New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-28
THE ISURPA7IONS o. SLAVERY,
SPEECH OF VIM. Il. SEWARD,
Senate of the United States. February %. 1855,
on THE BILL
To Protect officers Of the United States.

Dir. PRESIDENT: Inc scene oelofe me, ae0
all its circumstances and incidents. sdmspish me
that Ae time hiss come when the Senate Of the
United States 10 about 10 grant another Of thoss
concessions, which have become hsbituL here.
to the power Of Slavery in this Repablic. For
the second tine, In 8 period Of nearly three
months, the brilliant chandelier above our heads
is lighted up; the passages aud galleries arc
deusel, crowded; al the cus.o nary foras sf
legislation are laid aside. TIE multifadoas SUB.
iects which ksve their rise In all parts Of tiis
extended country are soddeay forgottea 10
concentration OF feeling upon sissle question Of
intense interest. The day is spens without Cd
jourpment Senators. foregoing their nsturs, re-
is1s,on and refrcshment remain In thsir sests
sntil midnight approaches. Excitement bfesks
cut in every part Of the Chamber. Criminssieas
and recrimipatons aud denuuciAtions Of SenAtoss
individually, and Of Senators by elasses eqssl0
Of those who have participated In tho dsbsts
and OF .hose who have remained sileat. crate
hsrsbly upon the ear. Such AZ shese were
the incidents that heralded the passage Of the
Fugitive Slave act of 1850. Such ~ these
ATTENDED the abrogaiion Of the Missouri Com
promise in ls54 ! know full well that the fall Of
Constitutional Liberty is as &C rtan to follow theso
incidents occurring now, as II followed the like
incidents on the sad occasions 10 which have re-
ferred. And. for aught know. the teemins gun.
which proclaimed those former tIiumphs OF Slav
ery is already planted again under the caves Of
the Capitol, to celebrate another victory. My
course on this occasion has been the same on
all former occasions of a like character. 1 have
forborue from engaging in the debate until near
the end of the controversy, that the country may
know who il 10, and who il is not, that disturts
the public harmony and breaks the public peace
by the agitation Of Slavery in these Halls; and
shall speak now less In the form Of an argument
against the bill before us than Of protest upon
which shall take my stand, to abide the ultimate
Judgment which shall be rendered by the American
People. For myself. there is painful association
connected with the rise OF this debate lsrose in
nv place at II o'clock this morning. stimuli
tsneousy with the honorable Senator from Con-
necticut' mfr. Toucey, and each Of US demanded
an audience, which was assigned by the Chair to
him. He announced this bill which, hossvef obscure
in its language was We all instantly kne~, design
ed for the protection Of officers OF the United states,
who are engaged IN executing the Fugitive Slave
Law. On the other aide, held in my hand proPo-
sitiop TO be submitted to the Senate for the erection
of bronze monument, fifty feet high, Ia the city Of
Washington which should illustrate the life sud the
death OF Thomas Jefferson, aud commemorate the inn
mortal names Of the Sgners OF the Declnst'on al
American Independence IL was new actnoslefg-
uent which was about TO ask hom the Senate OF tue
United States to the great fact on which the Liberties
of this country and al its Constitution rest-thst all
men are ere ated equal. Sir, the success which tho
honorable Senator from Connecticut Mr.. Toaceyl
obtained over me, when the hoor was assigned "
him wos ominOus. The Senate OF the Untsd States
will erect no monument to the memory OF Jefferson.
who declared, that, in the unequal contest be.
tween Slavery and Freedom, the Almighty hsd
no attribute which could take par, WITH the oP'
pre.,or But the Senate will, oa the other hsnd.
.Ivo pnplv vi he
bulwark around the institution OF Slavery Mr.. Pro
sidept as there IL nothing new Ia the circumstances
Of this transaction 40 has happened nov, a. on An
similar occasioDs heretofore that everything foreign
from tie question at issue bss been brought into the
debate. The introduction Of these foreign m.tters
bsn o. heretofore been attended with pro'uslon OF
approaches and calumDies and epbsts ~ iosPposlts
TO the occasion as they Inconsistent with the
c.oorurn and dignity Of an august Lsgsa're. Those
Of Va upon whom s1ch denuncatlons, cAqmnies, and
! elih.ts hsye been shogered, have endured them
| long aud think no one will deny that We have On
duied them patiently. To such senators q, hsvs
given uiteraIoe 10 their opinions in that form Of
argument, | mike, for myself only this reply-tha
iba, field Of debate "a relinquishsd exclusively 70
,hep.slyes Now as similar occasions here
tofore the relations Of political parties and their
respective merits and dement's, hsve entered largely
into the dire ussion Sir shsl forbesr from entering
into that pant Of the debate for the reason fn1 sm
Addressing not politicians but Statesmen. 10 Tar ~
the Justice or eIpediency Of the MEASURE under eon-
siderstioD is concerned, II can make no alnsfenco
whether those who advocate 1t or thoss Who oppose
IL are Wings or are Democrat or belong 70 maj nov
class OF who popularity called Know Notnings.
Arguments based on such grounds mar have theh
veR BIT some here e<e outside Of this Chsmber-of
possibly up there pointing 10 the galleries -oos
certainly not down here. Inquisition has been msfs
Concerning tie circumstances and influences which
attended ths recent elections Of members not only VI
this House, but Of the Hoass Of Represent
siiyes, for the Purpcse, az II seems Of swsksn-
ps.ssge OF this bill. give notice to hon
cradle Senators who have adopted this line Of a.
eumert that IL IL teitter required BY tho people
whom represent here, nor IL consistent With their
oiapity and honor that should assume TO interpret
The motives which determined their chocs Of lsss-
latcr.. The results ere before the world Tney
explain themselves. Equally dsrcga'ory from my
duty sId disrspectfu 10 the statesmen around me-,
sId 70 the States which they represent, would De-
were 10 Inquire into the manner or circumstances Of
the elections made BY thoss States Ifeeosnizeeyey
Senator here the exponent OF the opinions sno Pnh-
citles OF the State from which be ones. Ana hear
voice from any State bu, thst 70 whlon !" rspls
dent shall hot shrink from such an erpc,ion OF ny
own opinions and sentiments on coliai.rA issos-
hall tend 10 dsembarDs good cause, oy fsnssibss
fr,u III ust prej acices directed sg antf N ysen
vocs,s Fir., 10 regard 10 what called the Neof~sa
.sfjon. freely confess, tbst regard inc sorogs
ton Of the Missouri Conpronhs ~ me Neo'ssAs
iii az the lat So ZION unjust, unnecessary as
gsrou. and Revolutionary oct. yo'sa r. - m,ss1
and in the hearts, If IL mist be So of thoss ssas.rs
Who regard IL q q fof reproseh- certainly ,ns
i, u0t me time 10 justify that vote ums W ,. "
vs. when the vote vss gtyen, ana rs vinalc ..'n
was then duly made. ILefe Piosys.y H.. Ia
cou.irg Cor the renewal o. tas, yindic ,.on-s u,s ~
d. rssr future when ;hs qgeston u fsssof non
Frssson throughout the lsriyfies 81 ,ns I -
s,,t,s vii nse 10 the 81 tie issn,, -.
shall bless with ecn,laee. nIS To ,h.,
90 ,trerg,h hope sgsin 10 DO my esfy 10 10, 'n ~
- -, .riosyn the srgornsst On the b.. Tor