Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-03-07
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.

ucOate, winch TOOK pace In tne senate on FRIDAY
last on the bill to protect officers and other persons
acting under the authority of the United States in
enforcing the fugitiveslave law This debate should
be read and pondered by all. Douglas bore himself
eloquenty, fearlessly and proudly the occasion,
hurling his dsnuncations full in the faces of white
livered Abotionists and skulking Know Nothings;
and Jones, Wing, of Tennessee, came gallantly to
the rescue and denounced these abolition Senators
as "a band Of traitors. "
And after all this-ater the patriotic services
for years past of Judge Douglas in behalf of the
Constitution and Southern rights there are men to
be found in the South deeply stepped in partizan
prejudice as to be incapable of doing him any thing
like justice; nay, morc-there are men among us
Wings, it is true-who have banded with the prop
agators and fomenters generally of isms, with the
view, among other things of striking him down and
sencing his voice in the affairs of the country.
Vain hope !-malignant expectation! As well might
they attempt to chain the winds arrest the eagle
in his flight towards the sun:
A bill to protect officers and other persons acting
under the authority of the United States, taken
up.
| The bill provides that if suit be commenced in
| any State court against any officer of the United
States any other person, for any act done under
law or color of law of the United States, the defen
dant may remove such suit to the United States
court sitting in that circuit if no circuit then in
the District Court clothed with circuit powers
Mr.. Wade considered this bill as designed to again
introduce the agitation of the slavery question into
| Congress.
Mr. Douglas.-The Senator from Ohio regrets that
! the session could notpass by without agitation
There is not word or line in that bill having any
reference to the fugitive slave act.
Mr. Badger.-ies, there is the word color in the
phrase Under color of law" [Laughter,l The
C
and never objected to before Mr.. Wade has recent
| ly become the champ of State rights.
| Mr.. Wade.-Not recently, but eternally.
Mr.. Douglas-The Ohio Senator's passion is not
against the law. but against the constitution of ais
country go for the law, because the Senator from
Ohio does not-for putting DOWN the rebellion and
| preventing anarchy.
Mr.. Wade.-My State diSbelieves the constitution
ality Of the fugitive slave act and so do I.
! Mr.. Douglas.-Thc Constitution has provided the
Supreme Court to settle questions Of constitution
ality.
Mr. Wade-Does the Senator from Illinois believe
that the States have any rights III case the federal
courts pronounce the fugitive act constitutional?
Mr.. Douglas.-The difference between the States
and the United States jurisdiction is clearly marked
The delegated powers under the control of the
constitution and laws of the United States.
On the reserved powers the States may legisatc,
and upon these alone The former they have
relinquished. When have to come here to periure
myself, and with intention to violate the consti-
tuition, will rather stay at home. | won't then de-
grade myself by coming here. To Mr.. Wade. What
were your anii-Nebraska men? Were they not
Maine liquor lawmen. .knownothngs meeting in secret
conclave, bound under illegal oaths, caucussing at
midnight, smiling at those whom they met while
preparing to stab them?
| Mr.. Wadc.-Was not your Kansas and Nebraska
bill concocted by a secret conclave in the night?
Mr.. Dougas.-No. BY myself alone, in my own
house But your friends are the combined remnants
of the whig pariy-all the isms, Maine liquor law,
| Know Nothings-men who prescribe their fellow
mon on account of Their religion. II the South, by
and by, comes into Know NothingiSIn, will you call
that also Nebraska ou took some Democrats
but they were entrappcd, and will leave you when
they come to their senses. Did Massachusetts, send
her delegation because of her anti -Nrbraskaism!
Mr.. Wson.-I'i answer the Senator from Illinois.
Anti-Nebraskaism did not place me where am to-
day. But, ne man can nave place hereafter on
either floor OF Congress who is not antNcbraska.
There is unanimity of sentiment in Massachusetts,
on that subject and, accord with it.
Mr. Fcsscnden.-The bill comes here strong
that we can do nothing against it. IL the Senator
from Illinois draw consolation from the eiec-
ton in New Hampshire last year, the late election in
Connecticut, Rhode Island and in New York, he is
welcome to it. Did Know-No Nothingism produce all
this?
Mr. Douglas-I did not argue the Kansas and
Nebraska bill on the principles imputed to me-
Mr. Fesscnden.-If you did not others did. Al
the free States went one way.
Mr. Welier.-Caiifornia went for Nebraska-siS
. candidates Of all parties, were Nebraska men.
Mr. Fcsscndcn.-I forgot about the States west o.
| the Rocky Mountains llinoisw not anti Nebraska
Mr.. Douglas-Iinois was not anti Nebraska. Johr
| Moore a candidate against whom the ant-Ne
braska men poured out all their spite because he re
fused the State House to their lectures They de
nounced him in the most violent language through
their newspapers. He had every ism opposed to him
and yet got a majority of 3, COO votes.
Mr.. Fessenden- contra, look at the Illinoi
Legislature giving leave TO MIR. Douglas colleague
to stay at home. But to return to the bill. Th'
Senator from Illinois asked whether we would g
against the constitution by refusing to pass the bill
to carry its provisions out. answer, there are mea
sures which may be constitutional, and yet perfectly
odious to a free constitution When Odious measure
proposed to carry out constitutional provisions
| We are not bound to assent to such measures
After further remarks by Messrs. Chase, Ioncey
Walker, Benjamin. Stuart, Petit Cooper and Bay
ard,
Mr.. Butler said-This bill came to the commtte
in regular manner, supported by petitions from
district attorneys marshas and judges OF the feder
al courts. The Senator from Connecticut drew tn
bill by order of the committee. said when u come
to this that a law Of the United States cannot be ex
ecuted without danger to the persons of the officer
10 whose execution it is committed, something mus
be done. .t.---
Mr.. Toucey said that he did not like to propose
, law much against public opinion, but would drav
this bill in hopes or subscribing the constitution
, Mr. Buter.-The. papers were handed TO NJ
Tombs to draw up the bill. In his absence Mr. lou
cey took the initiative. -.
Mr. Wade-J thonpht the hill had an inception u