The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-02-26
nnrRAaE BOSTON.

Rssolrcd. That lhe Psessdsns Of ahe Inised
States b requested 10 lay before The sensis,
m, Incompatible with the pshiie Interests. any
iiiIasmstion he nay Pssseas in regard 10 an ar
iesed receni cas< II forritic Fesisiance 10 NE
execution ef The laws of die United States M NE
rlty q Boston. and 10 communicate 10 ne senate,
under this above candiiion. what niesns Nc has
Adopted 10 meet ihe occurrence. and WHETHER. IN
his ep;nisn any sdiisisnal legislation isnecess~9
10 meet The eKigrRcy Of the case. and 10 mofe
vigorously execute existing laws
Mr Clay explained she object of he
resolution IN he 10 obtain from The Presi-
dent any Information he may possess "a
regard 10 lhe reeeni outrage; 10 uhialn
from kim information A. 10 what measures
lie has adopted 10 meet The ore.uence.
aud also whelker in his opinion any al.
sliiional Legislation he nrcessary 10 more
vigorous execution ofihe laws OF iae land.
Until thai information was received, he
considered Il premature 80 enter into any
extended di~cussian &c abe subject. Bnl
he ceEld not farhess saying that he had
been shorked aud aslouaded upon reading
,he scensnis AS given IN The newspapers
of snrh an occurrence taking place 'a The
sIiri city Of the Union. II was non alone
that the laws had been resisted. the af-
firers beaten down. and driven out 81 she
courtroom. The person when ihey had IN
custody taken from them: but This was
done in open daylight by mob. aud in
the face of a population Of one hundred
and iifiy thousand inhabitants. By whnm
was this donel MOI BY PeaFleaf our own
rare or color. by negroes. hy Africans.
and The descendants Of Africans. The
question was whether our laws and Gov.
erIneni wee In he The laws and Govern.
ment Of white men or 81 black men. Al
tirsi he could not believe the accounts of
of This affair, as given IN the papers; but
he had heard il confirmed ny high author.
u; hy person who had received letters
from Boston. The Senator from Mis-is-
sippi (Mr. Fooie) had stated yesterday
that ia an interview with The Two highest
officers Of the GoYerlnent assurances were
given that the law wnuld be maintained:
since them he (Mr. c. had had an inier.
view with lhrse persons, and had received
4 similar assurance.
Mr.. Davis. Of Massachusetts. said he
had read the accounts Of the occurrence IN
Boston; which occurrence the Senator had
condemned. Before arraigning apy one.
before cnndemning or commenting any
one. concerning this proceeding. he iesir-
ell 10 have The information and facts before
him. and when he had these before him he
would not hesitate 10 express his condem
nation or cnmmenlalion, a the facts Of the
case would show who was entitled 10
either. II was well known that the law.
wfnsc operations had been resisted, was
an unpopular one in that section OF The
country. and thai its provisions had been
s,osi fully discussed snjeoininenied upon.
Bai the people Of Boston were law.abid.
ing people. They were willing and ron.
tent 10 leave this law 10 Inc action OF The
rouris 10 have lie cnnsiiiniionaliiy decided
upon. They were not disposed 10 resist
The !. W by violence. Mile The law was
upon the statute book Il should be main
tanned and nhcyed; but there sheuld also
be allowed freedom Of speech, freedom Of
debate upon the subject.
Mr.. Clay. Freedom Of debate upon
what subject! Upon an npen, impnden,
vinlaiion of The laws nf the country,
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts. said he
meant tina, freedom OF discussion shonld
be allowed upon the general merits of The
law.
Mr.. Clay asked who opposed any dis
cussinn &c The merits nf the law!
Mr.. Davis said that he had no alusion 10
ile Senator. With M The Stnats there
had been obstacles thrown 10 the way of
free discussion Of The merits of he law.
Mr.. Clay said that Congress less than
five months ago had passed alaw 10 carry
in effect provision &c The Constitution.
twas passed after full debate by ronsi,lera-
bic majority. And 10 those who now re-
qnirrd its repeal ihev said. NC will mol re-
peal The aci we have so lately passed.
particularly in The face Of an open attempt
10 resist il. lie hoped he had not Offend
ed The Senator from Massachusetts. by
expressing the mdigaainn he felt upon
hearing of the condnct of those who en-.
tered the temple Of Justice. and seizing The
sword Of justice itself. waving il in lri-
n,arh ever lie heads Of The officers and
ministers oI justice. He Womb on this
and every other occasion speak. offend
whom Il may. of any gross outrage AID
resistance OF The law. whether BY white
men or black men.
Mr.. Davis said he fplt as indignant as
any one al the occurrence. The people
of Boston we're law. abiding people. Bun
ihey were also free people; and since
The days OF the Revelation they had main.
tanned the right Of free discussion aud in.
quiry inio every snhject affecting them.
'rIeir remedy agains, the offensive law
was by argument. by reason, and by an
appeal 10 The ballot-hox.
Mr.. Davis. of Mississippi. expressed
The opinion that the people ofihe norlhen
States would never slow The Fugitive
Slave law 10 be enforced. II was qsaes.
lion pntiroiy with tho ,aanle anil n,,t ,vi 4,