The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01

claimed
Mr. Mason urged it with much earnest
ness, and strove to have it made special
order but Mr.. Hale by timely movement,
accompanied with few pertinent remarks,
completely baffled him, and the bill took its
place among the general orders, to come up,
nobody knows when.
THE SENATE AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION.
Last Monday in the Senate, Mr.. Walker of
Wisconsin presented the petition of citizens of
Milton, Rush county, Wisconsin, signed by al
most all the inhabitants of the place, praying
the repeal of the Fugitive Law. On his
motion, it wa9 laid on the table Had Mr.
Walker sent the petition back to his constitu-
ents, his treatment of them would have been
just as respectful. The plain duty of repre-
sentative of the People is, to secure a respect
full consideration of their requests.
subsequently, Mr. Seward of New York pre-
sented four petitions of citizens of the State of
New York, and a memorial of the Calen Quar-
terly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
of Pennsylvania, praying for the repeal of the
Fugitive Slave Law, and one petition of nhab-
itants of Marcelus, New York, praying that
Congress may institute measures for the extinc-
ton of Slavery in the United States which
he moved might be received, and, without read
ing, might be referred to the Committee, on the
Judiciary
Mr.. Mason of Virginia somewhat loftily re-
marked that he would not interfere with the
motion of the Senator from New York His
object we presume, was to arouse some of the
Northern Allies" to their duty, so that they
might relieve Southern gentlemen of the disa-
greeable necessity of attending to such often
sive matters.
New Hampshire furnished fit instrument
for the work Mr. Norris of that State, whose
election some years ago to the Senate was hail
ed by the Free-Soilers of Lowell, Massachu-
sets, with 'acclamations, and sgnalized by the
firing of a hundred GINS, rose with alacrity at
the intimation of his superior, demanded d.
vision of the question: and then moved that
the memorials relating to the Fugitive Law,
that highly humane and popular measure, be
laid upon the table. The motion was decided
in the affirmative, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs Adams, Atchson, Badger,
Bayard, Borland, Bradbury, Brodhead, Brooke,
Cass Clarke, Clemens Cooper, Dawson, Dodge
of Iowa, Douglas Downs, Felch, Geyer, Gwin,
Hunter, Jones of Iowa. Jones of Tennessee,
King Mallory, Mangum, Mason Miller Nor.
ris Rusk, Sebastian, Spruance, Underwood, and
Walker-33.
NAys-Messrs Chase, Davis Dodge of Wis
consin, Fish, Foot, Hale, Hamlin, Seward, Sum-
ner, Upham, and Wade-ll.
Maine and New Hampshire were divided ;
Vermont, Massachusetts New York, and Ohio,
embracing white population equal to that of
the entire South, had the honor of casting an
unbroken vote in favor of the right of petition,
and against law disgraceful to a free country.
Clarke of Rhode Island has gone over to the
Pro-Slavery party along with Walker of Wis
consin, and Miller of New Jersey. James of
Rhode Island and Smith of Connecticut did
not vote. Douglas and Cass, the representa-
tives respectively of what is styled "Young
Democracy" and " Old Fogies," voted, as usual,
with the Slavery party.
But MIR. Norris had not DONE The petition
praying Congress to institute measures tor the
extinction of Slavery lis not the Ebony line
proposed by some as measure OF this kind y
was vet to be disposed Of Mr.. Norris moved
that it be laid upon the table; but his eager
ness to do service led him to commit blunder,
which Mr. King, the President, kindly suggest
ed to him "Does the Senator from New Hamp-
SHIRE" said he, "object to the reception Of the
memorial, and move to lay the motion to re-
ceiye on the table :" 81 object to the recep-
ton was the answer In the conversation
that sprung up there was danger that Mr.. ~
might escape the responsibility, of the assault
on the right of petition and Mr. Hale put
the question distinctly to the Chair, whether
the objection was made by the Chair, or by
the Senator from New Hampshire. BY the
Senator" was the reply. The question was
then taken on laying on the table the motion
to receive the petition, and it was decided as
| follows:
YEAs-Messrs Adams, Atchison, Badger
Bayard, Borland, Bradbury, Brodhead, Brooke,
Cass Clarke, Clemens, Dawson, Dodge of Iowa
Douglas Downs Felch. Fish, Geyer, Gwin,
| Hamln, Hunter, Jones of Iowa, Jones of Ten
nessee, King, Mallory Mangum Mason, Mil
Ter, Norris, Rhett, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields.
Spruance, Underwood, and Walker-36.
| NAYs-Messrs. Dodge of Wisconsin, Foot.
Hale, Seward, Sumner, apd Wade-6
So the petition was not received--the Free
Soil Wing from New York, Mr. Fish, voting
this time in disregard of the right of petition.
Mr.. Hale followed with a memorial against
the Fugitive Law, which was also laid upon
the table. On presenting it, he made state
ment which places the submissive Mr.. Norris
and his friends in very disagreeable predca-
ment
Il wish to call the attention of the Senate
before they pass upon the petition, to one fact
which occurred upon the floor of the Senate
some two years since. The honorable Senator
from South Carolina, Mr.. Butler, not now in
his seat gave notice. upon a certain occasion
that he would never again object to the recep-
ton of one of these petitions The reasons for
that announcement do not remember that he