Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-04
More Of the Slavery Debate in the Senate.


More Of the Slavery Debate in the Senate.
The debate in the Senate on the petition from
Massachusetts, for the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave Law. was resumed on Wednesday -
Mr. Dixon spoke an hour in defence of the fu-
gitiYe slave law, and in denouncng opposition 10
IL. lie also declared that the Wing party of the
North had become abotianzea. a. body. and
renowned any pol teal connection with il while
il remains 50. lie referred Ia the platform of tho
Wing State Convention of New Hampshire, and
said If the tests laid down by that body were to
be adopted by Northern Wings he desired to be
forever disconnected from them.
An effort was then made to postpone the sub
jet TIL Monday but, after debate, the motion
was voted down.
Mr. Mallory followed defending the Fugitive
Slave law, and in the course of the remarks re-
ferred to Mr.. Summers di-ayowal Of any obliga-
ton imposed by his oath TO support the Consti-
tuition
Mr. SUMNER call the Senator to order. /
never said so.
Mr. Mallory said he would not put into even II
dogs mouth, amy statement which not true;
but he would be glad to know whit the Senator
did say.
Mr. Sumner said | recognized no obliga-
ton upon me to help to return or reduce to slavery
any
the Senator with insnence OF manner and un-
blushng face, deny having unqualiiedy d-a.
vowed his constitutional obligations, and attempt
to throw the responsibility on the reporter. He
then desired to suggest 10 the Senators means
of remedyug this conduct. Though there were
no means to reach person guilty only of crime
in thought still there n mode of offending
the body from such persons Though mttn no
the most talented and profound, If he should show
IN IA la tty,t.
others to do that which he had courage to do
himself, or should be as guilty of moral pc rjury
as any man who had ever been branded with the
letter p. or even should in all respects be KEN
pllhed by the character given 10 Ifriah Heap, by
Dickens, there was n way to trent him. II mu-
nieipal law would not reach such num- the Sc
mite could troa, him with dsdan-e could send him
to Coventry. Deny 20 him all those ciylties aud
eourtesies common among gentlemen--m make him
feel TINT he is treated like Il leper and avoided as
yenomnus reptile. Thus far senators had il in
their power to do. If they have not power to inn
pose the punishment of law, they can take from
the serpent his iangs and place him in that social
degradation he deserves.
Mr.. Sumner then replied He spoke severely
Of Mr.. Butler and Mr. Mason fortheir comments
On him. He supported the position he had taken
/ by relying upon General Jackson opinion That
one swears to support the Constitution rs he un-
| derstands it-not others understand it. He
continued:
In swearing to support the constitution at your
desk, Mr.. President did not swear To support
/ 1t you understood it, as the Senator from Nir-
glnia understood it, the Senator from South
Carolina understood it, with blood hound or, Mt
least dog, in it, paving TO get free his hinder
parts in pursuit of a slave. No such thing sir.
| swore to support it as | understood it. Now |
will not occupy your time, nor am disposed at
| this moment, nor does the occasion require, that
should go into any minute criticism of the clause
of the Constitution for assuming. in the face of
commanding rules of Interpretation, all leaning
towards freedom, that in the concise language OF
| this elause-paterlng, in double sense,-tho
words employed can be Iudieally regarded as
Justly applicable to fugitive slaves, which is often
and earnestly denied but in which now express
no opinion. Assuming, say, these things hostile
to freedom, then | desire to say that as | under
stand the Constitution, this clause does not impe
me to any personal obligation; especially it does
not impose upon ne any obligation to render any
personal assistance in the surrender of fugitiv,
slave. As n Senator, | have taken the oath #
support the Constitution as understand it; ant
understanding it MS | do, am bound by my oatl
10 oppose all euactments by Congress on the sub
ect as II fragrant violation of the Constitution
especially must ! oppose the last act as tyran
meal temptation. Here my duties u Senator
under the oath which have taken, end. In II,
respect, by my oath as a Senator, can | be con
strained to duties in other capacities, a sim
pie citizen, which are revolving to my conscience
even though required by positive enaetments
Now, in this Interpretation of the Constitution,
: may be wrong; others may differ from me, an,
: will act according to their understanding.
2 Mr. Sumner then commented on various lat,
2 occurrence in South Carolina, and went into an
a elaborate exposition of the contributions O
E. southern States to the wnr of Independence pnr
f ticuarly of South Carolina. He concluded Al
p follows -
| had almost forgotten to turn again to thu
0 Senator from Virginia. He has undertaken, il
: most imperious STYLE rat er let me sav, TN
G style of Sir Foreible Feeble. to call in question
It my statement that the fugitive slave act denc,
: the hab,as corpus. And in doing this, he Ina
d assumed a superiority for himself which nothin.
y in him can sanction. Sir, claim little for my
self, but shrink in no respect from any com
k parison with that Senator. Sitting near him. n
: has been my fortune since have been i'm thi
body, have learned something of his converse
ton, something of his manners, something of hi
attachments, and something of his abilities an
something of his character. and while | woul
not undertake to dsparage him in any, of thes
n respects. yet feel that do not exalt myself i'm
mensey, when openly challenge a comparison
n with that Senator. To his statement on this sub
: ject | oppose mine. He then enyolyed other oh
: jectons to the Fugitive Slave Act, which b
: commended to the Senator, from whose brain til
t soulless monster came. He then said, (lookin
. | at Mr. Clay,) but must close To many thing