The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-23

| 1t was to this idea, thus thrown out in debate
at that line, when the honorable Senator from
Michigan expressed his apprehension, because
of the vote taken the previous day, ard for other
reasons, that no good result was likely to fol-
low from this committee, that it would be better
to lay aside all the pending business of the Sen.
ate, and take up the fugitive slave bill, and act
upon that alone,--it was to this stage Of the
proceedings that the Senator from Mississippi
had reference, presume, when he said that he
had a conversation with the Senator from Mich.
lgan, and other senator's who had expressed
desire to have this law taken up and that he
consulted witt the chairman, of the Judiciary
Committee and myself, and we differed from him
IN opinion. shall not discuss the question as
10 VINO was right and who was wrong in our
decisions as to tue expectancy of carrying out
the suggestion of the Senator from MICHIGAN. I
know considered in my best Judgment that I
was right, ard that he was wrong! and acted
accordingly. What was the state of thrgs,
The resolutions of the Senator from Kentucky
MIR. CLAY, | think some eight in number
were intended to cover the whole ground then
agitated before this body. The seventl resolu.
tion had immediate reference to this fugtiy.
slave bill. 1t il in these words:
7th. Resolved, That more ehiectua provision
ought to be made by law, according to the re-
quirements Of the Tor sttution, for the restitution
and delivery Of persons bound to service or labor
in any State, who may escape into any other
State or Territory Of the Union"
The proposition of the Senator from Missis-
sippi was to refer the resolutions of the Senator
from Kentucky, and everything contained in
them, to this special committee, which commit.
tee, by its deliberations on all the subjects thus
connected, might be enabled TO prevent such
series Of measures rs would tranQuilize and
quiet the public mind upon this entire subject.
The resolution to refer was in these words;
"-so'--!. That the p----'I--.' ----i
accompanying documents, on the subject Of admit.
ting California, be referred to special committee
offfteen, afterwards amended to thirteen, y to be
chosen by ballot, whose duty it shall be to con-
slider the same and also to take into consideration
the various propositions now before the Senate
relating to the same subject, in connection with
the subject Of domestic slavery in all its various
bearings; and to report, if they find it pract able
to do So plan for the defnitve settlement of the
present unhappy controversy, and scue from
impending perlIs the sacred Union itself"
The resolution, Then, was to refer the whole
subject, embracing the resolutions of the Senator
from Kentucky andFof the Senator from Tenne,.
see, to this committee, for great, practical and
wise end; requiring Of the committee to report
such series OF measures, embracing the whole
subject conmi ted, as would tranquilize the
pubic mind, and make "A final di. position of the
subject committed. | went for it earnestly and
Zealuu-ly. There are some senators from
Southern. States-one Of whom, | more ca.
pecially recoect, was the very iustrious
Senator who then in part represented the State
OF South Csroiona, and who is now no more.
MIR. CALHOUN. who thought it would be bet.
ter to defer raising that committee until the de-
bate had ended. differed fom that distin.
guished Senator with great dif1idence and great
dietrnst OF my own Judgment; but | differed,
and believed that 1t WAS our duty-a duty wa
owed to the subject and the coun ry-to take
the "chance," as expressed by the Senator from
Michigan, OF some good resulting from the de-
liberatons of such committee. As the best
evidence OF he opinions Of senators represent.
ing slave States on the cxvediency of raising
this committee, advert to the fact that on the
vote which startled the apprehension of the
Senator from Michigan-the vote of "a to %
on taking up these resolutions-of the "a yeas.
IL We're from the Southern States, and only
from the Southern States were in the minority
OF D. advert to this for the purpose of show.
ING that those senators who represented slave
States, including, OF course, those senators who
more immediately represented the fugitive slave
N.
stance voted for the reference There wer,
senators who were against it altogether A
very distinguished Senator from Missouri. no
longer member Of this body, Mr.. BESrosl
was against IL. Certain il is that he mad.
strenuous efforts to except from action the
admission OF California rs a State into the
Union. IL was first moved by the Senator from
Connecticut The Senator from Missouri after.
wards attempted II IN the form of instructions 10
the committee, that they should not deliberate
upon 1t Further: the Senator IRON Wisconsin
Mr. WALKER moved 10 except from the re-
ference 10 the committee this vcry fugitive slaye
question. have a memorandum of IL in uoi.s
showing that on the 18Th Of April, he moved Ia
except IRON the reference "such parts" Of IA.
resolutions Gas related to the capture and re-.
tnrn OF the fugitivcs from services or labor
The vote was taken by yeas and nays, and tho
proposition was rejected by II ycss to % nays
Amongst the 81 nays was one Scntior alone
representing State holding the institution of
slavery that was the Senator from Missouri
Mr.. BENros
adduce these facts for the purpose of show.
ing That u was tie policy Of those with whom
acted upon the fugitive slave bill. 10 let that sub.
ject 60 al 'ng with the rest 10 the committee. Il
was embraced in the resolutions Of the Senator
from Kentucky, directly, by a separate and IN.
dependent resolution. II was embraced in the
proposed reference Of thu Senator from, Mi.si,.
sippi, In comprehensive ns we'll a. IN direct term:
ard every attempt that was made 10 except any
part OF the general subject from that committee,
was resisted by The almost combined vote Of
senators from southern States recollcct per.
fecily and doubtless other senator's recollect-
That we considered Il a matter Of great moment
that these questions should not be separated. If
committee was raised. know, in reference
particularly 10 the bill for the admission Of Cali.
ornia Ne State, which ] and some Others look,d
upon a. the most important in the v hole batch.
aud against which our resistance was most stern.
y directed. every effort 10 exclude IL from the
committee failed Dy the vote &c Southern sena.
tors. And would ask Of the Senate. ard The
Senators from Michigan and mississippi. with
what Propriety. with what Justice Of reason
contendlng as we always had commended, that if
that cOmmitfpa Nv ,,ssoJ L.. II