Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-22
CONGRESS.

tIhoIuiudiy PkoPVoAsAoAA w PoJ " sAo SAo~N.D>~
Of Texas eight and half millions, instead Of the
six millions due them, was acceded to and this
morning motion to reconsider that determi'
nation failed. Mr.. Sumner, to-day, presented
the usual complement of memorials for the re-
peal Of the Fugitive Slave Law; and the con.
sideration of the Civil and Diplomatic appro.
priation bill was resumed.
In the House, the time was devoted to pri
vate business, with the exception Of an hour
in which the Judiciary Committee made re.
port in relation to the sale Of Intoxicating
liquors in Washington, and Mr.. Gerrit Smith
delivered an able and fervent speech On the
subject.
SENATOR ALLEN AND The BATcHELDER PEN.
SION.
Batchelder, who was killed in the Burns
affair at Boston, nobody knows how, is deemed
worthy of an apotheosis by the Senate, because
of his volunteer services in the business Of
catching runaway. The subject Of q PEN
sion for his widow having been brought before
the Committee on Pensions, report was got up
by three members of it, (one-half) severely re-
fecting on the people of Boston. This was
soon abandoned. A bill was then agreed upon,
for comforting pension. 1t was opposed by
Messrs. Seward and Sumner, and had Mr. Al
len, Of Rhode Island, claimed as an Anti-Sla-
very Democrat, acted with them throughout it
would have failed He did not choose to do
co. The three pro slavery members made a
report-Seward and Sumner made an oppo-
sing report-Mr. Allen stood aloof
The case is plain one. The Fugitive Slave
Act is unconstitutional, and 80 inhuman and
grossly violstive of every principle of Liberty,
that the Legislature of the State represented
by Mr.. Allen lately passed an act denying the
use of its jails for the confinement of persons
arrested under it. No officer deserves thanks
or honors for executing such an act; mere
volunteer in executing it deserves Reproduction
and contempt. But suppose II were as repu-
table as ordinary acts Of Congress, why confer
extraordinary rewards for ordinary services ?
The truth is, the question is resolved into q
political one. The object Of the movement is,
to brand Boston for its opposition to the Fugi-
tive Slave Act, to make slsve-catching honor
able, to show the country that the Oligarcby
has the will and power to reward volunteer
services rendered in its behalf If Mr.. Allen
approve Of this policy his conduct is easily ex-
plicable: otherwise, we must consider him
willing 70 strain point to please the Admin
istration From other indications, we appre-
bend that he is under the illusion that this pro-
slavery, propaganda compromise-nullifyiDg
Administration, is Democratic one, and is
rather DESTROYS of supporting it We hope
the apprehension may be groundless
IL is deplorsble, when gentlemen Of char.
acter and position are led astray by the
prestige Of name, when they are drawn
into the sacrifice of consistency and princi-
pie by supposed party-necsssity. An Ad-
ministration which has suffered itself to be-
come the mere organ and instrument Of q
Class, has no claim to popular support. An
Administration that has committed itself to a
thorough Pro-Slavery policy, has no claim 10
the respect of the opponents Of Slavery. An
Administration, covered all over with the in
fanny Of the Nebraska outrage, must reflect dis
grace and entail ruin upon all who attempt 10
give it aid and countensnce. Let liberal
Democrats, as they value good conscience, q
good reputation, firm political standing,
leave the Administration to the Fastening ret
ributions of the People.
~
The BURDEN or SIsYpHus.--The Washing
ing Union is laboring with much assiduity to
perform two-fold duty Of very great Difficult
ty firstly, to prove that the American people
are satisfied with their present Executive
rulers; and, secondly, 10 show the reasons ,0hs
they are not Every recent election, every
convention, every popular manifestation O
whstever kind, has tended to render more ani
moro difficult the demonstration Of the fact a.
summed BY the Union and the specics O
rhetoric employed by il in setting forth ar
apology for the general dissatisfaction, is rather
| indicative of the absence Of facts suited to til,
purpose, and Of . remarkable degree Of exotic
mens and confusion Of thought in consequence
Thus We find the organ, latter setting the ma
chinery right for the time, and compelling tn
relocated monkey to leap hat 10 hand, upo
the ground, giving utterancs 10 the followin
lugubristy:
Yet in oil manner Of publications. diuyne
and diutuvnolJ scattered mulittudinow as AZ