Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-24
SPEECH OF ma. cRzTTESDEN,
of Kentucky,
On has Proposal Compromise Of The sfarery
Question.
Ii SENATE, TUESDAY, Dec. Is, 1860.

Ii SENATE, TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 1860.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said. am gratifed,
Mr. President, to see in the various PROPOSE
lions which have been made such universal
anxiety to save the country from the dan
gercus dssensions which now prevail; and
have, under a very serious view, and with
out the least ambitious feeling what yer con-
neeted with it. prepared a series of constitu-
tional amendments. which desire TO offer 20
the Senate. hoping that they may form, in
part at least some basis for measures that
| may settle the controverted questions which
| now so much sgitate our country. Certain
ly, sir, | do not propose now any elaborate
discussion of the subject. Before presenting
| these resolutions, however, to the Senate,
| desire to make few remarks explanatory to
| them, that the Senate may understand their
| general scope.
The questions of an alarming character are
those which have grown out of the contro-
versy between the Northern and Southern
sections of our country in relation to the
rights of the Slaveholding States in the Ter
ritories of the United States, and in relation
| to the rights of the citizens of the latter in
| their slaves. | have endeavored by these
resolutions to meet all these questions and
causes of discomfort, and by amendments to
the Constitution of the United States, so that
the settlement, if we can happily agree on
any, may De permanent. and leave no cause
| for future controversy. These resolutions
propose, then, in the first place, in substance,
the restoration of the Missouri Compromise.
extending the line throughout the Terrific
ries of the United States to the eastern bOr-
der of California, recognizing slavery In all
the territory south of that line, and prohibit
ing slavery in all the territory north of it /;
with provision. however, that when any of
those Territories. North or South, are form
ed into States. they shall then be at liberty
to exclude OF admit slavery as they pleasr;
and that in the one case OF the other il shall
be no objection to their admission into the
Union. Ia this way, sir, / propose to settle
the question. both as to territory and slave
~, so tar as it regards the Territories of the
United States. [ propose, sir, also, that the
Constitution shall be sc amended as to de-
clare that Congress shall have no power to
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia 50
long as slavery EXISTS in the States OF Mary
land and Virginia; and that they shall have
no power to abolish slavery in any of the
places under their special jurisdiction within
the Southern States.
These are the constitutional amendments
which ] propose, and embrace the whole of
them in regard to the questions OF territory
and slavery. There are other propositions
in relation to grievances, aud in relation TO
controversies, which | suppose are within the
Jurisdiction of Congress, and may b. remOv-
ed by the action of Congress. propose, in
regard to legislative action. that the fugitive
slave law, as it is commonly called. shall be
declared by the Senate TO be constitutional
act, in strict pursuance of the Constitution.
propose to declare, that it has been decided
by the Supreme Court of the United States TO
be constitutional, and that the Southern
States are entitled to faithful and complete
execution of that law, and that no amend
ment shall be made hereafter to it which will
impair its efficiency. But. thinking that it
would not impair its efficiency, l have pro-
posed amendments to it in two particulars.
have understood from gentlemen of the North
that there is objection to the provision giving
a different fee where the commissioner de-
cides to deliver the slave to the claimant.
from that which is given where he decides to
discharge the alleged slave; the law declares
that in the latter case he shall have but I've
dollars, while In the other he shall have ten
dOllars-twice the amount in one case than
in the other. The reason for this is very Cb-
vious. In case he delivers the servant to his
claimant, he is required to draw out a lengthy
certificate. stating the principal aud substan-
tial grounds Oh which his decision rests, and
to return him either to the marshal or 10 the
claimant to remove him to the State from
which he escaped. 1t was for that reason that
a larger fee was given to the commissioner,
where he had the largest service to perform
But. sir. the act being viewed unfaverably.
aud with great prejudice, in a certain portion
of the country, this was regarded as very OBJ
noxious, because il seemed to give an in
ducement to the commissioned to return the
slave to the master, as he thereby obtained
the larger fee of ten dollars instead of the
smaller one of five dollars. have said let
the fee be the same in both cases
l have understood furthermore. sir, that,
inasmuch as the fifth section Of that law was
worCed somewhat vaguely, its general terms
had admitted of the construction in the
Northern States that all the citizens were re-
quired. upon the summons of the marshal, te
go with him to hunt up, as they express it,
and arrest the slave; and this is regarded as
obnoxious. They have said, ''in the South
ern States you make no such requisition On
the citizen;1 nor do We, sir. The section,
construed according TO the Intention of the
trainers of it, suppose, only intended that
the marshal should have the same right in
the execution Of process for the arrest OF
slave that he has in all other cases of process
that he Is required TO execute-tO call on the
posse csnitzfMs for assistance where be is resist
ed in the execution of his duty, or where.
having executed his duty by the arrest. an
attempt is made to rescue the slave. / pro-
pose such an amendment as will Obyiate this
difficulty and limit the right of the master
and the duty of the citizen 10 cases where. as
in regard to all other process, persons may be
called upon to assist in resisting opposition
to the execution of tue laws.
l have provided further, sir, that the
amendments 10 the Constitution Itself. shall
be unalterable. thereby forming perman-
eut and unchs1geable basis for peace and
tranquility among the people. Among the |
provisions in the present Constitution, which |
have by amendment proposed to render |
unalterable. Is that provision in the first ar |
ticle of the Constitution which provides |
the rule for representation. including in the |
computation tbree-ifths OF the slaves. That |
Is to be rendered Interchangeable. Another |
is the provision fer the delivery of fugitive |
slaves That is to be rendered Interchangeable. |
And with these provisions Mr. President. |
il seems to me We have a solid foundation /
upon which may rest oar hopes for the resto-
ration of peace and good will among all the
States o. tbis Union and all the people. l PRO
pose, SIR, % enter into no particular discus
sion / have explained The general scope and |
object of my proposition provided further, I
which I ght 10 mention, that. there having I
been some difficulties experienced in the /
courts of the Omitted Statesin the South incar-
rying into execution the laws prohibiting the I
African slave trade, all additions aud amend
menIs which may be necessary to those laws |
to render them effectual should be immedi- /
ately adopted by Congress. and especially |
the provisions of those laws which prohibit |
the importation of African slaves into the |
United States L have provided itzas a r..
commendation to all the States of this
Union. that. whereas laws have been passed
OF an unconstitutional character, land alb I
laws are oi that character which either con-
tlet with the constitutional acts of Congress.
or which In Eieir operation binder or delsy.I
the proper execution of the acts of Congresk. ! /
which laws are null and void. and vet, /
though null aud void, they have been the |
source OF mischief and discomfort in the /
country under the extraordinary circum-
stances in which we are placed; have sup |
posed that it would not be improper or un-
becoming In Congress to recommend to the |
S.n.as knth NnrIk and s. nh tn rnranl r.f III |