The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20
NO. 2Sl.

this Government.
Do gentlemen see no danger in all this
And especially do Democrats who are Jealous
of the power of the Executive see no danger
to our republican institutions in these acts
What il now done under this law to aid and
support shareholders by the present Executive
may establish a precedent, by virtue Of which
some other not quite 80 friendly may WELD this
new power against them, and it may be against
the rights of the States Thanks to an inteli-
gent and patriotic jury, the Executive and his
subordinates were foiled in their purpose and
we have not yet to record this principle upon
our system Of Jurisprudence.
Mr.. FLoRENcE. VIII the gentleman permit
me to make single explanation am sure
the position | occupied in the Christiana trials
entities me 10 it ! was foreman Of the grand
jury that brought in the bills TO which the
gentleman allsdes in this treason case
Mr.. CLEVELAND. | am sorry to hear it,
NJ. FLORENCE. VIII the gentleman allow
me to ask him whether he ever read the test-
mony in this case Or the charge of the dis
trict Judge!
MIR. CLEVELAND. Yes, both and acquit
the grand jury. But if had jurisdiction over
the judge, would not acqut him. | viii ex-
cuse the gentleman Mr.. Florence for what he
did, because he placed confidence in the Judge
who charged the jury.
Mr.. FLORENCE | thought the gentleman
had not read the testimony, or he would not
have arrived at such conclusions However, !
suppose we in Pennsylvania are not as intelli-
gent as they are in Connecticut Laughter.
Mr.. CLEVELAND | entertain all due respect
for Pennsylvania Indeed, | have sometimes
SO far forgot myself as to say she was the only
slave State north of Mason and Dixon's line,
daughter, but will take that back There
Is no doubt of Pennsylvania intelligence and
loyalty; but loyalty to whatl To the princi-
pies OF humanity, or to party There are diff
terent species of loyalty-to God, to your fell
bowman, and even to the Devil, renewed
laughter
A MEMBER. And loyalty to Locofocoism
: Mr.. CLEVELAND. Yes, and loyalty sorry
am | to say, to Whigism too But, Mr. Chair
man, promised to show that this Fugitive Slave
Law was purely of Wing origin. These Com
! promises grew out of Mr. CLAWS eight resolu-
t tons which he introduced without consultation
Q with any one and who will say that that MIR
Q CLAY was anything but a Wing? | have great
, respect for the old gentleman give him all
credit tor purity of motive still il is known that
n when these resolutions were first introduced,
they were opposed by Mr. Foote, and other
o gentlemen, most violently They were carried
along, however, until the current changed
@ Then Mr.. Foote advocated them, and ultimate
ly moved the appointment of the committee of
@ thirteen. Mr.. CLAY was at the head of that
= committee, and drew up the compromise reso-
0 lutions and the report. When that report, with
g the resolutions was published General Tay-
lor, who said good many cOmical things, and
once, at Buena Vista, did n comical one, said
J away with your omnibus bills; will set my
face as flint against the whole of them
Then there was trouble. | we'll remember the
expression on the faces of some parties when
Daniel Webster whispered in the ear of Henry
Clay that the old man was dying. need not,
however, state what it was
MIR. WHITE, of Alabama. desire that the
gentleman will inform us what indications he
saw in the face of Daniel Webster, at the time
to which he alludes
Mr.. CLEVELAND. | will tell the gentleman
IL did not look much like attending funeral
Laughter | do not complain OF this do
not say there was even anything remarkable
or improper, in it, | merely state what saw ;
and when Daniel Webster delivered his eulogy
upon the Generals life and character, he said
in substance, that if the country was saved,
even by the death of such man AZ Zachary
Taylor, we might we'll rejoice The gentleman
can read the book, and | will send him one if
he has not seen it. He can there Judge for
himself whether have misstated the idea con-
veyed
Why, Mr.. Chairman, at that time there was
no more chance of the passage OF this omni-
bus bill, or the Fugitive Slave Law, than that
| you, MIR. Chairman, or the next best man,
will be translated to Heaven for holiness
Great laughter
Rut | hay auhn baI al
the plan Mr. Webster, for reasons best known
to himself, had made his eth of March speech
General Taylor died. and Mr.. Fillmore took
command Of the ship of State, discharged the
old and shipped new crew. with MIR Web
ster r. first officer, hoisted the Compromise
flag and started on his Southern cruise What
motive governed Mr. Fillmore in this entire
change of the policy Of the Administration
whether it was love of slavery and power, or
hatred Of his rival Governor Seward | am not
able to say; and believe the country is equal
y uncnlightened on this subject Gen. Scott
was by Mr. Fillmore placed temporarily at the
head OF the War Department and in that po-
siton, coupled with his great military fame,
was able to, and did, exert a powerful infu-
ence in favor OF these Compromise measures.
Here then, is every man whose name has been
mentioned or is likely to be mentioned, as
candidate for the Presidency on the Wing side,
viz Clay, Webster, Fillmore, and Scott, all
exerting themselves to the utmost in pushing
through this series of measures, the Slave Law
Included And what was the position of these
distinguished Wings One was at the head
Of the Government another in command of
the army and the other two, lone living in
slave, the other in free State the most dis
tinguished men Of their party, and perhaps of
the nation. Now, let us zee what Democrats,
who are at all prominent, aided those Wings
in the Slave Bill. Two only were active and
exerted any considerable inhnence-Governor
Foote, ia the Senate and Speaker Cobb, in the
House. And what became of themi Both
threw themselves into the arms Of the Wings
in their respective States, and both are now
Governors Of those States by virtue Of Wing
votes, and both have been here this winter, OK
ertng themselves TO obtain the passage of
these resolutions affirming the Compromise, TO
relieve them from their present dilemma. Did
the distinguished Senator from Illinois vote for
this Slave Law No. Why Because Dem
ocratic Legislature instructed him otherwise.
Governor Cas-, one of the most distinguished
men of the nation and Of his party, did not
record his vote in favor Of this Federal bant-
ling. Nor, in fact did any Democrat, whose
position was one Of mark, except those who
have since formed a coalition with the Wings
In view of these facts, who will say that this
Fugitive Slave Law was not Of Wing or Fed
eral, origin
When Mr.. Fillmore got into the White
House, the first business was TO pacify the
country. There had been q great deal of re-
mark because the House did not elect Speak
or for the first three weeks Of the session and
the prevalent impression seemed to be, that
the Free Sellers were about to overturn the
world, because they were in favor Of keeping
the territory which You had acquired from