Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-07-01
DEBATE In SENATE.
TIE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Is THE SENATE, JUsE 20, 1854.


The Senate having under consideration the motion to
refer the Committee the Judiciary the petition from
twenty nine hundred citizens Of Massachusetts, praying
for the repeal Of the fugitive slave law
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, said: Mr. President, the
memorial under consideration, presented by the Senator
from Massachusetts,, Mr.. RocKwELL,) would not, under
ordinary circumstance have attracted much If any
tenton and certainly would not have ELECTED any
ment remark from me. Disinclined / am, and al
ways have been to obrude myself the time atten
tion of the Senate, should not disturb this dsnc
nation but from Of duty to those whom in part
represent this floor shall not complain of the pre-
sentation of this memorial shall not arraiga the
poses motives of the Senator who presentedi am
in favor of the largest liberty of the right Of petition
compatible with proper respect for the rights and dig
nifty of the Senate Not knowing that these invaded
by this petition shall make no objection to its presenta-
tion and acceptance.
The right Of petition unquestioned but with the OBJ
jects and motives Of the petitioners and the result of
granngther prayer we have something to do and into
them we may properly inquire. suppose his Sa-
tanc majesty might be allowed 70 send up petition q
that sost which he insated and the battements o.
which he was hurled but The motives which prompted
him would be proper subject Of inquiry and investga
ton it should appear that his purpose mischiey-
GUS and hypocrca the act would only to illus
trate his impudence and consgn him to still deeper
depth Of infamy and contempt.
If it be the purpose of these memoriasts to advance
the interests Of the country to redress wrong
fcted them then their petition s worthy OF respect
full consideration; but it, think is perfectly manifest
their object is Of mischief looking to the accom-
pshment Of good, but inenied to insult the honor,
to invade the rights and nfane The passions Of portion
of the people Of this Confed their conduct deserves
the contempt Of every patro aud should receive, it
merits, the execration of every good man.
This, Mr.. President TIL first petition that has
been presented to this body ang for the repeal of the
fugitive slave law Others have and doubtless many
others will be presented II is part Of the system by
which the public mind is to be kept excited and agita
repeal only Of all laws protecting the rights Of the
South in the enjoyment Of their property but when this
done hs Constitution, one be left is to be abolish
ed in order that the unhoy purposes Of these lovers Of
universal humanity may be consummated.
have not only other petitions presented here for
this purpose but have proposition submitted to
this body to carry out the prayer Of the petitioners and
have four Senator's who had sworn to support
the Constitution lend to this wicked purpose the sanction
of their shall not consume the time Of the SEN
ate in arraigning the conduct of these Senator'S shall
not attempt deduce from it evidence of their want Of
devotion to the Union, disregard Of the Constitution
contempt for its compromises might possibly succeed
but do not think the game worth the candle.
This attempt to repeal the fugitive slave law is to be
heraded to the country Of the first fruits Of the
passage Of the Nebraska and Kansas bill. Iaude to
the past disabuse the public mind this subject No.
sir the passage of that bill is not the of this ag
taton 1t is used occasion, preext for doing
what the agtaors have heretofore done what they have
their hearts to do and what they intend to do
they have the power to accomplish it. They intend
agitate with the view of abolshng slavery in the District
of Columbia then in the States and finally reduce the
South to the most abect submission; or if she dare
sis their fanatca demands the sacrifice of the Union
to be the price Of our contumacy
This to to be inauspcious moment for the
Introduction Of this memorial and the place from which
it emanates most nnfaEtunss. This nemorial comes
the brightest and most glorious memories Of the past but
doomed she be, to wild and wicked infatu
alton Guided by such miserable miscreants rs Parker,
Phillips, and such kindred spirits, her glory obscured,
her dishonored, and her greatness departed 1t
from place where few days since the laws OF
the country were openly set at defance where treason
rank undsguised treason staked abroad at monday and
proclaimed the streets and from the pupits
from the place where the temple of justice
vaded and its sancty polluted from the place
where the unsodded grave of an officer Of this Govern
men murdered in the discharge of his duty may yet be
seen 1t from the place where the sghs Of the
gushed heart of tho widow borne on every breeze
It comes from the place where the eyes Of the helpless
orphan search in van for its father and protector
comes from the place where the dust of the first and the
last martyrs Of liberty and law mnge togetherWarren
and Datcheder They fought and fell in the same great
cause each in his sphere conending for the rights of self
government the great principles of constitutional liberty
and the supremacy Of the law. The one may occupy a
larger space in the public mind than the other They
both died for their country and their honor and
both are entitled counys gratitude, and their me-
mores and their families country's protection.
This memorial Mr. President comes to us teeming with
treason and reekng with the blood Of innocent victim
treason because it seeks the destruction Of the Govern
ment blood because the spirit that prompts it, sated
with its late victim, cries aloud for Others
II NAV be- Mr.. President, that the time may come
Heaven forbid it ever should when this Internal spirit
and thirst for blood may be satisfied and IT. when i
comes cup shall be commended to the lips of the in
etigators they will ut least find the manly consolation
saying have done it. 1t is said that Catalne wher
he contemplated his great conspiracy against the be
Of his country test of the fidelity Of his fol
lowers commended to their lips cup Of blood These
American Caalines, made perfect by the experience o
the past following tho example Of their ustrious pro
totype seek to insprt their followers by the same
unhoy cup n it be the purpose Of these memorialist
and their allies exasperate the minds Of the Southern
this Confcderacy and to drive them to acts
Of madness and violence, can tell them they will be mis-
taken "They reckon without their host" We do not
mean TO lend ourselves to such unhoy purposes We nsR
nothing but what Is right nothing but what the Cons
tuition guarantees to This do ask, this much VIC
demand and these things We will have let the cost be
what it may.
have said m paaoh subject this memorial
desire to say; and, II the Senate will indulge me, de-
sire to call its attention and that of the country to
munioation that appears in the National Intelgencer
the 22d instant purportng to be address to the peo
pie Of the United States by members Of Congress who
posed the passnge Of the Kansas and Nebraska BILL The
simultaneous appearance Of this address and memorial
might be considered strange coincidence but for the
fact that evil spirits seldom 60 alone but usually hunt in
pairs Conscience, il Is said, makes towards hence these
evil spirits seek company to keep down the ghosts that
constantly haunt and pursue them.
s ADDRESS purports to be the result of the decara
ons OF members OF Congress Who opposed the passage
the Nebraska and Kansas bill Who composed this meet
We're oil the members of Congress who opposed the
Dill there, or only small part Of them does not appear
IL seems TO have been Of the most extraordinary
meetings. Of which we have any knowledge II seems
nave been secret meeting and yet assumes the dignity
ofpubicty. Its address Is carefully worded ayoding
any commital to who there or for what
lar purpose they there. The address and ha ~