Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-18
RETALrAroBY MEASURES.
Debate i'm the House of Representative s


States Of this Union, animated aud aetuated by feel
ngs and sentiments of hostility to domestic slavery
have attempted to nullify the act of Congress com
monty called the Fugitive Slave Law" with a view
TO defeat the just claims of citizens of the Southern
States to their slaves who had fed from their own
ers' service and taken refuge within the borders of
such nGlIilying States; therefore,
'ResoLued BY the General assembly Of the STATE Of
Tennessee, That il is the sense of this General As
sembly, that no citizen of this State ought pur-
chase goods, wares merchandise OF, or in any
manner trade traffic with, or engage in any spe-
els of commerce, otherwise patronse any of the
citizens of any State that has, BY any such act
resolution, nullified the Fugitive Slave Law, or any
other law of Congress- or the Constitution Of The
United States.
"ResO!Ued, That so long as said acts or resolves
referred shall remain in force or so long as any
community shall resist the execution of said law or
any law OF Congress, that we earnestly entreat the
citizens OF this Suite to refrain from patrouzing in
any manner whatever, such persons the citizens
of such States
Mr.. Cavitt thought these resolutions would not
give rise to debate. 1t was a matter of great re
greet to the people OF the Southern States that any
Northern State should pass laws multiplying the laws
of Congress; but as this had heen done, he thought
the Southern States called upon to adopt re
ialiatory measures He believed he was represent
resolutions, and he felt satisfied that large MAORI
ty of the people of Tennessee would be gratifed at
their adoption by the Legislature.
! Mr.. Parks enquired whether, if we adopt these
resolutions, it would not be a recommendation to
stop trading with the citizens of South Carolina, AS
that State had passed laws multiplying the laws OF
Congress?
! Mr.. Cavitt explained that his resolutions did not
apply to South Carolina, but to such Northern States
sha hi,,fip ~
Fugitive Slave Law. Pennsylvania had, by law,
refused the Of her jails to the officers OF the
General Government in the execution of the Fugi
tive Slave Law and Massachusetts had passed law
declaring its execution within her bOrdrFs a INSIDE
meanor. 1t was to such States his resolutions were
applicable.
/ Mr.. Upton offered an amendment providing that
"the provisions of these resolutions shall be appll
cable to the States that delegates to the cele
brated Disunion Convention that met in the city of
Nashville in 1851" He said he would vote for the
resolutions with without his amendment, but he
wished to treat all nullhers alke-the Southern
fire eaters censurable as the Northern lana,-
les, and he hoped his amendment would be adop
ted, that we might put upon record our emphatic
disapprObatio of the course pursued by both.
Mr.. Galbreath moved to lay the amendment on
the table, and the motion prevailed.
! Mr.. LOoney said:
/ Mr.. Speaker: | would ask the author of these
resolutions if he seriously believes they embody
the sentiment of the people of Tennessee? Mr.
/ Speaker, we are treading upon dangerous ground.
| W. standing upon magazine which, when the
torch shall be applied will burst into ten thousand
| fragments this glorious Union. Sir, the time has
arrived when it becomes all good men and all true
patriots 10 set the seal of their condemnation upon
all sectional measures, and to cultivate kindly rela
lions between all parts of this great confederaoy.
Mr.. Speaker, the people of the whole State
the people constituting more than one.halt of the
citizens thereof-to be held to a strict account
ability for every act of their fanatcal Legislatures?
What, Sir, is to be the result of this? Are we to
draw line of distinction? Are we 10 say by
| Legislative enactment that there is North and
| South in this country? Are to proclaim to the
world that will shut ourselves up in our own
shells? Are We to proclaim that We will no more
take by the hand our brethren Of the North?
! Mr.. Speaker, this fanatca element Is already
aroused in the country. Already are grave Sena-
| tors in Congress specializing npon the value OF
this Union-this Union made glorious by the yalOr
and cemented by the blood Of our fathers! Mr..
/ Speaker, for one, love this glorious Union.
love her stal gart and her blooming dau5 hters-
| | love her towering mountains and her broad
prairies-I love her rushing rivers and rich savan.
nahs; her vine clad hills her glorious recoIlectons
ard her stored memories and | for one, put the
seal of my condemnation upon any and every
measure calculated in its nature to arouse this dan
gerous element of dsunon. This, Sir, is the most
dangerous element in the politics of this country.
There is no man OH this floor, or in this Union,
who deprecates more than do those ultra fanatics
and Abulitionists of the North. But, Mr. Speaker
there al e good men at the North. There Ma
tiona, Conservative men at the North, who are
standing side hy side with US, and fighting with US
under the glorious banner OF the Union.
Mr.. Speaker, this Union must not be dissolved.
1t is ours-it constitutes our strength at home and
our glory abroad. The stars and stripes-emblems
of the countrys glory-shall continue to float over
us and our brethren of this broad land until the
principles of the American Constitution shall ex-
tend and spread themselves over the whole face OF
the civilized world. This Union cannot be dissolved.
The same Providence which led our fathers through
the revolutionary struggle, will continue to guide
and direct II We are true to ourselves, the
Union must last until
"Wrapt in flames the realms Of ether glow
And Heavens last thunder shakes the world below"
Mr.. Speaker, have remarked on a former oCca-
sion that gentlemen who lived in glass houses ought
not to throw stones. l admit that there is a see
tiOna party at the North, who DESTROYS OF dis
solution of this Union. 1t is a melancholy fact
! But sir, the North is the land of Webster-that
man, sir, who always came to the rescue when the
Union was in danger. But, Mr.. Speaker, it is also
true to-day, that there Is sectional party at the
4 South-a party composed OF men who no more
entitled TO our regard and esteem than the Adolf
/ tionists at the North Do you remember, Mr. Speak
er, when this country shaking from centre to
circumerence-when good men of all parties all
over the Union, were trembling for its stability I?
| Do YOU remember that it was then when Daniel
Webster, with the strength of Il giant, rose in his
place in the Senate and rolled back the tide Of ter
ror? Do you remember the gallant Harry of the
! West, whose clarion notes rung out above the din
of Earring elements in the Congress OF the United
States, and by whose action the Union prcserV-
ed! Where then were those men OF the south
the men with whom the author Of these resolutions
stands identified to-day in pohtics-where we're
theyg They were in the capital OF your State, up
Oh the glorious soil OF Tennessee, almost within
view Of the tomb that covers the bones OF the no.
bic sage of the Hermitage. DO you remember, sir,
what a sensation felt in the passage of the Fu
gitVe Slave Law? Do you remember the bon fires
the wild shouts, the deep booming OF artillery that
rolled over the mountains and valleys for the pas
sage Of the Compromise Measures of 1850? Do
you remember how your own heart leaped for joy
when the glad tidings came on the ightniugs wing
from the capital! But, Mr.. Speaker you must al
so remember that at that time there was a eonclave
"a dark and gloomy conclsve-headed BY your
Cheves, your Colquitrs and your Browns, H. session
upon the square of the city of Nashville? And
what were they there for? Was il their purpose TO
strengthen the bonds that bind the Union togethery
Was IL to rejoice over the success Of the ComprO
mise Measures No, sir; their hearts were sad aud
sorrowfui-they refused to rejoice over the saliva
tion OF the Union. They proceeded with their dis.
union schemes. Now, sir, are We to be held re-
sponsible for their action! ask gentlemen on the
other side, do you to-day, endorse your Cbeves,
your Colquitts, and your Browns' Are you ready
TO cut the bonds that bind you your brethren OF
the North?
Mr. Speaker am for this Union. ! am for the
South and am for the North, am for the East
AID am for the West | am for the Union, and