The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06

out the catspaws OF those who had not the courage
to show their own faces and the President has
chosen to issue proclamation, cOmprehending,
not only the blacks but their aiders abettOrs and
accessories, whom am more anxious to see pun
ished than the blacks themselves, he rises here
with his usual complacency, and says that it is
childish and ridiculous. Sir, | call upon the
Senate to stand by the President and stand by
the Constitution; TO uphold their laws, and to
PROSTATE all opposition, from what source soever
it may emanate, whether from those who put for
ward the unhappy blacks or those who stand back
and have not the moral or physical courage to
show their own faces
Mr. Hale. | wish to say few words in answer
TO some suggestions which have been thrown ont
by the honorable Senator from Kentucky. The
honorable Senator says that have seemed every
time he got up to follow him, and he intimates
that have such a vaulting ambition that want
to contend with him for the palm of oratory. No,
sir know myself better than that but am glad
| he has made that remark for il has explained 10
me a SANDER which had been utterly at loss to
explain IL has been said by him that | have
sometimes taken occasion TO get up and make
speeches when the gallery was full of ladies. This
suggestion Of the Senator explains it.
MIR. Clay Does the Senator mean to say that
have promulgated any such SANDER
Mr. Hale. No, sir.
MIR. Clay. What then do you mean, sir?
should like to know.
MIR. Hale do not answer questions put in that
STYLE, here or elsewhere. | am not to be pu, down
by loud talk or undertake, by tall men or short
men. When the Senator undertakes to say that
my vanity is such that exceedingly over-esti-
mated my powers and that there are two opinions
in the community and in this body about those
powers submit that that is all true and sub
NIT also, IL there be man on the footstool of God
that ought TO know there are two opinions
about him, we need not 60 out of the Senate to
| find him. | am not alone in that Nor am | to
be driven from the expression ofsuch convictions
as entertain, in such language and with .as COM
placent look as can put on within therules Of
the Senate, at such times as my duty and judg-
ment dictate.
will now explain remark which think did
not need explanation by anybody else except the
Senator from Kentucky. have said that had
heard the SANDER that had sometimes taken oc-
casion to speak when the gallery was full of Ia
dies and that that fact was explained by what
the honorable Senator from Kentucky has now
said always followed him, he selecting such
occasions himself; that is the only explanation
which could be given to the fact, for it seems, ac
cordiaS 70 him. ,1bat ] uspally folowe2e tin
can assure the Senator and the Senate that have
no such ambition; and if such occurrences and
condolences have taken place, it has arisen from
the fact that casually incidentally, or purposely
the honorable Senator from Kentucky has appear
ed as the peculiar advocate and champion Of
measures upon this floor which in my humble
judgment demand the reprobstion of individuals
holding the sentiments which | entertain And
sir, am not the coward to suppress them at his
nod or bidding, or that OF any body else. But |
leave them, as do not intend to be driven away
from this subject by any personal illusions made
by any body.
/ do not intend to say a single word in vindica-
ton of Massachusetts,. am not so vain as that,
vain as the Senator thinks me. But do wish to
call the attention Of the Senate to one historical
Renaissance which may possibly suggest to those
who wish to find a vndcation Of the course of
Massachusetts, on this subject, where to 90 for it,
remember, sir, some two or three years ago, and
think there are other members of this body who
recollect it, that an honorable Senator from South
Carolina Mr.. Butler was masking some remarks
in reprobation Of the legislation of the free
States upon this very subject Of the surrender of
fugitive slaves Ii was years after the legislation
that the honorable Senator from Virginia has
now read. The present Secretary of State, then
q Senator from Massachusetts,, rose in his place
and said that it did not become him TO appear as
the champion of all the free States and he would
not but he said that whoever intimated that
Massachusetts, had been wanting in any Of her
Federal obligations, should find in him an oppo
nent ready TO take up that issue whenever and
wherever it was made. That, sir, WAS the remark
made by that individual on the floor of this SEN
ate some two or three years ago, and it seems TO
me that those who want vindication Of the legis-
lAtion Of Massachusetts, upon this subject had
better apply to him who 80 long ago volunteered
himself the defender of that legislation So much
for that. But | will not trespass on the rights
which belong TO Massachusetts,, for she is the last
State in the Union that would ever call on any
body except her own own sons to vindicite her
fame, her SOIL or her iutegrty-the very last
and he would be the vainest man that ever lived
who should volunteer in such a war, and will
not go into it.
But the honorable Senator from Kentucky has
undertaken to magnify this negro mob by con-
Meeting it with the efforts of what he pleases to
style Aboltionsts, which is pretty comprehen-
sive term oil over the country. The old song has
been raised, " England is ut the bottom Of it'
! There is an English emissary, one George Thomp-
son. and it is not improbable the iusinuation will
spread as it goes out Of the walls of the Senate
| Chamber, that this great negro mob Of Boston,
against which the public is preparing itself was
actually instigated by the emissaries of Great
| Britain. And the first thing we know Of call
will be made TO the British Minister TO know
! whether or not the Government Of Great Britain
| tOltIdttb any SuCu tulHR. cuCc lOI u 10
utterly idle. There Is no wrath Of man which
can blow this into anything that is worthy the
parade that is made about IT, IL is one Of the SIM
pest and most isolated affairs that occurred
a momentary impulse 10 successful resistance TO
law Ii has been done in every civilized commu-
ity, and in every State of the Union probably,
and will occur so long as mankind continue to be
what they now are. And if upon every such oc-
cason such parade as this is made, it will bring
the Government into contempt. You will make
the whole body of the people distrust the eff
cheney Of the Government in its regular operation.
Instead Of strengthening, you weaken; instead of
giving respect, you take IL away instead OF add
ing strength, you but make it weaker and weaker.
Ii is for this reason that | am utterly opposed to
taking any further notice of this matter II the
constituted authorities Of Boston shall advise the
President that there is a shade of doubt that
they are competent to carry out the laws, then,
and not till then, will it be time for us to
interfere
Mr.. Chase regret exceedingly that the Sem
ator from Kentucky Mr.. Clay has thought fit
| to bring this Boston affair to the notice of the
Senate. For my own part, after the measures of
the last session had been adopted, was quite con-
tent that they should be referred to the judgment
Of the people, and to postpone further discussion
until that Judgment should be passed upon them.
! opposed them when they were pending, and
| opposed them because none of them met the APP
probation Of my judgment except the single meas
for the abolition of the slave trade in this Dis
trict For that voted, and the rest | opposed
But repeat, was quite willing that the public
| mind of the country should receive these meas
ures, judge them, and decide upon them. | be-
level then, and believe now, that the ultimate
| judgment OF the country will be pronounced
against them. know that this opinion is not
very general one 10 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 examua-
ton, they will ultimately receive the public con-
domination.