The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-17

alton OF the bill to supply Deficiencies IN 'ne
appropriations for the service of the fiscal year
ending June &c. 1856, the question being on
the amendments of the Senate thereto.
Mr.. Shorter, of Alabama, made an hours
speech on the subject of Slavery. He alluded
to the act passed by the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts, multiplying the Fugitive Slave Law, re-
marking that the question involved was an i'm
portant one, and growing more and more so to
the fifteen slaveholding States of the Union.
The great State of Ohio was beginning sys-
tenn of legislation in imitation of that adopted
by Massachusetts,, and, if these States possessed
the right to nullify the Constitution of the
country, every other Northern State had the
same right, and away would go that clause of
the Constitution which guaranteed to the South
the right to reclaim their fugitive slaves. Mas
sachusetts occupied position outside the Union,
and ought not to be represented here, nor should
one dollar be appropriated by Congress for her
benefit. There was no other remedy, tor he
de6ed gentlemen to point to that clause of the
Constitution which gave Congress authority to
coerce sovereign State. Let States of the
North go on with their laws repudiating the
Constitution of the country let Congress refuse
to ignore them in the appropriation bills, and
continue to treat them on equal terms-the
South possessed last resort, and would adopt
it. That resort was the law of retaliation, which
was discussed last winter, not only in Alabama,
but in every Southern State. They proposed
to wait to see if Congress would not interpose
to protect the Constitution in its sanctity and
the rights of the South, declaring that if this
should not be done they would take the remedy
into their own hands, and protect themselves
He alluded to the Importance of the approach
ing Presidential contest, remarking, that if the
Democratic party, the true exponent of State
Rights principles, should prevail, the Union
would be safe; but if the flag of the black Re-
publicans should wave in triumph, the history of
the Confederacy would be written. He loved
the Union, because under it we had prospered
and grown from feeble colonies of Great Britain
to the proud position we at present occupied
before the nations of the earth. There was
only one way in which the Union could be pre-
served, and that was by the true conservative
men of the North, represented by the sound
National Democracy, and it was their duty to
wage an unending warfare upon those fanatics
who were attempting to tear down the pillars of
the Republic. Put downthis aggressive warfare
upon the rights of the South; administer the
Government according to the principles of the
Constitution; cease agitation, and restore quiet
to the country; let the blessings of Government
fall like the dews of Heaven, equally and alike
upon all sections of the Union-and every part
of the country would be found clinging to the
Constitution as the palladium of their rights,
and the union of the States as the ark of their
political safety.
The hour having arrived to which the gene
raj debate had been limited by resolution of the
House, the discussion was resumed on the
amendment ofthe Senate appropriating 200,
or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pro-
vide for engraving the maps and drawings &C.
companying the reports of explorations and
surveys % determine a Pacific railroad route.
The question was finally taken, and the amend
ment was non-concurred in.
Several other amendments having been dis
posed of, the proceedings of the Committee were
impeded by the want of a quorum, when the
roll was called, and the names of the absentees
| were reported to the House.
Only one hundred and fifteen members hav.
| ing answered to their names, at three o'clock
the House adjourned.