Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01


cpes that would break up the Government and dissolve the
Union and direct energies internal rather than the
great enterprises of peace that many sincere regrets would be
felt in that country, however sentimental might be the para
graphs in the papers.
Mr.. MASON. The Senator from Michigan, take it for
granted, does not to misquote me. did NOT remark
that this law would be executed pretend
look so far into futury What said, and what
peat this that the Senator considers that this law has
been executed in such way yield the fruits Of the law
in every instance where the slave recovered by eecua
violence and resistance to the law he does interpret the
execution Of the law as do mean say that except in
some few instances this law far informed has not
yielded the fruits Of such law; for has returned the
property 10 the MASTER is returned cost equal 10 the
value Of the property If the honorable Senator from Mch
gan that that is the execution of the law with which
the slave States be satisfied he msnterprets the feeling
Of the people of those States.
Sir, have not said that this law will be executed
have said, what repeat, that tie law cannot be executed
II is not in the power OF to execute IL unless Is done
with diligence, and alacry, and ZEAL and good faith call
upon the Senator from Michigan to let know where
the law has been executed with alacy, and ZEAL and dill
gence not only the part of the ministers executing the
law but on the part of the people the midst Of whom
to be executed II is easy to trace this thing to its true
source 1t is the fixed and settled hostility to the institutions
which prevail among the people from whom these fugtives
come. It is abiding hostility to that institution which
makes them treat the law the law Of foreign Power and
law which they did not contribute by their efforts to pass
The fact remains upon the journal Of the Senate that when
that law passed here the last session passed by the
votes Of the savehoding States. There but three out
Of the hywo Senators from the free States who voted for
that law instance the honorable Senator in my eye from
the State of Pennsylvania, (Mr STURGEON and the two
Senators from Iowa, (Messrs DoDGE and JONES
Mr.. DICKINSON. If the Senator will allow to in
erupt him. would state that my colleague who is supposed
to be very strongly against the law paired off with on that
question. stated that fact in speech which made the
time Of the passage of the bill.
Mr. SEWARD. The honorable Senator from Virginia
will allow to say that my colleague has stated the truth Of
this matter He would undoubtedly he has said have
voted for the law Sickness which rendered impossible for
sit stand, had not prevented me from being here
Mr. MASON. I am not challenging the votes Of the Sc
majors. am stating fact historical fact am perfectly
satisfied that every gentleman who did not vote on that occa
sion had proper and sufficient for not voting am
the last man to challenge any Senator'S Such is the
fact-itera spta nanet. Only three Senators from the
free States voted for that law, and all others who voted voted
against i'll think twelve in number. Now say we may
trace ia this particular instance and and know
and understand and do understand and feel every day,
that the why this law is not successfully executed in
the free States that the spirit of the people against the
law and against the objects Of the law.
But the honorable Senator from Michigan asks If
pect every man. woman, and child will rise up and after
these ugives Not at all pointed to what occurred in
the city in which he lives where the attempt to execute the
law resisted although not successfully resisted, by vio
ence understood that slave arrested in Detroit some
time during the last fall that mob gathered, that the mill
tary were called out and the not successfully resisted
by the mob
Mr.. Glass; There was fugitive in the city of Detroit,
and the military were called out. There demonstra-
ton, but effort of resistance in my opinion and in
the opinion Of every we'll informed person there, would there
have been any resistance to the taking away Of the slave
If the military had not been called out.
Mr.. MASON. There must certainly have been very
strong demonstration, the military would not have been
called out. Now is thing not to lend efficient aid in
carrying the law into execution, and it is another thing not
to ntepose obstacles when the fugitive protected screened
and assisted by the population There may be instances to
loIxh Ia nd oua
notsaid that this law will be executed do say that
long this spirit obtains among the people where the law is
to be executed that it will be done if it be done,
will be done at expense equal the value of the property
recovered. understand that the Senator from New York
in single particular, in relation to the
which occurred in the city Of New York seems that suits
not actually brought in that against the claimant
they brought in the Of Crafts at Boston do
not know whether said that suits brought against the
claimant or not, but if did was wrong in doing.
say that there delays great delays in that and
that of the law resoed to by those connected
with the deence for the purpose so far as can
of defeating the execution Of the law and although they did
successfully defeat it far final judgment
cerned they did defeat the value of the property
concerned adduced the case in New York for the
purpose of showing that this law not sufficiently carried
out. It to the objection when am told by the
Senator from New York that the expenses paid by vol
untary contributions by the citizens. done in that
case seems, but inflow few would the claimants who
into free States to property find the citizens ready
and do say that any thing left undone by
the ministers Of the law in the city Of New York necessary
carry the law into execution but speak OF for the pur
pose of showing the mpossby of executing the law in such
way to make it valuable when the people among whom
is to be executed hostile to that law. That is the only
purpose for which alluded to the matter.
Mr. DICKINSON In the recovery of any species of
perry under any law there is less controversy and
conestaon, and there be contest in the natter
law would be necessary If the individual is to go and
take his property according to the ancient rule and let
him take who has the power and he may keep who can,
law would be necessary. The very law, summary though
be- supposes that that will be contest and
provides accordingly and there be litigation without
delay. Now, in this case the delay which complain
ed Of the Senator says prevented the recovery OF the OBJ
jec of the pursuit That depends entirely how high
the gentleman who agent of the claimant valued
his time. He there believe about ten days, perhaps
more His expenses, understand, were paid Coun-
sci among the most eminent the State city OF New York
could furnish furnished him free of charge He him
self entertained by them Hospitality lost nothing but
his time, the slave taken back to Virginia. il
few days of bis time worth than the value Of the
slave, and the perfect triumph Of the law then he went back
without the fruits of what he sought conended for by the
Senator from Virginia But portion Of that delay was
caused am informed by the declaration Of the claimant
himself that he wished every possible facility given to test the
efficiency Of the law, and have the matter fairly and fully
tried. 1t leading under the new law, which
had greatly excited public attention. and he wished-and
that very properly have its practical operation put to
the trial He sought advantage no haste, which would
give the fullest and most complete opportunity to prove
what would he the operation OF the law. Another portion of
the delay caused by the very serious illness of the district
judge, who for that unable for some time to pro-
coed with tho
1t does to me, therefore, that unless willing to
have believed that do desire to have the law execu