Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-12-15

that there is no authority in the Constitution
for surrendering up those who are held to ser
wee who flee from one state to another
Mr.. Gddings i do. And whenever a
slave sets foot upon free soil, il l had the pow
er, would make him ss free as the air which
he breathes.
Mr.. Bennett of Mississippi-I would ask
the gentleman ii lie is prepared to violate an
express provision of the Constitution
Mr.. Giddings.-No, SIR. l understand the
Constitution of the United States and l know
those who framed the Constitution never in
tended to degrade me or my fellow Republi-
cans by making us the bloodhounds TO chase
the painting fugitive. Sir, l repudiate and
detest such doctrine 1t never was the doc
trine of the Constitution, and never will be.
Mr.. Bennett OF Mississippi. ques-
ton. ask the gentleman to draw distinc-
ton between the provision of the Constitution
which requires the rendition of slaves, and
that provision of the Constitution which, in
the electoral vote, gives a three .hfths repre-
sentation to slaves. The words used are iden-
iically the same In the one instance it pro-
viGes for the rendition OF those who are bound
to serviee and in the other, in fixing the IA.
ito Representation, it nses the words "those
bound to service" And although the same
words are used. the gentleman says, one means
slaves and the other apprentices.
Mir. GiddIngs.-lf the gentleman will pro-
pound questions to me pertinent to the subject
under consideration. L will listen to them un-
til my hour expires but l am unwilling that
he should occupy my time with such interrog-
atores as that now proposed. 1t has no Iea-
ton to the remarks | was making.
Mr.. Benuett, OF Mississipp.-I desire to
PROFOUND question to the gentleman. The
mel. oc IL u. IL
tleman denies to be of binding force, uses
identically the same language as that contat H.
ed in the provision giving three ifths repre-.
sentation. 1t says that persons escaping from
service shall be rendered, upon application.
to him to whom that service is due. The
same language is used in the other clause OF
the constitution to which | referred
Mr.. Giddings.-I will also hear gentlemen
courteously who PROFOUND questions which are
directed to the subject which am discussing;
but l cannot be led off into the field which
the gentleman now asks; but he must not
abuse my courtesy, by disappearing me as
denying any part of the constitution. when
distinctly informed him that hold to that in
strument and will obey it. was speaking of
the right of the North to utter their senti-
ments upon this question of returning fugi.
tive slaves.
Mr.. Bennett, Of Mississippi.-.I desire the
gentleman to answer the question which
have propounded.
Mr. Giddings.-It takes the gentleman from
Mississippi quite too long to PROFOUND que .
tiOns He has abused my courtesy and tran
gressed all bounds of propriety. l will not
suffer him longer to encroach upon my brief
hour.
was about to proceed with remaks upon
tie opinions of the President and his usurpa-
ton and attempted tyranny in thus endeavor.
ing to exercise supervision over the people
who have male him, politically, what he is,
But as have but minute left, will, with
out going further into that subject, remark
that in what have said touching the FRESH
dent have fe't no spirit of unkindness. feel
pity, sympathy for him. He is somewhat
advanced in life, and now cast off by his for
mer friends. In his age, the South-having
got all the advantage they can make out Of
him, used him body and soul and intellect
have now repudialed him; and now that he
Is about to retire to private lite, would not
add single pang to his remorse. | sorrow
for the man that has thus deserved the repud-
iation of his friends; and as l close l will say
that, as L have been led from the tram of re-
marx by interrogatories, l shall write out
what | intended to have said