The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
SPEECH
Mr.. C. F. CLEVELAND. OF CONNECTICUT,

hh " l. OAAL fLllhANDs vi L,
In the House of Representative, April !, 1852.
The bill to encourage agriculture commerce,
manufactures and all other branches Of indus
try, by granting to every man who is the head
of family and citizen of the United States.
"A homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of
land out of the public domain, upon condition
OF occupancy and cultivation of the same for
the period therein specified being under con-
slderaton in the Committee Of the Whole after
several observations in support of the bill, Mr..
CLEVELAND said
Passing from that topic, wish TO say few
words about another matter | allude to the
resolution which is on your table, endorsing
the Fugitive Slave Law, introduced by the gen
tleman from Georgia, MIR. Jackson, which he
promised the public in speech delivered here,
and copy of which has been sent to my desk,
he never would vote for, either in caucuses of
the members Of the House, or in the House
itself He says that distinctly in his speech, il
have read it Alright, for did not hear it de-
livered
But sir my honorable friend from Georgia,
no doubt from the purest and most patriotic
motives, for | believe him actuated by none
other, has changed his mind in relation to this
matter He now thinks it expedent to have
this resolution offered and what object is to
be gained by its PASSAGE Is it to stop agita-
ton! Truly, most singular plan, this, to re-
yye all the bitterness and acrimony OF the past
two sessions, IN order finally to quiet it Why,
sir, with all due respect to the honorable gen
tleman from Georgia, Mr. Jackson, who Of
Tered 1t, and to those gentlemen who are anx-
ioas for its introduction into this House, say
that should it pass, it will fasten q mark of
hat, ~ Al
| ask, Is 1t the part of wisdom to pass a law
and after that law is not only in actual opera
ton, but no efforts made for its repeal, to allow
Il resolution to be introduced by certain ind
viduals into this House, re-endcting that law
merely for the purpose of reading somebody
else out of the Democratic party, and reading
themselves in, thereby changing their presen
respective positions Are we to be made tn,
tools Of these men, by thus re-endorsing tn
T law we ourselves have madet Let it be done
and | tell gentlemen it will stand as mari
Of folly against this Congress 80 long as mel
continue to meet in Legislative bodies.
Mr.. JACKSON. VIII the gentleman allow m
to interrupt him for a momentt
Mr. CLEVELAND. Certainly but ask tn
gentleman to be as short as possible
Mr.. JACKSON. The gentleman charges IN
with inconsistency, first, for introducing res
Olution after had a few days before voted b
lay similar resolution on the table in tn
Democratic caucus, at the opening of the pres
| ent session and second, because | had stated
as my reason for having done 80, that was
opposed to introducing the subject of slavery
either into the Democratic caucus or into Con
gress. | was opposed to it, and | did not in.
troduce my proposition for declaration of the
fnality of the Compromise measures until
speeches had been delivered upon the floor by
ut least the two gentlemen from Ohio, Messrs
Giddings and Campbell, and the gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr. Rantoul in open
hostility to the Fugitive Slave Law; when that
was done, ! considered it time for such Il reso
luton to be introduced.
Mr.. CLEVELAND. ! have no doubt of the
honorable motives which actuated the gentle
man from Georgia ] have been with hin
for three sessions nearly, and freely say that
] have seen no act, | have heard no word
nothing upon his part which indicates in the
| slightest degree that he is not in every respect
worthy of the position he now occupies upon
this floor. know that he is above everything
like trick or management Everything is
fair and open to the light Of day and the ex-
animation of the world. But, nevertheless, per
NIT me to say that from the reasons given by
the gentleman from Georgia, am surprised
that he should have been brought to such IA
result for the same facts precisely have ope-
rated upon my mind, and certainly have not
come to a similar conclusion. ] ask gentle
men to look for moment ut the manifest
improperly of the thing Look at the ridicu-
1Ous position in which we shall be placed by
the passage of such n resolution. Am to be
driven into such an act of folly because other
people act improperly No, sir; wherever !
stand, | intend it shall be upon my own posi-
tion and not upon that of somebody else
But il no objections existed to this resolution
upon the ground Of proprety have another
which would eaectually prevent me from Civ
ing it my assent. 1t proposes to endorse the
infamous Fugitive Slave Law, purely Wing
measure and that it is such will demon
strate 80 that no man upon this floor can de-
nyit.
Mr. JACKSON. VIII the gentleman allow
me to ask him another question
Mr. CLEVELAND have no time to spare,
but will accommodate the gentleman
Mr.. JACKSON. The gentleman says that it
il purely Wing measure. Now, I want 10
know whether the gentleman has reference to
my resolution or to the Fugitive Slave Law?
MIR. CLEVELAND, Oh the Fugitive Slave
Law, certainly did not mean, when speak
ing of the conduct of the Wings to reflect upon
the gentleman's resolution.
MY Wing friends around me seem delighted
that should give them the credit Of this meas
ure, which il ~ obnoxious TO right-minded men,
because of its inhumanty and wanton violation
Of the rights Of the citizen, particularly AZ il
denies 10 the person claimed AZ fugitive from
labor the right of trial by jury in the State
xpbara arrasfnJ What nhianti.,, IL ia. 10
this right The insulting one that the men
who fill our jury boxes in the free States are
base enough to commit the crime Of perjury,
and fail TO render verdict in accordance with
the testimony, in order to screen the fugitive,
and thus deprive the master Of his services
And yet the assertion in made with the great
est GOODNESS, for selfish and party purposes, that
this law is popular with the people }, and men
are additionally insulted by the request that
they will vote for the elevation Of the very men
who entertain such opinions Of their integrity
as law-abidng citizens. ! tell you, gentlemen,
you will live TO zee the day, or, IL you do not
your sons will, when the very mention Of this
as your measure will cause u blush of shame,
10 think that you should have been guilty Of
such consummate folly and want Of principle
J regret 10 see that our outside friends from
the South had not little more Of nerve, and
little less INDIGESTION, in resisting these acts Of
the last Congress---in resisting that assumption
of power upon the part Of Congress. In my
opinion, the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law
was precisely such u stretch OF power in prin-
cipIe M was the passage of the alien and sedi-
ton laws upon the part OF the Congress passing
them
| tell Democrats who are 40 anxious 10 con-
meet their names with the support OF the slave
law OF the last Congress, that the power 1t
places in the hands Of the Executive is an hun
dred fold more dangerous 10 the liberties Of the
citizen than the alien and sedition laws, which
made the administration Of the elder Adams 70