The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-01
NO. 1926.

own up, gentlemen; you knew all about thi,
BILL aud what each other were going to say OF
it. do not say it in my Senatorial capacity
but personally. l verify believe you are banG
Of traitors.
Mr.. Chase moved the Senate adjourn. Lost
NAYS 80, yeas Z.
Mr.. Petit ridiculed the idea of State sover
eighty, and gave dissertation on the Romans
Scandinavians, Normans, Saxons, Cloths, Van
dals. the Gracchi, &c.
Mr.. Wilson was ready to carry out every
proyision of the Constitution, but was opposed
10 the existence of Slavery in the District OF
Columbia or in the Territories of the United
States. and he and those who acted with him
we're determined to abolish it there. They
believed they shared the responsibility of its ex-
istence wherever it was under the control of Con-
gress and they desired to relieve themselves of
that responsibility. He earnestly desired the per-
netuity of the Union, and thought that if the
Fugitive Slave Law should be repealed, that
the provisions of the Constitution would be car
RED out by the States themselves.
Mr.. Weller said, if Mr.. Wilson was disposed
70 carry out the provisions of the Constitution,
he would 90 hand in hand with him. He had
heard him charged with being disunionist
He was glad that such was not the case.
Mr.. Seward followed. His speech will be
given in full next week.
Mr. Bayard. Some States have recently, by
their legislation, endeavored to render the laws
Of the United States nugatory; hence the neces-
sity Of such bill as this. One State imprisons
as a felon him who asserts his right to property,
and fails TO prove his title. Such State legis-
latOn renders the present bill imperative. No
ohcer otherwise can fulfill his duty in reference
to the laws Of the United States. If these States
thnir 81 tba / NIT 1 Stofa
there must be dissolution. They have already
done something toward this, through mobs and
murder-nOw they are attempting further to
resist the laws of Congress by legislation.
Mr. Sumner. 1t is now near midnight. Since
O'Clock this morning, we have been in our
seats. This is the day usually set apart for
private claims. There are seventy-hve private
bills unheard-sacrifced to Slavery, in one of its
most odiouS forms. There is a seeming apollo
~ for Slavery at home, but that apology fails
when YOU hunt a man who has the intelligence
and skill to secure his freedom.
Mr. Rusk. Point out word in that bill
which speaks of Slavery.
Mr.. Sumner read the caption of the bill. 1t
has been ably discussed by my friend from
Ohio and others. By the admission of this whole
debate, it is bill to bolster up the Fugitive
Slave Act.
NJ. Busk. If the officers of the United States
are not to be protected, repeal your law.
Nr. Sumner. So say |. "Repeal your law"
There is neither the word "Slave " nor Slave
~ in the Constitution. The bill is reported
by a Senator from the North, to bind anew the
chains of the slave. Some Senators regard the
Fugitive Slave Law as constitutional; others,
equally conscientious, believe it to be utterly
unconstitutional. There is another clause, side
by side with the g held to labor" clause, guar
autyng the same privileges and immunities in
all the States, and to the citizens of each State
Citizens from the free States, in more than one
State, have been put in prison, and in some in
stances sold.
Mr.. Butler. Do you embrace South Carolina
IN your statement?
Mr.. Sumner. / do. South Carolina has, BY
her Legislature, claimed the right to interpret
that clause, aud Congress has no power to legis-
late under that clause. | say of Massachusetts,
that on the persons held to labor " clause, she
has a similar right to interpret, and to disclaim
the right Of Congress to legislate upon this last
named clause. This Fugitive Slave Act is I'M
Just as it is unconstitutional. You fancy you
may prop it up by decisions of courts but such
an act, so defiant of the law of God, would drag
any court down to oblivion. Senators here
have arraigned whole States, to-day, because
the have endeavored to throw the shield of hG-
beIs corpus and trial by jury around the victims
ut this atrOciOus enactment. An enlightened
Christian public opinion is forming in the
North, which viii render your acts on this floor
nugatOry, as they are unconstitutional and IRA
tonal. lou from the South brought Slavery
into Congress when YOU passed the laws in ref
erence to Slavery which disgrace the District
OF Columbia, and which my friend from Con-
heciIcut Nr. Gillette has so very ably exposed
to-day. Let us alone, say Senators from the
South; let us alone, say We of the North. Keep
Slavery where it was under Washington, when
oar National flag didn't float over a slave. |
move to strike out the enacting clause, and in
sert an amendment providing for the repeal of
the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850; and ask for the
yeas and NAYS upon the amendment.
Ia answer to Mr.. Bntler,
Nlr. Sumner said No inducement would in
cite me to aid in the return of fugitive slave.
Mr.. Butler. The gentleman has no right to
seat here, disayowing all obligations to the Con-
stiuton.
Mr.. Sumner. do not disavow obligation to
that Instrument
Mr.. Summers amendment was rejected
nays 30, yeas O.
An amendment, allowing the use of deposit
lions taken under this bill to be used in the
mied States courts, was passed.
lhlS debate was continued till IL o'clock
when the bill was passed by the following vote :
lEAS-Messrs. Adams, Badger, Bayard, Bell,
benjamin, Bright, Brown, Clay, Dawson, Doug
las, Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Gwin Hunter, Jones of
Iowa, Jones of Tennessee, Mallory, Mason Nor
Ton. Pearce, Petit, Rusk. Sebastian, Shields,
SAdeII, Thomson of New Jersey, Toucey, We'll
Ter, and Wright-29.
NAYs-Messrs. Brainerd, Chase, Cooper. Fes-
srnden, Gillette, Seward, Sumner, Wade, and
Wilson,.
The Senate then adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
among the many reports made from the
sanding committees, were the bill amendatorv
Z" The act for the better security of lives and
property on steam and other vessels. A bill
establishing telegraph and express mail be-
Tween Mississippi and the Pacific, offered by
Mr. Benton. and bill imposing stamp duties
%" bank notes and paper currency of small de-
nominations, were referred to the Committee,o
me hole on the state of the Union.
MI Perkins, Of Louisiana, reported back,
rom the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr..
N,.'eTS resolution calling on the President to
INFORM the House, if not incompatible with the
PHhhc interests, what was the object or objects
y, me meeting or conference of the American
Ministers at Ostend, and whether said meeting
was IN obedience to the instructions of the Sec
feiary OF State, what said instructions were.
ana what was the result of said meeting or con-
ference.
After an Intellectual motion by Mr.. Cham
herain to lay it on the table, the resolution
passed
Mr. Letcher, from the select committee on
The Colt patent and other cases, asked to be
discharged from the further consideration of the
subject, on account of the House refusing to
compel the attendance of witnesses. The COM
mlttee was accordingly discharged.
On motion of Mr. Houston the hill oa-rvino