Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-08
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
DEBATE IN THE UNITED sEATEs SENATE


On the Goth inst the question of reference of
the Boston petition for the repeal of the fugitive
slave law came up, when a long discussion ensued
lasting two days, of which the following is con-
densed report
The Boston petitions for the repeal of the fugi-
tive slave law being under consideration, Mr..
JONES' of Tennessee, said that he had no desire to
cali III question the motives of the Senator who
had presented the petition. He had no fault to
find with the exercise Of the right of petition. 1t
was an undoubtcd right of every citizen, and one
to which he would give every latitude. He would
70 SO far rs to say that he believed 1t was the
right Of his satanic majesty even to send up pc
ttion to that Court which he had nsulted and
from which he had been hurled. But it was by
motives and objects that petitions were to lie iudg-
ed. So if, i'll sending that petition he was actu-
ated by purpose of mischief or was hypocVit:ca
in his prayer, he deserved deeper intany than
that to which he had already been consigned. Ii
this petition, before the Senate, be sent hther
from proper motives and for proper purposes it is
entitled to all respect. If it be sent hither for the
purpose of mischief and to produce strife, then it
deserves the contempt of every good man. This
was not the first petition of this character sent
here, and had this come unattended with any srik-
ing circumstances giving it the color of treason,
he would not have noticed it; but it came here
with all the cireum stances tending to show that
it is part of the plan of operations of those with
whom agitation and repeal are watchwords. lie
had seen already one attempt made to give prac-
tcal effect to the prayer of this petition and it had
only found four Senators who would give the sane
ton of their names to its unholy purpose. 1t was
said that these petitions were the result Of the
passage Of the Nebraska bill, and the repeal o.
the Missouri Compromise. He did not believe it
1t the result of combination of those willing
to take part in any scheme tending to break dowr
the Constitution of the United States, and place
the South ulder graduation and humiliation.
came from a city whore the laws were openly SCI
at de6ance-where tho temple of Justice was sur
rounded by an armed mob to prevent the execution
of constitutional duty-where treason stalked
boldly through the streets at MONDAY, and the
officers of the law are butchered. The petition
camo from such place, and following Immediately
upon these events, was lac not right in supposing
thai this petition, got up at such time, had in
view no consideration OF public interest? 1t ca nc
from Boston, where the dust Of the first and last
martyr in the country's cause Warren and Batch
elder) now mingle together.
lie then called attention to address published
in the Intelligencer Of the 22d instant, said to
have been adopted at a meeting Of the members Of
Congress opposed to tho Nebraska bill. The sim
utaneous appearance Of this document with this
petition might induce the belief that Ike birds of
evil and perturbed spirits, they desired COM
lpanionship in publicity as well as in sentiment.
The meeting which adopted this extraordinary ad-
dress was most singular II was secret and no
man save the three whose names arc attached 10
the address had been bold enough TO avow their
connection with it, He would rejoice if they had
the mnnlinegs TO come forwsrd and let tho count try
know who they were who had givon sanction ia
this paper. 1t was 10 be expected they would dc
so, and that no man would be daskard enough to
screen himself from responsibility by avoiding any