Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-20
eongress--Tira sess
Debate in the House Of Representatives.
FRIDAY May, o. 1856.

Mr. HrSnY WGSrER DAVIS rnid, with refer
enee ~ the judiciary expenses, | wish only tn
sag one or tso words. suppose. Mr.. Speaker,
/ lint the improper conduct OF officer in incur
! ring an unnecessary expense, which, however,
Was Discretionary with him il not good ground
| upon which this House may withhold nm appro'
| nration. II rests with the Government 10 pay
/ tha debt You cannot refuse 10 pny the debt be-
| cause the marshal exceeded "A proper discretion
10 securing the necessary assistance for the en-
! frosnent Of mn obnoxious law, ia place where
/ the Inv l. known to be obnoxious. Sir. the fact
that strong posse comhdfus was summoned 10
remand That fugitive from labor to his masters
home. was in my opinion. the exeic else 81 u wise
discretion on the part Of that officer. aud MT nn
abuse of discretion.
marvel when bear gentlemen question the
propricty of paying citizens Of Ohio who hnve
been called out To- execute the laws of the United
States. because of the law which they were called
upon to execute. Sir, we know very well that
lay i. obnoxious ia ali the northern country--we
know, likewise, that at every time when assist
ancc has been needed 10 enforce the laws of the
United States. there have been patriotic men who
have suppressed their hostility to those lawsand
have come firth 10 execute them at the risk of
their lives; know TINT the most iustrious day
TINT has passed over Boston since tho time her
fathers cast the tea overheard was when her cit
i2ens armed themselves in the absence of United
States troops aud marched under the order Of he
marshal Of the United Suites. through the streets
Of the city, 10 execute "A law which, perhaps, not
one Of them approved in his heart, with that high
aud honorable devotion to the laws of the coun-
Try which has many occasions signalized that
illustrous city, and of which it is the best harbn-
ger of the continuance to the latest generation
Sir. am unwilling, when officers are found who
will do their duty "n posse comitatus, aud aid
in the execution of laws obnoxious to them. that
hall 10. a., e
paying them the ordinary per diem for their SER
vices. marvel stlll moro Mt that exceedingly
keenness Of nos,rl, which, without nything ap-
parent on thu face of the itom, or from the depart
ments, us If they had taken lesson from the
cblldren's song
smell the blood of niger man"
instantly pitches upon the possibility that the
Government may have intended TO pay ont OF thi~
appropriation men employed for the purpose If
executing a law which is only difficult of execu
ton, that should be mate the ground for an an
founded nttnek al my honorable friend from Ohio,
Ar. Cnmpbell the chairman Of the Committee
81 Ways aud Means, who j. no more in favor Of
the fugitive slave Law than the gentleman who ~
sailed him, but who does not entertain tho era
~ and manac idea that laws ure nothing inter
they are enacted at the will ol OF any indydu-
a
Mr.. Giddings. Doe, the gentleman nllcge that
| nssaiIed my colleague
Dir. Davi@.-Crrtninly 1t WAS 80 under
stood by him, by me, anI by The VIII e House
Mr.. Gidding>.-I ask TIE gentlemnn whit was
my language when assai I'd my collcaguel
Mr.. Davis.--rhe genten Ell from Ohio goes be-
yohd me- | cannot pretend L. reooect his Ian.
gnhg". 10 was regarded ~ assault by my hon
ornho friend from Ohio Mr.. Campbell, it was 50
regarded by the whole House. and led To II very
animated discussion between those two gentle
mon.
Mr. Giddings The gentleman, fr.m Maryland
must toe aware that, when my colleague referred
To the matter, disclaimed in "a Gle ,r language
Us was capable of using. that | ne Their meaut
to hssall or show any personal disrespert 10
him.
Mr.. Davis.-'rhe gentleman, am aware, di-
claimed any intention Ia sail his colleague: but
assert That the language used was in itself AN
attack. II WINS apparent that the entlemnn in
tended I" place the chairman Of the Cot rmiitre of
Ways and Means in the position Of an agoni~m
to persons IN the State of Ohio who svmpathaed
with tho senior member from that STATE. MIR.
'lddnGs, and To- bring On him the charge at in
consistency in being an opponent of the FUGITIVE
slave law IN the shape in which il now rxisi4 on
The statute h"pk,nnd at the sumo time furns hing
the Administration with the of nunilnents If
war to enforce it at the point of the bayon.
Mr. Giddings WIZ the gentleman permit me
one further interrogatorv
Mr.. Davls.-Crr,ainly.
Mr., Giddings. The gentleman from Mary
land says that he aud others understood what |
said rs personal attack on my colleague
denied any such intention in the most express
terms. Does the gentleman mean to reiterate
his mi understanding against my definite undcl.
standing!
Mr.. Davis do not mcanfp reitcrate any
mi understanding.
Mr.. Giddings. Then say that what the gen
teman snys is n misunderstanding.
Mr. Davis accept tie statement Of the hon
nrab'e gentleman, that he did not intend what
was the direct effect of his language do not
mean TO say that the gentleman meant to iniuro
the chairman of the Committee ON WAYS aud
Means; but the direct tendency of the gentle |
mans language was Ia place the honorable chair
man in position where he would get the hos
hhty of men in his district, who might sympa-
ihlze with the senior member, in surprising that
II is legitimate mode of conducting the affairs of
the Government to refuse appropriations to ear
ry out II law which majority of the people have
passed. 1t was to compel him 10 disregard the
duty OF enforcing the laws, or 10 encounter that
odlum. 1t was IL piece of that accursed agitation
which has shaken this country for the last few
yaars--an agitation of which gentlemen on the
other side Of the House, unfortunately. have CIV.
on the coca sion of the renewal now, aud which
the honorable gentleman who sits at the head of
the Committee of Ways and Means who is op-
posed to the agitation of the slavery question on
higher law princpes-is anxious to put an end
ia 80 far as he can, aud he brings forth The first
by procaming that he is willing to execute every
law which, having passed through all the forms,
Is spread upon the statute book.
Mr.. Giddings.-If the gentleman from Mary
land says TINT my language imputed to my col.
league want of all the knowledge of the items
embraced in the appropraiion,th he is correct