New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-14
wss unprecedented between Senator Johnson aud
Mr. HiDdman, Representative from Arkansas.
XXXVITH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.


Mr.. Mason resolution then taken up.
Mr.. CLAY sad be wished 70 know where we stood.
Let there be concealment- Senators on the other
side profess 70 respect the constitutional rights of the
South. and declare they will preserve and maintain
them If thai declaration u sincere and the Republic
can party will keep the pledge there il Ct
complaint But the South has good reason 10 dstrus
these professions when the conduct Of the Opposition
Senators II different. One Senator treats the
whole matter with leyity, which would be Of
fensive if be did not always treat every sub-
iect in the same manner, and he viii proba-
bly, die Like Rabeais, with a jest upon his lips ana
never wake to the responsibilities Of life and death un-
I'll he Is called 70 Judgment. Another rdcules the COW
ardce weakness and impotence ofthe South in suffer-
ing handful of men TO seize the armory al Harper
Ferry in the face Of 500 inhabitants. Another en-
iertans NJ with newly discovered opinions of Wash
ingon, Jefferson, and other fathers and trainers Of
tie Declaration Of Independence and Federal Consti-
tuition disappearing of Slavery. Another en-
deavors to excite domestic discussion and dis
cord within our own ranks at the South by
appealing TO Observation-Disclosures 10 come to the support
Of the eIubcan party, processing to vindcate their
rights and rescue them from the curse OF Slavery
thus striving scatter dragons teeth over the plans
Of the South in the hope that there will spring up
armed men, Others would brighten us with fierce and
brave words threatening with coercion to make us
submit 20 their authority, no matter how oppres-
sive and unconstitutional il might be. These are
the evidences of fratenal Affection respect, and
regard for the South which you present TO
ul Wendell Phillips has said, speaking OF John
Browns foray in Virginia that 1t was the natural
result Of ADtSavery teaching, and that he Tor one
exueced IT, He CLAW admired his courage and candor.
II was the truth. Others had predicted the same
things He then quoted the remarks of prominent Re
pubeans showing that hostile feelings existed toward
the South. Gov. Chase had said he hated not only
saveholding but shareholders, and his colleague here
had said substantially the same thing
Mr. WADE-DOes the Senator refer to me
Mr. CLAY-Yes, Sir.
Mr.. WADE-I would like TO have him give my Ian
euage and specify the time and place.
Mr.. CLAY-lf TIE Senator was not unsupported N
speech delivered in the State Of Maine in 1919, he de-
cared that the North and South hated each other as
cordially az the English and Russians who were then
engaged in the Crimean war. Such sentiment mad
been often avowed in different language by the SEN
ator from New-York mp Seward. The Republican
party in the North have opposed Slavery by nom
action in refusing 60 emf rec the constitutional guar
antees, and also by unfriendly legislation FOR
many years past negroes have been stolen,
either by individuals or organized bands OF
predatory invaders, sometimes openly and
shamelessly, ard at other times secretly-yet the
Northern States refuse to execute the fnglVe slave
Law and endeavOr to throw obstacles IN the way OF
the owner, who seeks to recover that species OF
property Who among the Republican Senators would
rise and say be condemned such course of pocy He
CLAW paused for reply. None beng gwen, ne pro-
ceeded to say that the silence Of Senators showed that
thew an would encourage these depredatlons upon
Slavery bv non.acton All admit that their Legisa-
lures are right in endeayorng TO destroy Slavery as lar
as they dare 10 do IT. Not content with Ron-acuon,
thew have actually gone 30 far az TO adopt unirendy
legislation i'm Masaachusetts and elsewhere.
Mr. DOOLITTIE stated that the Constitution of the
Tinted States properly construed gives to Congress no
power 10 Vass fugitive slave law. II simply nhiDlts
The States nom dschargng the fugitive from service
who NAV be held by the laws of the State from which
he escapes.
Mr.. CLAY would enter into no Constitutional argu-
rneut respecting the Fugitive Slave Law OF 1913 or
1893 But the Wisconsin Legislature has never passed
e |. . ,,,ffu iffxac
Senator say here that he would advise his Legislature
In the absence of Congressional lie s alton on the sub
eet 10 Pass law for the punishment Of stealing our
negroes and provide for their rendition.
Mr. DoOlittle made no answer.
Mr. CLAY a.)-DOes the North suppose we
of the South intend to bow necks TO the yoke, to
submit to the domination OF our masters That we
intend to sit here as hostages ioi Inc go9a
behavior of our conquered people-a people
under your Republican administration not
soyereipns but subjects Surely Republicans
must entertain more contemptuous OPINION
of us than even that expressed in their PLATFORM II
they thought the South would ever submit to that
last degradation. There men, rejoice to say, IN
the North not only of the Democratic, but OF the
old Wing party, who appreciate our rights, who
estimate our virtues, and who respect our honor
more than Republicans protested 10 do. Mlard
Fillmore was one and he spoke, trust and believe,
the sentiment of the freemen of the South, when ne
said that they never would submit to be governed
by a Republican President. | am not here to m
the halter and hangman | dared re-
fuse subsection to your Republican authority.
know that those who are foremost TO threaten are
generally hindmost 10 execute. L indulge IN no
menace make prediction and no promise for my
own State but win say that if she is faithful to the
principles which she has professed-f she is true TO
her own interests and her own honor-lt she Is not
recrean to all that State pride and political integrity
demands of her. she will never submit to your author
ty And say furthermore, that unless she and all
of the Southern States Of this Union with, perhaps
two OF three eXcepuons-are not iaithless 10 the
pledges they have given, they will never submit to
YOUR Republican domineering IN this Government
You remember that after the adoption OF the Compro-
mise measure of 1850 Georgia led the van in declaring
that upon the happening of certain events she would
disrupt the ties that bind her TO the union. Those con-
tngencies were, the refusal to admit State INTO the
Union becsuse Il was saveholding, or recognized the
right 10 hold slaves the repeal modification OF the
Fugitive Slave law, any attempt to abolish
the interstate slave trade, or any prohibition OF
Slavery in the Territories of the United States.
Every Southern State, repeat with the exception OF
two or three by the unanimous action OF their Legs
lstures and Conventions, both Democratic and wing,
and latterly American, have pledged themselves TO
maintain those resolutions, and TO dissolve this Union
if they possess the power upon the happening OF any
of tbese contingencies ask whether there is not much
stronger cause for the Southern people 10 separate
from the Union upon the election OF President OF par
" pledged by pattern to carry out ali theSe lngs
fair majority Of Congress might not faithfully ex
uress the will of the people. Ii might be said IN depre
cation of any extreme action the part of the South
or aRy Southern State, wait les us appeal from the
servants 10 the masters, from Congress 10 the people
and see whether they approve of this unjust
and imiquous legislation. But when the peo-
ple themselves OF the ballot box deliberately ayow
a purpose on the part Of the North, to exclude
ms from all the Territories OF the United states
by abolishing Slavery therein or prohibiting
ii therein TO refuse to keep that article of the Const-
tuition which pledges You to return slave on the de-
mand Of his master, 20 abolish Slavery IN the District
-. H. ID har
ask you whether would not be either insensiole TO,
our rights indifferent to their maintenance, or un;