Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-08-07
United States Senate,
wAsnrSeroN, July %, 1852.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.


to the expediency Of reporting bill for the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law
Mr.. Sumner ssid--In asking the Senate to take
up this resolution for consideration, say moth
ing of its merits, nor of the argument by which
II may be maintained, nor do 1 anticipate any
objections to it on these grounds. All this will
properly belong to the discussion when tho
resolution is before the Senate, The single
question now is, not on the resolution, but
whether l shall be heard on it. As a Senator,
under the responsibilities of my position, l have
deemed It my duty to offer this resolution. l
may have seemed to have postponed this duty
to an inconvcniont period Of the sessions but
had l attempted it at an earlier day, might
have exposed myself to a charge of different
character. 1t might have been said, that as a
new conner, and inexperienced in this scene,
without deliberation hastily, rashly, rccklessly,
pushed this question before the country
This is not the case now; l have taken time,
and in the exercise Of my most careful discrt-
ton, and now ask for it the attention of tho
Senate, shrink from no appeal founded on a
trivial personal consideration. But should l Lo
L
though in my scat daily, my bodily health for
some time past, down TO this very week, has
not been equal to tho service l have undorta-
ken. l am not sure that it is now, but desire
to try, and now again l sny the question is
whether shall be heard In allowing me this
privilege, this right, 1 might say, you do not
commit yourselves in any way to the principles
1f .1..tsa l,,N
ordinary usages of the Senate, and yield to a
brother senator the opportunity which he Graves
in tho practical discharge of his duty, to OK
press convictions dear to his heart, and dear to
largo number of his constituent. For my
own sake, now desire to be heard. Make
such disposition of my resolution afterwards
as to you may seem best, visit upon mo any
degree of criticism, censurc or displeasurc, but
do not deprive me of hearing. Strike, but
hear.
Mr.. Mason objected to the consideration Of
tho bill at this time, not from any want of
courtesy to the Senator, nor for any want Of
disposition to meet the question at proper
time; but it might be manifest at this late pc
Rod Of the session. that no proper discussion of
it could be had, beyond the remarks which the
Senator might make, and because any discus
sion Of il at this time would be firebrand in |
in the Senate.
Mr.. Brooks said his State occupied a peculi-
ar position on this snbjcot. The people of
Mississippi had in the most formal and en-
phatic manner, declared that the repeal or cs-
scntial modification Of the fugitive slave law, |
would afford sufficient grounds for the dissoiu-
ton of the Union. This was no idle threat,
but solemn declaration, which will bo carried
into execution with tho approval of the whole
South. He regarded the present proposition,
therefore, as one to dissolve the Union, and he
could not consent courtesy or no courtesy, to
entertain it at this stage of the session. Tho
South would regard tho repeal Of that law as an
act Of bad faith or as one showing that no faith
was to he reposed in the North, and that I'm.
ion with such people was worse than no I'm
ion at all.
Mr.. Charlton was very sorry TO differ again
with the Senator from Massachusetts, on
question of courtesy. The resolution presents
a question to rend this Union in pieces. His
state was pledged that in case this law was re-
pcaled it would wittdr from tho Union and
all her citizens would stand by that pledge
The tables Of both houses were now covered
with bills necessary to bc acted on, to carry on
the machinery Of the government, and let the
Senator look little beyond his own coast and
he will see the American flag not, perhaps trail
ing in the dust, but at half mast, and American
vessels and crews under the guard of British
~ al
TO man to stand by our brethren of the North,
and maintain them, come what may, in their
rights. The South was well aware Of what its
coast and people would suffer from war but
thoy thought not of that, when the rights OF
any portion Of the American PEOPLE were in
jeopardy. He defined his position as a Union
democrat, and avowcd his determination to
preserve tho compromise intact If this law
be abolished, then he would say, "My native
land, good night" Arguments would be ex-
haustcd and the South must rest on her arms.
Mr.. Shields said he would vote against the
resolution when 1t came up. lie thought it
presented an abstract question, and was sorry
that the time of the Senate, at this late day,
should be taken up in its consideration, but
the immediate question was for hearing the
Senator. He would hear any Senator on any
subject. lie would vote against any PROPOSE
ton to repeal or amend the Fugitive Slave law,
except to make its provisions stronger but he
would like to hear the Senator make an expose
Of tho position to bo assumed by the third par
" In the coming election. lie suggested that
the subject be postponed to Saturday. lie had
no fears that any speech made by tho Senator
would ever dissolve the Union.