Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-10
SENATOR CHASE Or oHIo--MoTIoN FOR
A COM MITTEE.
tx SENATE, Feb. %, 1855

liz StSArs, Feb. %, 1855
The State of Michigan has recently passed a
law requiring all prosecuting at.ornies in their re-
epeotiIe districts, diligently to protect, offend, and
procure to be discharged, every person arrested
in that Stale, and claimed as a fugitive slave.
1t also gives to such alleged fugitive all the ben.
Gifts OF the writ Of habeas corpus, and of trial by
jury and prohibits, under severe PENALTIES, the i'm
prisonment of such fugitive in any Jail or prison in
the State.
10 neutralise as far as possible this law, Mr..
Stuart, OF Michigan, on the 22d Of February, offer
ed the following resolutions of inquiry Its consid.
Grafton WINS defeated by the well-timed objection OF
Mr.. Chase, who took occasion at the same time to
present a number Of memorials on the subject of
slavcry, which had been accommodating in bis
hands.
United STATES BUILDING IN MICHIGAN.
Mr.. Stuart.-I ask leave to introduce q resolu.
ton to refer a subject to the Committee on Judi
ciary. 1t is to instruct them to inquire into the
propriiety OF erecting a building in the city Of De-
troit, IN the State vt Michigan, for the confinement
OF such persons rs it shall become necessary to
conhne under the laws Of the United States. To
show its necessity, l ask the Secretary to rend the
resolution, and a law recently passed by the Legis.
lature Of the United States.
The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to inquire into the propriety of pro-
ylding for the erection Mt Detroit, in the State Of
Michigan, OF suitable buildings for the safe keep
ing Ut snch persons us may be subject to con-
fnement under the laws Of the United States.
Mr.. Chase.--l object to the consideration of the
resolution. L hold in my hand, Mr.. President, sew
eral petitions Of citizens Of New York in relation
to slavery. 1t Is my duty to present them to the
senate, and the present seems u fitting time. /
purpose to state briefly the purport of each, and
then to move that they be referred to a select Com
nittee.
1hey present various phases Of tho slavery
question. In one, the petitioners ask that the pro-
lection Of Congress may be extended to citizens of
one State travelling in another; in another, they
pray for the prohibition of the traffic in slaves
among the several States in q third, they recon.
mend the abolition of slavery in this District: in
another, they insist on the repeal of the fugitive
slave act in another, they demand that slaves be
no longer sold under judicial process for the pay
meat OF .ebts to the United States in still anoth-
or, they demonstrate against payment. out of the
FEDERAL treasury, for the negroes of the Amistad,
who were declared frecmen by the Supreme Court,
but claimed to be property by the Spanish Govern
ment; and in the last they ask for the prohibition
OF slavery and the slave trade in the territories Of
the United States.
These several petitions are signed, in part, by
the same, and, in part by different individuals
They were committed to my charge by q gentle
man of distinguished worth and high social
position. The signcrs are men of character
and substance, intelligent ard patriotic. They
have a right to be respectfully and fairly
heard.
move the reference of these petitions to q select
mmil for several reasons.
First, the Importance of the general question of
slavery, which they present under different aspects
~Justi1es such a reference. No one here can fail to
observe the immense, not to say overpowering in
nuence which slavery exerts over almost every act
OF the Government. 1t was but yesterday that the
Senator from Pennsylvania Mr.. Broadhead) in
voked the aid of Senators from the slave States
against the proposed credit for duties on railroad
iron, and %intimated, not obscurcly, that the loyalty
OF Pennsylvania to the South might be affected bl
their refusal. To-day, the Senator from Michigan
Uni. STUART caused to be read at the Clerks table
an act of the Legislature of his State, for the pro-
lection OF it's inhabitants against unlawful seizure,
as evidence OF the necessity of prompt action upon
his resolution or inquiry into the necessity Of pro-
viding United States jails at Detroit. Thus, on
every side. we confront this question. Hardly a
question, indeed, | may say. no subject comes
before Congress which is not, nearly or remotely
affected by considerations and influences grow
ing out of the institution of slavery. No attempt
to settle this slavery question has yet succeed ed.
Adjusted By One Compromise, it demands another;
settled again, it is again renewed. The very
Compromises, by which it was adjusted, are bro.
ken by its power. Such a question. so important,
$500 ~ - ui'atO ~ pc anu W COlllTOIlluHi
certainly deserves the consideration of o select
Committee.
Secondly, | submit that the ordinary rule Of leg
islative proceedings requires such n reference. All
memorials and all propositions, according to the
common course of parliamentary action, should he
referred to a favorable, or, at least, to an impartial
Every Senator knows that the stand
ing COMMITTEES of this body to which these petitions
might be otherwise appropriately referred, are so
that the petitioners could not expect
from them even an impartial, much less a favorable
consideration. a reference to a select committee is
therefore necessary to secure for these petitioners
that candid and liberal hearing which American
citizens have q right to demand from the national
Legislature.
Thirdly. | beg Senators to consider whether JUS
tice TO brother Senator's and members of the other
House OF Congress, who share, in n greater or less
degree, the sentiments of these petitioners does not
require the reference which | propose. 1t is very
common TO im2ute to certain Senators, myself
among them, fanatical notions on the subject of
A great deal Of loose representation, and
not a little gross Misrepresentation of our opinions,
is propagated through the country. Certainly it is
but fair, and | hope Senators from all sections will
agree to this, to give us I'M opportunity for stating,
IN the authentic form of Il report, our real views,
and our plan for the final settlement of this great
question, for the consideration of Congress and the
country. Let it be seen whether we are fanatics,
or whether we are sincere men, holding only in
Sood iitlth the opinions oil washington and Jetier-
son, OF Franklin and Adams, and seeking only
their lust and impartial application to legislation
and administration. We are no longer incOnsider-
able in number here, and we represent n majority
Of the voting population of the Union. Under such
/ respectfully ask, how can a refer
ence to a select committee be denied with ~propriety
or justice.
Finally, sir, it is due to the people of the slave
States, and to the slaveholding class itself, that
this reference should be ordered. They ought to
have correct and authentic information as to the )
and purposes of those who agree in the gem
eral with these petitioners. | have already said :
that | believe they constitute at this moment n ma =
iority of the electors of the country. Parties have !
hitherto restrained their action. But party ties, :
rs we have been made to see clearly, during the !
debates Of the last two days, visibly decay, wax !
Did and are read to vanish away. Instead of the i