The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-26
No. 294.

all the Compromise measures
Mr. Chairman. the gentleman from Indiant
(Mr. FITcH) saw proper to assail General Scott
and believe he called him the s'mum Whig can
didate for the Presidency" must review little
the public course OF the gentleman who thus as
sauits General Scott. who defended me whilst
was child; and and my country would be recre-
ant 20 the pronphngs OF patriotism not to repel the
assault, come il from what quarter il may. have
the right of speech here, if General Scott has not,
and will, with my voice, defend him But listen
a moment to the gentleman, (Mr. FiTcH:)
'ln l549 Doctor FIrcH pledged himself TO the
Freesoiiers, when candidate Tor their sutfrages,
in the following language:
|. ITO vote for the unconditional abolition OF
slavery in the District of Columbia.
,. .To vote for the abolition of the inter State
slave trade.
8. $40 vote for the Wilmot proviso being extend
ed over the Territory OF California and New Mex
ico, and against the law authorizing slaves to be
taken there as property.
doctor FITcH concluded his letter, containing
the above named pledges of fidelity to Frecsoil
principles. by the following explicit declaration:
Entertaining the views Indicated in my an,
swer above, shall not only vote yes all these
measures, but If no older or ahler member whose
influence for them would be greater than mine,
can be found to introduce them to Congress, ]
shall do so myself If have the honor of holding
seat there. GRAHAM n FITCH"
This is the gentleman who proclaims General
Scott mum candidate, who asperses his name
and seeks TO mpeach his patriotism.
MIR. Chairman, whether Wing or Democrat
sail prominent Whig, / will test the cause-in
this case shall test il with the plummet. The
Democratic press is down upon General Scott, it
always has been down upon Wing iavorites. The
object, sir, is to draw oil the public mind from
their ow n feuds and normities. The Democra tic
orators everywhere, and the gentleman from In
diana (Mr. FITcH) hmself, have taken the field
against General Scott. Ii it was his desire that
the American people should believe, from his want
ing General Scott TO come out, that he himself sup
ported that measure, he will fail of his purpose
for the Journals, unfortunately for him. stand
evidence to the contrary. HIS votes will be found
recorded ON page 452 OF the Journal of The Thirty
first Congress.
Mr.. FITcH. can save the gentleman the trou-
bic Of any reference To the Journal. Ivoted against
the Fugitive Slave law-have said before, and
further said, as ] now do, that under similar
circumstances. ! should give the same vote again.
The previous question prevented debate the bill,
or attempt To amend IT, and no means was lett
of expressing dissent from any OF its provisions,
except negative vote ON its passage. But il is
the law-it Is one OF the series OF measures con-
stituting the Compromise which | sustdin-which
] have declared, and | repeat It, should be sus-
tlned by all good citizens should be received as
final settlement ofslavery issues and slavery agi
tatiOn III Congress-; should be observed, and their
provisions, those of the Fugitive Slave law IN
cluded, be faithfully executed. My vote is of lit.
tie Importance to the country-my opinions less;
but the came declaration | have made relative To
the Compromise has been made by the great mass
OF my party, and by all lie prominent candidates
for the Presidency. The questions now at issue
are, will the party to which tue gentleman belongs
assume the same position-a position OF national
importance, and OF vital interest u his sector OF
the country? Aud will his candidate General
Scott) make the same declaration? viii he declare
what will be his policy relative to those measures
in the event OF his election? The gentleman opin-
ions and assumptions, though doubtless OF far
more importance than any may express, are not
an answer, and will not be received such. The
answer can only come from the Whig party. and
from General Scott. Both are evadiDg IL, and with
the gepteman's aid. viii they continue to DO sol
Mr.. CuLLom. That will do. cir; but is General
Scott to write letters upon the Question when not
requested 50 TO do when the gentleman, under
lemn oath. acting with responsibility to God and
his country. would not dare TO record bis vote for
the measure? lie recorded his vote Wi GIpDINGs
Corr, JuLIAs, and PREsTos KiSG. hope may
be excused for mentioning this matter Of history
DO not wish TO bring do~n upon my head the
anathema5 Of the venerable gentleman from Ohio,
(Mr. GIDDISGs.) Fine company ID that in which
my friend from Indiana ID found; and, although
danouncing upon this floor a venerable patriot he
says he would vote 80 again. ! have no doubt Of
II. The country shall see who General Scotts as
sailants are. On the l7th September. 1850, when
the bill 10 repeal the slave trade in the District Of
Columbia was under discussion, Mr.. A. G.. Baows
offered the following anne ndment
-dnd be IL further enacted. That if any free person
or persons within the District Of Columbia shall
entice or induce, by persuasion other means. any
slave or slaves 10 run away from his, her, their
owners, or lawiu possession, or shall in any man
ncr aid, abet, or assist, any slave slaves in
ming away or escaping from the owner or lawful
possession Of such slave or slaves, or shall harbor
any slave slaves with the intent TO assist him,
her, or them, 20 escape from the service oi such
owner or possession, such person persons shall
be liable to indictment in the circuit court of the
District Of Columbia and upon conviction, by
verdict. confession, or otherwise, shall be impn-
soned in the penitentiary for any time not exceed
ing five years.
Against this amendment G. " FrrcH voted with
CLEyELAsD, Corr, KISo, and THADDEus srs-
vESs.
This is the gentleman who has become the guar
dian Of the Wing party and Of southern righis.
THIS is the author Of the lodging resolution that
was intended as platform for Sece,sionists, Abo-
litionists, and Higher-law mcn TO stand upon; and
IL is he who Is made the mOuthpiece - dcnounoe
General Scott as 'mum candidate" Sir, the
gentleman will sicken OF this business, 90 sure a.
fate. The ethics Of the gentleman make il quite
admissible to steal negroes, bot DO not allow that
it is proper to punish the perpctrator.
have said that the resolution Oi the gentleman
from Indiana (hlr. FiTcH) was a resolution drawn
to enable the Frecsolcrs and Sccessoniss To occu-
py the same platform. Any intelligent person
who will read these resolutions carefuy viii per.
ceiye this
The resolution offered by tho gentleman (Mr
FITcH) is in these words.
" Rcolpcd. That we recognise the binding cfIi.
cacy of the compromises Of the Constitution, and
believe il TO be tho intention of the peope ecner.
ally. TO abide such compromises, and to sustain
the laws necessary TO carry them Out-the provision
for the delivery Of fugitive slaves included and
that we deprecae all further agitation OF questions
growing out Of that provision, Of the questions cin-
braced IN the acts of the last Congress known as
the Compromise, and Of questions generally con-
ncctcd with the institution VI slavery, unncccs.
sary, useless. and dangerous"
Now, almost all the Frcesoilcrs recognise the
compromises Of the Constitution-all parts Of il,
as they understand il. The State Rights Free.
sOer (Mr. RASToUL) from Massachusetts, the
gentlemen from Connecticut, (Mr CLEvELASDD
and from New York. (Mr. KING all recognize
these compromises. But they DO not acquicscc
in the Compromise acts. These acts they de-
nOuncc, as does the new convert from Indiana.
These compromises OF the Constitution require
jury trials Tor the runaway slave, these Free.
soilers contend. This resolution does not approve
the Fugitive Slave law. We'll, after consultation,
the resolution was put into the hands Of a gentle
man from Georgia, Mr.. JAcKsoS,) claimed to be
a Seccssionst. II am not Insiniormcd, he was
told the resolution from the Indiana gentleman
was worth nothing; SO II was patched up for the
gentleman from Georgia, VINO has 10 stand god
father 10 it. Sol was, after little Speaker room
caucus, as believe, but, after some consultation,
amended and offered by the gentleman from Geor.
gia, as follows:
RfsoIved hat $40