The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-09
sprzcs OF HON s. P. CHASE. OF OHIO.
THURSDAY, AUGUST %.

c.o,, Illinois Mr. DOUGLASS has made very
sar;ous charge against all those who propose to
10 for the amendment of the Senator from
Massachusetts,. He has charged MS with inii-
deItv-deliberate and purposed iniidehty-to
tho Constitution we have sworn to support.
Sir repel the charge. ! deny it in ITS let,
tor and in it, spirit in its whole breadth ana
in all it's detail The argument when my
friend from Massachusetts has addressed W us
today was not an assault upon the Constl'u-
ION Il WAS n noble vindication OF that great
charter of Government from the perVefs'o"' Vi
the advocates of the Fugitive Slave Act' ..
WHY. sir, what is the very hrst ProPoSl,io"
which the advocates of that act are Douhu W
maintain Is it not this: hat the power 10
enact it has been granted, IN the Cohs'i'ueion
70 Congress- And what has the senator iIoih
Massachusetts asserted! That the iugl'Ne
servant clause of the Constitution Is ciciuse vi
compact between the States anu 1oh,ers ho
legislative power upon Congress ne mas ar
7'ad History and Reason in support of this
proposition. And am ready 10 aVo", before
his Senate and before the country, that, In my
;nJ,ment the argument of the Senator is his
itorieally and logically. absolutely impregnable.
Now sir. before gentlemen undertake to
,harce us with treason, let them answer the
orgnment Until they do that let them re-
member that the supporters of the Fugitive
Slave Act are ut least as obnoxious to the
charge of treason as its opponents.
Something has been said in censure of the
Senator for having spoken at all, to-day upon
This subject. We are told that the session APP
nroaches it's close. and that business presses. |
do nor undertake to interpret the Senator's
motives. But | know, and you know. that
weeks ago. he asked the Senate to consider a
resolution which he had laid upon your table,
that he might have an opportunity of submit
TING the views which he has now delivered with
90 much eloouence and power. Then, sir, we
wore not messed with business. Then, we adj
;onrned over Saturdays. And yet the Senate,
nnon the yeas and nays refused his request.
D,r;nc the three sessions | have occupied a
soot in this Chamber never before knew the
courtesy of hearing refused to Senator I'M
der similar circumstances.
The PRrsIprNr. think the honorable gen.
tIeman is mistaken
MIR. CHASE. The Chair corrects me. only
state my own recollection. If there is an in
stance of such refusal, should like to hear it
named Certainly, within the last few days,
when the Senator from New York expressed a
wish to be heard ON the resolution relating to
the Fisheries. and some indispssition was mani
tested to the postponement of the debate for
his convenience more than one gentleman re-
marke that to give Senator a hearing on a
subject on which he deemed it his duty to ad-
dress the Senate, was a courtesy never refused
here.
Well sir when the Senator from Massachu-
sets was thus refused hearing what option
was left to him! His sense of public duty and
personal obligation required him to declare his
views on the great subject he has discussed be-
fore the close of this session You denied him
a convenient opportunity: that denial COM
PEELED him to avail himself of an incOnvenient
opportunity You refused an ordinary cour-
tesy of the Senate that refusal constrained
him to avail himself of his right as Senator.
rejoice that he has done so. The country
will hear and Judge. Let those who condemn
the speech answer its logic and falsify its his
tory # they can.
While | do not pretend to interpret the mo-
tives of the Senator, there is one consideration
which, can readily imagine, may have had nc
little weight with him. His speech will be re-
ceiyed as an emphatic protest against that sla-
wish doctrine of fnality in legislation which
two of the great political Conventions, recently
held have joined in forcing upon the country
It is novel doctrine in this country that AN
act of Congress not in itself contract is in
capable of repeal or essential modification. 1t
utterly repugnant to the principles of the
Democratic faith, and to the spirit of the Amer
lean people. No act of Congress, with the ex-
ception have just named is irrepealable. No
act Of Congress is beyond the Judgment and
reach OF the people, who make Representatives,
and Scnatos and Presidents.
This attempt to exalt this Fugitive Slave Act
no paonla will aho do M
know when the hour for its repeal will arrive
but you may rely upon it, it will come. | be-
heve indeed, that the time is not very distant
when the People of this country will become
satisfied that Congress has no power to legis-
late on this subject; and, while recognising
and fulfilling. in it's whole extent every obliga.
ton which the Constitution really imposes will
sweep this law from the statute book, as an
usurpatlon of undelegated power
Let me add, MIR. President, that in my judg
ment the speech of my friend from Massachu
setts urH mark an era IA american historu. II
will distinguish the day when the advocates OF
that theory OF governmental policy and consti-
tuhonal construction, which he has so ably de-
tended and so brilliantly illustrated no longer
content to stand on the defensive in the contest
with slavery, boldly attacked the very citadel
o. ITS power IN that doctrine of inalty which
TWO OF the great political parties of the coun-
Try through their national organizations are
tndeavorng to establish as the impregnable
defence OF It's usurpations.
Let me say further-and | will trespass no
longer upon the indulgence of the Senate
mat IN my judgment, the country will find re-
P''e from the slavery agitation when Congress
snail cease to legisate on the subject Of sla-
very
Mr. Downs All that we want now is peace
Mr. CHASE. May you have it, and that
leed'ly But allow me to say that there can
ee no peace until the Congress of the United
r returning to the original policy of the
ounucrs OF the Republic, and disclaiming all
Jp''suGuoh over slavery shall maintain free
o Io"i Wherever the national jurisdiction is ex
''",''e ana leave the whole subject of slavery
""u tIe eXtraditlon of slaves to the States. te
oe disposed OF according TO their own sense OF
,ho ' VI eo'u iaith' and sound policy Their
question 81 slavery will be Withdrawn from
lion 'hese Halls, and will cease to yex on,
.pu'lrli' and embarrass our legislation Their
Wv government OF the Union confirming its re-
sardS 10 those great matters of forei9n anc
q'Hesuc policy which the Constitution ba,
,oln1ed to IT. will cease to cncroach upon tn,
l'sh,S 81 The States and the liberties of in
nIuIal'' Then we shall have peace Then
,"G agitation will subside, and harmony
r." ue restored. look for that time. | be
VIII come; and | know of no object
,r II'mGr OF the best efforts of patriots, or t.
tb a'n l am more willing to devote mine, than
'"'' u fastening its coming