Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-23

4 by accusing il of worse despoism than that OF
any power on the European continent.
/ = he alluded 10 other parts OF the speech of Mr..
l SAITH; and, in the course of his remarks. ex-
pressed his surprise that the gentleman could put
his hand on the Holy Evangely and swear TO sup
4 port the Constitution, entertaining, as he did,
principles ''the higher law" which he claimed 10
be superior TO the obligation TO support the Con-
stituton, which contained the following provision:
No person held 10 service or aborin one State
under the laws thereof escaping into another,
SHALL in consequence of any law or regulation
therein, be discharged from said service or labor,
but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party
10 whom such service or labor may be DUE
Mr. GERRIT SMITH (by permission of Mr..
WRIGHT) said the gentleman had read TO him that
part of the Constitution which speaks of persons
escaping from service, and wished him TO feel
that that part of the Constitution refers to slaves
Now, he was not disposed 10 take any position
which shall stigmatze with hypocrisy the trainers
OF the Constitution. A few days before the close
OF the session OF the convention which framed the
CONSTITUTIONS the committee on style reported that
"servitudep be stricken out, because il identified
the condition Of slave" and that service be
inserted, ~because il identified the condition Of
| freemen. The motion prevailed unanimously /;
and he repeated he was not disposed 10 stigma
tie with hypocrisy the trainers ofthat paper He
repeated the word /" service" refers 10 ireemen,
and moi 10 slaves.
Mr.. WRIGHT. That is not my recollection of
the proceedings in the convention.
Mr.. SMITH. ! refer to the Madison papers.
MIR. WRIGHT resuming, insisted that the con-
sttutiona clause which he had quoted refers 10
slaves as well as 10 other descriptions of persons
and so the courts have decided He replied 70
other portions Of Mr.. SMITHS speech; and in con-
cnsion, spoke on the subject Of the mode Of APP
pontment ofthe Assistant Secretary of the Trea-
sury, which the bill from the Senate requires
shall be confirmed by that body. He gave his
reasons for desiring that this requirement take
place " hereafter" and not now, for in the last.
il might be construed into vote of censure
Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, said that, the other
day, when the bill from the Senate came before
the House, requiring the appointment of the As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury 10 be confirmed
by the Senate, he expressed the opinion that the
Constitution requires officers of that grade TO I'M
dergo that supervision. wi
A French philosopher and poet of great distinc-
tion--he had forgotten his name-never felt CON-
pmented at all if any Mandatory reference was
made to his writings; but he was always exceed
ingly gratifed if any one compmented him on his
dancing. In other words in the capacity in
which he was most deficient he was most vain ;
and that might be his (Mr. BAYLYs) position in re-
spect to the Constitution He did fatter himself
on his understanding of the Constitution and
like the French philosopher, he was vain of his
dancing.
So il was; he could not help it ; and when he
did make point, and gentlemen laughed at him,
he did feel little sensitive. And now he was go-
ing 10 vindicate his dancing.
He then proceeded TO argue in favor of his po-
sition, that the Assistant Secretary Of the Trea.
sury should be confirmed by the Senate; and, in
conclusion, alluded TO words which were ringing
in his ears about opposing the administration
and the Presidents policy !" words which had
been freely made use of to him when he arrived in
Washington, and when he had been Intercepted
on the subject of speaker, clerk and other officers
In answer to the speech OF Mr.. WENswoRTH, he
said that he would tell him that the President does
not regard all gentlemen who may choose to vote
according to their sense of propriety for speaker,
clerk, or librarian, as altogether an administration
matter; and he doubted the authority Of the gem
tleman TO speak for the administration. He de-
MED his commission 10 speak for the President.
not conferred upon him. But he did not care
whether the gentleman had the authority or not.
The points which he (Mr. b. had made, were be-
fore the House and the country
Mr.. PHILLIPS, of Alabama, obtained the floor.
when the committee rose, and
The House adjourned.