Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-03-09
,x,nn,, rW,Ilinm m. seward,
IN he Senate Of The q. States, FEB. %, 1855,
ON TuE
BILL TO PRO rFCT OFFICERS OF
THE UNITED STATES.

ON THE
BfLL TO PROTECT OFFICERS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
Ma. PREsIprSr The scene before me,
and al its circumstances and incidents,
ndRoaish me that the tire has come when
the Senate Of the United States is about to
grant another of those ccnccssious, which
have become habiiual here, to the power Of
slavery in this Republic. For the second
time, in period Of Hetrly three months, the
brilliant chandelier above our head is lighted
up; the passages and galleries are densely
crowded eli the customary forms Of legisla-
ton are laid aside. Tho mrltnaTious
subjects, which have their rise in all parts OF
this extended country, are Suddenly forgotten
" a concentration of feeling upon single
question Of intense interest The day il
spent without adjournment. Senators, fore
going their natural relaxation and refresh
mep,, remsin IN their seats until midnirh
approaches. Excitement breaks on, in cvers
part Of the Chamber. examinations and re-
ordinations, and dervnciaiions of Senator,
individually, and cf Senators by classes
cqnnlly ofilrcsc who have participated IN the
debate, and cf those who have remained
silent, grale harshly upon the ear. Such as
these were the incidents that hcralJed the
passage OF the Fugitive Slave act Of lo5O.--
Such as these attended the abrogation Of the
Missouri Compromise in 1851. know fall
well thst the fall of Constitutional Liberty is
az certain TO follow these incidents occurring
now, as it followed the like incidents on the
sad occasions to which have referred. And
for eught I know, the tecmlng gun, which
proclaimed those former triulnphs OF slavery.
is alresdy planted again uadcr the caves o.
the Capitol, to celebrate another victory. -
My course, on this OCCASION, has been the
same rs on all former occasions OF like
character. have forborre from engaging
III the debate, until the end Of the con,rovcr
sv. that the country may know who II is, and
who il lie not, that distlrbs the public har-
mony, and breaks the public peace, by the
agitation OF slavery IN these Halls ; aud |
shall speak now. less in the form of an nrgu.
ment against tho bill before us, than Of a
protest, upon which shall take my stand, to
abide the ultimate judgment which shall be
rendered by the American people.
For myself there Is a painful association
connected with the rise of this debate. |
arose in my place st O'Clock this morning.
simultaneously with the honorable Senator
fiom Connecticut, Mr. Toucey. and each Of
lis demanded an audience, which was assign
ed by the Chair to him. He announced
this bill, which, however obscure in It's Ian.
gusge, was, as we all instantly knew design
cd for the protection Of officers of the United
States who are engaged in executing the
Fugitive Slave Law. On the other side, |
held in my hand n proposition, TO be submit (
ted 10 the Senate, for the erection Of bronze /
monument. fifty feet high, III the city of
Washington, which should illustrate tho life
md the death of Thomas Jefferson and com
memorste the immortal names OF the sgners
of tho Declaration of American Indepen
dencc. il was rev acknowledgment which
was about 10 ask FROM the Senate of the
United States to the great fact on which the
liberties of this country and all its Constitu-
tons rest--that all men are created equal. -
Sir, the success which the honorable Senator
from Connecticut lMr. Touceyl obtained
over me, when the floor was assigned to him
was ominous. The Senate of the United
States will erect no monument to the
melnury OF Jefferson, who declared that II
the unequal contest between Slavery anC
Freedom, the Almighty had no attribute
which could take part with the oppressor.--
BIT the Senate will, on the other hand
promptly comply with the demand to rails
another bulwark around the institution 0
Slavery.
Mr.. President, as there is nothing new II
the circumstances Of this transaction, so il
has happened now, as on all similar occasions
heretofore. thar everything foreign from the
question at issue has been brought into the
debate. The Introduction of these foreign
matters has, as heretofore, been attended
with proiusion Of reproaches and caumnics
and epithets, as lnapposite to the occasion as
they are inconsistent with the decorum ent
dignity of an august Legislature. Those 0
US upon whom such dcnuncialions, calumnles
and eplthets have been showered, have
endured them long and think no one wal
deny that we have endured them patiently
To such Senators as have given utteranco t.
their opinions IN that form of argument,
make for myself only this reply-lhat tina
q field Of debate is rellnauished exclusively tC
G themselves. Now, as on similar occasion.
heretofore, the relations of political parties
and their respective merits and demerlls. have
entered largely into the discussion. Sir,
shall forLesr from entering into that part OF
the debate, for the reason that am address
n.
as the Justice or expediencv of the measure
under consideration is concerned, it car
make no difference whether those who advo
cate il or those who oppose it are Wings Of
are Democrats, or belong to that new class o
men who are popularity called Know Moth
inga. Argnmeuls based on such ground
may have their weight somewhere else
outside of this Chamber, or possiby Nd there
-[ponling 10 tae gallery but certainl,
not down here. Inquisition has been made
concerning the circumstances and influences
which attended the recent elections of mem.
beers not Only of this House. but of the
House of Representative, for The purpose
as 1t seems, Of awakening oreiudices asains,
those who oppose the passage ofthis BILL
| glVe notice to honorable Seuators who have
adopted this line of argument that il i,
neither required by tie people whom
represent here, nor Is il consistent with the /
dignity and honor, tina, | should assume I,
interpret the motives which determined ,hel
choice of legislators. The results are betor,
the world. They explain Themselves
Eaually derogalory from my duty. an,