Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-01

: question w"s up he right. a. i; i. Given in ,Lo 'n'
papcr-- There WIS some in'crrnp,ion m ,h;s ""'
and Mr.. u. suspended bis remarks until order ~,
restored '
Mr.. NJ, reznmins. I do no, propose TO addre.. -.
self Ia the question of that amendment. | feel caT:.t
upon to express my views with reference to the eau.
which influenced the committee in the action ,b.,
took upon this ~su!ject. | was about 10 state, wb.!,
Interrupted, that Tie reason why | was opposed Ia a
committee Of conference WINS, because of the srorpi
taken in another part of this building, in the drb.,a
upon the passage of this bill. From that. | wouli
conclude that il Il utterly Impossible for that body aui
THIS ever 10 come 10 m understanding upon this sub.
jrc;, unless there is some rctrngrade step taken some.
where. As a member Of this House who voted f,-
that bill. | am not prepared 10 take that step, bu, "a.
Their advance in the demand which il made.
Ia the ScrBte. it was urged that we were going b..
yond tho provisions OF the fugitive slave law; tina, V,
should resort 10 the inv OF the country for redress in
this case. l contend, sir, that Pur-ons had no RENE.
dy Whatever under the fugitive slave law: that no
VIII "f hHb""s corp"S. or other mode Of relief, could
ne sued ont for Parsons, tina. promised n senblance of
nope that he could b. rescued from the punishment,
'nat awaited him in the Pcni,entiary of Pennsylya.
MIA.
Inc House appears to he impatient. and | am on,
OF those very modest gentlemen who never desire 10
sPr"h ~ III impatient House. | regret, sir, that this lie.
bate mas occurred III connection with a subject Of ;As
character. ! regret il. because | draw from it a con.
ciision ferE different from tina: which other gentle
men Seem disposed 10 draw. They hold that this 20.
bate will show I" the world that we are disposed "a
take some decided action IN this matter. Sir. m.
conclusion which | have drawn from it, but confirm.
the opinion which | have long entertained; that Nc
will talk and debate, and that however true we NAV
be TO the interests Of Virginia and the South, We ire
slow to take up in defence OF her arms. The South
will ever partly agree md disagree To the mode and
measure OF redress. Appeal 10 reason, Mr. Speaker
Appeal 10 reason! Sir, have We not appealed 10
reason for twenty-five long years /! And what ha,
been the result ! Has there been one siugls ac; Of
justice rendered on the part Of the North. in RESPONSE
10 such mn appeal. Look. sir, al the Congress. ct tho
United States as n result "l agitation and iara'icINrr,
Look 10 the whole North in a state Of rebellion
against tbs constitution at the United States. Jet thu
crv is-prace. peace. when there il no peace. And lie.
yer will there be peace until We take 4 bold and manly
stand, aud show that We are disposed to raise iIeissue
with them. Sir, | would a soon nppca! TO the rea.
son of that .JeT, So .loQu-utly depicted by the gen.
tleman from Washington, (Mr. FLOYD the other day.
to Yield his pound nf flesh, rs would appeal 10 the
fanatics Ut the North To do justice 10 Il citizen OF Viz.
gIDla.
Sir. this is n question beyond the constitution Of tho
United States. It is a question that goes beyond The
provisions OF the fugitive slave law. lts a question
which interests the sovereignty OF the State ot Nr.
.lnia. | call upon all those who profess 10 DO STATE
rights men, to stand upon State rights doctrines and
prvtcc; her citizens. ann, for one, not 50 much Dis.
posed 10 find fault with tn" SENATE. because that Senate
-unintenti"n|Iy, have no ionht-"il he HE inran'
Of raising Al i>sue, which, as a Southern man, de.
sire. !
arson mas SDlf ~ i cum . t'f"' 49, '"'''' Il
from the Information before me-, that that same test. l
Inunv. pGriurel and false as il was. which induced the [
grand Jury of Pennsylvania to return u true oil, tia! !
h. had been guilty "f kidnHpping-iha That te'tInlo. I
ny will convict Parsons, aud mat lie VII! ne sen' 10 \
the Pcniientiary. =
Sir. for one, / was anxious that the issue should be
raised, and | look with some hope 10 the probability c
nj lis bcin. made OUT of the present case. Then We Y
should see who was disposed To- 60 tarthest. and W.,
not. Mr.. Speaker, for one, | do no. believe II Is pr:. E
siLle to bring the North Ia reason. The abolition D
~wlirlwind has drawn from the helm those tue men D
who were disposed 10 stand by Us. IL has absorb. i
sd the two great parties Of the country, aud they !
were absorbed because that party lriumphed "" d
on this question III tie North: and | fear, sir, We shall
brremt ourselves becnu-c we never can agree a 70 4
what shall be done. ] Question the sentiments u. 400
one. | impaic improper motives and feelings I" No Ii
one. ] believe that in that respect all of us are will Y,
III. anl ready Ia DO what each ot us think necessary ID
But, the misfortune is, that we cannot agree upoll
ANYTHING, and | fear, betur" my God, that we new;
shall agree, rs to any particular measure oi import
lance. \
Mr.. Speaker. | will not prosecute these desultory I
remarks. listened with pleasure 10 the gentleman J
from stafford, tMr. SEupoS.) and | thank him toy /
the noble sentiments which he has uttered. He hr 2
anticipated much oi what | intended To say. and ba.
said /, better than ] could. ] regret that W. ever
yielded anything IN reference 10 that hr5t bill. i"'
We ought to know from past experience thu; w!et.
ever we compromised We lost ground. Sir. am B
not like the gentleman from Bedford. (Br. BCRwEILl[
| was afraid Of being excited, too excited upon th.
question, and may b." rash; but, sir, in n matter III
this sort, | think the day for reasoning, the day for
submission, has passed by an", for one, sir, w"utF
rather be ac;uated by my instincts rs aSo",hcrn man Z
upon this question, than by reason. y
| will not, Mr.. Speaker, undertake to sny more uport
this subject at this time. The "ccnsinn val soon are
rive, think. for u full expression of opinion uppnE
this subject, when the action Of the joint committcen
comes before the House. h
Bein. unwilling To 'rcspass upon the time and p:. :
ticncc OF the House, l Will reserve what l nave 10 sam
for that occasion. A
MIR. HoGE, OF Berkeley, said: ! rise, Mr.. Speak, AZ
to make q special statement. ! desire In say, and N
speak. after consultation with tho gentleman i,oG.
HAMPSHIRE (Mr. liIETTj that James Parsons can re- r
ceivc no benefit now from the action nf the L.cgi...
ture. The strength, the protection and the sustalnG: !.
power of his sovereign, Virginia, which he has ask. n
at your hands, has been denied TO him. The rhiri Il
Of the State hangs rushing i'll your halls, while be, u. &
citizen, has gone to meet Whatever fate the m4iue., Il
of tsnaticism has prepared for him. He conld no!
have done otherwise. His honor, his faith. hs Ii;.S
ginlanisIn, all demanded tiHt he should staud wit.
barred bosom before his .nes, and by hi, presence shos
the generous strangers who stood forward Il. l,I
bondsmcn Gnl sur-iies, that their confidence in wi
GINA character was not misplaced. II
The case before us Is 10 longer that oi James Par 4
sons. 1t is not n man. but II fact, that demands oG g
ectIon-a representative fact-an issue. grave aay.
solemn, and hera'dlnS other issues, fast gathera;h
upon Us, sill! more grave and solemn. desire, SID
n hurried Legislation, no i'll considercd action. IaskHu
that Virginia take her position calmly, GrEberai-lyl {
and ~so!emny. Let her temper her uction with wnap
has been styled that ra-caly virtue. prudence, TO th:ll
iull content oi the most tiinId and shrinking. Let bePp,'
cxhib I the utmost caution; but let her act. and 80 iflr
that, true Ia herself, true Ia her gloriou. past, she Ms!fit
stand in the coming future firm and immoyable, tres.I i
in 10 step backward. III
Gentlemen cannot say that l am ardent. ! n1 ID
the question without excitement, without undue enc y
ton. BU:, sir, in the very spirit Of calmnes., az
mlnl solemn, deliberate AMI strong irgi ,latlou. locky "a
To the growing complication Of our relations 10 4: N
North. This case Ii but u type-a representation j,
,fi.rl. md ,t. ,rIt. 1.,-
meet nil the responsibilities it entails upon Us.
Mr.. lluGE, alter some other remarks, concluded T. b.
moving the previous question. ~
The motion was sustained, and the main questt;N
being put-which wns the motion to disagree 10 the
nmendmeni proposed by the Sena,c-it was ag-se!i'
Ia. Ayes lOl, noes II. y