The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23
SENATORIAL SENSIBILlTY.


can Colonization and the Slave Trade Inc
Senate listened patiently to speech in support
Of the objects of the memorials, I'm which MT
CLAY took occasion to advise the People OF the
North to abstain from the discussion OF the ques-
ton Of Slavery and then very respectfully re-
ferred the documents to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. Hale, observing in the Senate so much
courtesy and so proper a regard for the right OF
petition, thought it suitable occasion for pre-
senting petition for the repeal OF the Fugitive
law. Mr. Hale said it was numerously signed
by citizens of Pennsylvania. lie did not know
that there were among them any ex-governors'
ex-members Of Congress, or any lherah; but one
of them, he was told by the Senator from Penn
sylvania, was brother to a man who is candidate
for the office of Governor. MIR. Clay did not ex-
actly like the hit, but it made the Senate feel
quite merry. Emboldened by the example of Mr..
Cooper who a few days before, on presenting a
similar petition, had indicated his opinion as to
the policy which ought to be pursued, and by the
example of Mr.. Clay, who had just made speech
attempted also to show his opinion. RsfnsgNt that
he was not member Of the privileged class-that
the courtesy of the Senate is not apt to be shown to
the opponents of Slavery. 81 believe,D said Mr.
Hale, "tSs law is fepr6ach 70 the civilization Of
the sge-a practical parody upon the Constitu-
tionn "Orderp cries Senator from the South :
He has no right to use such language in regard
the late act Of Congress- "Nor," said Mr..
Berrien, ain regard to any other act" Superla-
tive dignity Congress may play the devil as it
pleases, but it is bad manners to say so. The
party to which Mr. Foote belongs recollects with
infinite disgust the Alien and Sedition laws
laws which forbade the People to speak Of the acts
of the Government in reproachful terms; but
Messrs Foote and Berrien would establish for the
Senate usage far more revolving to all our no
tions Of Freedom of Opinion. What next2
What is the precise rule Senators must observe
in charactcrizing the acts Of Congress- If they
may not denounce them as "a reproach to the
civilization of the age" are they at liberty to
pronounce them immoral, wrong, or tyranncal2
Senatorial dignity is a good thing, but Senatorial
virtue is still better. 1t were we'll if honorable
Senators were as much shocked at the idea of
committing bad acts as they are at hearing them
properly defined. Keen sensibility to reprosch
sometimes springs from consciousness rather
than dislike of wrong doing When Paul rea-
soned Of Righteousness, temperance, and judg-
ment to come, Felix trembled-not because Paul
was guilty of any breach of decorum, or of the
rules of the court, but because Felix felt him.
self wounded.
OF course, the Chair did not sustain the
Judge ,, Bsr1 ao n, but wa,
necessary to ~ qns.ls On elstl "a sp%s
rule did not allow member in presenting petit
ton to make specch-his only privilege was to
state the contents of the paper. The Chair con-
CURED in the suggestion. Messrs. Clay and
Cooper had spoken freely-but Mr.. Hale was
out of order, and must keep within the rule.
Mr. Hale resumed and in attempting to refer
to some remark made by Mr.. Clay, was again
called to order The Chair was sorry, nay,
grieved, that it was obliged so often to call the
attention of gentlemen to the rule-and he ad-
monished the New Hampshire Senator again to
stick to the text.
"Mr. Hale. will not trepass upon the Senate
any longer. ! will simply remark that feel my
self happy in being the occasion of ecitng al
ways such tender regard for the rules; for it is
in order for everybody else to travel all over
creation but am to be called to order as soon as
| say anything
"Mr. Foote. | call the Senator to order.
Laughter lie is now reprimanding the Chair,
who decided that he was out OF ordern
Mr.. Hale Well, then, will present the Pc
titionn
Mr. Hale moved that the petition be referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary, but Mr.. Whit
comb of Indiana for the purpose, we presume, Of
rebuking the People who presume to question
the wisdom of the Senate, and also of preserving
the Union, moved to lay it on the table. The
question was taken on this motion by yeas and
nays but when the name of MIR. Yulee was
called he asked to DO excused from voting and
by permission of the Chair, stated his reasons as
follows:
al do not think il of much importance whether
vote or not But will state my reasons. The
Legislature Of Florida now in session, have be-
fore them resolutions which, am informed, are
likely to pass that body, instructing the Senator'S
from that State not to vote upon any question
touching the Fugitive Slave law. la Difference
to that Legislature, although those resolutions
have not reached us as instructions, prefer TO
take that course and will add, that it is con-
sistent with my own opinion as to what it is proper
TO doD
The question was then stated upon excusing
the Senator from Florida from voting.
A rambling discussion arose. Some Of the
Senator's question the right of member to be ex-
cused after the calling Of the roll
Mr. Hale asked to be excused from voting on
the motion to excuse the Senator from Florida,
and Mr. Walker callsa-tse yeas and nays on this.
The Chair, seeing the difficulty in which it was
about to be involved, by allowing the motion of
Mr. Yulee, took the back track hastily, decided
that the whole procedure was ont Of order, and
Mr. Yulee was called upon to vote. MIR. Yulee
refused-he was again called upon, and again re-
fused, unless allowed to state his reasons for
voting This was not allowed, and Mr.. Butler
of South Carolina remarked
"Mr. Butler Mr.. President, did not vote
subject myself to the same rule with the Senator
from Florida nor shall vote.
"The President The Secretary will call the
Senator from South Carolina.
"The Secretary called the name of Mr.. Butler,
who did not respond.
"The President. The Chair has discharged
his duty. The rule requires that Senators shall
vote The attention Of the Chair has been called
to it, The Senator from South Carolina expressly
refuses to vote. The Senator from Florida has
been called, and refuses TO vote. II rests with the
Senate to say whether they will pass vote of
censure or will suffer the matter to rest.
"Mr. Foote. | will merely soy that have
followed up the matter thus far, and shall leave
the remainder OF the matter to those who
are
"Mr. Hale, lin his scs') Order