The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-02


The Civil aud Diplomatic Appropriation Bill be
a., under consideration, the following amendment
o,ss moved by the Committee on Finance:
=. That where the ministerial officers OF the United
States have or shall incur extraordinary expenses 10
ao,;rg the laws thereof the payment of which is
- snoc;6caIlv provided for, the President OF the
T;,a1 states is authorized to allow the payment
thereof under the special taxation OF the district or
rut court Of the district in which the said services
have been or shall be rendered TO be PAID from tne
nronriaton for dofraying the expenses of the judi
eiary.
Mr. SUMNER moved the following amendment to
the amendment;
Pyori}e1, That no such allowance shall be
tborzcd for any expenses incurred in executing the
net of September 49, 1850, for the surrender of fugi
tiyes from service labor which said act is hereby
repealed
On this he took the floor, and spoke as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT Here is provision for ex-
traordinary expenses incurred in executing the
laws of the United States Extraordinary ex-
penses Sir, beneath these specious words
turks the very subject on which, by solemn
vote of this body, was refused hearing
Here it is no longer open to the charge of
being an abstraction" but actually presented
for practical legislation not introduced by me,
but by one of the important committees of the
Senate not brought forward weeks ago, when
there was ample time for discussion, but only
at this moment without any reference to the
late neriud of the session. The amendment.
which now offer, proposes to remove one chief
occasion of these extraordinary expenses
And now. at last among these final crowded
DAVIS of our duties here, but ut this earliest OPP
noTtunity, am to be heard; not as favor,
hut as a right The graceful usages of this
body NAV be abandoned, but the established
privileges of debate cannot be abridged. Par
famentary courtesy may be forgotten, but Par
lamentary law must prevail The subject is
broadly before the Senate. By the blessing Of
God, it shall be discussed
Sir. q severe lawgver of early Greece vainly
sought to secure permanence for his imperfect
institutions, by providing that the citizen who
at any time, attempted an alteration OF repeal
of any part thereof should appear in the pub
lie assembly with n halter about his neck,
ready to be drawn if his proposition failed to
be adopted. A tyrannical spirit among us, in
unconscious imitation of this antique and dis
carded barbarism, seeks to surround an often
sive institution with similar safeguard. In the
existing distemper of the public mind and at
this present juncture, mar can enter upon
the service which now undertake, without
personal responsibility, such rs can be sus-
tanned only by that sense of duty which, under
God, is always our best support That per-
sonal responsibility accept. Before the SEN
ate and the country let me be held accountable
Tor this act and for every word which utter
With me, sir, there is no alternative Pain
fully convinced of the unutterable wrongs and
woes Of slavery profoundly believing that. &C
cOrding to the true spirit of the Constitution
and the sentiments of the fathers, it can find
no place under our National Government
II Is in every respect sectional and in no respect
adtlOndt-that it is always and everywhere the
creature and dependent of the States and never
anywhere the creature or dependent of the
Nation, and that the Nation can never. by legis-
latye or other act impart to it any support
under the Constitution of the United States
with these convictions, | could not allow this
session to reach its close, without making or
selzng an opportunity to declare myself openly
against the usurpation, injustice, and cruelty,
Oh the late enactment by Congress for the re-
coyery of fugitive slaves. Full well | know,
ST. the difficulties of this discussion, arising
from prcudices of opinion and from adverse
conclusions, strong and sincere as my own.
I'LL well know that am in a small minori-
w. with few here to whom may look for SYM
patty Or support Full well | know that |
must utter things unwelcome to many in this
BODY which | cannot do without pain. Full
well know that the institution of slavery in
our country, which now proceed to consider,
as sensitive as it is pOwerful-possessing a
power 10 shake the whole land with sensitive
ue' 'nat shrlnks and trembles at the touch.
n"S y "nle these things may properly prompt
,a,, "a caution and reserve, they cannot change
F9r t ~ Or my determination to perform it.
sonoi I",o Wi'lingly forget myself and all per-
IS ~, Consequences , The favor and goOd-wi
Say ieiio"-citzens, of my brethren of the
~ grateful to me as it Justly isl am
'oauy' Il required, to sacrifice. AN that I am
vi may DC, freely offer to this cause
=. anu mere allow me, for one moment, TO refer
S " nySen ana my position Sir | have never
o osu" politician. The slave of principles
ai no party master. By sentiment, edu-
Dun Dull ana convection, friend of Human
"s"'s' ia their utmost expansion, / have
Her most sincerely embraced the Democrat
" Idea; not indeed, as represented or pro-
Gssed by any party, but according to its real
%gnhcance, as TRANSPORTED in the Declaration
VI ", Independence and in the injunctions of
Onrlstanity In this Idea saw no narrow ad-
,an'ages merely for individuals or classes, but
ble sovereignty Of the people and the greatest
happiness OF all secured by equal laws. Amidst
we NcsSltudes Of public affairs, trust always
" hold fast to this Idea, and to any political
parry which truly embraces it.
i"rty does not constrain me: nor il nv in
ospehdence lessened by any relations to the
Az Az winch gives me title TO be heard on this
nv IT,. And here, sir, may speak proudly By
Vcuort by no desire of nv own. find myself
senator of the United States. Never before
1o ! held public Office Of any kind With
caO, ample opportunities of private life | was
S rent No tombstone for me could bear u
va inscription than this Here lies one who,
ss, aout The honors or emoluments of public
P,u' did something for his fellow man.
bv nj, % such simple aspirations was taken away
and u" e Tree choice of my native Commonwealth,
VII, paced in this responsible post of duty
yonS Womb, personal obligation of any kind, be-
ed VIVA N9at was implied in my life and publish
deDeeo 'T The earnest friends, by whose conf
from was first designated, asked nothing
which me and, throughout the long conflict
Ston enaed in my election, rejoiced in the po-
my Ian "nich most carefully guarded To all
tba was uniform, that did not desire
u prorn ought forward; that would do nothing
promisas the result; that had no pledges or
he. AMI /" Offer that the Office should seek
he in ali "o' the office and that it should find
% no aspects an independent man, bound
accord; and to no human being, but only,
good oS 70 my best Judgment, to act for the
both Co. al. again, sir, | speak with pride.
heSe ~ myself and others, when | add that
10 this walls found a sympathixng response
sn;,;.sS spirit ! have come 49,