The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-05-04
From the Ashtnbula Sentinel.
Mr.. Giddings on the Powers of the
Sonata

]
Ohio. Tho return states that 1t is impossi-
Bile to arrest Brown unless an armed force
is sent for that purpose.
Mr.. Mason also presented tho return OF
tho Marshal for tho arrest Of +. B. San
born, which recapitulates tho facts as stated
heretofore, and adds that no arrest can bo
made, owing TO the judicial proceedings of
tho Slate of Massachusetts. Both warrants
and returns wcro referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary with instructions to inquire
and report If any further proceedings were
necessary to vndicato the authority of the
Senate and to effect the arrest of witnesses
Proceedings Of The Senate Of the u S.
.9prH is, 1860.
1t was wcl for tho Senate to pause in the
exercise of such powers. A citizen of Mass
achusetts had been mapacled in his own
dwelling, by order of tho Senate, and was
released by tho judiciary of that State
! Brown seems to have notified the Marshal
| that ho would recognize no authority iu the
'Harpcr's Ferry committee to manaclo
him. Tho Senate has in degree become
odous by these efforts to aid tho slave
power. Tho people of this Western Reserve
are in tho habit of scrulnizing tho powers
exercised by any department of government
that invades their liberty.
! They well understand that this Harper 8
! Ferry Committee" originated with tho au-
thor of tho Fugitive Slavo Law" and q
certain member from Ohio when they began
| to inquire Of John Brown, as to who aided
him in his raid. Our people then thought
the matter rather ridiculous and mean
Nor aro thoy quito certain that it has bo-
como more respectable since tho Senate
appointed this committee to carry forward
the plan set on foot by those two volunteer
guardians Of slavery.
Thoy aek in good earnest, Uhdt has The
| Senate oCMe UMtfd Stdtrs Ia do ,rih an
inSurrtcion Of sidrrs in Virgin,d They
we'll understand that it would bo violation
of tho Constitution of tho United Statos,
for the Executive, or any department of the
federal government, to Interfere with the
affair of Virginia. unless called on by tho
Legislature of that State, or by the Exccu
two according to the lotter and spirit OF the
Constitution. Mr.. Buchanan. tho Demo
cratic President understood his duties on
this subject, and although he was anxious
to aid tho slave power, he would do nothing
beyond protecting the property of the Uni
ted States, until called on by the State Of
Virginia. Gov. Wise publicly complained
of tho Presidents Indifference to tho in
surrcction, yot would make no official ap-
p'icaton for tho President to suppress the
instruction.
Hu feared that If he called on the Prcsi-
don't to take the matter into his hands. the
United States would then havo power to
suppress tho domestic violence" BY giving
liberty 10 The stdues. That ono united voice
from the Christian world would go up to
tho President not to restore peace by shoot
ing down the abused, oppressed and friend
less slaves, but by restoring them TO liberty
We well recollect tho timc, when the
sllS Sehoiders of Congress had declared il
the duty Of the federal govornmcnt to sup
press 'savo insurrectious;' and John Quincy
Adams told them hoiD u iDouid be done, and
explained that such case, would give to
the federal government power to emancipdte
he sidres. Southern members were excited;
their brows wore bent, their lips compressed
they uttered deep curses upon MIR. Adams
but not ono of them attempted TO relate or
deny his doctrine, which apprehend never
will DO donied. by any Republican. Gov.
Wise was member at the time, and | hesi-
tato not to say. lie will pever call upon the
President to suppress slave insurrcciiou,
until absolute necessity compols him to do
so.
Bat what right or authority has the Sen
ate of tho Untod States to appoint this in
quisitoral Committee, to enquire into any
violation of Virginia laws What right
havo they to send to Ohio, or to Massachu-
setts, seize witnesses, manacle them, carry
them to Washington, imprisou and compel
thom to givo information 10 that Committee?
Our people know nothing constitutonaIly
or legally of tho slave insurrections 10 Vir.
ginia, and they care less +; or rather they
know as Jefferson has told them, that sia.
worry is perpetual war between tho masters
and tho slaves; that God has no attribute
that will permit him to tase sides with the
Oppressor. In that war wc cannot inter
fcre, although our sympathies and prayers
arc for tho weak. tho oppressed. John
Brown would not go to Washington to save
Mason and every other stakeholder in Vir.
pinia from tho stern retrbutions to which
their conduct subjects them.
He knows, and evory intelligent citizen
knows, that tho duties Of tho Senate are
Lrgisiatiur, not Judicial, nor Executive.
That tho constitution has given them no
polcer 10 issue process, to imprison or to
arraign any man outside thoir own body.
Thoy have tho solo power TO try impeach-
mcnts; but even in that case they cannot
compel tho attendance of witnesses except
as prescribed Jy latp, But it is said they
havo this implied power from necessity The
people of tins country deny that their lib
critics arc held subject to any Implied au-
tbority, or to this necessity which has over
been the plea OF despots.
What is this implied power The Senate
answers, 1T is tho power to compel witness
es 20 testify before this Harpor's Forry
Committee. Now it must DO truo if they
have power to take tho first step, the power
must DO commensurate with the object. If
thoy may arrest they may manacle, and it
the witness refuse, no may bo imPris0ned;
ii ho still refuse, no may be logged, or
etarsed;if still obstinate ho may DO subjected
to tho thumb screws, put upon tho rack,
his flesh torn with pinchers, his bones broken
| upon tho wheel. The power must bo suiii.
Gent to attain the object. Our courts are
restricted to fine and Imprisonment" they
act under prescribed laws Lui, there eau be
no restriction to undefiaed powor.
If this power extends to instructions in
Virginia, it may equally extend to slavery
in all its phases within that State. 1t may
extend to all crimes in that State, or any
other State. If 1t extend TO obtaining in
formation on one subject, it must to all sub
iects. This fact was realized by the author,
while under examination before that COM
mttoe, bo was enuured of AS TO his political