New-York daily tribune., 1856-06-03
.s,~erRy pECENCY IN THE SENATE

-,,,, .. published in TIE Congressional Gi0bt give
S,t very faint ide Of much that is said add dooe In
Nat body. OF che conduct Of the Southern sena-
tor, toward Mr. Sumner only very Inadequate DO
tisn can be collected from that record IL oo"
however, abundant proofs, some oi "niol ,na
,rocsed "a cite that by their own co"uuV'
-.s.A.s Southern Senators have es'aoisn0u ,''o
- s.noto,;aI decorum courtesy ana F'oP'"
-,;.h -. Il not merely absurd, bu. 10 inc n'eu'
-. h.,e and hypocrtical for them 70 taAe
".i,n an the ground Of fpersonality 10 anything
.SIpd \, MI. Sumner during the recent debate
~ simmer took bis seat in the Senate at the
,.-;,,;no Of December, 1851. The first occasion
~ h;s addressing the Senate on the Slavery ques'
ton was on the Goth OF May, 1852, up 70 which
time be had been treated with marked courtesy
and attention; but from that moment ne became an
object Of Gus picion, which speedily degenerated
into liscoortesy, rapidly followed by insult. The
s.ocas;ou Of his first remarks on Slavery was the
D,esentatiou Of memorial against the Fdgitiee-
elaye Law from the yearly meeting of the New
Eaeland Ouakers. Having read an extract from
the memorial, he began to say word as TO the
character of the memOrialsts, when he was inter-
rupted BY the President with an ntimation tkat he
could not say anything beyond briefly stating the
contents of the memorial till the Senate lad first
consented to receive it.
Mr.. Sumner stated that he intended, after few
words, 10 move the reference of the memorial to
the Judiciary Committee; that he had already read
part Of it, was referring to the character OF the
memorialists-a usage which be had observed on the
Hoor constanty-that he designed estate the course
he should pursue and then to move to refer flnaly
the Chair, evidently much agitated with the ap-
prehenson of an Anti Slavery speech, consented to
hear the Senator if such was the pleasure Of the
Senate and he did not 90 into an elaborate discus
sion. Mr.. Sumner disclained any such intention,
and Mr.. Dawson ssying "Let him be heard, and
several Senators responding "Certaialg," he pro-
1oeeded to speak as follows:
al observed that this memorial was commended by
the character of the religious assOc1 from which 1t
proce eds. 1t is commended also, by its earnest ant
persuasive tone Now, Sir, desire simply to say that
shall deem it my duty, some proper occasion here
after 10 nyselfa length on the matter To which
II relates Thus far during this session, have for
borne With the exception Of an able speech from my
colleague Mr. Davis, the discussion OF this all absorb
ing question has been mainly left with Senators from
another quarter of the country, by whose mutual
differences It has been complicat and bet whom
have not cared to interfere. But there l5 time for
all things. Justice, Also requires that both sides
should be heard; and trust not to expect too much
when at some fit moment bespeak the clear and can
did attention of the Senate while undertake to set
FORTH frankly and fully, and with entire respect Tor this
body convictions deeply cherished in my own State,
though dlsregarded here, to which am bound by
every sentiment of the heart, by every fibre of my
being by all my devotion to country, by my love OF
God and man. But upon these do not now enter;
eufice it, for the present. to say, that wnen shall
Il 49, halt Voh0 nptf moth
which, in any Just sense be called sectional unl ss
the Constitution is sectional, and unless the sentiments
of the fathers were sectional 1t Is my happiness TO
believe and my hope to be able TO show that, accord
ing to the true spirit of the Constitution aud according
to the sentiments of the fathers, Freedom and not
Slavery is national; while Slavery and not Freedom
is sectional In duty to the petitioners and with the
hope Of promoting their prayer move the reference
of their petition TO the Committee the Judiciary
On motion of Mr. Mangum, out of special respect
to the Quakers, the memorial was received aud
Immediately laid ON the table. Mr.. Dawson IN
some remarks, not without an evident sneer'
pressed strongly that Mr.. Sumner might have
hearing at once. We quote;
"If il be the desire of gentlemen to open this dis
cussion, especially in a solemn manner, and with a
heart filed with Christian feeling, which seems to be
Overfowng the Senator from Massachusetts; if be de
sires TO make discussion of the subject now Is the
time" "If gentlemen desiie to throw firebrands into
this country let them do it, and if they more CHRIS
tsn in their feelings and their hearts pure than
mine, want them to pour them out. trast that II
the Senator from Massachusetts desires an occasion to
discuss this question, that we will give HIM
the opportunity. Let the petition be presented,
let him set down the day for the discussion
s1e TO discuss @ IS it, Now Sir Is the accepted time
Let be met and let il be made test question here
and see how the different sections of this country stand
upon this question Let there be no double dealing
in politics religion-no hypocrisy Of the heart or
hypocrisy in political action" 81 want this question
handled not merely with soft political gloves, for party
purposes. want manliness-I want frmness; and i
gentlemen desire sectional questions and sectional
agitation am now prepared for them'
But the Senate did not sympathize with thi,
disposition to give Mr. Sumner chance to be
heard, which indeed was evidently only taunt on
Dawsons part, conveying the idea that Mr.. Sum.
ner wanted the credit of desire ard of courage
to speak, without really having either. Seeking
IN opportunity to meet the challenge that Dawson
had thus thrown out, Mr. Sumner on the eth o.
July offered the following resolution, stating his
intention to call it up As soon as possible perhaps
the next day:
Resol,ed That the Committee the Judiciary
TO cop'de, the e1peSeney Of reporting bill for tn.
aiiy Known the Fugitive Slave Act 49, ''''
The next day, in the morning hour, he asked the
Senate to take up this resolution, whom he spoke
az follows:
"In asking the Senate TO take up this resolution FOL
consideration, say nothing of its merits, of the
argument by which it may be maintained, nor do
anticipate any objection to i these grounds. AL
this win properly belong TO the discussion of the reso
luton ITSELF when it Is actually before the Senate
The single question now is-nOt the resoution-but
whether shall be heard upon it. A. Senator under
the responsibilities of my pOsition have deemed my
duty TO offer this resolution. ! may seem to have
postponed this duty 10 an inconveDent period OF the
Session; but had attempted il ut earlier day |
oil N