The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. J. r.. TYSON,
on PEsNsYLvANIA,


On the principles of gitiyeslaye laws and the compro
misses Of 1850 delivered in the House OF Representatives
February 20, 1857.
Mr. TYSON said
II would that the English phrase to get he eye OF
the Speaker" has little meaning in its application 10
Congress In this hail. The sten,orian effort and the vene
nent gesture which usually resorted to, but when
have declined 70 make to obtain the hoor snow la. sne
eag as well the eye must he violently assaed But after
many unsuccessful attempts avail myself OF the opportu
nifty accorded 10 10 proceed at once 10 he SUBJECT
which propose consider and about which have some
what to say perhaps hardly compressbe within the COM
pass of q hours speech. :.
NV topic Is not chosen with any relation to party poll
ties IL addresses itself the sober sense and enlightened
patriotism of all good citizens without regard TO political
divisions have selected il for the purpose OF bringing
into prominent notice considerations which have
been long overlooked the bordering OF which In the
public mind may tend asy the euds and arrangements
of party warfare and TO bring back into the ample fold OF
a common nationality those who have strayed into the
dark and wilderness OF sectional error
shall not initiate those gentlemen who have spoken both
sides of House, in favor of and against the Presidents
message While the study of all 10 be to make the
party lines this subject broader and deeper than before
il will be mine obiterae them altogether The ancents
OF opinion that the Offering of the olive branch by
Minerva acceptable and beneficial to mankind,
as the emblem OF peace than the symooi OF war winch
was presented by martial and more powerful deity
The present be opportune period TO address
dspassonate thoughts to the nation In order 10 that
calm and rejecting spirit important to the perception
and appreciation of truth The administration OF the
country will be placed in the hands of gentleman
whose political advesares cannot deny 10 him the quail
caons of maured experience and tried satesmanship OF
cool prudence and ardent patriotism, and uniting IN an
eminent degree OF heart with purity OF char
acter and habitual forecast with high intellectual capacity
have shown what vast good can be done by
the wise counsels Of man, like the Chief Magistrate
elect in the administrative concerns OF country Kansas
may breathe in peace and decide her own Questions
IN her way, without fear OF moestaton from Within
or of intrusion from without The popular disturbances
ia that unhappy Territory practically and trust final
y at rest thanks to the vgor and prudence OF Governor
md tahlp iu1ic ri al ass
late vote in this House has proved to the world that
the moral sentiments of the national Legislature in har
mony with the general voice Of ne people agasst any
subject therefore, only remains which minister to pop
uar disscion and the restoration OF peace tran
qulity and kindness throughout widespread land.
refer repugnance in the non-slaveholdng States to
the honest faithful and patriotic enforcement OF the ugi-
tiveslave laws On this delicate subject propose to speak
the sentiments have long entertained the result of lit
tie anxious meditation but with absolute freedom and
without equivocaton IT. after full hearing,
nv opinions should be regarded erroneous the
adduced too lame to support them hope that the
rotae If indeed mistake be possible this subject will
at least be regarded honest and sincere Penetrated
with the truth and conscious of the integrity OF the views
Iespouse commit myself the rejecting and discerning
North and to the enlightened and patriotic tribunal of
public opinion in other parts of the country
do not intend to become this occasion, and trust
on no occasion, the champion Of any party grave
question of common and momentous concern. 1t would
indeed be happy circumstance II parsans OF all dsnc-
lions would keep from the vortex OF party excite
redary labor and service 81 stem which existed by law
in all the colonies of this country from nearly its earliest
settlement; system which has been continued at the
South one which the habits of large districts have been
conormed and under which vast interests have been
ing up for than two centuries The continuance OF
this SYSTEM and the repose Of the communities IN which
retains footing should not disturbed by the external
agency of ignorant rash hostile Intermediates 1t is
merely identified with the habits and interests of mil
lions of people and millions of property, but 1t is inter
twned with their social feelings and even their religious
instincts.
il is asserted, am aware by the great body of the
northern people that they have sought to Interfere
with African slavery it prevails in the southern States
that though they disapproye of it relation, socially
and politically and believe that lis prevalence nourishes
sentiments maxms and interests which are
with the highest feelings and best interests of the
free States yet they aleg they oppose only its extern
sion into territory now free This believe IS the honest
opinion aud the feeling of almost the entire North.
The few persons who would kindle serviie In the
southern States excite the slaves TO of dsobedenee
dsloyay, those few misguided people who are in
Hall who crazed by The intensity OF engrossng
idea are be regarded insane and who ought to be
subjected the moral treatment OF lunatc ayums This
last class ia so exceedingly small that they could easily be
thus accommodated without much increase in the size OF
the present buildings the number OF their apartments
The allegation Of the North is that they seek only 10
prevent the introduction of slavery into the Territories
Cue common domain of the United States and attempt
20 no further The assertion of the South Is that the
question of extension is of local jurisdiction only de-
termnable by the people to be affected by IT. and that
how 10 that decision whether the decision be for its admis
sion exclusion. Now, the question may De seriously
asked whether either of these positions is exactly in accord
ance with the facts Do the North conhne their efforts t.
territorial questions and the South 80 Indifferent a'
not to attempt by intimidation and violence to farce its
pausion Do not the dsgraceul scenes of Kansas after
due abatement has been made ell the exaggeratons and
distortions excited and mendacious party prass de-
prye the South of such plea The dsobedienGe to fugi-
tve-slave laws the part of whole communities In che
Norih the of States 10 restrict and paray
them and the popular canor which opposes their exeeu
tion show that large portion of what is called even the
conservative North do not conne their opposition TO slave
labor in The common domain OF the United States.
call upon the North and the South to return to the
compromise of $780, the principles OF these
measures must constitute the buwarks of national
Union and national safety Such as HenEy Clay and
Daniel Webster lent all the OF their great minds
and commanding influence to the task OF maturing them
All parties formally and soemnly pledged to their OBJ
teryance They condemned only by those who were
led asay by the nnpatrotic deas which English states
men, through gifted but honest nstrumentaity had con-
rived ngenousy work into the very framework OF So
eia life in England, and to transfer to this country the
same poisonous spirit Peace and tranquility were re-
stored All parties became satisfied, except an insignh-
can't number at the North who Obliged by the COM
mon voice 10 murmur their acquiescence.
These compromise Of 1850 adopted in BRIEF few
plan principles which practically applied They de-
stroyed the traffic of buying and selling slaves in the
District of Columbia They provided for the reclamation
of and fortified the provision by all the guards
which experience had taught and forecast suggested They
gave to Utah and New Mexico the right to make their own
laws in their ways subject only 10 the approval Con
gress declared that Territory had the right to be
admitted a State, with without slavery according TO
the decision of the people of each respectively.
The Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 is already passing
away and will soon be forgotten, or REQUIRED to- its en-
acrnens will be remembered only 10 be avoided in all fu-
Ii IN haya