Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-19
THE COMPROMISE ACTS.


mise acts, to be definitve settlement of the cues
tons growing out of the subject of slavery.
Mr. BUTLER sorry the debate had basn sus-
pended lie would have preferred to have said what
he was about to say on Monday last. Ths Senator
made some illusions which il was necessary for him
(Mr. B. to answer. The Senator had not ouly de-
Tended his Compromise, but in that defence had fired
into the camp to which he belonged The legislative
| endorsement of past acts unusual thing
Magma Charta, or the bill of rights may have been re-
affirmed, but 1t was an unusual course to adopt.
Mr.. Is. referred to alluslon made by the San
ator from Mississippi concerning deayin bringing the
Fugitive Slave bill before the Senate at the session at
which it passed, He explained that he had reported
| the bill at an early day, and had spoken on it, Mr.
Dayton of New Jersey had the floor the bill, and
| absut that time the proposition for Compromise
| committee was introduced. If there many
Northern men anxious at that time to bring that bill
| before the Senate, where they when the vote
taken on it Where were the gentlemen's North
| ern allies then 1t only received three Northern
| votes.
| The senators from Iowa and Mr.. Sturgeon of Penn
| syVana, voted for 1t. Mr.. Dickinson OF New York,
was present, and would have voted for it, but he had
paired off He hoped, he doubted not they would,
northern gentlemen would show that this happened
by accident and unavoidably. Mr.. B. read his report
on the Presidents Message sent to the Senate con-
corning the Boston riots, and defended it. The Pie
| sdent had asked for an amendment to the laws,
which he did not think right. He was opposed to
placing under the orders Of the marshals of the
President militia, who with hayonet and ball,
TO put down resistance to the Fugitive Slave Law -
He thought 1t ominous that such amendment
should have been asked. He did not believe that the
law would be exercised !; he did not believe 1t had
been executed. 1t could not be enforced. The recent
decision showed that the resistance did not
to treason, and those who resisted the execution of
the law had been handed over to the STATE authorities.
Tie losked tor no vlndicaon OF the law byIsuch trbu
mails. The juries who to try them selected
from persons WIN synpathzed, perhaps with those
who were to try; and even il conviction took place,
there was hardly an executive of northern State
who would not interpose and commute or remit the
punishment.
The Senator from Mississippi was or was not in ia.
vor OF the Compomi he either was In favor OF the
admission of California and the bill abolishing the slave
trade, or he was mol. II he remembered right, the
senator had denounced the executive interference to
establish Stats government in California and had
dec Jared the admission OF that State would be- against
precedent; and yet the Senator, ia his speech few
days since, had said that California came into the Un
on as every other State had.
Mr. b. repeated his objections to the admission Of
California. He asked il proposition now in
troduced dividing California into two States, one or
both be slave States would the Senator from Mis-.
sissppi vote for it2
Mr. FoorE said that a the session the Compromise
measures were adopted hs had introduced two propo
sltlons dividing California, neither of which had met
with any favor from the gentleman; neither had re-
eeiyed the support he had anticipated. If proposition
were now introduced to divide California by the line
OF 50 deg 30 min., or 81 deg 80 min, he would vote
for it.
Mr.. BUTLER said the Senator had resolution now
before the Senate declaring the Compromise mea-
sFes ltnuutaDe; YET ne was Wiling 10 ADMIT that he
would vote for proposition disturbing that Compro-
Mise.
Mr.. FooTE said he would vote for the division of Ca
ornia as he would yste fer the division Of any other
state such division to be made in accordance with tn,
Constitution. The Compromse he never claimed to
be above the Constitution.
Mr.. BUTLER referred to the resolutions dopted by
the convention of the State of Mississippi wherein it
was resolved that the right Of secession did exist
but that cerain legislation by Congress would be good
ground for dissoying all connection with the Fedora
Government, by revolutionary resistance. When
Mississippi called upon her to taks up arms in
sach revolutionary resistance, would the Senator be
found engaged in III
Mr.. FoorE anticipated no such CALL He considered
it was insu ing to place Mississippi such disgrace
full position as hsfo calling upon her to engage
in a war against the General Government. When sl e
did, h. would deliberate on it.
Mr.. BUTLER had no hesitation in declaring where
his allegiance and his heart would be in such cause
When hrs t!reside was invaded he would not stop to
chop logic upon whore his first aegance was dus-
he knew there were great many persons in Misss
sipp who would he found sustaining her ordinance,
and he would not for such act consider them traitors
Ffeemsn seldom died by the rope when they had arms
Ia their hands.
He alluded to the declaration by Mr.. Foote that the
Constitution OF Washington good enough for him,
and that he wanted no amendments aud pointed out
the fact, that by the wisdom OF its tanners provision
was made tor its amendment. He would for
amenmednts giving guarantees and protection to the
minority against the power oil the mojority. He COM
mented upon what had been said concerning the
Calhoun providing, for dual Executive, and said that
he did not know but that the adoption Of such an
amendment would be beneeia he thought it would
be benefit, if the North could not pass laws without
the consent oil an Executive chosen by the South He
referred to the denunclaons which had been poured
upon those who opposed the Compromise
Mr.. FooTa discaimsd ever having made any allu- |
sion personal in its nature to those who had opposed
1t.
Mr., BUTLER considered the Senator from Mlssisip-
pl as responsible for the Southern Address; and that
o h tar ma IIitt pf
the Nashville Convention The Senator had gone
into the merits of tina late internal struggle in South
Carolina Mr., B. alluded to his great difficulties in
that struggles that he had differ from many friends
and he considered that those who had stood up for
the resolutions of the Legislature of that State were
as high and honorable men as could be found IN any
other State.
Mr. FoorR dIsclamsd any intention of personal Of
fence to the Senator and his friends. He repeated
his condemnation of those demagogues in South Caro-
lima who had urged the people to aask the forts of
the United States For what he had said of them he
held himself responsible , here and elsewhere.
Mr. BUTLER said the resolutions of South Carolina
In 1913 and IS49 recommended cooperation with
other Southern States but the resolutions of 1850
We're passed after the intmations from Mississippi
His own feelings had been reused when troops had
been ordered Fort Moulrie, and the guss of Fort
Sumpter were pointed on his soil.
Mr. FoorE said that hs had signed the Southern
Address, bat Tiers was net word in ii about seces
sion amendment of the Constitution. He also al
luded TO the of the Mississippi delegates the
Nashville convention the address of that convention,
ana te speech OIL lts Guthor delivered IN Charleston,
in which the speaker said that he expected the
line of 36 deg. 30 min. to be adopted; that he had
been;tired of this Union for twenty years, and de-
sired to eet.out of it. &c.
Mr.. BUTLER said that as alnslsns had been made
which could not be mistaken, he would yield the floor
to his colleague.
Mr.. RHETr said that The close of the last ses-
sion, while the message of the President of the U.
States concerning The resistance OF the laws in Bos
ton under consideration the Senator from Ken
lucky (1r. Clay made personal illusions to
him, which he rose at the time to reply to. The Sc
nate however, desired to vote that mater and he
was advised by some that he could make his speech
when the report made He waited, however,
during the whole of that week. and report was
made. The Senator from Ky. had also denounced him
as had others GA another Occasion, being gull
y of treason If that Senator appeared in the Senate
again, he would deliver that speech. Epithets may
amount to something and may amouat to nothing -
General Gage in writing to the British government,
said that were it not for the Influence of demagogues
a.L,,, 4 L