The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-25
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
DECEMBER 10, 1859.
fCnrrl,l.,sn1

say that the people in your State are in fayo
of enforcing the fugitive slave law
Mr. Curtis. said that many men in m,
State think the present law is constitutions
in form, but inhuman in its practice; but
say further. that in every instance which ha
come to my knowledge, when it has been at
tempted, the law has been executed in m,
State.
Mr.. Singleton. Do you speak for the part.
. to which you belong?
Mr.. Curtis. There is nothing said in tn,
= national platform of the Republican party, OF
in that of my State, in regard to that law.
troduced into this House to repeal the fugitive
slave law, will you vote for it !?
Mr.. Curtis. will vote to amend the law
for it does not please me.
- Mr.. Singleton. Do l understand You to
speak for the party to which you belong
Mr.. Curtis. speak for myself and speak
now as | have spoken to the people of my dis
,trict at Council Bluffs, in one of the last speech
es addressed to them. I stated that while
the law stood upon our statute books asst was
we had to submit to it, and that we would en-
deayor to carry it out, although it was OBJ
noxious 10 US IN many of its features
- Mr.. Lamar. Will the gentleman allow me
to ask him question
1szs4 Mr.. Curtis. do not wish to be response
bic for prolonging this debate. l hold the
floor by the courtesy Of the gentleman from
q Mississippi Mr.. Singleton.
Mr.. Lamar. am ready to incur my share
Of the responsibility. merely wish to ask
the gentleman if he was not a supporter O.
the Wing platform of 1852, which male the
measures Of 1850 finality
Mr.. Curtis. voted for General Scott, and
hat 10 TfaII t,azl 4.
Mr.. Lamar. You went for the platform
too?
Mr.. Curtis. I went for the platform.
Mr.. Lamar. The gentleman voted for Gen
eral Scott upon platform pronouncing those
measures finality; and now the gentleman
announces himself in favor of what he calls an
amendment g one of those laws.
Mr.. Curtis Yes. sir; because the Demo-
cratic party has since constan ly and persist
emily introduced this question, and forced it
upon the people.
Mr.. Singleton. 1t must be perfectly ap-
parently that the gentleman has placed him.
self outside OF the Republican party, by de-
elaring that he is in favor of enforcing the fu-
gitlve slave law. Does any other Republican
on this floor take this position?
Mr.. Stanton Intend. whenever the Hopsa
is organized, and the proper time comes, to 60
into discussion Of the powers of ConoreSs
under the fugitive slave clause of the Consti-
tuition; the execution of it; form OF the law;
and all about it; and gentlemen shall have no
misunderstanding OF misrepresentation as to
my views upon those subjects. But decline
to enter into the discussion Of a constitutions
a question OF great difficulty, in the shape of
dialogue, while another gentleman has the
floor to make a speech.
Mr.. Singleton. / would Ike to hear the
gentleman now =
Nh. Stanton. l decline to make nv argu-
ment now.
Mr.. Singleton. The position taken BY the
Republican party on this floor of excluding
slavery from all the Territories which now he
long to Us, or which may hereafter be aco,dr-'
ed, and their determination to repeal the faeil
tive slave law. will, if perseYered in, sooner or
later prove the destruction of.eyery tie which
binds rs together. If you imagine that the
people OF the South will submit to be confined
70 their present area, to be shut out from the
common territories, acquired by the common
blood and treasure of the nation, that slavery
VIII niger out poor and miserable existence
within the present borders, and thatour slaves
are 70 escape without law to recover them,
tei you to-day that you may begin to prepare
for dissolution of this Union Every man
TIER Observation-Disclosures they neei not be
counseled-to that effect Their determine
s ton IS fixed and unalterable, that they will
have an expansion of slave territory in this
Oulon II you viii allow it, or outside Of the
Union. If they must. Applause in the gal
ieries- With me the excitement upon this
subject has passed away in great measure.
The paroxysm IS over, and the delirium of fe-
yer following the first agitation of this subject
has subsided. Upon the superstition that the
gentleman from Iowa speaks the sentiments
of the Black Republican party and that their
purpose Is fixed to exclude US forever from the
Territories, and confne US to our present
limits, and that the fugitive slave law is to be
repealed or so altered as to render it ineffici-
ent if you desire to know my counsel to the
people of Mississippi, it is that they take
measures immediately, in conjunction with
other southern States to separate from you.
believe that the sooner We get out of this
: confederation of States the better it will be
Tor US, as every day we remain with you, I'M
der such circumstances, but weakens and i'm
pairs our strength, and renders US less able to
cope with you.
The question arises, will the Republican,
party be able, should the South remain in the
Union, to carry out their purposes (? But
one answer can be given to this question: thew
! VIII. It IS lanentlbie fact for the country
that they have the numerical strength 10 do
Il /; and we may as well make up our minds
at once that slavery will be abolished if things
move on IN their present direction. The whole
North IS against US except few noble Dem
ocrats who adhere to the Democratic standard
The Wing party, which was in power seven
years ago, with good prospect of 50 continu-
ing, ls now absorbed by the Republican par
: ty. Our Democratic phalanx of northern
men IS now whitfield down to small number.
: The Democrats have the majority in hardly
single northern State, and though we find
lew noble specimens of humanity who are
willing to stand by our rights, yet they are
pogerless SO far as rendering any assistance to
the South is Concerned. / glory in their de-
termination to oppose this vitiated public SEN
tnent at the North, though it may be their
political overthrow. But without q great
change they viii be oYerthrown; and sooner
or later the whole power of the Government
must pass into the hands Of the Republicans.
: What evidence have / OF it? Gentlemen
! say To 1T am mistaken and that do not un-
derstand public sentiment at the North. How
happens It that there are one hundred and
seven members upon this floor, Representa-
: tives Of the Black Republican party How
happens it that almost every Democrat from
: the North, who has stood up for our constit,,.
tional rights in the past, has been defeated and
driven into retirement? If we can iudce
the complexion of politics at the North by /
the character of its Representatives, we must I
conclude at once that there is little else than /
Black Rspublicanism there. Two years aeo
ne had ffty-three northern Democrats upon
tins hoor. Now we have, I believe, twenty
SIX. Why were those men turned out? For
no other reason than to make place for Black
Republicans, who will break down the iusti-
tuition OF slavery, not by interfering with it
directly m the States. at least by hedging it
IN and cutting off all expansion, which will as
certainly accomplish the object in time.
: tubllc sentiment is against US. The de-
zpzftments Of the Government, though not
against US at this moment, will soon be SOL
i. You have now almost the control of this
branch Of Congress, without the aid of any
action from any quarter. You are now with
in eight or ten votes of organizing the House
By the election of Black Republican Sneak
e, by force of your own numbers. Yerv
soon I doubt not you will turn out the sonnd
man now in this body. hope for better
things; bat doubt not that all your efforts
Eih De directed to overthroRing every man
who has dared to speak in behalf of the rights
Of the South on this floor, and that Won will
have full control Of this branch Of Congress
= How IS It in the Senate? That BODY S FAST
becoming Black Republican. There IS not ,
singie Senator there from the North who dares /
to speak IN behalf of the constitutional RIGHTS
OF the South who is not marked at the mo- i
ment and systematic efforts made to put him | !
out Of place. How does it happen that such | i