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


enrey Tor all the loss he sustans in consequence OF the
| flight OF his slave
think, then, Mr. President that we OF the South have
very little to complain OF the lneticency ana
| execution of this law, True there have been Two in
in the city of Boston where the has not been
carried out But if you take the great number OF
which have occurred within the last six monhsmore
perhaps, than in any ten years in hsoryf you take
into consideration that these two instances the only
ones N which there has been failure and compare thus
with the number OF CRIMINALS who have escaped from one
State 10 another, which the State from which they
capped had right to demand, and the failure Of the law
in other PARTICULARS think is be regarded as
ter OF asonshmen and satisfaction that there have been
failures IN these two only. think the people OF
the South should be graled that there has been failure
IN these two only do not justify palliae the
opposition which has been made TO this law in Massa
chusetts think il is to be deeply regretted and glad
ha, The President has taken the proper course. think
see that the laws shall be faithfully executed hope
they will be executed; hope this will be the last time
that there viii be failure there anywhere else. But,
whether It be or not consider these exceptions, so far
from showing that the law not generally carried out
gong to prove that the rule is the other way
The honorable senator from South Carolina MIR. Bur-
LER alluded to the fact OF the President proposing 10 EN-
poy the military and naval forces of the United States
the execution of this law a matter greatly to be depe
Gated and to show the little probability there was that
the law would be executed. deprecae and regret the
use OF the military force much any body in the
cntion OF the laws of the country.
Mr.. BUTLER. Will the senator allow me TO put my
self distinctly right upon that subject did not go so
lar as TO form opinion the proprey OF using the
military force OF the country to enforce the ugltvesave
law but did say it OF the ominous symptoms
OF the times when the President should ask for military
power to enforce constitutional law of the country.
did say that II was strange thing that runaway negro
should furnish the occasion for calling out the military
Mr.. DOWNS Ii the honorable senator had heard my
sentence through he would have been under the
cesslty OF making any explanation understood his
mark exactly as he has now explained it, did n
derstand that he objected the of the army and navy
Tor this purpose but that he referred the necessity OF
Ii as an unhappy omen an indication that we could not
ha hf,rll,
would not have been essary.
repeat that objec, seriously the senator from
South Carolina to the employment Of the military force
In the execution OF the law and shall always consider it
calamity when the country in such situation
to require it, The instances history have been
very rare in which has been required and hope that
they will be rare hereafter do think the military
force should be resorted 10 without good do not
pretend 10 whether in this instance the President has
Ii was not with that view ina, advened to il al all but
to show that 10 the very TACT that the President OF the
United States has deemed il necessary suggest that the
army and navy should be brought carry this law
in which the South much nterested the fact that
othern President with northern first officer of The
cabinet, upon question OF this kind, should consider
their obligations 10 the constitution and the South while
perhaps some individuals in that quarter of the Union
would not have deemed il necessary; so far, say, from
considering this evil, il is OF the best
neced with this question. 1t says 10 the South, not in
plain words but by acts that we may with safety and
confidence rely upon the TACT that the authority vested in
the President 10 carry into effect The constitution and laws
in which interested will be employed, and that
therefore ought TO wait patiently TO give fair oppor
tunily Tor its execution.
would ask The senator from South Carolina il some
time ago. II twelve months ago, on this very hoor the
proposition had been made 10 authorize the President of
the United States employ the army and navy pro-
lecng The South, or southern interests. II would have
been acquiesced in then this will now No. sir we
should have had an excitement exceeding anything we
have had, II such proposition had been made twelve
months ago, OF a, any lms before That Now w. see see
quarter IRON which all objections come 10 anything
which would carry ont this law So far from seeing any
thing ominous OF evil TO the South ia this, think II is
OF The cIearest indications could have OF the dis
position OF this government Congress, and the naton 10
carry thus law faithfully into effect.
do not think II necessary 10 60 into any remarks with
regard the laws referred by the President in his
sage II this message shall be referred TO the Committee
the Judiciary shall deem II my duty, member OF
the committee TO look INTO ii well and ii II is deemed
necessary give additional powers TO the President
this subject, for | am disposed 10 give him all
proper powers. He has given to doubt his
sincerity and hdey in carrying out this law think il
the duty OF Congress to give such power, and for
shall do il most cheerfuly So willingly would ! do
this, that would have done II without saying word on
this subject have done before al this
even preferred that from the mbers from my section
word should be said this subject, because con-
sdered that the people OF the North taking up this
subject, and II behooycd to look and wait events
rather than to participate IN them certainly not to throw
obstacles in the way. Therefore should not have said
one single word had not thought that the opinions ad-
vanced by the senator from Virginia little in
cordance with the general public sentiment OF the South
and not only that but because think it calculated
! TO do injury, that felt II my duty 10 iBterpose
Mr. President when want people TO do their duty,
when want associates or any persons connected
with any way TO do their duty, the proper way is not
to find fault with them unnecessarily You cannot ex-
pcc IT If you do. Ii is not justice, II is not wisdom You
ought rather encourage them and give their conduct
and impartial consideration rather than find fault
cannot conceive thing calculated to do more harm TO
the South than the fact that when many people OF the
I Nouh-and we know there are great maDy-wbo not
only IN good faith, but who actively and zealousy y
yorng carry out this law when they have ct.
iected and likely TO elect mores when the cri.
sis has yet passed. and the matter Is not hnaly ter
minated and when up this time there has been scarce
circumstances complain against the people OF the North
for not carrying this law. But the senator from Viz
gina says this law has not produced fruits.
i Mr MASON. | hope the senator will allow me a
word really wish TO be understood IN the proposition
which advanced yesterday. did not say that this law
had produced no fruits What meant to say and what
| presume did say in subs'ance-for II was what
really thought-that the general expression used by the
senator from Kentucky his remarks when the message
in hs, the law had been executed and had done It's
office everywhere except in Boston, a declaration 10
which could not assent My general opinions, which
endeavored TO express, that although the officers OF
the law lar as knew, had done Their duty except IN
the city OF Boston, and there only in the of the
Cfa,ses had not done because in the late case believe
fthey did do their duty so lar they ha the means OF
doing ,,-and although the officers disposed to ad.
minister this law honestly and iary yet experience 80
far had shown that the difficulty in the spirit Of the
people in whose midst the law was 10 be executed, and
that therefore, the South had night expect IT,
said il enough To that the law not re-
sisted by open violence but IL must be executed with
acy and good faith in order 10 produce the fruits that