The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-27
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
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in New England praying for the repeal Of the
Fugitive slave law, and read from the memorial
as follows:
We, therefore, respectfully but earnestly and
sincerely intreat you to repeal the law Of the last
Congress respecting the fugitive slaves. First,
and principally, because of it's injustice towards
long, sorey oppressed, and deeply injured people.
And, second, IN order that we, together with other
Conscientious sufferers, may be exonerated from
the penalties which it imposes all who, In
falthfulness 10 their Divine Master, and in dis
charge of their obligations to their distressed fell
low-men, feel panied to regulate their conduct
even under the heaviest penalties which man can
infict for so doing by the divine injunction all
things whatsoever you would that men should do
to you, do We even unto them, and by the other
commandment, 81 thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thy
self''
We fervently desire that he who hath declared,
through his servant, that is righteousness which
exaiteth nation, but that sin is reproach to any
people, may replenlsh your hearts with wisdom
and enable you TO do justice and Judgment spec
Oily, that so the blessings of such are ready 10
perish NAV come upon you, and the peace and
welfare OF our beloved country may be promoted
ana established upon permanent basis, for the
work of righteousness shall be peace, and the
effect OF righteousness, quletness and assurance
forever"
Mr.. S. continued: This memorial is recon-
mended to us by the high character Of the religious
association from which it proceeds-men who
mlngle rarely in political affairs, but with austere
rules seek to carry the christian virtues into civil
and social life.
The PRESIDENT, pro tenn. The Chair will
have TO nterpose. No remarks IN order be-
fore the memorial is received.
Mr. SUMNER. have but very few words
TO add. propose to move reference of the me-
mortal 10 the Committee on the Judiciary
y -
the Senator may state the contents OF the memo
rial The question of reception will then recur.
1t Is not in order to enter into discussion Of its
merits until the memorial is received
Mr.. SUMNER. l DO not propose dscusst
the subject referred to in the memorial, but SIM
ply to explain It's CONTENDS
Mr.. BADGER. Let the Senator proceed.
Mr.. DA WSON. Certainly
Mr. SUMNER proceeded with his remarks.
The memorial was reco commended also by it's earn.
est and persuasive tone. In offering it now he
would take occasion to say that he should deem
It duty on some proper occasion hereafter, to
express himself at length upon the subject to
which it relates. Thus far during the session he
had forborne to speak upon it. With the excep-
ton ofat able speech from his colleague, Mr.
DAVIS, Of the House, as supposed, the discus
sion OF this subject at the present session Of Con-
gress had been left to other parties, in whose diff
ferences he had not cared TO interfere. But there
was time for all things and justice required that
both sides should be heard He believed he did
not expect too much when he expressed the con-
6dent expectation that he should receive the can
did attention Of the Senate, while he ventured to
set forth the views which he entertained fully and
frankly and the convictions to which he was
bound by every sentiment of his heartily every
consideration of his duties as a Senator by love
to God and man. But upon that subject he
would not now enter. Suffice it to say that when
Ia cLx,,I H., Al IL IT.
nothing which in any case could be called Sec
tiona, unless the Constitution was sectional and
the sentiments Of their fathers were sectional. 1t
was his happiness to believe, and his hope to be
able to show, that according to the true spirit Of
the Constitution and the true Of the fathers
freedom, and not slavery is national, while slav
cry and not freedom is sectional.
In duty to Nthe petitioners and in the hope that
it would promote their prayer. he moved that the
memorial be referred TO the Committee on the Ju-
dietary.
Mr.. MANGUM said it was the settled practice
of this body to make IL motion to lay the mo-
ton to receive petitions Of this nature upon the
table. But he believed that that course had been
departed from in regard to petitions from the So
cety of Friends. He believed that these petitions
had always been received He hoped this one
would be received, and they could afterwards
make the motion to lay it on the table.
The PRESIDENT. 1t has already been re-
ceiyed.
Mr.. HALE. Then the rule is that petitions
from Friends are to be received and from nobody
else.
Mr. DAWSON said that if it was desired by
the gentleman to reopen this discussion in the
solemn manner-in the heartfelt, christian feeling
with which the Senator from Massachusetts
seemed to be OVERLOOKING, let him come out bold
ly and present the question. Let him not conceal
his views in clouds. Let there be none of this
deception. Let there be manliness and openness.
He, for one, was prepared to meet the question.
And he one of those WHO were determined
never again to see this subject debated in the
Serate. If gentlemen desired to throw fire. brands
in their midst, let them do it. If they had hearts
more pure-more christian than his, let them pour
them out. If the discussion was to be re- opened,
this was the day and this the hour.
After some further remarks by Messrs. DAw-
SON, BADGER and BUTLER,
On motion Of Mr.. BADGER, the memorial was
laid on the table.
The yeas and nays being taken on the question,
stood as follows:
YEAs-Messrs Adams, Atchison Bell, Brad
bury, Bright, Brodhesd, Brooke, Cass, Clemens,
Cooper, Dawson, De Saussure, Dodge, of Iowa,
Douglas, Downs, Felch, Fish, Foot, Geyer, Hun
ter, James, Jones, of Tennessee, King, Mallory,
Mangum, Miller, Norris, Pearce, Pratt, Rusk,
Sebastian, Smith, So.s!e, Spruance, Toucy, I'm
derwood, Upham WEI er-4O.
Nrs-Messrs Borland, Chase, Davis, Dodge,
of Wisconsin, Hale, Hamlin, Seward Sumner,
Wade, Walker--l0.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL,
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, the Senate then
resumed the consideration of the bill to supply
deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of
she current fiscal year, and after some deliberation
proceeded to vote sc'iatm upon the amendments
made in Committee of the Whole
Most of the amendments were agreed to. Some
of them were modifed--two or three were re-
jected.
On reaching the Collins line amendment
Mr. CHASE then renewed his amendment,
which is as follows:
find prooided farther, That the proprietors Of
said line of steamers shall consent to such a mod-
fcation of the existing contract, that the Post
master General may advertise for and accept pro-
posals for carrying the mails in suitable steam
ships Of no, less than two thousand tons burden,
between the United .5eFss and Great Britain
from and after the said ssifty- first day of Decem-
Der, eighteen hundred and ifty-four when said
contract shall cease to be obligatory and the
Postmaster General, in case such modification
shall be agreed to, shall advertise for such propos
ais. which shall lie submitted to Conoress ,t Tho