Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-02


81 Mason 81 VsaiaiA IN a reOeo, speech 10 he U.
SAFES SsaSts, "istasj his position" apon heSom
Fsemise sgss iAe following manner;
AaVe hashsd wat aNd 10 say on this poiu, but
a. aS wash u ,sse spN sea,wuheat saving legwords
sHea the Restitution new eesofs the Sena,e Nhsi
shS sSV mas Ns tESt tom reluctance 10 6ehin the
Senate, - well So iyeM NV present condior for !
az gacsyaaasSy - besysc that can scarcely speak
81 sll
1ee teselelop which u now hatcre the Scnse Is of
caSsSeior waicA does net IN say form, address IL
Ss,t te lNY SgpcoNs,iea. Lean no reason Tor it,
aud no oceSsoa leg u. As | undeislsnd it, il
declares hat II The opinion OF this Aody, the
rleASaucS Clgsd s1eGld be considered as urminsting
SltQeSs1ons arising cut ct the institution Of slavery
Now, ! am no, aware that Their is auy State.iu
tbs Union. except the Stale SoulA Carolina
winch continues 10 protest against them. am not
aware Of OF the Southern Stars except the State
q South Carolina, which has rot declared, in the
most emphatic manner 10 the majority ia this govern
ment. 1t you will stop there, ard execute in good
iah the law for the reclamation fugitive slaves we
will acquiesce in what has been due That being tho
condition OF the country, can Sc no reasou-no pro-
plleiy-ln further interference win the subject by the
Congress OF the United States. AS 10 the measures
themSelvss-the law tor the aduSsou of The State OF
California into The Union the lw for the abolition OF
what Is called the slave trade inhe District of Coum.
hia, the law Tor the dismembeftent OF Texas have
no change OF opinion 10 annunce-no painode 10
sing. | opposed them upon thi floor BY my voice and
/ by my votes; aud when theypsssed, united with
pAet IN ASuitnO pfotst against them. re-
tract nothing OF what then sad; my opinions of them
! remained unchanged. But ths have passed TO the
statute book; they constitute OF the law e the
! land. | have never counSeie, and never shall couns
sell my people 10 further resStSce of these
| laws. 1t they are allowed 10 eman as ihey are, and
| are efficiently executed, there's purpose desire
on the part OF The people OF mJ State disturb them
| daidiy and unlusty we hae, IN our opinion, been
deali with by their enactment
Such being the general eelig in thoae States most
seriously affected by thsse measures, where is the
Nshe
the subjects they disposed Oh AS 10 the fugitive
save law, do not entirely asre with the honorable
senator from South Carolina Mr.. Butlerl 10 the
practical ehect OF that law. am not aware (uuess
Ii be IN the frSt instance with occurred Bosten)
OF any instance where the offers Of the federal gov
eminent. in the execson ct hat law, have failed 10
90 their duty. am aware tina, notwithstanding what
really beeve 10 have been the lair and honest pur-
pose of those officers TO execute the laws in two
States at least It has been efctually resisted. re-
Ter 10 the cases In Lancasie county, Pennsylvania,
and Syracuse, New York What was there done, is
now the subject of judicial Investigations: and am
content TO wait the result OF nat Investigation before
torn opinion whether il or is not the intention
of those States 10 have the Law enforced
So far the law has done pod 1t has awakened
public attention to the necessity of having its provi-
sioHs carried fully into execution. 1t has attracted
around ii the patriotic feeling of large and intelli-
gent portion of the people inthose States The sub
Feet is yet pending. and an not prepared to pro-
nounce judgment upon the-esult. trust that am
not topping against hope, WIN say that believe 10
time, and in good time, the snment OF the people of
those States, Will be TtgsncTtte on this subject They
viii find that ii carries with portion of their con-
sttutional duty; and they VII find, also that it car
ries with the safety OF the Union Ii has been placed
upon that distinct issue by almost all the southern
States, and among others by the State of Virginia
and do not despair OF that law yet doing its Office eff
tectnay
Then as to this resolution further. had under
stood from gentlemen who voted for those measures
compromise, that they 10 be received by the
country the great tranqeilizng measures of peace
TO end the diseord and i-feeling VII oh always at
tend the aeitanon OF the subject OF slavery de-
hberatlons object TO this resolution, because it is
pot the usual and proper mode OF legislative action
Our functions are to express the legislative will of the
country. through the forms of law, and rlder the
sanctions ct law. The resolution the table has no
sancton-none whatever. II is otficous and for
whatever end Introduced, its effect must be rather 10
renew agitation than to quiet it.
We all aware that while these questions were
pending the safety OF this Union most seriously
endangered: but. in the language of Mr.. Jefferson, !
had hoped and believed that the bow which threat
ened US had passed under the ship. The public mind
has become 10 some extent tranquiized The people
of the Southern States who felt themselves aggrieyed
By it, ii not recoaced, disposed to acqliesce and
such condition of things, submit to what useful
end should the subject be further agiated here a.
Sir, did not sympathZe in the slightest degree with
what fe from the honorable Senato from South Ca.
roltna Mr.. Rhett who addressed us Yesterday and
the day before when he declared bimse for dsnnon
There is State which made greater sacrifices to
obtain this Union than the State which have the
honor in part TO represent. She has made another
great sacrifice TO preserve it. by her acqulescence in
the measures which are referred to in this resolution
The transactions OF the past Congress- far as they
may AFFECT the Institution OF slavery, are with her
ginla does not seek dsunion. None can look with
greater horror than do her people upon dsunion for
disunlons sake. But the Union which they cherish
must continue a Union under the constitution. A
Union by force, or Union which lie forms of the
compact are alone regarded whilst the rights of the
minority are violated, her past history shows she will
be the first 10 repudiae and 10 disown