitution ac-
cord TO them perfect sincerity and candor in all this but
opinions Now. wha, are the ac,si We are told ,hs,
tlis law has hesh cxecnted How has il been executed
" .a ~ @s.er r.ar. 'osn
any senator these questions The from
South Carolina Mr. BUTLER] stated yesterday that there
are fifteen thousand fugitive slaves in the free States
believe the statement to be true II is believed 10 be true
in the South-it is admitted at the North. have never
heard the number stated to be less than that Assuming
then, thus number-that there are fifteen thousand fug
tive slaves from the South IN the free Staes inquire
how many have been recaptured aud recovered under
this law VIII any one tell me' What proportion in
number 40 the Tscaured and recovered slaves bear to
claims the successful operation OF this law make the cal
culallon: FIFTEEN THOUSAND lost; how many recov-
cred? VIII any say that there has been in ten,
one in hundred, or even one in thousand? Does any
one know OF fifteen that have been Tecovered' Can
any one tell me OF dozen, or even ten senator
says not more than fre believe that to
be true. Not than fpe OF FIFTEEN THOU
SAND How does such iact-that so many are fugi
hves and so few have been recoyered-sqaare with The
opinion thai the law has been faithfully and successfully
executed II such be the result OF its success pray what
would be that of its taaara II the latter would be
confess myself to be one OF those who are unable to
appreciate the difference or the aggravation.
Much STRESS | know, has been laid upon the single
case Of the runaway Long, recaPtured in the city OF
New York We have been told that this alone ID
demonstration, gratifying and encouraging denonstrx-
ton alike OF the success and efficiency OF this law, and
OF the disposition and purpose of the people OF the free
States TO fulfil their constitutional obligations, by obey
ing and executing its prov visons. But TO my mind, the
reads very different lesson. 1t is not in the single
fac, OF the result being recovery OF the fugitive that
to look for the character and bearing OF this case
II is rather from the circumstances which marked the
proceedings in II that must estimate its Importance
and form Judgment of the kind and degree OF inhu
ence il is calculated to exercise Now, what were those
circumstances The senator from Virginia Mr. Ma
SOM slated yesterday that the pecuniary expenses alone
which attended this recovery equaed (or very nearly IN
amount the full value OF the slave at home Add to this
the delays and other personal difficulties and annoy
ances which the claimant had to encounter and who
will say that il in fact recovery OF his property
Who will not admit that so far as hs interest and his per-
sona comfort and advantage were concerned he had not
better remained at home and let his slave go free! Who
will deny that actually he sustained loss beyond the
nominal value Of his property instead OF ,s .essivna that
tays difficulties, annoyances, expenses, land, IN some
personal dangers staring him in the tace
erng, his fugitive slave? The question is fully and
phaiicay answered by the taa that so few have done
that, while so many fugves are in the free States
few have been pursued, and still lever recovered In
facts like these, do you hnd the faithful and successful
execution OF this law Is this the fulhlmen OF the
promise that made in behalf OF this law! Ia this the
realization OF the hope that held to the South
the time OF lis PASSAGE If sir, 1t was indeed,
many feared, an empty promise and a delusiye hope
The right oil the master to his slave is by this law
clearly recognised, and the means of maintaining that
right indicated and authorized by its provisions. But OF
what value is right, OF what utility the means Of
forcing IT, # confined TO the paper upon which the mere
words that express them is printed And pray what
more have we had in this instance. We hear a good
deal about our rights under the constitution and laws
The aJoifios concede much. 1t is all very fair
in theory But what are rights without remediesl OF
what use, what practical value. without the means of
maintaining and enforcing them Ii is mockey; il is
adding "nsut to injury" 10 tell OF such things.
But. Mr.. President, the mischevous example of this
(wheren the owner, instead OF recovering his lost
property incurs actual loss and above its value)
does not stop with deerring and preventing the
from pursuing his fugitive slave, and thus, without dmn
shng the present evil prevent by possibility Its further
extension goes much further and does infinitely more
harm than that II goes directly, and certainly, TO the
still mschievous extent OF saying to the slaves
themselves in language which they cannot mlsunder-
stand and not likely TO disregard, leave you mas
away-6y into the free Statesyou Will not be
pursued you masters will not encounter the dimculues
expenses annoyances dangers which the case OF Long
has convinced them they must encounter, in cases
of successful recapure Is thus not the natural course
of things viii il not be inevitable honestly think
direct opposition to wishes, and painful repugnance to
my feelngs.) while accord TO those who think differ.
emily equal honesty OF opinion, cannot help feeling
degree of envy at the facility they emlnently
10y OF building, upon I" tr1es light air. faith
which IN this case seems truly he substance of things
hoped for, and the evidence Of things not seen"
As have niina,ed, Mr. President have not desired
the introduction of this subject into this chamber |
greatly depore its Introduction into either house OF Con.
eress. have never anything but excitement agi-
aon, ilfeelng, obstruction to the public BUSINESS de
rment 10 the public interests, out OF It's Introduc
ton and discussion here 1t is evil in ITSELF and have
never known anything but evil to follow in its train. II
is to my mind fearful than the peslence, and de-
of my constituents The so-called compromise measures
OF the last passed. We did not like them
we did not think they did justice to the South Yet they
were the laws OF the land; and although they
such as to satisfy eened proper and patriotic
to bear the evils they inflicted rather than fly to others
tina; we knew not OF, but which we did believe lay hid
in the dark abyss of resistance and revolution In this
acquescence, however, there consideration OF
much, If not controlling weight; indeed, may say il
Indispensable condition. lt wasthat should have
peace at least, promised by the Compromise" We
felt that rights had been innged-that equality
had been impaired We conscious Of the terrible
price had paid for H. and did dee ourselves er
avagan in desires that this condition, so SIMPLE IN
itself, should be observed repeat il was pedx-ai
least in the halls OF Congress-and that the business OF
the cona'ry should be transacted, and it's interests
Of Upon arriving here, then, this winter y W. my
first look around and satisfy my own nhd 70 wna'
extent this natural and reasonable desire OF my
uents was likely be gra'ited confess mar Iosnd
better state of ,hingsa encouraging prosPect tnAn
had expected; and, in response 70 numerous inquiries