Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08

l
necessary to ask the honorable Senator from Massachu
setts auding to the Senator the other side Of the
chamber Mr. RocKwELL,) or at all events addressing
him. 1t whether il Congress should repeal the law
in regard to fugitive slaves would
the provision of the Constitution What the other words
which he used in that connection do not exactly
remember but they to this effect that he did not
ask for direct from him, but that would be-
material inquiry in the investigation of the ques
ton whether the fugitive slave law should be repealed
He then turned round to the other Senator from Massa
chusetts, (Ar SUMNER was under the impression he
did it matter of poiteness, that, having asked
Senator he thought he ought perhaps ask the other
Mr.. BUTLER. That was my real feeling.
Mr.. RUsK. He put the question to him, What would
you do sr?" The Senator from Massachusetts, became
very much excited, and think he not in condition
to remember exactly what he did say. He said, Do
you ask me if would do and SO 7" and he immedi-
ately sad sis thy servant dog, that he should do this
thing?" That is about the way understood it. was
sitting close to both Senator's, and think heard fully
all that passed.
word now in answer to remark which fell from the
Senator from Maine The observations to which he al.
luded last occurred in question between the Senator
from Massachusetts, and the Senator from Maryland M
PRATr) The Senator from Maryland said something,
and the observation which the Senator from Maine
peated was in reply to it.
Mr.. FESSENDEN. 1t might have been so but / re-
member that the statement to which SO much exception
was taken in the remarks Of the Senator from Massachu
sets made distinctly in the terms have stated ac-
cordng to my recollection.
Mr.. BUTLER. do not think this matter very import
ant, and shall not detaln the Senate longer it
but will say what know to be the true explanation of
it. The interrogatory which proposed the Sem
ator from Massachusetts the other side of the cham
Der intended to propose to the Senator this side.
When he chose to make his reply by quotation, he
sumed that l had made an interrogatory which had
never made but it veries again what said before,
that all his rhetoric has been upon issues Of his
alton. did not make them did not ask him whether
he would join with the police individual to pursue
slave, and he knows did not. His elaborate i'm
promptu in his quoted answer was an affair of his
own altogether
/ make now the qualified remark-for upon personal
matters wish always to be correct-that whatever may
have been the Senator's assumptions in nothing that
did say in no Interpretation that could be given of what
did say ought he TO have supposed that would have
asked the question whether he Senator Of Massa-
chusetts bound join with the police and appre
bend slave. He may have been expecting such ques
ton and prepared for it, Sir, Iasked graver cues
ton whether he in his place. Senator Of Massachu-
setts would say here that Massachusetts would execute
the Constitution Of the United States and whether he
would concur in carrying out that Constitution That
was the nterogatory proposed to him. and he evaded
1t by saying, " the gentleman says and so then
answer by this quotation made one issue by my in
terrogatory, and he made another do not say that it
may not have been nisconception. will be qualified
on the subject but when he made that remark
ed that he regarded himself absoved from the obligation
taken by his oath here to maintain that provision Of the
Constitution which required every State in this Union to
perform its duty in returning fugitive slave assum-
ed it, and denounced it. At first did not say much
about it; but treated it rather with ridcue until it
OF more lnan r1ucule by SUBSEQUENT
remark Of the Senator, and then did denounce it in
very few sentences donot think he could take much
cepon to even those sentences compared with what others
have said But before them he cannot find place whore
bestowed single epthet him, except that charac
terzed his speech vapd rhetoric had right to do
On occasions had thought and spoken we'll Of
his taste but thought there was justice in modifying that
Judgment in saying that the thing atenuated and
repeated had lost something of its originality In
this criticism he may have been touched.
Now by way Of episode let say the Senator has
referred to that would have been my wish have
him perform the part which would have assigned him.
II he would discharge the duties for which think he is
fitted, should be satisfied Perhaps ought not to ndi
cate what those duties are. have never shown
friendly feeling. Now, he will allow to state the |
reason why was excited on that day wish him to /
understand why was fairly excited in regard to the
here. Considering that the remark to which have re-
ferred came from Of his responsibility talent and
scholarship, think had right be excited at it,
Why sir did not that Senator rise and say in the Senate
or the United States-not speaking in adversary Com
whose flag had been erected by the voice Of
his own State not standing upon Bunker Hill and in
spired by the spirit Of libertyhe willing the
hazards and risks of bate not that he willing
encounter the pains and penalties Of separate move
ment against the Federal Government? But what was
excited at was that in this Senate he should say that the
provision Of the Constitution of the United States
pact into which Massachusetts, entered recognising the
existence Of slavery and the obligations Of the
holding States to perform their duties in returning flu.
gtve, imposed no obligation upon him! When saw him
and all laws intended to carry it out than
the stamp act and that before God he would be much
justified in resisting them forefathers in
sisting the stamp act, l excited. When coequal
Senator stood this floor and said it would be lawful
heroic, glorious resist this provision Of the Con-
stituton to resist the stamp act indignant As
understood him, he justified combined communities
mobs in resisting the fugitive slave law that provi
sion OF the Constitution Sir he identified with the glo
rious resistance to the stamp act exhibited in Boston
and elsewhere, resistance which he willing to make
TO the Constitution of hsown country!
Did he suppose that |, Southern man, interested
n the Institution Of slavery representing sayeholdng
could stand here and hear myself de-
,ounced and my community denounced for maintaining
IN institution of that kind and for insisting upon the
constitutional obligations of others to conform to the
erms of the Confederacy? When he said that before
tod do not know whether he used those words but he
made some solemn asseveration-the enormties of the
stamp act sunk into insignifcance compared with the
,normcs of this provision of the Constitution any
ct intended to carry out it enough to excite me-
twas, however, but temporary excitement and If the
senator had not this morning here and indicted
ibel against South Carolnanot in the of Massa-
,husetts, for she would not do tiff he had not
icre this morning, and, with concocted malice, poured
tut prepared Speech the assumption that had said
thing which never said if he had not come here de-
iberatey prepared to take materials brought together
fell spirit with view to make distinction between
he North and the South and against South Carolina
should have said nothing. God knows South Carolina
has had her difficulties throughout the whole period Of
Ter existence Her history is written in blood and trial
But forbear When she invited Greene md he took
command of her militia and regulars viii not say
ainy, but do not think there Massachusetts, SOL
ier who followed bim Perhaps of the officers might