The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-20


lieved very large majority Of my Constituents
were opposed to al further agilntion the ques-
ton Of slavery; that they nalis6 ed with the
measures adopted for TIE restoration Of harmony
that this ~ so. have had many opportunities
of conversing with gentlemen from all parts Of
the State, and they all united in saying that there
is sentiment generally prevalent favorable 10
standing by the measures adopted at the last SEES
sion of Congress, and believe them founded anon
justice, and that they ought at least to be satis1ac
tory TO all portions Of the country. Ii chose to
do 80, might enter into some of our domestic
politics, and explain TO the honorable senator whv
it may be difficult, though think it may be
achieved, to repeal those laws. But forbear. be-
cause it would be Improbable to do 20, You.
perhaps, sir, are aware Of il; | certainly am. and
| ! know there others
| Mr.. RHETT My object in making the in
curry Of the senator from Pennsy vania was. that
his former statement might not go out without the
qualifications which he has just made II is very
true, as he states, that these laws have not been
repealed. 1t is very true that efforts have been
made to repeal them, but in the senate of Pennyyl-
wanna an effort made TO do that failed So far
| from showing, then, what The senator from Penn
syvania has just asserted that the people of Penn
syvania are satisfied with the Fugitive slave law,
and are prepared to enforce it, think the gentle
man s statement proves TO the contrary There
are some localities, do not doubt, that are 10 ia
vor OF enforcing the law-for instance all the mer-
camille interests. | suppose that 10 SO in New
York. have no doubt the entire mercantile COM
munity are in favor OF enforcing the law But
presume il il not in the interior of those States
and II my information be correct, there ia great
hostility IN all the interior of Pennsylvania and
New York. and all the Northern States TO the en-
forcement Of the law. The time has not vet come
for The full Development Of this feeling but fear
1t will not be long before the senator from Penn
sylvania and others who are for referring this ne
tition to-day to the Judiciary Committee, will be
IN favor Of some modification OF the Fugitive slave
law, the design of which will be to nufv and de-
sroy it by the legislation of Congress, If II shall
not be nullfed or destroyed before that time by the
| action of the people.
| Mr. HALE. want to say word to the SEN
ator from Maryland, who has undertaken to give
me a most christian admonition. think without
an afectaton of great sanctity, or any peculiar
knowledge of scripture, am about as well versed
IN 1t as the senator. think he has made a gross
mistake think he has done great injustice to
the individual whom he terms the first ayitator.
Laughter.) If read scripture Alright, the devil
for we will call things by their right names-when
he went into Paradise, instead OF going in the
character OF an agltator, went there to enforce
fugitive slave law. He pretended that the nhabi-
tants Of Paradise were his servants, and under
that false claim he stole the children Of God nom
the garden In which he had planted them. and
carried them to the slavery OF hell, and there de-
| tanned them.
| Again, the honorable senator is disposed to re-
fer all these things to the DEVIL and he thinks il
very Irreverent to give any other CONSTRUCTION TO
It, Sir, read that all scripture is profitable for
instructions; read, also, that from the time that
God first spake to his children by the mouth of
his fellow-men, it has been charged upon those
VINO have come with message to reproye the
generation in which they lived for the crimes ~
which they have been guilty, that thew were Of
| the devil. Sir, when the great mission of saliva
ton was first proclaimed on the plains Of GalsIee.
those in who the message came said il wns
| OF the devil; and when the Author Of that great
system indicated his right to speak by divine au-
thorty, by commanding winds and seas. and thew
obeyed him, instead OF PRODUCING conyiction IN
the oodurate hearts Of those to whom he spoke,
they sad that he cast out devils by Beelz ebub
the prince Of devils 1t is no new train OF remark
which the honorable senator has taken up He
mas not even the credit Of originality. 1t is as
OLD as the history of the world. There never has
| been truth unwelcome to the passions of de-
PRAYED human nature that has sounded in their
ears, come whence 1t would, when the rebelIious
natural heart has not retored upon the reformer,
that ne was devil. Yes sir, it affords me as
surahce' II confirmation were wanted, of the
truth and OF the rectitude Of the position in which
stand, and of the force of the truths which am
| compelled to utter, and that thew are PRODUCING
the same effects to-day that truth has always pro,
duced from the day that it was first promulgated.
II IL dld not have the effect to silence and still the
long as have place in which can be heard. il
shall not have that effect upon me now.
AGAIN, sir, the senator from Maryland saws he
! abhors agitation. Well, there are a great many
people that abhor agitation. have no doubt that
all the aristocracy of Europe. seated in their
places of power, and wealth, and comeort. and
revehng IN luxury wrung from the sweat and
oiood OF tolng millions, very much content
with things as they now are they do not like
as,na nor They feel very comfortable. Blu,
WIN .e' you that there are some people that are
now IN favor OF agitation with me- Some of the
overgrown monopolis,s of this country have
iound their dividends growing less under the OPP
eration OF the progressive legislation we have had.
n ~, making trade more free and lessening duties.
lhey are IN favor Of little agitation provided
you conhne 1t to coal and iron and coarse cotton
ihey ore very much in favor Of agitation thus
FAR. We have had printed neutrality-suspicious.
put on to detached sheets, just like this abolition
petihon-come here after having been printed in
tn's city and sent by mail all over the United
o'aies. ANA IN that case such is wholesome
way OF collecting public sentiment suppose.
mere is no agitation in that long as it is con-
hned to those particular classes of articles. The
QUINN win which agitation is received is neither
new nor strange. But am sorry for the honor
aole senator from Maryland, for whom erter-
tain the highest respect, and of whom had boned
better things, that he should have shouted his
amen to-day to the denunciation against all spita
ton. But even he is in favor OF little agitation
little quiet, heavenly stirring. daughter. He
aoes not want to go very deep. He just wants
10 STIR up lew little matters, but not to 60 to the
bottom at all He is in favor of little heavenly
agitation. Now,l am in favor Of agitation, and
II IL Is &c Cd to stir us little the top il il good
to go to the bottom.
i, The honorable senator from Pennsylvania snys
mat our revolutionary fathers were not aetaiors.
IL Is well that the bones of Washington do NOT
rest under this capital If they did, they would
not rest easy IN their place when such declara-
tIon az That was made. They not agtators. sir,
70 to Boston, and tell them they were not ag;tn
tors. why, they agitated sea and land. Thev
'ook cargoes out of ships and threw them into the
ocean, ana they made Boston harbor great tea
pot with their agitation, and the British mer-
chants cargoes furnished the material with which
they asitated. They not agitators The British
stamp act was passed, and stamps were sent over
10 the commissioners of the crown. And What
u'd nose heavenly stirrers do in that day. WHY.
they made such an agitation that no man was SNIFF
IA ms mouse Il he had any government stamps,
and he was obliged to burn them before he conIJ
steep quietly IN his bed. Was not that ayitrtion