Washington sentinel., 1855-03-14
Wasbingt0n geutinel,
eDEBATE IN THE SENATE

Debate IN THE SENATE
On the 23d OF february, s55, ON the bill
10 protect officers and other persons act
Ing under the authority of the United
States. t-aiaf
We resume the debate on this interesting
subject, which the pressure on our columns
compelled us for while to defer. We do not
pretend to give the long speeches which were
delivered Itis only our design to present the
substance and the main points of the debate.
Mr..WADE thus concluded his remarks
This measure, if it has any vitality, is gotten
up for the benefit of the South, and yet it is
brought forward by man from the North.
How does this happen? Why are all the rest
silent upon it? Why was it that the great and
enormous measure of the Nebraska bill, repeal
ing the Missouri compromise, was also brought
in by a northern man? These things make an
impression on my mind which is never pro
duced by what falls from any of my southern
friends in advocating their doctrines.
But, sir, the Senator from Louisiana said
that the North were the aggressQrs. Let me
ask him if there is not law in his State by
which a man going there from other States, if
his color, like mine, is a little darker than it
ought to be, laughter, is seized upon and put
in prison, though he may be the Citizen of a
free State, entitled, under the Constitution Of
the United States, to the same privileges and
immunities as the citizens of any State?
Mr.. BENJAMIN. viii answer the Senator
from Ohio, if he will permit me to do so.
MrsWADE Certainly, sir.
Mr. BENJAMIN. 1t is true that the free
blacks coming 10 Louisiana are confined until
he vaScal IN u,bi oh tha,
when they are sent out with ii. / am told,
however, that when they go to certain northern
States, they are met on the frontiers, and not
allowed to come in at all.
Mr.. WADE. i do not think there is any
law to support that practice, if it prevails in
the northern States but do not think it does.
Mr.. PETIT. The Senator will allow me
to say that we have not only in Indiana con-
stitutonal provision, but law carrying out
that provision, positively prohibiting any free
black, or mulatto, from coming in and setting
in the State. One word further: we have i'm.
posed penalty for the violation of that law
we have not barbarously imposed that penalty
on the black man. but on the white man who
dares to harbor and dares to employ him.
Mr.. WADE. / will ask that Senator if he
was an advocate of that law?
Mr.. PETIT. / was
Mr.. WADE. l suppose SO; and ! say ii
does not elevate its advocates in my estimation
Mr.. PETIT. / would like TO enforce the
law against the man who would violate it.
Mr.. WADE. l understand the gentleman
perfectly; but l say, in my Judgment, it is Q
law most infamous and disgraceful to that free
State.
Mr.. PETIT. We choose to Judge of the
breed of dogs we want with us.
Mr.. WADE. | only give my opinion of the
law; but, sir, was speaking of certain law
ofIouisiana 1t is of no consequence, at pres
ent- whether we have such law as was al
luded to; but 1t is matter Of consequence
whether Louisiana, which stands here the &C
cuser of those who have laws in their own
yindicauon, has herself law by which she
claims to deprive citizen Of another State OF
his constitutional rights. | say Senator from
that State ought not to stand forth as the ac
cuser until he has washed his hands by whip
ing out such an odious law. But it is said that
the North are the aggressors. When did we
agrees? What did we do? remember full
well that you plunged US into the war with
Mexico in order to get territory for slavery.
You avowcd that you did it for that purpose.
Mr.. Calhoun, in his letter to Mr. Pakenham.
openly avowed the necessity of acquiring terri.
tory for that very purpose.
Mr.. BUTLER. should not say anything,
but am sure the honorable Senator from Ohio
does not wish to state anything inconsistent
with historical truth.
Mr.. WADE. Not if know it.
Mr.. BUTLER. Now, with regard to Mr..
Calhoun, whose name is frequently quoted as
authority on these subjects, will say, that !
think he was opposed to the acquisition OF ter
ritory from Mexico. BE was certainly opposed
TO the Mexican war. am not aware Of any
thing in the history Of the past to authorize the
statement OF the honorable Senator from Ohio,
that Mr.. Calhoun wrote to Mr.. Pakenham in
reference TO the acquisition Of any Mexican
territory. And allow me to say to the honor.
able Senator from Ohio whatever may have
been the aim, and / do not believe there was
any such aim,) it is very certain that not one
inch Of the territory acquired from Mexico, SO
far as | know, has been occupied by slave
population, so that his own statement Is refuted
by the facts before him.
Mr.. WADE. ! was speaking of the ayowed
object of the acquisition, not Of its result ]
think have not misread that most extraordi-
nary document to which have alluded, nor
the reply Of Mr.. Pakenham TO it, nor the re.
joinder Of Mr.. Calhoun.
Mr.. BUTLER. To be fair 10 the gentleman,
Will 6tnbt Ahnh a HhNt hOuDl MS Is
referable TO Texas, and not to Mexico.
Mr.. WADE. ] think said Texas.
Mr.. BUTLER. No, sir; you did not.
Mr.. WADE. Well, said Mexican war, and
the acquisition Of Texas brought on that war.
Mr.. BROWN, (jocularly) Now YOU have
it right.
Mr.. WADE. ] am glad to know that have
il right now.
Mr.. BUTLER. But il took about four
trials 10 get it so.
Mr.. WADE. Mr.. Calhoun asserted, when
be made his apology TO England, that the ne
cessity Of the acquisition was ia order TO get
room for slavery. ] am not mistaken about
that. II was the ayowed purpose for which
you wanted that acquisition, with full know
ledge that il would give rise to war, and that
il would be just cause Of war on the part Of
Mexico; and in this way, you made the free
North pay an immense sum in order TO get
that acquisition, which Mr.. Calhoun, then your
Secretary Of State, said was for that very pur.
pose. There was an aggression, think, Of
some considerable importance.
In the next place whom the territorv tbue