Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
FREMoETs VOTES.

We are met with the assertion, nearly eve
~ hour in the day, that Col. Fremont, when
in the Senate voted universally with the South,
and that the record proves him to be anything
else than a Republican. After a careful e1-
animation OF the Congressional Globe we find,
that these assertions vanish into ssthin air.
Among other things it is charged that he vo-
ted az ainst proposition to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia. An examination OF
the official Journal of the Senate shows that
but FIVE Senators voted in its favor, and that
it was evidently not test vote. The circum-
stances are as follows: On the 18th of Sep
tember, the bin to suppress the Slave-trade in
the District of Columbia was pending, when
Goy. Seward, to show by his record that he
preferred to strike the institution out of exis-
.ence altogether in the District, moved to
strike out the whole bill from its enacting
clause, and insert the proposition above refer
red to. It was rejected, as it was expected it
would be, the vote standing Yeas 5, Nays As.
Among the nays with Col. Fremont were such
Northern men as Roger S. Baldwin of Con-
necticut, John Davis of Massachusetts, Thomas
Ewing Of Ohio, FL. Hamlin of Maine, Truman
man Smith of Connecticut, and r. c. Win
throp of Massachusetts,. They all preferred,
doubtless, to bend their energies toward OBJ
tanning what was attsinable-the breaking up
Of the slave pens and the slave auctions in the
national capital-and on the 10th of Septem-
Der the bill passed Fremont and Dayton voting
with all the Northern Senators in its favor
Atcbison, JEFF. Davis, Butler, and the rest of
that stripe, in the negative. Fremontyoted
against another proposition for an absolute,
unconditional abolition of Slavery in the Dis
trict, which was overwhelmingly rejected, and
the success of which was expected by no one.
But during the tendency of the bill suppress
sing the District Slave Trade, several votes
were taken which proved plainly enough where
the youngCalifornian' heart was and to which
side of the Senate Chamber his principles of
humanity led him. On the l4th of Septem-
bel, an amendment was pending providing that
if free person should entice or induce a slave
TO run away, or should harbor any such, he
should be immured in the District Penitentia-
~ five years. The vote was close one-yeas
%, nays 26. But Fremont and Dayton, voted
No, and. turned the scale against it. Among
the Yeas were Barnwell and Butler of S. c.,
Dawson and Berrien of Ga. (the State in which
Fremont was born,) JEFF. Davis, Soule, Foote,
Hunter and Mason of Va, W. R. King, Rusk
and others. Among the Noes were Fremont
and Dayton, Baldwin, Chase, John Davis, Ew-
ing, Hale, Hamlin, Seward, W inthrop and 9TH
ers. On another amendment to authorize the
Corporations Of the District to prohibit free
negroes within their limits, under penalty of
Imprisonment and fine; which also failed by
Ayes 20, to Noes 2S Atchison, Butler, Soule,
JEFF. Davis and others in the affirmative; Fre-
mont and Dayton, Hale, Chase and Seward
were in the negative. The record is signifi-
cant one Avoiding extreme votes for hope
less propositions, he was found on all real
test questions with the friends Of Freedom.
Wewere not at all surprised (page 691 Sept.
20, to find that when Mason of Va. moved to
strike out the clause in the Navy bill which
abolishes flogging in the navy, Col. Fremont
was found voting an emphatic No, with Hale,
Seward, Chase and other Northern men, who
believed that sailors could be better disciplin-
ed in some other way than By the cat-o'-nine-
tails, administered in plantation style, at the
whim of their superiors.