Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-06
Debate in the u. s. Senate on the
Boston Slave Case.

The following is the report of a debate in the
Senate on the resolution Of Mr.. Cay calling up
ON the President FOX information relative to the
recent rescue OF a fugitive slave in Boston. The
remarks Of Mr.. Hale are exactly to the point
These mighty stlcklers for /" law and order"
Clay, FoOte, & Co. have seen and aided mobs,
at their own doors and in Washington city,
compared with which this slave rescue IN Bos-
ton is a mere ripple upon a mud puddle .
Mr. Clay explained the objects sci furth in the
resolution. Any discussion upon the objects of
the resolution wonId be premature until the in
formation called for is obtained. But he could
not forbear saying that he had been shocked,
astonished, astounded, at the accounts given in
the newspapers of late occurrences in the third
city in the Union in the second city as regards
wealth. Ii was not alone that the laws had
been iorcibly resisted, that the laws had been
put al defiance, but the officers Of justice had
been beaten down and driven out Of the Court
House, and the person in their custody taken
of, and this, too, ny a negro mob, in the face Of
a population OF 10000 persons. Who commit
ted this fragrant outrage Was it our own
race? No, but q band who are not Of our PEG
pic: it was by Africans and descendants OF AT.
ricans The question presented by The occur
renee was, whether our laws-laws framed tOr
our government are TO be carried INTO force, or
whether q government of white men is to be
Yielded to a Government by blacks. So aStound.
ing was the account he could not at first believe
it, but a distinguished citizen of Massachusetts
had assured hun il was true. The Senator from
Mississippi, Yesterday, after an interview with
the two highest offers of Government, announc.
ed that the law would be enforced. He also
had an interview with those officers, and receiv
ed the same ASSURANCE that the law wo I'D be
vigorously enforced. lie hoped the resolution
wolld be passed.
Mr. John Davis had read accounts oil the &C.
currences in B, ston, winch occurrence all must
condemn but before condemnlng any one, VI
commencing any one, he would wait for the
facts The law was unpopular and offensive to
the People of Massachusetts, but they we're a
law-abiding people, and they know that 1t is not
by violence that the law is to be overcome but
will abide it TIL by the proper and legitimate
mode It can be altered. While the law would
be enforced, freedom of discussion and debate
would be insisted upon and maintained.
Mr. Clay-Freednlm Of debate on what sub
ject? Debate upon open and impudent viola
ton Of the laws of the country?
Mr. DAVIS said he meant the freedom of dis
cussion and debate upon the the general merits
Of law.
Mr.. Clay-Who has opposed the freedom Of
discussion upon the merits of the law
Mr. Davis did lot allude TO the Senator, but
without the Senate there was a disposition to
stjfe discussion upon the merits of the law.
Mr. Clay said Congress had passed a law ia
carry into execution the constitutional provision
That law was passed only five months ago bV a
considerable majority. Congress nov says thai
it will not repeal or modify that law that time
must be given for the law to be tried. Moreo.
yer they say that the law will not be repealed
particularly when a bold, open attempt is made
to resist it. He hoped that his remarks had MOI
been offensive to the Senator from Masaachut
setts.
Mr. Davis was as indignant as any one at thu
occurrence. The people OF Massachusetts vert
a law abiding people, hut at the came time the,
were q free people, and from the time of thu
Revolution had insisted on freedom uf discus
1ion and inquiry, Their remedy is to seek 81
the ballot box, the repeal Of the law, THIS il
the way IL overcome the offensive law, aud no
by violence
Mr. Hale coincided with Mr. Clay In grca
part ofhis indignation he was sorry, hOweve
a little Of it vas not heard when The newspapeT
said a Judge in q Southern State refused to is