Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-31

Tails, the world. 20
beyond the line which has been drawn Why should !,
upon any principle of personal courtesy vote to allow
resolution to be taken which is either useless or worse
than useless For il is useless If 1t is merely TO spend
the time Of the Senate upon subject IN listening 10 Its
discussion when do not intend TO act upon II and II
is than useless if its effect will be 10 dissolve TINS
| Union Shall vote for it No; will not tell the
Senator from Massachusetts, that mean no personal DIS
| respect to him. have known him long and acknow-
ledge that have received couresies from him but on
question of this character where thenterests my State
are concerned should feel myself recreant TO my State
and myself If should vote for it, And say, IN the
face of this nation that if the fugitive slave LAWS repeal
ed then the gentleman may say, as would say, my
native land good night y good night to all your pros
perity and all your greatness, and come what will,
what may 'we have exhausted the argument, and
we will stand by our arms"
Mr.. GWIN | move that this subject be laid on the
table, for the purpose of taking up the Indian appropri-
alton bill.
Mr. PRATT. But the yeas and nays have been order
| ed on the question of taking up the resolution.
| Mr.. GWIN. Then withdraw my motion to lay on the
table
Mr.. SHIELDS. / do not know that understand the
question before the Senate Mr. President having just
| come in.
| The PRESIDENT. The question is on the motion Of
the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER to post
the previous orders for the purpose Of taking up the
| resolution he offered yesterday
Mr.. SHIELDS. will ask for the reading Of the reso-
luton by the Secretary.
The resolution read accordingly.
Resolrcd That the Committee the Judiciary be request
ed consider the expedency of reporting bin for the i'm
mediate repeal of the act of Congress- approved September Is
1850, usually known as the fugitive slave ACT
! Mr.. SHIELDS. As member of this body am de-
cdedy opposed to that resolution and shall vote against
whenever it comes up for discussion But that not
the question now and it that Senators have
attached too much Importance TO the motion which is
| really before the Senate
felt that there was great force in the observations
which fell from the Senator from Virginia Mr. MASON
hiatt hot
observed that the resolution being brought in at this
late stage of the session, time when almost
overwhelmed with business it could not be considered by
the Senate opportunity for reply being afforded The
principle involved by the resolution being abstract
question-for such hold it to be nowand the resolution
itself being merely introduced in order give the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts (Mr SU,NER) opportunity of
addressing the Senate, think it is great pity that the
time Of the Senate should be wasted by it regret
that the Senator has deemed necessary to his position
or TO himself TO bring such resolution forward; but
having done So the only question is whether you viii per-
nit him to be heard not. VIII you deprive member
of this body of the right of expressing his views sub
ject that, for aught know may interest him? Will
you compel him to be silent!
have sat in this Senate and have listened to treason
by honorable Senator'S and vet we have listened
patiently and ask Senators from the South to consider
whether any thing will be gained by preventing gentle
man from being heard on question like this! Can we
gain any thing by sitting his voice this subject. am
decidedly opposed to the agitation of this question
4
law to modify change the fugitive slave act unless
be found defective in its operation, and with view to
strengthen it. yet if there is motion made to lay the
solution the table shall against LAYING it the
table. will hear what the gentleman has TO say; and
more than that have peculiar curiosity at this stage
OF affairs IN country to hear what this third party has
20 say so that may know how they to stand in the
coming Presidential contest. take it that the Senator
from Massachusetts, give expose of their views
and intended proceedings. / want that third party
formed for one, and would not stheit for moment
VIII give 1t all the encouragement can want men to
be CLASSIFIED N the coming election and that those in the
Northern States my well rest may be so cas
sed in order that may know how many are disposed
to favor the repeal Of the fugitive slave law We shall
lose nothing in my opinion, by classification
shall vote against the resolution ITSELF and against
any reagtation of this question: but at the same time
mean never 10 give vote to prevent any gentleman
from being heard in this body. Let him from what
quarter he may will hear him, whatever he may choose
70 say would therefore suggest that the honorable Sc
nator postpone his resolution and speech until Saturday
II will interfere then with of the legitimate business
hope we may all agree to give the gentleman hearing
that day have not the least idea that his speech
will rend the union Of these States asunder
i daughter
Mr.. GWIN. Mr.. President differ entirely from the
honorable Senator from Illinois with regard to extending
courtesy Senator here 10 speak any subject which
he chooses to present before the Senate If the Senator
from Massachusetts, to introduce resolution here
to instruct the Committee the Judiciary inquire in
to the expedency Of reporting bill TO dissolve this
Union should like TO know whether the Senator from
Illinois would in favor Of his having an opportunity
TO speak such a resolution? Now, Mr.. President
recolect very distinctly, ten years ago, that upon
the occasion Of gentleman from Massachusetts MIR
John Quincy Adams) bringing forward a memorial in the
other House Of Congress in favor Of dssovng this Union
there weeks discussion and he was very nearly be-
ing expelled from the House.
/ Mr.. SHIELDS The honorable Senator will permit me
to say that reasonable propostion-a proposition open
" and hagrantly treasonable-of course this Senate
should entertain. / should vote for such thing
that have already said that should vote for
this resolution shall vote against it. and against any
bill that may be brought in in favor Of such proposition
! Mr. GWIN. Well, sir, | look upon the two propositions
as one and the think that the resolution which
has been introduced by the Senator from Massachusetts,
proposing 70 instruct the Judiciary Committee to report
bill to repeal the fugtivesave law equivalent to
PRODUCING resolution 10 dissolve the Union because we
all know that the repeal Of that law would produce that
result We have just heard it from the Senators from
Mississippi and Georgia that their States we're bound To
and they would act upon it. have no doubt that the
repeal Of that law would dissolve the Union and there
fore the introducing Of this resolution look upon as eou
yalent to introducing TO inquire into the expediency
Of dssoving the Union and hence there Is no degree
courtesy could be asked 70 extend TO any Senator that
would justify me- in my judgment rs Representative Of
one Of the States Of this Confederacy in voting in favor
of this discussion Therefore although should desire
extend all reasonable courtesy the Senator from Mass
chusetts, cannot comply with his request in this case
II Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, like the Senator from
Massachusetts, am anxious 10 be heard and came int
the Senate this morning after riding the entire night FOL
the express purpose of being heard not upon the ug
tivesaye law upon any other question calculated !,
have effect upon the pending Presidential election
make my speeches those subjects elsewhere and COM
here make speeches upon practical subjects Of sQs
aton The Senate postponed the bill to protect the emf
grant route to Oregon and California with the amend
ments for a railroad 10 the Pacific until this day Thu