New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-24
xxxst CONGRESS Second Session.

SENATE. WASHINGTON, Saturday, Feb. o.
Hon. ROBERT RANT0UL, Senator from Massa-
chusetts, lin place of Hon. Il. c. Winthrop,) ap-
peared in the Senate Chamber this morning, was
qualified and took his seat.
The CHAIR stated that the FIRST business in or
der was the consideration oil Mr. CIays motion
to refer the Presidents Message of yesterday to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. RgsK moved that the subject be postponed
until Monday. ,,u-
Mr. HUNTER said there was number OF oilis
from the House. including several Appropriation
bills now laying ON the table, and he hoped ths'
by general consent tho consideration OF the Presl-
dents Message might Do postponed until they
were disposed of by proper reference:
MIR. SEWARD expressed desire TO releve nun
self Of a number OF petitions.
The CHAIR said it was not In ORDER -,
MIR SEWARD then objected to taking up the bills
on the table for reference.
Mr. HUNTER urged Mr.. Clay to allow the further
confederation of the Message to be postponed uh'
Ill Monday.
Mr.. Clay said he knew Of no subject OF more
importance than this Message. 1t presented the
Question whether the laws OF the United States
are or are not 10 be enforced.
AAer some further discussion, Mr.. SEWARD
withdrew the objection he had made to taxing up
the bills on the table for reference and the Indian
AUGMENTATION and Navy Pension bills were taken
ue and appropriately referred, together with sew
ersl private bills.
The bills appropriating moneys for the payment
Of revolutionary pensions, and Tor the support OF
the West Point Military Academy, were reported
finally by MIR. HUNTER, OF the Committee on
Finance, and they were passed.
The debate on the Special Message was then
resumed, and
Mr.. DowSs argued at length that the Fugitive
Slave law was executed-it had been executed,
and would continue to be executed, In as good
faith and as promptly as the most sangulne ex-
pected He alluded to difficulties thrown in the
way Of enforcing the law before the act Of the ast
session; then, masters claiming slaves were ire
quently arrested and imprisoned, and sometimes
murdered now, every case-except those In Bos-
ton-had been successful He contended that
since the passage Of the compromise, q great
change had been going on in the public sentiment
Of the North. During the last session, resolutions
IN favor Of the Wilmot Proviso were sent to the
Senate from every Northern State save one-but
not one such resolution at this session. Illinois,
Indiana and Michigan had reversed their leglss-
ton; and in New-YO rk, although not redeemed
sufficiently 70 reflect her great champion OF the
Constitution, yet the Wing party cannot elect
man to the United States Senate If be be one of
those who are opposed 20 the execution of the
law. He referred 20 various indications that the
popular opinion all over the country was in favor
Of carrying out In good faith the compromise
measures Of the last session. He saw nothing
ominous in the fact Of the President calling on the
military to execute the law; on the contrary, he
considered 1t as great evidence Of the President
patriotism, and that Northern man would exc.
cute the law, even by resoting to the highest and
EXTREMIST measures He would ask gentlemen
who considered the law as producing no fruit
would they vote for g law repeating II!
Mr. CLEMENS said be not one Of those who
voted for the Compromise acts bat was Que who,
alter their passage, consid,red they should have
TAR trial. One, only, OF those acts was in any
liable TO be repealed or disturbed, and that was
the F0gitive Slave Law. II he believed that Law
was dead letter be would say the day for a
dissolution Of the non hsd arrived. He thought
those who declared the law was not executed
should Immediately advocate dissolution OF the
Union. The people OF Alabama had no Pecunia-y
interest in the law for they did not lose one negro
IN i've years-but they hsd deep interest In the
question Of the execution of the laws; for II ons
provision Of the Constitution were dlsregsrded
VIVA, hope was there that others might not share
The same fate TIE la~ had been executed
everywhere except IN Boston. 10 Philadelphia
the Senator from New Hampshire says, II wa
over executed, by sending free man into slavery
This was not the case, however, for the man wa
sent back again and YET the man was not free
the mistake was In regard to masters. he wa
seat 10 the wrong master. The Senator from
New Hampshire, said Mr Clemens, should b,
charitable upon such mistakes for there is a tai,
abroad that negro called at the house uf q dis
eheaished statesman Of that State. alleging tia