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

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tnat the states only refused but threw distractions
IN the way Id ey only did afford the usual assist
ance 40 aPpren ending runaway slave they in many in
noton ~ refused assistance but nterposed actual
statuary OPP possn to the law. In doing they took
apology from the Of Prgg the Commonwealth Of
q and to that extent they had some
said tns 1t this memorial likely to be referred 10
the comm .ttee Of whlDh was chairman and it was a
subject up which had great difficulties. said that
me iugiu slave law had had great deal of my
conldenf bat that before could undertake to say
what GU yht to be done in relation it. must inquire OF
genem en- ON this floor representing ehoding
what those States would do. referred especial
~ he Senators from Massachusetts, who had spoken
oudy ca the subject particularly appealed to the
honor able Senator from Massachusetts, mr. ROCKWELL
Whoi ad addressed the Senate with calmncss whether
SUPP osed II all such laws swept from the
poo and the Constitution left to its self-executing
anc sefsaficng power Massachusetts, demand of the
mo ster would deliver up fugitive who had
IN her territory will do that Senator justice
say that did not expect that he would be able to an
wer except representative. wished to get his
general opinions the subject Having paid him that
compliment which thought he deserved who pre-
scented the memorial turned to the Senator Mr..
SuaNER) and said, 'What say you the subject? What
would you do!, did ask the Senator whether per-
sonally he would assist reduce human being bond
age, or to return him to bondage as he has put it.
did net ask him any such question that did APP
proach any thing like it. asked him question Of
the import which had put the other Senator
from that State What would you do Z" meant what
would you do public representative on that subject
Would you advise the abrogaon of the present fugitive
savelaw with the understanding your part that when
yen go home you will advise your constituents do their
duty 10 relation to this matter turned to him and
asked him what he would do : WE'LL sir, what do you
think he said? have doubt he had his reply in his
drawer fixed ready for mo- 1t pretty thing doubt
NE did not however, answer nay question: nor did he an
swer the question which he made for himself.
Mr.. SUMNER. viii the Senator allow correcthim
Mr.. BUTLER. You may correct me, if you can.
Mr.. SUMNER. ! am very reluctant to interrupt the
Senator
Mr.. BUTLER would rather you would not inter-
rupt me. lido not think you correct me-.
Mr.. SUMNER wish to call the Senator's attention
to report to which alluded before.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, Mr.. STUART.) Does the
Senator from South Carolina yield the floor the Sena
tor from Massachusetts
Mr.. BUTLER. think the Senator had better let me
finish.
Mr.. SUMNER. 1 wish to show this now.
Mr.. BUTLER. Very well.
Mr.. SUMNER. The New York papers which came
to-day under the telegraph head, give report of what
passed. which is necessarily brief than that in the
Globe The statement here is follows.
He Mr. BUTLER) would like to ask the Senator if Con-
gress repealed the fugitive slave law would Massachusetts
execute the constitutional requirements send back
South the absconding slaves p
That's the statement Of the Senator's nterro gatory
in the New York papers addressed to my colleague
Then the report in the Globe which presume has been
revised by himself
Mr.. BUTLER No, sir, not that part; never will
touch personal matters give you to understand that
Mr.. SUMNER. The report in the Globe goes on,
Will the honorable Senator (Mr SUMNER tell me that
he Will do 1T J"
Mr.. BUTLER. That was my inquiry.
Mr.. SUMNER. Then the New York papers represent
me as saying, {" Do you ask if would send back
slave Then they go on to say that the Senator from
South Carolina answered "Why, yes" That is to saw
the question was would send back fugitive to which
replied you know.
Mr. BUTLER will not undertake to say here what
was or that have a right to speak
Mr. SUMNER. Unquestionably.
Mr. BUTLER. Though have been asked frequently
by others will not say what his nterrogatory was for
Mr.. SUMNER I cheerfully conceded the Senator that
right; know he could not Misstate on this floor; but
what concede to him claim for myself; and believe
reasonable to suppose that what said is better with
in my memory than within his.
Mr.. FESSENDEN. Now, will the honorable Senator
from South Carolina allow to state my recollection?
Mr.. BUTLER. am perfectly willing that the Senator
shall do so.
Mr.. SUMNER. believe the Senator from Maine sat
Ct SGnf slsfnsf ESm me- -
and listened very attentvely to what said. My
collection is that the Senator from South Carolina first
addressed himself to the Senator from Massachusetts, on
TINS SIDE OF the chamber Mr. ROCKWELL, and, I'M
derstood the inquiry though cannot pretend give the
precise language it to this effect: Suppose the fugi
tive slave law repealed will Massachusetts, Then pass
laws, that fugtives are returned?
Mr.. BUTLER. Under the Constitution.
Mr.. FESSENDEN. Yes, sir believe the words g I'M
der the Constitution were in the inquiry TheSenator
from Massachusetts on this side Of the chamber did not
Immediately reply to the Senator from South Carolina,
who then turned to the other Senator from
(Mr. SUMNER and put the same inquiryao him.
Mr.. BUTLER, think SO.
Mr.. FESSENDEN. The Senator from Massachusetts,
Immediately said as understood him, " Does the Sc
nator ask if would return fugitive slave? 2" or
thing of that kind tell his exact language and
then he made the quotation.
Allow to state thing further that has come to
my knowledge The Senator from Alabama, (Mr. CLAY
understand has addressed the Senate the suppo
siton that there Misunderstanding and contradic
ton between the Senator from Massachusetts, and the
reporter and he alluded to the letter from the reporter
which read by the Senator from Indiana That let
ter states that the remark of the Senator from Massa
chusetts published in the Globe, not in the
porters notes Now, sir, have very good for /
saying and substantate it very readily although
may not be precisely in order for to show how that
there is contradiction whatever between the reporter
and the Senator from Massachusetts, BECAUSE although
the remark given in the precise words in which
giyen not in the reporters notesand that is all the
reporter meant to sayhe substance of the remark the
same idea was in the reporters notes. and written OUT
but the mere phraseology, not changing the idea
altered by the Senator from Massachusetts, stated
On that the debate has proceeded being predcaed
entire Misrepresentation. That msapprehcnson is, that,
to the substantial remark there was dispute between
the honorable Senator from Massachusetts and the
porter which, soy, with very great confidence does
not exist
may says further that after the scrptural quotation
made by the Senator from Massachusetts the Senator
from South Carolina made remark to the Senator
from Massachusetts,, which distinctly observed in
gard to bis unwlngness to support the Constitution
What the precise phraseology do not knew. The
made by the Senator from Massachusetts, was in