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

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the harbnger OF and The people OF The South hailed
il a. OF the good signs OF the times But slT, who
gay that these good signs continue above The
horzon-ihat this cheering prospect remains unclouded
For one cannot cannot now write 10 my people that
peace pevails-tba The session will close opened,
IN haupopy-and that the public business Is receiving
ihat care aud attention il much needs A few weeks
ago. a not very unlike this resulted from the intro
dueuoa Of tne slave trade as subject OF debate The
spirit OF harmony seemed then strong enough To expel the
monster before serious harm done Relief then
he subject OF congratulations, TOR that experiment showed
how little ihe temper OF the times could bear upon the
question OF slavery in any OF It's aspects, Bat now when
the short waves OF that excitement have scarcely sub
sded another and deeper rises upon our view and
threatens us with trouble and disaster Who can see OF
say how lar II shall CO. where II shall end MY poor
vision extends not lar enough but II we may Judge from
the past il is almost much TO hope that II will have
continuance at this time Apart from the III feeling 1t
cannot fail to excite, and from the masn influence y IS
likely duse through the public mind, what VIII be It's
effect upon the public business now on our hands our
committee rooms are yet full OF business and our caen
dar literally loaded down with bills whose passage is
necessary 10 the public nteest-indspensabe, indeed to
the current functions of the And yet count
ing to-day, only eight days OF the session remain, in
which, if done at all, we mus, do this important work
Ali of yesterday consumed by this agtaonall of
to-day is likely to be- and how many more days. who
tslll Such state of things needs no comment
La conclusion, Mr. President, among the many things
which strike me with much and painful force. in this
connexion, there is circumstance which greatly
pEises me: Not, sir, that question any mans motives
for what ne may say or do here--no that doubt his
wisdom Of any measure which any senator may feel dis
posed, or deem his duty. to Introduce But am sur
prssd that this occasion for excitement here should have
from the quarter il has. must say. sir It was the
quarter from which least expected it--troui which,
think. the country least expected IT. From the same
quarter we had received the measures which were to
bring peace and which, by the authority
assured had brought peace to Congress and the coun
y+-from that same quarter now comes tue only force
which has seriously disturbed or seems capable OF dis
turbing,tha much desired and so loudly proclaimed
peace am very sure my constituents, and think the
whole country, will parake Of my surprise God grant
commensurate with what am sure must be It's will, to
M. TURNEY. am one of those who advocated tn e
passage OF the fugitive. slave BILL not because believed
itwould be productive of much good TO the southern
section OF the Unon but that it carrying out pro-
vision of the constitution But, remarked al the
time, did not believe it would be productive of much
good because did not believe il would be executed in
good faith. But, while made the broad dec araton Of
an opinion which yet entertain, must confess that
did not expect the law met and put down by mobs
In open day, a. has been done had seen from the
northern papers that clubs and societies had been formed
there for the purpose OF defeating the OF the law
in manner according to the view had first taken that
these clubs and societies existed not only in the cities
but every district OF country and nat they were IN
the habit OF watching strangers who entered the country
to ASCERTAIN the object of their visit In order find out
their business, whether they have arres, fug
tive save not they will con,rve to have some OF the
club lodge in the room il possible and certainly
the same hotel and they will travel in the car
that noticing can be done by any such stranger which is
find be is in pursuit of slave they will find where the
slave is, If possible, and give notice to him and assist
him 40 making his escape In tbs maoner supposed
did not suppose that in any civilized community force
would be resoed TO for the purpose OF defeating the
ecuton of the law Hence we can easily account for the
fact that, while there fifteen thousand OF these
fugves in the free States, only some four five slaves
have been recaptured under the provisions of this law
They be caught before they be tried and before
they be released by mob But under this discipline
and management in the northern States, they can be
caught very rarely indeed
Now. sir this speaks the state of public sentiment
the North regard to faithful and honest execution of
this law. We all know that TO raise mob and rescue
negro when he has been arrested is very high handed
and iawess act. That was not to be expected, and
presume man in the South anticipated any such thing
Their fears were not that force would be esorted to
order 10 defeat the execution of the law But knowing
that many believed the law TO be violation of the
stituon. and in violation OF the "hgher law" and that
they would give every facility they could for slaves TO
escape by watching the movements of every man who
should among them for the purpose of securing his
slave, and by notifying the slave in time 10 allow him
to make his escape they felt convinced that the law
oB admitting that the public sentiment in the North is
opposed TO the law II opposed to the law in Massa
chusetts and perhaps in other States And yet we have
argument from southern gentlemen to show that the
Law will be executed there in good faith
Now am one OF those who did no, believe il would
be faithfully executed but must say was greatly
prsed at the outrageous acts in the city of Boston. ]
did not anticipate that mode of resisting the law and,
although knew the anti slavery feeling had reached
pect thar it would be manifested in that manner knew
OF an instance in which Tennesseean went to Michi-
gan in pursuit OF his slave, and the slave notified in
time, that he could be aided in getting Cana.
da. The execution OF the law defeated-not by a
mob not by force by resort TO ams-bu defeat
ed in that way in which, in my Judgment il will be de.
featod ninety out of hundred where
tempt 10 made 10 arrest fugitive. When this
passed TO have concord all disturbances
to be al end and bro,hery love be restored be
tween the North and the South there be cause
for dissension, cause OF bad feeling; all to be
buried 10 what termed the compromise bs-which,
by the way, not compromise bills. How many
southern men voted for the bill to abolish the slave trade
in this District How many southern voted for the
admission OF California 7 and how many northern men
voted for the fugitive slave law To make compromise
there must be two parties 1t this be compromise, both
parties have acted in bad faith and have shown them.
selves unworthy.
The compromise measure called the omnibus was de-
feated tumbed TO pieces and broke down Afterwards
another system OF measures passed, which NAV be
by the majority against The will OF the minority These
force bills to peace harmony and concord
to this nation all the bleeding wounds be healed
and we were to have the finest state OF feeling that had
existed since the establishment OF government AT
the commencement OF the present session had them
announced believe in the OF the President and
they were termed measures OF peace Peace said
be the result, and harmony and concord All bitter feel
ings were at end and brohery love prevailed the
North and South. II was repeated the floor OF the
Senate, and the belief that IL accomplished and
the great object effected We from the newspapers
that great national Union party formed upon which
the end Of lime, with pledge founded upon the same
measures which had ths nd h.rmonv IN