Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-22

not hear the suggestions OF the President have now
state the reasons which enable me to sustain the character
the who have signed that memorial and who forwarde
1t to hold in my hand communication from William
Milken, well known myself and my colleague az one
the most worthy citizens of the State Of Maine man 70
whose honor and integrity stand ready vouch He
this time member OF the State Senate is now has awsv
been, and have doubt always will be, democrat III
forwarded the memorial to me- and, in his communication
he states that the memorial signed by the who's
names attached 10 it. Upon that authority present il
and upon that authority stand, and willing to be het
responsible to the fullest extent.
The which the memorass give their own ant
not mine One may be in favor OF the repeal mod6ca
on Of that law for quite different from those contained
in the memorial Their and opinions their
may agree disagree with them in their opinions but still
in either case, my duty present their memorial They
express the opinions which have doubt they honestly
ertain Without regard to their vews it is the conclusion
to which they repeal modification of the law tina
the Senate is to act upon
Inasmuch as there is now bill virtually increasing the pc
naies of The law which has already been referred to the
Committee the Judiciary, this also being Of counter cha
racter should 60 the committee To say nothing
right that is but equal justice said that the Senate by
had determined that memorials for the repeal of that
should be sent the Committee the Judiciary Though
that decision was against my own Judgment yet in accord
with the decision Of the Senate had uniformly moved
lay them the table. But in this see
son why memorial for modification of the penalties of that
law, mitigate them, should receive least favorable
consideration bill which seeks to impose additional penal
ties For these reasons, well because right in ITSELF
asked its reference to the committee and went quietly
them Who then, is answerable for this debate Let the
Senate and the country Judge.
Mr.. PEARCE. Mr.. President, the Senator from New
Hampshire, (Mr HALE) using very free language, has
spoken Of which recently occurred in Philadelphia
as of kidnapping. That word has dis,inct and
wellknown signi6caion-not legal meaning but
sense in which it is universally applied in ordinary
Neither in that any other in which is un-
derstood can't properly applied to the case in Philadelphia
commissioner by whom that decided. He is man
Of honor and lawyer Of sbily, and little likely to be
guilty Of any thing to justify the application him of the
word kidnapping the Senator from New Hampshire him
SELF Sir, i was case of ordinary occurrence. Regular
process issued for the recovery o fugitive slave testimony
was taken and and the commissioner decided accord
ing his own Judgment and with perfect integrity purpose
am very sure. There admit unfortunately mistake Of
Identity nothing just such mistake of identity has
occurred thousand times in judicial proceedings civil and
criminal And take il that no gentleman has right to
apply 10 mistake ofdentty uRless he prepared to makea
charge Of fraud, the term Kidnapping There has been
case OF kidnapping, and the gentleman to whom suppose
that term would applvthe commissioner who made the de.
cisions Of the last in the community which be
belongs to whom it could with propriety be applied.
know the parties, and may say this that the promplude
with which the mistake corrected by Of my const
uens and negbos is very good proof how false have been
the charges that this law would be deliberately converted into
an lnatrument of fraud and oppression The mistake
corrected as promptly was possible That is enough for
Southern character 81
But the Senator from New Hampshire tells that he de-
lights agitation, and he has made discovery philosophy
that agitation element" What Of an element
have not chemical knowledge enough TO ascertain.
The Senator compares the agtaons Of what he calls foul
and feted coupons the heavenly and benign action told
OF Scripture that gentle stirring Of the waters occasioned
by the angelic presence which invited suffering humanity
receive its benign influences This he kened to that aga
ton which, stirred by Mistaken fegned philanthropy,
has wrought much evil and has threatened much
H.
and valuable among He delights in agtaton he says
abhor it. That gentle stirring Of the scarcely
be compared without rreveence the mschevous agitation
which he to cherish. Sir, abhor agitation because
the first agator heard Of in the world the very last
being of whom man should speak with any thing but abb
honence The devil was the first agitator He il who
in the guse of serpent, cep into Eden. He found the
primal pair living in peace, innocence, and obedience The
woman's heart he corrupted, and so
Brought death into the world and all our wo."
He the first agitator. Who will be the last it is not
for to tell but the Senate well imagine how easy
would be to describe of his followers who prom
nen agaors at the present day in the strict line Of diaboca
succession.
Mr.. RHETT. Mr.. President, understood the Senator
from Pennsylvania to assert that the State Of
perfectly satisfied with the late fugitive law, and that bis
constituents opposed to all agitation and perfectly pre-
pared to enforce that law. rise merely to inquire Of
hat Senator Whether his State has repealed those laws which
passed years ago. by which the operation Of the
let Of 1898 embarrassed whether those laws still
nue the statute book of the State Of Pennsylvania
Mr.. COOPER. l can reply without hesitation to the
question propounded by the honorable Senator from South
Carolina. Bills have been introduced into both houses of
he Legislature of Pennsylvania repeal the act to which
he Senator refers, known the act Of ls47 and presume
hat those laws will be repealed. But did not say that all
constituents opposed TO the repeal of the fugitive
lave law which passed the last session Of Congress
aid that believed very large majority of my constituents
opposed to all further agitation the question of sla
'ey that they satisfied with the adopted for
lave doubt that this is have had many opportuni
les Of convesDg with gentlemen from all parts of the State
Ind they all united in saying that there sentiment gene
ally prevalent favorable to standing by the adopted
the last session Of Congress- and believe them founded
pon justice and that they ought least to be satisfactory to
III portions Of the country If Ichose So might enter
of domestic politics and explain the honora-
lie Senator why may be difficult though think it may be
chieved, to repeal those laws. But frbear because it
would be Improbable do So You pehaps sir are aware
# it; Icertainly am, and know there Others
Mr.. RHETT My object in making the inquiry of the
senator from Pennsylvania was that his former statement
night go without the qualifications which he has just
nade is very true, he saes that these laws have not
repealed It is very true that efforts have been made to
epeal them but in the Senate of Pennsylvania effort made
o do that failed. So far from showing, them what the SEN
from Pennsylvania has just assered that the people Of
Pennsylvania satisfied with the fugitive law, and pre-
pared to enforce it. think the genemans statement proves
o the contrary There localities, do not doubt
hat in favor enforcing the lawor instance the
,ante interests suppose that is so in New York. have
no doubt the entire mercantile community in favor
IF enforcing the law. But presume il is not so in the
Of those Sato and if Information be correct there
great hostility in all the interior of Pennsylvania and New
York. and all the Northern Sates the enforcement Of the