Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-08
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.


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DEBATE In THE SENATE.
THE SLAVE RESCUE AT BOSTON-CoscLuDxD)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1851.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the mo,n Of Mr.
CIAY refer the message Of the President TO the Committee
the Judiciary, that they may asceran whether any further
egiaon 10 necessary to carry out the provsons Of the ug
tys aAss law. 4zSssf4
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Kenusky 70 rssr The message the President Of the United
States to committee should have been perfectly content
to have remained silent The message Of the President Of
the United States communicated to call
by the Senate. Ii related to subject Of deep and exciting
interest It manifested disposition his part discharge
the full and whole duty which devoves upon the Chief Ma
gsate OF the Union, in relation to subject of great and
universal interest have not heard the sincerity of that de-
claaton questioned On the contrary, believe il is uni
versally conceded that that disposition exists But the Pre-
sden suggests certain amendments Of existing laws
enable him to carry into eectua execution act of
the last session In the discharge Of bis duty in relation to
that be is encountered by difficulties and by increased
sponsbies arising from the opposition in sundy States Of
the Union its provisions Upon the question of the refer
of the message of the Chief Msgae presented
under circumstances like these suppose there be no
diversity Of opinion the amendments which he proposes
to existing laws shall in the opinion of the committee and
Of the Senate be calculated furnish him with additional
Of carrying this law into execution every who
has sincere desire to the provisions Of the constitution
enforced whatever may be the opinion which he encrans
to the which have already occurred should In
giving to the existing law the amendments which are re-
quired. There is diversity of opinion to the in
which This law has been hitherto executed Be it so. II
they who believe that the the has
not been complete in the which have occurred
Germs them to the Chief Executive Magistrate with
powers which will enable him fully accomplish the
49, tbnsl~ H.
the exception of the particular originating in the State
Of Massachusetts, has been carried into effect, with
hold their aid from the President by investing him with add
tlonal powers to give it still greater efficiency.
But this discussion has taken much wider range It has
extended denunciaton and paston OF the recent out
rage committed in the city Of Boston the execution OF
non-execuion OF the fugitive slave law and its capacity
or ncapacity, with any aid which may be given it,
compsh the purposes of its enactment It is this range
dscusson and the peculiar position which the State Of
whose representatives am has by occurrences been
compelled to assume, that makes it my duty Join in this
dscussion in order that the views of that state they have
been expressed by her people assembled in convention may
be understood have the double object of presenting them
to the consideration of h. Senate und Of the people OF the
fire.. for the purpose Of showing them the ndspen-
sable necessity Of the faithful execution of the oct under
sderaon, and 10 manifest to them the truly conservative
feeling which exists among that people, and which, there
fore entities their suggestions to the respectful consideration
of their associates.
Now sir with respect to the recent resistance or evasion
Of the law in the city Of Boston, desire speak with perfect
farkness, but At the time with the respect which Eel
for the intelligence, for the enterprise and for the benvo
lence OF the people OF that city well for the multiplied
manifestations Of their patriotism recorded the pages the
history OF country have besides, certain cheshed
personal recolecons which would make painful to
speak with disrespect Of that people, When say there
FORE that this outrage unparalleled in the history Of the
country do intend 70 include in the which that
declaration implies the people Of Boston, Of assachu
se in mass NO, sir, my purpose is to repeDhe vain at
tempt to paiae il by reference to other occuces in which
nf tho have
referred to by Senators, not with view justfying the
conduct Of those engaged in them, but ceany for the pu
pose Of paating the enormy Of that which is under
consideration BY showing that snguar occurrence in
the history Of the country.
Mr.. President say, in reply these suggestions, this
sudden outbreak, local in is operation and limited
In the sphere of its influence Sas no emens riot city
mob resisting municipal auhofy 1t was no body of regu
atos Fastening the departure from the place of their abode
of impudent foreigner Who was endeavong to excite
their people the laws Of that land whose hos
paly he enjoying.
Sir you may strip tbs Of every doubtful incident
and then the which will remain uncontesed and ncontes
table will show the necessity of the consideration
which Is given Sy the Senate the United States. Ex
cude from It's consideration the conduct of the municipal
thortes of Bost, and leave them to be judged by their
constituents PIT out of view the question whether the
shal has permed, has failed perform his duty and
leave him to be dealt with by the President of the United
States in the confidence that the declaration contained in the
message before will be redeemed. You thus divest the
Of every questionable fact of every minor question upon
which cv con be raised And what remains Sir these
undenable ACTS will still remain That fugitive from labor
arrested under the laws, and in the custody Of officers Of the
United Sates-n tho very sanctuary ofuscein broad and
opep daylight has been wrested from the custody Of these
officers, carried umphany through the streets Of popu
ous city, and SO far as yet appears placed beyond
reach Of the laws of the country These are cts excluding
all conoverted points, which patent upon the evidence
before which honestly communinC with his own
conscience will venture 10 deny himself He will pre-
sumo, be equally incapable Of suggesting doubt as to the
question whether the persons who thus engaged in the viola
ton OF the law should be subjected its penalties when de-
tected, and whether the officer who entrusted with it's
execution he has failed in his duty, shoad be made to feel
a there Is power prevent the Of the
which he has committed.
MI President behooves us in the mean while to consider
ana na the chief for which have risen to address
he bebooves consider these facts being thus
maneseo py evidence whether Il be not in our
Powe oy some act coming within the scope Of our consttu
tona authority to afford to The President OF the United States
And still further, deliberately to consider hs. i ,he ,,ne and
real oure OF these distractions of law and ofhese out
RACES thus committed in the face of numerous, intelligent
and patriotic population. My own judgment unon that snb
ject is that the President Of the United States ooh ~ h
armed with all power which be consituopav confe,,ed
upon him for the purpose Of carrying this law into eYecnn
Upon the qieston TO its execution heretofore will nsL
presently desire to say that my wish and inclination j.
give to the President any power which sustain him in
the execution OF the duty which he is called upon to perform
But believing, do that the feeling which exists among NV
constituents and which has been distinctly expressed in the
record of their proceedings which is lying before me- is that
the Of these distractions Is be traced beyond the
immediate occurrences which have occssoned this discussion
invite the attention Of Senators from those pro-
ceedngs In the report which precedes the resolutions adopt
ed by that body, II is declared that: