The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-24
WASHINGTON, d! c., THURSDAY, JULY a. 1856.

from New York Mr SEWARD justlses the Nor,b in
am not TO hold social intercourse with such
Mr. FoorE. think he Mr. SEWARD will have 10 he
"Mr. CALHOUN recognise them as S.ps,ors ssy rood
morning and shake hands with them that is the ex
tent OF my intercourse with those who think endan-
genng the mon."-Senate Proceeditgs March Is 1850
Congressional Gtooe, rol 1, part 1, 1S49-50.
That was the first attempt to break down a
Senator because he entertained the opinion that
Slavery ought not to be extended over the Ter.
riteries OF the country. All the power and
weight OF this distinguished man was thus
brought to bear upon a new member entering
upon his duties. / shall not comment upon
these things. / merely state matters of fact
Things progressed in this way, and these efforts
were made to prescribe and break down a mem.
Der. After the election of Mr. Pierce to the
Presidency-called to that high Office by twenty.
seven out OF the thirty-one States-his party were
flushed with victory, and confident that thew
had the reins of Government in their hands for
all time to come. What, then, was the con.
duct OF the Senators representing that great
party?
In the Senate at that time, we find, with Mr..
SEW ARD, Mr.. CHASE, who is now Governor OF
the third State in the Union. By his side we
found Mr.. HALE, who represents the State from
which the President was taken, and we found
CHARLES SUMNER, from Massachusetts. What
was the conduct of the Senate toward these gen.
tlenen? In the second session of the Thirty.
second Congress, the committees were arranged
blythe majority, and announced by the President
OF the Senate-the Senator from Indiana, TMr.
BRIGHT ON being questioned by Mr.. HALE, as
to the composition of the committees, stated in
reply, 81 believe that the gentleman TMr. HALEl
is not on any committee, for the reason that we
1.-The Democratic party in the Senate of the
United States consider him outside of any
healthy political organization known to the
country" That was the reply to the inquiry
made by Senator representing the State OF
New Hampshire, when, on looking over the list
of committees, he saw that his name was not on
any.
Look little further and you will find that
the great State of Ohio was prescribed by the
Senate, because the people of Ohio saw proper
in their wisdom to send to the Senate of the
United States man who believes that Slavery
should not be extended over the Territories OF
the country. He was prescribed by the Senate
of the United States, and was told that, because
he entertained these opinions, he was not wor.
thy to act on the committees of the Senate.
SO, also, was treated the distinguished Sena.
tor from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER. He had
no place ON any committee at that time
These men were prescribed by the party in
power, because they were in favor of Freedom,
and against Slavery. Will gentlemen deny that
that was the cause? The very language of Mr.
BRIGHT, while acting for the party shows that
that was the cause. Then here we find the voice
of Ohio, of New Hampshire, and of Massachu-
setts-so far as relates to the preparation OF
business in the United States Senate-silenced
by the majority, because their representatives
entertained opinions not in accordance with the
opinions of the majority. A greater wrong than
that never was committed by political party
of this country. Has it come to this, Mr.. Speak.
er, that because the free States of this country
will take upon themselves to send men to the
Senate of the United States to represent the
interests Of Freedom, they are to be prescribed ?
We are told by the gentleman from North Car
DINA, Mr.. CIINGMAN, that because of this are
all the evils which are upon US that because
the people of the free States see proper to send
men here to represent Freedom, the evils which
have since characterized the legislation of the
country are to be attributed to that fact
Now, do gentlemen from the South wonder
why it is that the people Of the North have be-
come aroused? DO they wonder why it is that
there is agitation in the country, when their Sen
ators are prescribed and denied the position to
which the interests and constitutional rights of
their States entitle them in the Senate of the
United States, because of the opinions of the
people whom they representa- Do gentlemen
wander that the people of the free States shall
become reused, and that there should be excite
ment throughout the country? l tell you, gen.
tlemen, that that is owing to your acts. | have
sat here when "Sleepy Hollow would hold all
the men here who were not afraid to acknowl-
edge that they were in favor of Freedom. l
have been here when this little circle here would
hold all the men who dqred to rise and say they
were opposed to the extension of Slavery. How
is it now? Look at these seats, now filled by the
friends of Freedom. All, gentlemen, by your
prescription you have aroused excitement. 1t
cannot be allayed until justice has been done.
Injustice is not done, it cannot be allayed until
you stupefy the people of the free States, and
make them forget their love of liberty; and that
cannot be done so long as the sun shines in the
heavens. They are eontending for right; they
are contendng for their constitutional rights.
But gentlemen from the South take the Con-
stitution, and say they will interpret it. They
deny us power in this case, and all their inter
pretations are against Liberty, and in favor of
Slavery. 1t always means the protection, the en-
enlargement, the extension, the building up of
that great interest which has heretofore con-
trolled, and which still strives to control, the
legislation of the country. And yet we are told
that we are the aggressors-that we are the
agitator5-that we are the men to be hunted
down. Why? Because we see proper to come
here to assert our rights-to say that the Sen.
ate of the United States is theatre on which
the Senator's f-oll tie fee States snail be per-
mitted to have free action and free speech
that they are not to be prescribed by chair
man representing the great Democratic party
that because the people see proper to send them
there to represent free principles, their voices
are not to be hushed. 1t is on this account that
the excitement has been created Throughout
the country And say to gentlemen, with ali
candor, and having no desire to add to the ex-
element, that they must do justice if they wish
to see this excitement suppressed. 1t is not
fer them to get up here, and to tell us that it is
because there are four or FIVE genten. vhona
they call Aboltionists in the Senate; Justice
is not to BE met in that way; and quiet and
peace are not to be given to the county in that
way
Now, Mr.. Speaker, have been diverted from
nay original plan of argument. l did not de-
sign to say word on this subject, further than
to present an argument upon the question i'm
nlediateiy before US. I wish to approach the
matter, as the gentleman from Georgia Mr..
FOSTER said he approached it yesterday-with
calmness, and without bias or prejudice with
O. desire to do justice, and to investigate the
matter with all the candor which am capable
Of ! vas thrown from my line of argument
~ the remarks of the gentleman from North
Carolina, Mr.. CIINGMAN, which thought re-
CURED an answer to be made, and have made
1t. do not see in his seat the gentleman from
Georgia who last addressed the Louise. rM..
- reciprocate the kind feelings which
he expressed, and the desire which he evinced
that there should be nothing done here TO add
to the excitement of the country, or which