Washington sentinel., 1854-06-29


who have stood by the Constitution, and from
this day forward, earnest and untiring exertions
should be made to carry the elections that are
to come off. ,stss
DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON THE FU-
GITIvE SLAVE LAW--SENATOR SUM-
NER AND HIS SENATORIAL OATH.
On Monday last an interesting debate sprung
up in the Senate, on the motion Of Mr.. Rock
well, one of the senators from Massachusetts,
to refer to the Judiciary Committee petition
of twenty-nine hundred citizens Of Massachu-
setts asking the repeal of the fugitive slave
law. ae
We have not the space this morning for the
entire debate. We are only enabled to publish
the remarks Of Senator Mason, of Virginia,
which, like all his efforts, were able and states
manlike. Wewill endeavor hereafter to spread
the whole debate before our readers. Senators
Jones, Butler, and Petit, also made admirable
speeches. m
1t would be idle to say that we felt surprise
at the effort thus made by some Of the citizens
of Massachusetts to renew the slavery agita-
ton. We would be surprised to sec any indi
cation of disposition on their part to submit
to the Constitution and the laws passed in pur.
suance of it. Agitation is their very life-blood.
But while there is nothing to surprise, there
| is much to deplore in the course that these
people are pursuing. If these men could by
any means gain admittance into the kingdom
4
! of Heaven, like the arch fend of old, they
would soon engage in treason and rebellion.
We will not argue the merits of the fugitive
slave law. Everybody who knows anything,
knows the origin, the nature, and the objects
of that law. 1t was elaborately and thoroughly
discussed before its adoption--itis is the law Of
the land and consecrated by the authority and
sanction of the Constitution. Nor will we
comment on the speech with which Mr.. Rock
well accompanied his motion. We rose frem
the perusal Of his speech with one deep regret
It was that one so calm, dignifed, and senate
rial in his demeanor, should by strange con-
tradiction hold opinions SO pernicious in their
| tendency.
Mr.. Rockwell was replied to very ably by
Senator Jones, of Tennessee. But before we
quit Mr.. RockwelPs speech, we will extract
one sentence for the especial benefit Of the abo-
! litionists and freesoilers who opposed the Ne
braska bill, calling it the :" great perfdy and
| fraud,'' and who declared that the Missouri
restriction was, from its very nature, so sacred
as to be irrepealable. Now, that compromise
/ a. Cooat;t,t;o,, x,h;Jo 4lo
! fugitive slave law was passed in pursuance of
the Constitution. Let them ponder these words
of the senator. He said &:
g In the year 1854, they come to this Con-
gress and say that a law passed in the year
| 1850 ought to be repealed. is there treason i'll
this? Is it not a law of Congress? Is it trea-
sonable in the people of this country to ask for
the modification or even for the repeal of any
act of Congress 2"
These people have all along said that it was
treason.
| But our main object was to notice remark
| made by the other Massachusetts senator, Mr..
Sumner. In order to introduce that remark,
we make brief extract from the debate:
Mr.. BUTLER. have said am perfectly
| willing, so for as. / am concerned, to let the
memorial be referred but | wish to ask the
honorable senator from Massachusetts, who
presented it, Mr.. RocKwELL, a question; and
/ believe, from the impression which he made
on me today, that he will answer it. If We
repeal the fugitive slave law, viii the honorable
| senator tell me that Massachusetts will execute
| the provision of the Constitution without any
| law of Congress? Suppose we should take
away all laws, and devolve upon the different
States the duties that properly belong to them,
would ask the senator whether, under the
prevalence of public opinion there, Massachu-
sets would execute that provision as one of
the constitutional members of this Union ?
Would they send fugitives back to us after a
trial by jury or any other mode? Win this
honorable senator Mr.. SuMSERl tell me that
he will do it?
Mr.. SUMNER. Does the honorable senator
ask me if / would personally join in sending a
| felow-man into bondage2 " Is thy servant a
| dog that he should do this thing? 2"
| Mr.. BUTLER. These are the prettiest
speeches that ever heard. Laughter. He
has them turned down in a book by him, |
believe, and he has them so elegantly fixed
that cannot reply to them. Laughter1 They
are too delicate for my use. Renewed laugh
teri They are beautiful things; made in .
factory Of rhetoric somewhat ofa peculiar shape.
But, must be permitted to say, not of def
Il A< a. a 49, Il