The republic., 1851-02-19


pie and since the days of the Revolution they had
maintained the right of free discussion and inquiry
into every subject affecting them. Their remedy
against the offensive law was by argument by rea-
son, and by appeal to the ballot-bo
Mr.. HALE conceded in great part Of the in
dignaton expressed by the Senator from Kentucky.
He sorry little Of it was not heard at the time
when the newspapers informed them that Judge
in southern State refused 70 execute the law by
issuing his warrant for the arrest of party charged
with being fugitive from justice. No resolution
was then offered to know whether the President
heard of it. No resolution was offered to know
whether the President had heard of armed men
preparing in southern States to invade Cuba. Nor
when mob held possession of this city for two
days, under the nose Of the President no in
dignation was heard, nor was any resolution
offered to ascertain whether he heard OF it or
not. mob might arise anywhere. He had
heard OF one in Kentucky, where printing
office was broken up, and the press and materials
shipped to another State. He hoped the Govern
ment not about TO take that short step which
led from the sublime to the ridiculous He hoped
there to be no such thing ordering the army
and navy to hold themselves in readiness to pro-
coed to Boston to put down negro mob He
thought the matter would be much better if left to
the quiet administration of the people of Massachu
setts He considered that no law could be enforced,
no matter whether in Louisiana or Massachusetts,
which the moral sense of the people could not sus
tain. George the Third tried the experiment; he
sent his troops to Boston, and they shot down the
citizens in State street. but he did not succeed in
enforcing his law. He believed the supremacy Of
the law would be sustained If left to the authorities
Of Boston. II he were citizen Of that city, he
would consider il as an insult were the Govern
ment to presume that Massachusetts could not en-
force the laws.
Mr.. FOOTE denied that any Judge in Mississippi
had refused to do his duty. That Judge had Issued
his warrant for the arrest of the party accused,
that party had been arrested carried before the
court, and was prepared for trial. 1t was not true
that bands of armed men had proceeded through
aOu ern q There a a N
picion that some persons wore concerned in that
Cardenas affair. But it was a suspicion. The Gov
ernment very properly had directed an inquiry;
and nine-tenths of the southern people had sus-
tanned the Government for doing its duty and exc
cutting the law.
He alluded to the proceedings of Washington in
the matter of the insurrection in Pennsylvania; also
to the meritorious conduct of the Governor of Mas
sachusetts concerning Shay's rebellion-conduct
which he hoped would be initiated by the present
executive Of that State. He had no doubt but the
President would lend the aid of the Government of
the United States lift were required.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi, expressed the opin
ion that the people of the northern States would
never allow the Fugitive Slave law to be enforced
was question entirely with the people, and not
with the States The President of the United States
had the power to resist invasion, and to suppress
insurrection, and for this purpose to the army
and navy of the United States.
The law was not executed when first attempted,
and the marshal was not removed; what was this
but an encouragement to violate the law! He was
| opposed to employing the army and navy of the
United States to enforce the laws in the States.
When the State refuses to obey those laws, the
question was beyond the control of the Govern
ment, and became involved in the sovereignty of
the State. 1t was contemplated that the militia of
the States were sufficient to put down insurrecton
In their respective States. Such wns the in
putting down the whisky instruction in Pennsyl-
vania. The militia of that State alone suffi-
cient. If Massachusetts, refused to obey the laws
Of tho United States and to enforce them, there was
k,,to Co kn-x 10 10 A.
declare the Constitution of the United States
no longer obligatory He then alluded to the
case Of Governor Quitman, who, in obedience to
the laws had resigned his post fGovernor of State
and surrendered himself to the authorities upon
charge of which it was well known he could not be
guilty Governor Quitman had offered to give a
pledge that, upon the expiration Of his term Of SER
vice, he would present hmseffor trial This pledge
was refused. Justice in that case was hungry for
its victim If this mob were an exposition Of the
principles of Massachusetts, he would rather let her
go on than to vote to enforce her obedience by
means of the army and navy of the United States.
Mr.. FOOTE read from the State papers to show
that, in the of the nsurrection in Pennsylva-
MIA, Washington had issued his requisition for mil
itia upon the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland, and Virginia. The militia called out
were not alone from the State where the insurrcc-
ton took place.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts, meant, when he
said that there was a sentiment prevalent in Mas
sachusetts against the law, that the law was op-
posed by the people; but he did not mean that
therefore the law would not be enforced. He ven-
tured to say that all the speculations that the army
the United States, were wholly unfounded. He
would take the responsibility of asserting that the
laws would be executed without calling in any
such aid. He was opposed to the law; it was op-
posed by many as an offensive measure, but
beneath all this there existed that public opinion
which did not consider mobs as the proper remedy,
or the proper means to effect change of the law.
The days Of the revolution and Of Shays rebellion
- slA ia tt,,-o
is an easier mode Of obtaining redress Of griev
ances; that the ballot-box is the most eflicacious
mode. They have no desire to place themselves in
opposition to the United States authority. While
he had opposed the law, still he would be willing
to vote for proper one. The people Of the FREQ
States consider that 1t is an mputation them to
deny in these cases mode OF trial which was
allowed in every other At a proper time he
thought he could satisfy the Senate that this
not the proper kind Of law.
MIR. COOPER said that the militia called out to
suppEfss the insurrecton in Pennsylvania were
fron9 New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. Their
rendezvous at Carlisle and he believed they
marched to Uniontown.
Mr.. BRADBURY said that he believed this law,
as well any other law of the United Statcs could
be executed in Maine.
The question was then taken, and the resolution
was adopted unanimously.
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
MIR. RUSK moved that the Senate take up the
bill from the House to reduce and modify the rates
of postage, and to provide for the coinage of
three cent piece which was agreed to.
The question pending was on an amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. SEWARD.
Mr.. S. moved to amend the following portion of
the bill: "For every single letter, in manuscript,
or paper Of any kind upon which information shall
be asked for or communicated, in writing or by
marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any dis
tance in the United States, three cents irhen the post
age upon such letter shall haze been prepaid and fue
cents toen the postage thereon shall not haze been pre-
paid by striking out the words in italics and in
sert in lieu thereof, "two cents, to be prepaid in
every case"
And, after debate, the amendment was disagreed
to--yeas 7, nays 4l-as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Chase, Dickinson, Dodge of
Walker--7.
NAYS.--Mcssrs. Atchison, Badger Baldwin,
Bell, Berrien, Borand, Bradbury, Cass, Clarke,
Clemens, Cooper. Davis of Massachusetts, Davis
Of Mississippi, Dawson, Dayton, Downs, Ewing,
Felch, Foote. Greene, Houston, Hunter, Jones,
King, Mason, Miller, Morton, Norris, Pearce,
Cnl~. O.