Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-23
AN INCIDENT IN LEGISLATION

The Tribune correspondent writing from Hsr,
risberg, Pa. thus speaks Of the action Of the Legis
lature on the day Of Daniel wsbster's arrest
Mr., Irish, of Allegheny, having obtained leave
to make a statement, said
When came down to breakfast this morning,
the fret thing I heard was that a great outrage had
been committed within q hundred yards OF where
slept. That a man who had lived here for over
seven years had been seized in tho market.house,
while buying some fish for his family, by q party
of armed %ruf6ans, ironed and hand ,cufed, and
dragged through the principle streets of the city,
in broad daylight, struggling with oil the strength
and energy Of a desperate and outraged man, and
cry ing for HELP "'IIELr' But there wa. no help.
A thousand towards stood by, and saw this thing
perpetreted. Saw the victims frantic wife wall.
ing and pleading, at the depot, to save her hus.
band, and not a hand was lifted to save him.
Mr.. Fleming of Clarion, inquired if the gentleman
had been there himself, whether be would have
interfered or assisted to save him.
Mr.. Irish Whenever l shall fail under
such circumstance to help the helpless, may l be
deserted should l ever be 50 unfortunate as to have
occasion to call upon q fellow-man for help.
Several gentlemen inquired whether this discus.
sion was in order.
The Speaker intimidated that he thought the
gentleman would be out of order in continuing his
remarks further.
Mr.. Irish then asked leave to make o statement
for the purpose Of bringing this matter to the no,
tice of the House-ifI am out of order in proceed.
ing further with my remarks, 1 will move that the
House suspend the rules, and proceed to the con.
eiIaro nj TI0a,a LII NJ 400 -
for the Better Security of Personal Liberty &C.,
and viii only say, in conclusion, that if we had
been presented this morning with a petition signed
by every man, woman and child in the Common.
wealth it would not appeal more loudly for US to
act in this matter than the occurrences which have
this very morning transpired almost within the
shadow of the Capitol.
Mr.. Kinney Of Bradford rejoieed at having an
opportunity of voting for the resolution, and do.
nouncing the infamous and gross outrage that had
been committed upon The dignity and against the
peace of this Commonwealth, and that, too, under
the very shadow of the windows Of this Capitol.
Mr.. Neal of Philadelphia doubted the truth of
the story, and said he was not TO be led away by
such stuff as that. He was happy to place his vote
on the record. and that in the negative.
The question being taken on the motion to sus.
pend the rules, it was lost-the vote standing,
Yeas Al. Nays 33 not two.thirds.
Mr.. Rouse of Warren offered the following reso-
luton, which was twice read, as follows, viz:
Whereas, Daniel Webster, q citizen of Harris,
burg for the past seven years a husband and O
father, was this morning, in the broad light Of day,
in the presence of hundreds of the citizens of this
borough, and with the aid and connivance of it's
officials, captured by a band Of armed kidnappers,
and taken away without any of the forms of trial
by law, and without a hand or voice being raised
in bis behalf. Therefore,
Resolved, That House bill No. l,l4S, entitled
Resolutions relative to the removal of the seat of
Government from Harrisburg be made the order
for this morning.
Mr.. Evans moved that the further consideration
Of the resolution be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Thorn Of Philadelphia remarked that al
though their feelings had been outraged by the
statement of the arrest of the poor and wretched
negro, he trusted there was more dignity and de-.
corum among them than to permit themselves to
be carried away by this story of the arrest of a
negro, which might prove not to be true, or if true,
under circumstances of a very diferent character
from those a~lleiged. He trusted the members Of
that House would deport themselves with proprie.
ty, GOODNESS and dignity.
MIR. Rose of Mercer remarked tina. if they were
the representatives of q sovereign people, they
must see TO the protection of the rights and liber.
ties of the people, and especially those residing
at the seat of the State Government. Therefore,
in his opinion they wero bound to take notice of
this outrage upon the feelings Of the members Of
the Legislature. and of the citizens of Harrisburg.
The question on Mr.. Rouse's preamble and res.
olution was taken, when they were negatived.
The discussion was continued in a very violent
and desultory manner-most of the Republicans
participating in it, and some three or four Demo.
Gratis. Finally, Mr.. Byard offered a resolution,
making the House bill for the better protection Of
personal liberty, &C., the special order for Wed.
nesday evening next. aud until disposed of. 1t
was agreed to, and then tho excitement cooled
down, and the House adjourned shortly thereafter.
QUI WYE