Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-31

las lodged the Fugitive Slave Bill :"
How THE HoS. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, IN THE SENATE
OF TIE UNITED STATES AUGUST, 1850, DoDoED A VOTE
on TIE " FUGrrIvE SLAVE BILL AND THE RECrITUDE
AND vERAcITY WHICH cEARAcTERIzED A STATEMENT
BE MADE TO THE SANE BODY, DEcEMBER, 1851, IN Ex-
PLANTATION OF THE AFORESAID DODGE.
The act entitled IAN act to amend, and supplement
tary to an act entitled act respecting fngitives
from justice, and persons escaping from the service
Of their masters approved February 18th, 1882
originated in the United States Senate It was
brought to test vote that body by an order that
it should be engrossed and read third time on Fri
day, August Esd, 1860-in the affirmative %, in the
negative l2--the Hon. s. A. Douglas not being pre-
sent and not voting.-(Vid Senate Journal LIST SEES
sion, 3lst Congress, p. SSH
On completing the business of the day, the Senate
adjourned over to the succeeding MOnday. that is to
say, from Friday, the 23d, to Monday, the 10Th of
August Vide Journal as above, p. 5S2.)
On Monday, the Goth of the same month, the en-
crossed bill for the above act passed in the
Senate without division and sent to the House for
concurrence Vide Journal as above, page $685.
On Tuesday, August 9th. the don. Stephen A.
Douglas appeared in the Senate and voted on one
more ouestions-(Vide same Journal, p. 5S7)
The Hon. gentleman being apprehenslVe that his
DELINQUENCY in the particular above indiested might
cast cloud over his prospects, If not defeat his as
pratiOns for high office, arose IN the Senate De-
cember 23d 1851, and addressed TO that body long
discourse in vindication of his claims to the conf
dence of the country, and particularly OF the people
of the SOUTH and among other things made the fol-
lowing singular statement respecting his absence
on the occasion of the passage OF the Aforesaid o
81 had a pecunIary obligation maturing IN New
York for near four thousand dollars IN payment OF
property which had purchased IN Chicago APP
pretending that my public duties in reference to
these very compromise questions might render II
improper to leave the city when the day OF payment
arrived, l made an arrangement with Mr.. Maury,
President of the Bank of the Metropolis, 10 arrange
the matter for me temporarily, until my official du-
ties would enable me to give It my personal atten-
ton. Feeling entirely secure under this arrange
ment thought no more of it until, on the day the
debt became due, received note from Mr.. Maury,
expressing his deep regret and modification that, IN
consequence of the unexpected absence OF MAJOR
ity of the directors of his bank on that day. ne was
unable to carry out the arrangement. thus found
myself suddenly placed in position in which L
was compelled to 90 TO New York instantly, or to
suffer my note to be protested and the commercial
credit of my endorser to be greatly impaired.
Immediately passed around the Chamber. and In
quired of several Senators each side friendly to
the fugitive bill whether could venture TO be alb
sent three or four days for tile purpose of attend
ing to this item of business and | received from
them the uniform answer that the discussion would
continue at least a week, and probably two weeks
longer before the voting could begin. Relying inn
plicty upon this assurance. went from the Senate
Chamber directly to the cars and, riding all night.
arrived in New York the next day.
Meeting several Illinois friends there, | was en-
abled to meet the obligation and avoid protest
during the three days grace allowed me by law
While dining with these friends at the Astor House,
on the day had concluded my business, one of
them alluded to the fact that the fugitive bill had
| been ordered to be engrOssed for third reading,
in the Senate. expressed my SURPRISE and doubt
ed the correctness of the statement. He then
showed me the paper containing the Geographic
announcement when l Immediately rose from the
table. and told my friends that | must leave for
Washington that afternoon, in order to be enabled
to vote for the bill on its final passage the next
day"
l left New York in the five o'clock train that az
ternoon and after riding all night, my arrival
here the next day found that the final vote had
been taken the day previous. "-(Vide Appendix to
Cong Globe, lst session sd Cong, p. 63)
To a proper appreciation of the above statement
the following remarks material:
l. When the Hon. Senator says that he received
the message alluded to from Mr.. Maury Ion the
day. his IN u ''debt became DUE" it is obvious
that he meant nominaly due, for he afterwards
speaks of days of grace, thus: Il was enabled TO
the obligation, and avoid protest during the
| three days grace SLOWED me by law"
.. 1t is equally obvious that he made the payment
on Monday, the 10th day of August for he says in
substance that he was dining with friends at the
Astor House the day that he concluded the bust
ness-that learning that Ihe fugitive bill had been
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading" he
immediately rose from the table," took 1.-The five
O'Clock train that afternoon, and after riding all
nlgnt, on MS IN W next uay,
he found that the final vote had been taken the day
previous;" that is to say, that the day on which
"the final vote" was taken, and 1.-THE day which
he completed his business" was one and the same,
and this was the Monday above named.
3. He does not say in express terms that his fl
nanciering occupied the whole of the three days
grace, but it is certain that such must have been
the fact for the Senate not in session Sat
urday, the 24th of August and Friday, the 23d, at
forded to him the last opportunity he could have
had Cor afopS IN 10
friendly to the fugitive bill" to the proprety of
his leaving on the business and for the purpose in
dicated If we assume that his note nOminally fell
due on Friday. the 23d then the last day of grace
would be Monday, and it is certain, for the reason
above expressed, that the payment was made on the
day last named. The note could not have nominal
ly fallen due at any earlier day than Friday In
such case payment on Monday would not have been
within 1.-THE three days grace"
In addition to the above. the following facts and
considerations have an important bearing on the
case:
L 1t appears from Senate Journal las above p.
560) that the Senate on Thursday. August 18th.
took up this fugitive BILL and postponed the further
consider alton of it until Monday, August 18th,
making it the special order of that day. 1t also
appears from the same Journal p. SCI, that the
Hon Senator that day in his seat, ana voting
questions which came before the body. and that
the Senate adjourned over to the succeeding Mon
day, that is say. from Thursday, August 18th, to
Monday. August 10Th.
Ill. 1t appears from the same Journal (p 562 to
500 that the Senate Monday, August 18th. in the
first instance took up and acted upon variety OF
miscellaneous subjects but finally proceeded to the
consideration of the fugitive slave blll-when the
Hon. Mr.. Mason (the author Of the bill) proposed
amendment, and the Hon. Mr.. Dayton substitute
for such amendment, the principal object Of which
the supposed fugitive the right of trial
by jury If the State where arrested, which was
rejected by vote of ii in the affirmative to 26 in the
negative, wide journal above. p. 565 and there
upon Mr.. Winthrop moved an amendment of the !
amendment proposed by Mr.. Mason, securing to tire
fugitive right the writ of habeas corpus, which
was also rejected by of IL in the affirmative
to &c in the negative. wide Journal above, p.
566) Mr. Douglas did not vote either of the |
above questions. Both elected some discussion. 1t |
does not appear from the Congressional Globe or
elsewhere that he took any part whatever in the |
proceedings. In point Of fact, he not present |
in the Senate during the day.
Ill. On Tuesday, August 20th the Senate after |
transactng considerable miscellaneous business |
proceeded TO the consideration of this fugitive BILL |
but the yeas and nays were not called during the |
day and therefore it does appear from the Jour
nal whether Mr.. Douglas was or was not present
But 1t does appear from the Congressional Globe,
that the bill and its principles were extensively dis
cussed that day and that there was no Douglas pres
ent TO participate IN the proceedings-in point Of |
fact. he was absent on Tuesday also.
". On Wednesday, August 2lst the yeas and
to be stated, arising in the transaction Of miscea
neous 5usiness-no Douglas present to vote on it
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF |
the fugitive bill-t was debated as on Tuesday-no
question taken-but the Congressional Globe proves
no Douglas present or rather that he took no part
II fact, he was absent as on Monday and Tuesday.
V. On Thursday, the 22d, in the frstplace miscel-
laneOus business transacted as usual. The Sen
ate then proceeded the special order of the day.
when Mr.. Pratt, of Maryland moved an amendment,
greatly adding to the severity of the bill propOs
ed by Mr.. Mason-rejected by vote of 10 in the
to p in the negative no Douglas pres
ent to vote on this occasion. wide journal rs above
p 573.)
VI. On Friday, August %, yeas and nays called
on single question arising out of miscellaneous bu-
iness: no Douglas present to vote that question
Vide journal as above, p. 574) The Senate then
proceeded to the consideration of the fugitive BILL
Wien Mr.. Chase moved an amendment rejected
yeas nays Al. No Douglas present to vote at this
lime. Mr.. Underwood next moved an amendment
4, nays 80. Douglas missing as be-
ore. wide journal as above, p. 575) Mr.. Mason
hen moved to amend his amendment; agreed to
yeas p, nays Is. Douglas again missing. wide
Ournal as above, p. 500 Mr.. Underwood's amend
nent came up again; reiected-yeas IA, nays 70.
Douglas still missing. wide journal above, p.
800 Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts,, then proposed
IN amendment, very material rejected-yeas l3
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