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

~SS~s~
candidate, then the election is complete ii they
have nominated different candidates, then they
proceed to joint ballot Ii they fail, as they
did IN the senate, to nominate any person, OF
course the election fails for that time, under that
law
i Mr. TURNEY. Mr.. President, will not
consume any more time in relation to the cleo
ton of United States senator in the State Of
New York.
The senator from Louisiana then referred to
the States Of Indiana and Illinois and we are
told that although those States passed resolu-
tons instructing their senators and representa-
tives TO vote for the Wilmot Proviso, perhaps
they had rescnded or repealed them. And well
they might The Wilmot Provisp has gone into
etfectual operation We have it in the most
powerful and effective form-in the form of the
constitution that covers the State Of California
We have it in the territories in the Mexican law
and the judges. appointed by Free-sol Presi-
dent, who will enforce the Mexican law. Well
may these States, then, afford to repeal those
resolutions
Mr.. CLEMENS, (interposing) Will the
senator allow me to ask whether he did not vote
for these territorial bills!
Mr.. TURNKEY No, sir.
Mr.. CLEMENS Southern men did, They
were not passed by Northern votes.
And would remind the senator of another
fact One of the judges appointed in one of
these Territories WAS citizen Of Alabama, and
himself stakeholder.
Mr.. DOWNS. And another one citizen Of
Mississippi.
Mr.. WALKER. And another one who lived
| here.
Mr.. TURNKEY. 1t may be very possible that
! in name they are Southerners, but they are
rSOuthern men with Northern principles; for
there are Southern men with Northern princ
pies, as well as "Northern men with Southern
principles" [laughter;] and | doubt not the
President, with all his Free-soil feelings and SEN
timents, understood pretty well what were the
| opinions of those gentlemen before he gave
them the office Of judge. At all events, the
only country in the whole of our acquired terri.
tory worth anything, is covered by the Wimot
Proviso; and hence it is, say, that those States
might well say: We have no further use for
these resolutions Of instruction.
But what state of things do we find now upon
the reelection of these senators! What did
these senators do? They voted for &Ae Wmot
Proviso. Here, then, is great chatgb indeed !.
Here is great quiet produced, wheA Nose sena-
tors, who voted for the Wmot Py6vso, have
been reelected to the Senate Of the United
States. Well, confess it has no tendency to
satisfy my mind that there is any great improve
ment going on in the free States | would
rather see some affirmative action on their part,
to satisfy me that there was reformation going
on, and that the South might hereafter expect
more than she has heretofore received.
Mr. President, upon what was this Fugitive
slave bill founded! In the first place,it is found
ed upon naked constitutional right The Con-
stituton commands that they shall be delivered
up, and every office. of the government every
governor, sheriff, and constable lis sworn to
support that Constitution. But in the face of
this obligation TO support it, there is law of
the State OF Massachusetts, making it a criminal
offence to execute this plain provision of the
Constitution. The State officers have to COM
ply with the oath to support the Constitution /;
and then, if they aid or assist in the apprehen-
sion or delivery of Fugitive slave, as COM
manded by the Constitution, the law of the State
says they shall be imprisoned for twelve months,
or pay fine of SS ,000 This is the public sem
timent Of the free States to which the South is
|, to look, and in which they are to confde for a
: faithful and honest execution of this law. Sir
!, : | confess have but little faith-though have
: not expected to hear of an open public resis-
e lance, in the form of mob, to the execution OF
It the aw-l have but little faith in the execution
!, of the law; and have expected that the people
: of the North, who are opposed to this law, could
!, be successful enough by notifying negroes and
= running them off in advance of the owners
The owner goes there as a total stranger. He
J has, of course. to make known the object of his
' visit end inquire for his slave; and it is to be
expected that the law can easily be defeated in
E the way have mentioned.
Well sir in order that we might have this
provision of the Constitution more effectuaily
: carried out a compromise was made. Thank
God, was no party to that compromise. A
of the South--surrendering up their equality OF
rights as regards participancy in the territories
E belonging to the United States. The South
surrendered up all her rights to equal particpa-
tion in those territories, IN the requirement of
which her sons had freely poured out their blood
upon the battle fields of Mexico, and for which
she paid least her proportion of the revenue
in the support of the war and the purchase of
, the territory. The South was to surrender up
e all in order that she should obtain this Fugitive
A slave law and after she got it she is told that
I; none Of these other measures in favor of the
r North can possibly be repealed
Mr. DOWNS, Gnterposing) Will the sena-
tor allow me to ask him where is to be found
the provision surrendering up those rights
Mr.. TURNEY. Look at the constitution OF
California, and you will find it. ] supposed the
senator had read it. The rights of the South
$ Southern nan cnu be found ther, with his slave
| II he carries him there, the slave becomes free
: That may be news to the senator from Lousi-
ana, but it is not to me. All the rights of the
South in the territories are surrendered up by
! this compromise for the sake of getting this Flu
, gitye slave bill passed. You have got it, and
under It's provisions Understand that some four
or five fugitives have been recovered and they
q perhaps, might have been recovered without this
I. law. And yet we are told that the law has been
executed in good faith. How many instances
there may have been where the law has been
, evaded, and the fugityes run off by the people
upon the appearance of the owners in search OF
, them, know not have heard Of one instance
of nm owner in Tennessee having lost his slave
in that way. have received letter from him
stating the fact, the truth Of which 1 cannot
doubt, and have reason TO believe there are
numbers of other instances Of like character
Why, it would be very extraordinary thing to