Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-05
S sss"s1 Congress, s ".s;1
Free Discussion Denied.
WEDNESDAY,, July %.

w ~
In the Senate, Mr.. Phelps reported bacl
the House bill granting right of way to al
railroads, plank roads, &c, through th'
public lands, which was taken up the thlrt
time, and passed.
Mr. Dodge reported back the House bill
to establish additional land districts il
Wisconsin-taken up and passed.
Mr.. Davis introduced a joint resolution
explanatory Of the act amending the appro
prlatlon and the appointment oflhe Census
Act, being to prevent Mr.. Kennedy, the
Superintendent of the Census. from draw,
ing S3UOU year as a Secretary of the
Census of the Bureau, and $4,000 as Su-
perintendent of tbs Census, the first office
being terminated when the second was es-
labIished. 1t was taken up and ordered to
be engrossed
Mr. Sumner moved to take up the resolu.
ton offered by him directing inquiry as to
the expediency of reporting a bill for the
repeal of the fugitive slave law. He said L.
In asking the senate to take up this reso-
luton for consideration, l say nothing of
its merits nor the argument by which it
may be maintained; nor do | anticipate
any objection to it on those grounds; all
this will properly belong to the discussion
when the resolution is before the Senate
The single question now is. not on the res
oIuton, but whether | shall be heard on
1t. AS Senator, under TIE responsible
ties of my position, | have deemed it my
untU IN nEaP The roo,l,1;,n I
to have postponed this duty to an inconven-
lent period of the session. but had | at
tempted it at an earlier day, | might have
exposed myself to charge of a different
character. 1t might have been said that,
newcomer and inexperienced in this
sense, without dellberation, hastily, rashly,
recklessly, | pushed this question before
the country. This is not the case now
have taken time, and in the exercise of nv
most careful discretion, | now ask for it the
attention of the Senate. | shrink from
any appeal founded in a trivial personal
consideration; but should | be blamed for
amy delay, latterly, may add, that, though
IN my seat daily, my bodily health for some
time past, down to this very week. has not
been equal to the service have undertaken.
am not sure that it is, now but desire
to try, and now again say the question is
simply whether | shall be heard.
In allowing me this privilege, might say
you do not commit yourselves III any way
to the principles Of the resolution, but you
merely follow the ordinary usages of the
Senate, and yield to a brother Senator the
opportunity which he Graves in the practi-
cal discharge of his duty, and to express
conVlcllo:s dear to his heart, and dear to
large number of his constituency. For
my own sake, now desire TO be heard II
Make such disposition of my resolution az |
forwards as TO you seem best; visit upon
me any degree Of criticism, censure or
shame, but do not deprive me Of hearing.
" Strike, but hear"
Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, (author of the
Fugitive Slave biD objected to the con-
sideration Of the resolution at this time,
not from any want of courtesy to the Sena
tor, nor from any want of disposition to
meet this question at the proper time; but
it must be manifest at this late period of
the session no proper discussion of it could
be had beyond the remarks which the SEN
ator might make, aud because The discuss.
ion of it at this time would be a firebrand
in the Senate.
Mr.. Brooke, o! Mississippi, said bis State
occupied peculiar position on this subject
The people of Mississippi had in the most
formal and emphatic manner, declared any
repeal or essential modification of the Fugi.
tive Slave law would afford sufficient
grounds for the dissolution of the Union.
This was no idle threat, but a solemn dec
aration, which will be carried into oxecu.
lion with the approval OF the whole South.
lie regarded the present proposition, there
lore, as one to dissolve the Union, and he
could not consent, courtesy or no courtesy,
. entertain 1t at this stage Of the session.
The South would regard the repeal of that