The daily union., 1852-10-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1852.
[ls coETiEuArIos,l
SENATE.

THURSDAY. AUGUST 20, 1852.
[Is coETiEUArIosl
SENATE.
the FUGITIVE SLAVE Law
Mr. HALE Mr.. President, did no, intend 10 have
said anything aud shall occupy the attention OF
the Senate bat very lew moments Bat ieel iha,
should be doing injustice to my feelings, and inus-
tce 10 nv friend. the senator from Massach usetts MIR
SunsEn. who has addressed the Senate today, were
10 fail this time TO express the very great qualification
with which listened 10 his speech In saying that do
no, mean TO pass by entirely the honorable senator from
North Carolina, Mr. BApcrRl Tor listened 10 him, as
always do, with great pleasures but justice compcs me
10 say that thought that by far the best part OF his
speech were the extracts which he read from former
speech al the honorable senator from Massachusetts.
Iaughierl listened to them both with grea, pleasure;
hat sir ee bound to say oday that Is my deliberate
conviction thai the honorable senator from Massachu
sst,s II he were actuaed by corrupt and selfish mo-
lives as could possibly be attributed TO him. has, so lar
his own personal fame and reputation are concerned,
done enough by the effort he has made here to-day
place himself side by side with the first orators Of anti
auiiy and as far ahead Of any living American orator
sip al The tongue, Mr.. President, but true under
the administration OF this government 1t is but too
true when applied 10 the politics OF this couniyiteraly
true But Tor the purpose OF doing justice to my own
feelings will now say what but for slip OF the tongue
would have said beforeas freedom is ahead Of slavery
believe that he has formed 10 day new era in the his
tory OF the politics and OF the eoQuence OF the country,
and that in future generations the young men OF this ma
ton will be stimulated to effort by the record OF what
American senator has this day done, 10 which all the ap
peas drawn from ancient history would be entirely in
adequate Yes SIR he has to. day made daueh upon the
gratitude ot the friends OF humanity and OF liberty that
will not be paid through many generations, and the
memory OF which shall endure as long as the English
language spoken the history OF this republic iorms
pari Of the annals OF the world That. sir, is what be-
ieve; and if had one other feeling could indulge in
il in reference 10 thatefor would be feeling Of envy
thai was in 10 tread al humble distance
in the path which he has so noby aii eloquenlly illus
uaied
MI DOUGLAS. Mr. President, will no, protract this
debate. have no comments to make upon the speeches
which have been made The arguments against the fu
gtive slave law, when examined closely are arguments
agans, the constitution Of country, and not against
the provisions of the law which has been passed for the
purpose Of carrying that constitution into effect All
that is said about the crime Of siavery-about law
higher than the constitution which forblds obedience to
human laws in conflict with the divine law--the whole
tenor OF The objections that have been urged obec
tons against the constitution rather than agains, the
law. What would these gentlemen care for the form OF
proceedings and prov OF the law provided the fug
tive not be returned 10 his masler' The real OBJ
lection that the fugitive is sent back not that The form
of trial does satisfy them repeat that the real OBJ
lection that made in the country eveIywhere,i that
the fugitive is sent back to his master, there be tried
whether he is fugitive not by the laws OF the Slate
from which he fed That being The true character Of the
objection il is objection against the constitution itself
and gentlemen should make real issue, should pass over
the law and make their assaults directly against the
constitution OF the United States, in obedience TO
which the law passed. Let them take the
real position. Let them proclaim 10 the world that they
feel bound by conscientious scrupes to make violent
sistance the constitution which fathers have trans
milted to Sneh is their evident meaning. All |
have TO say that subject IS this, that the constitution
provides that fugitive from service in one State,
Gaping into another sshall be delivered up" The
stutiol also provides thai man shall be a senator
unless he takes oath 10 support the constitution
Then, ask, hos does man ac9u re right on this floor
70 speak except hy taking oath TO support and sustain
,hs constitution OF the United States And when he
takes that oath, do not understand that he has right
10 have mental reservation, or entertain any secret
equvocaon that he expects that clause which relates TO
the surrender oil ingliv.s IRON service know not no "
reconces II TO his conscience 10 take that oath 10
support the constitution when he believes that constitu-
uon is IN violation oi the law OF God III man thus be.
eves and takes the oath. be commits peIhdy 10 his God
in order that he may enjoy the temporary honors OF a
upon this floor. In this point OF view, IL is simply
aqueson OF whether senators Will be true TO their oahs
and true 10 ihe consitu ion under which we live.
Sir, whenever come 10 the conclusion that cannot
conscenously perform by obligations under that IN
srument which am sworn to support, you viii md me
refusing TO take office under this government and, at
the rne declaring myseli for instant dsuniop 10
order TO release myself from any obligation which
cannot conscentousy carry into effect But sr so long
content 10 live under the constitution, 1 will
be faithful TO all lis provisions. know OF no other
model know OF other alternative, except 10 observe
the constitution and the oath TO support II, IN It's letter
and its spirit tie who cannot do this has right 10
hold Office under this government, under the State
governments, while the constitution exiss for the
sutuiion OF the United States requires all officers under
the eons tuition OF the Uned States Hence you cannot
have Judge any State. member OF the legislature
any other officer, who has not taken oath 10 sup.
port the constitution OF The United States, and there
by promised that every fugitive from service shall be de-
lvered up.
How is it, them that we are told that men with these
Obligations resting upon them who have appealed 10 God
ot the sincerity OF their 10 carry into eiecl the
stu,ion in all s parts, proclaimug that Is their duty,
under obligation TO conscience, TO violate both the
constitution and their oath, in order 10 avert what they
believe an evil or crimei
These my opinions upon this subject, and hence
shall vote against the proposition TO repeal the fugitive
slave law, and for whatever appropriations necessary
to carry into effect, believing that is solemn duty,
as II Is my cheerful pleasure TO carry into effect every
provision OF the constitution OF the United States
Mir. WELLER Mr. President, certainly do not de
re to weary tue Senate al this late hour by attempting
to-day. But may be allowed briefly to express my
opinion upon this question rs am now, for the first
lime, called on 10 vote upon Ii IN the Senate.
will say SIR the outset, that this is the first time in
the of my life that have listened TO the whole OF
abolition speech did not know that IL was possible
thai could endure speech for three hours upon the
subject OF the abolition OF slavery But this Grafton OF
the senator from Massachusetts Mr.. SuasERl today
has been so handsomely embellshed with poetry both
Latin and English 80 iul OF classical illusions aud rhet
orca fourshes to make II much palatable than
supposed il could have been made. do not see what
ooeet the senator from Massachusetts could have had IN
view, uness II excite in the free States OF tbs
mon atorcbe resistance 10 the enactment oil the last
Sohsess known as "the fugitiveslave law" In the
.se o That power which ~ vested IN you under the
.ssuunon you have attempted to give security 10 one
that exist IN portion OF the states OF
us Soneueisey Does any suppose that this Union
apctfO