Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-04
From the Baltimore San.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, ls5

that the House concnrriug, the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House, be directed
to adjourn their respective branches of the National
Legislature at ~ O'Clock, midnight on Saturday,
the Sd Of March
1t was announced that Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee,
Mr.. Csss and Mr.. Bell will, on Monday next, pre-
sent TO Congress the sword worn a. the battle of
New Orleans by General jackson, and bequeathed
by him to the late General Robert Armstrong.
bill to protect officers and other persons acting
under the authority of the United States, was ia
ken up
The bin under discussion provides that if a suit
be commenced ia any State Court against ady officer
of the United States, or other person. for any act
done under law or color OF law of the United States
the defendant may remove such suit to the United
States Court sitting in that circuit or if no circuit
then in the District Court clothed with circuit pow
ers.
Mr.. Wade considered this bill as designed to
again introduce the agitation of the slavery ques
ton into Congress.
that the session could not pass by without agitatlon
There is not word line in that bill having any
reference to the fugitive slave act
Mr.. Badger.-Yes, there is the word color in the
phrase "under color of law" Laughter The
principle of this bill has been applied for 40 years
and never objected to before Mr.. Wade has re-
Gently become the champion of State Rights
W.
Mr.. Dougas.-The Ohio Senator's passion is not
against this law, but against the constitution of his
country. / go for the law because the Senator
from Ohio does not-for putting down the rebellion
and preventing anarchy
Mr.. Wade.-My State disbeeves the constitu-
| tionslity Of the fugitive slave act aud so do l.
Mr.. Dougas-The Constitution has provided
the Supreme Court to settle questions of constitu-
| tionality.
Mr. WoJa Doo, tko cooo,or f.o-, -JlG,o; l.
lieVe that the States have any rights in case the
federal courts pronounce the fugitive act consttu
| tioual?
Mr.. Douglas-The difference between the States
and the United States jurisdiction s clearly marked
The delegated powers are under the control of the
constitution and laws Of the United States.
| On the reserved powers the States may legisiate
| upon and upon these alone The former they have
reiinqFished. When have to come here to periure
myself, and with an intention to violate the consti-
tuition, will rather stay at home. l wont then de-
| grade myself by coming here TO Mr. Wsde)
| What were your anti-Nebraska men2 Were they
not Maine liquor-law men, know-nothings, meeting
in secret conclave, bound under illegal osths, eau
cusing at midnight smiling at those whom they met
! while preparing to stab them.
| Mr.. Wade.-Wss not your Kansas and Nebraska
bill concerted by secret conelave in the night?
! Mr.. Douglss.-No. By myself alone, in my own
| house But your friends are the combined rem
nants of the Wing party-al the isms, Maine liquor
| law, NothDgs-men who prescribe their
| feliow-men on account of their religion If the
! South, Icy and by, comes into Know Nothingism,
| will you call that also anti-Nebraska? You took
some Democrats but they were entrapped, and will
leave you when they come to their senses. Did
Massachusetts send her new delegation because of
| her anti-Nebraskasm?
Mr.. Nison.-Tn answer the Senator from Hi
| noiS. Anti.Nebrasksism did not place me where I
| am to-day. But, no man can have place heresf-
ter on either floor of Congress who is not anti-Ne-
braska. There is an unanimity of sentiment in
| Massachusetts, on that subject and / accord with
| it.
! Mr.. Fessendeu.-The bill comes here so strong
that we can do nothing against it. If the Senator
| from Illinois can draw any consolation from the
election in New Hampshire last year. the late cleo
| tons in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and in New
/ York, he is welcome to it. Did Know -Nothingism
| produce all this?
Mr.. Douglas.-I did not argue the Kansas and
Nebraska bill on the principles imputed to me-
Mr.. Fessenden.-Ifyo you did not others did All
! the free States went one way.
Mr. Weller-California went for Nebraska-sx
| candidates, of all parties, were Nebraska men
| Mr.. Fessenden.-I forgot about the States west
of the Rocky Mountains Illinois was it not anti
! Nebraska.
| Mr.. Douglas.-1llnois was not anti Nebraska
| John Moore was a candidate against whom the
| ant-Nebraska men poured out all their spite be-
cause he refused the State House to their Lectures
| They denounced him in the most violent language
| through their newspapers. He had every ism op-
posed to him, and yet got majority of three thou
sand votes.
Mr. Fessenden-Per contra lock at the Illinois
Legislature, giving leave to Mr.. Douglas colleague
TO stay at home. But to return to the Bill The
Senator from Illinois asked whether we would go
against the Constitution by refusing to pass this
bill to carry its provisions out. l answer, there
are measures which may be constitutional, and yet
peSectly odous to free Constitution. When
odious measures are proposed to carry out consti-
tutional provisions we are not bound TO assent TO
such measures.
After further remarks by Messrs Chase, Toucey,
Walker, Benjamin, Stuart Petit, Cooper and Bay
ard
Mr. Butler said-This bill came to the Commit
tee in regular manner, supported by petitions
from district attorneys marshals and judges of the
Federal Courts. The Senator from Connecticut
drew the bill by order of the Committee. | said
when it comes to this, that a law of the United
States cannot be executed without danger to the
persons Of the officers to whose execution it is COM
mitted, something must be DONE
Mr. Toucey said that he did not ike to propose a
law SO much against public opinion, but would
draw this bill in hopes of subscribing the constitu
ton.
Mr.. Buter-The papers were handed to Mr..
Toombs to draw up the bill. In his absence Mr..
Toucey took the initiative.
Nr. Wade-I thought the bill had an inception
in southern latitude.
Mr.. Notwithstanding being csl ed to
der now say that it is not so.
Alr Wade-Then what ! said first was true that
it came from a northern man.
Mr. Douglas-I am at little loss to understand
the motives Of the Senator from Ohio. His point is
TO make out that this is the most monstrous measure
ever brought forward. If this bill be monstrous,
how can Northern men excuse Southern men for
an Infamous act? He don't choose to arragn a
Southern man. He says "you may go to extremes
if you will let me, demagogue, fasily history and
cater to the preiudiees OF my people at home l
had trusted that among gentlemen there would not
be charges for political purposes under the name OF
philanthropy, which the authors knew were false
when they made them. Why then this onslaught
upon the Senator from Connecticut and myself, at
this timer
1rejoice that as northern msn, born at the North
with no synpathies, no interests save what north
ern lnen have in the whole country, that intro
duced the Nebraska and Kansas bill Washington
Territory admitted in 1858, leaving her at her
pleasure "a TO slsvery-onc year after | brought in
the Nebraska bill--the very same The first was
wing doctrine which that party embodied as to
Washington Territory, under the platform and BAN
ner Of General Scott You turn against the Ne |
hraska bill because thereby Won can uet mon in |