Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-12-26

to say he did not know rs thev had beer
injured by them. These laws were no
intended to excite the South, or to pu
them in any position of degradation, a,
the Senator supposes. These laws agains
kidnapping are as old as the common Law
itself. / believe the State Of Virginia ha!
one to-day as stringent in its provisions a
any of those of which you complain
And here let me say; because the subject
occurs to me, that the Senator from Vir
ginia seems not so much to point out an,
special act that the Northern people hav,
done that are injurious to your property
as something he takes To be dishonor anc
a degradation. l think / feel as sensitive
on that subject as any other man, if
know myself / would be the last mar
who would advocate any law, or any act
that would humiliate o. dishonor any sec
ton of this country or any individual ir
it; but, on the other hand, let me tel
those gentlemen, / am exceedingly sensi
tive ON that same point, whatever they
may think, and had rather sustain an in.
| Jury than an insult or dishonor, and ]
would be as unwilling to infict it upor
others as L would be to submit to it myself
/ never do either the one or the other, il
| know it. But | have already said these
gentlemen who make these complaint:
! have for long series of years had this
Government in their own hands. / may
say these gentlemen who have raised
upon this floor their bill of indictment
against us, have been the leaders of the
dominant party for years; therefore, II
there is anything in the legislation of the
! Federal Government that is net right, you
and not we, are responsible for il. We
never yet have been invested with pow
er to control the legislation of the coun-
tryfor an hour. know the charges have
been made and rung IN our ears that we
have been unfaithful to your Fugitive
Slave bill. The law is exceedingly odious
TO any free people, and deprives us of all
the old guarantees of liberty that the
Anglo-Saxon race have considered more
sacred than anything else.
Mr.. Green said perhaps the action on
this law had not injured anybody. but he
complained of the public sentiment. He
knew it was impossible to reclaim slave
in nine cases out Of ton, and they risked
their lives if they made the attempt. He
thought the law no moro obnoxious than
any case of scoundrels who rob and steal.
Applause in the galleries. The Chair
said the galleries must be cleared if the
applause again was heard.)
Mr.. Wade-Never mind, let them cheer
the Fugitive Slave Law if they please,
Mr.. Mason said he should insist on or
der, if the indignities to the Senate did
not cease.
Mr. Wade-This would be q poor rene
DIV for free man in humble circum sta nces
to be taken under the provision OF this bill
TO be carried where3 Where he came from?
Then he might be carried into the mark ct
place anywhere in slave State, and what
chance has hef This man may be kidnup.
ped and carried into Slavery, and does
any man who has a regard for the sover.
eign rights of the States rise here and com
plain that a State could not make a law to
protect her own people against invasion
and seizuref | believe Of all men those
who have made the most of these com
plants are the last who would rise here
and deny the power of sovereign State
70 protect her own citizens sgainst any
| Federal Legislature whatever. Then lib
erty bills have been made, mot with a view
/ to degrade the South. but with an honest
view to guard the rights Of their own citi-
zens from unlawful searches and seizures
| | was exceedingly glad to hear Senators on
the other side say that the repeal of these
bills will not relieve the case from the diff
fculties-and l have heard it every where
that the people Of the Free States are un-
faithful iD executing the Fugitive Slave
law. 1t has been said, under such circun
stances here. that, although l was sure a:
to my own State, yet / could not rise tC
say ! did not believe a word of what they
were saying never did and never could
until our enemies here rise in their places
and, with a msgnanImity commend have
said this was not so. My colleague. Mr.
PuEh1, with a magnanimity for which
give him my thanks has stood forth Il
testify that. in the State which / In par
represent, Republican Judges, Courts anC
Juri0s, have fulfilled this repulsive duty
with perfect faittfulness; and SO the Sens
tor from Illinois. Mr.. Douglas and so
understood the Senator from Indiana Mr.
Fitch 10 have said. Therefore, this cal
umny is removed from us, so far as tht
statements of ouc political enemies can d.
il. | know our courts feel themselye
bound to administer the laws just as they
find them. Let me say, TO gentlemen o
the Senate on the other side, where yo'
have lost one slave by the unfaithfulnes
Of legislative tribunals, we have had tel
men murdered by your mobs against Law
cannot take up a Southern paper but
read OF mea who travel for business, bu
! You wait upon them by some committe
| aud tell them 70 return. And what is tn
e eausel Why, sir, you come from Ohio, an
= they. don't inquire what party you belon
: to. Many of these acts have been don
4 under circumstances that would disgrac
: a savage. We have no security in travel
C ing nearly one half of this Confederaey-
2 especially the Gulf States. l don't car
: what a man character may be, aud If b
f never violated any law under Heaven bu
il he comes from the North, and especial
Z Is il he has exercised his political righI
. and voted for Lincoln instead OF some
4 body else, 1t is an offense punishable
iudignity, by stripes, and by death. An
. yoI, whose constituents are guilty Of a
these things, can stand up and accuse
:. of being uDfaithful to the Constitution
:. the land / make the assertion here, tn
- . do not believe In the history of the worl
there has ever been a nation or a peopl
where a law so repugnant to the gener
feeling wss ever executed with the san
$ faithfulness SIS has been this most repu
n nant Fugitive Slave Law You have
Of law in South Carolina by which you ta1
he the free citizens of Massachusetts or az
h other maritime State, aud lock them up
m Jail under a penalty IL the poor rn
I'd csnsot cannot pay the Jail fees, etern
rd slavery stares him in the face. II is
ar mons strous law, revolving TO the best fet
xe Ings of humanity. and in conflict with /
It Constitution Of the United States
re don't say this by way Of recrininatiC
" I know the excitement prevailing the COZ
ed try, aud 90 not wish to add single c,
T. to the fame. Nevertheless, wish ,
W whole truth TO appear. Then. what is
re You have the whole legislation of the cot
al try; you own the Cabinet and the Sena
ON and may add you own the President
~ the United States, a. much as you o.
the servants on your plantations. Blu
cant see why Southern men rise up a
~ complain If the sction Of this Governme
nv have already shown il is impossible
n ln, point out any acts Of which The Reput
NJ NJ can party have been guilty of which J
ier can complain. Therefore underst'
en- that Senator'S whs justify the overthrow
not this Government, who would break it
IRE and resolve it into its original elemeI
her do il on a mere suspicion that The Repu
so can party may somehow affect their rigl
for Now, what doctrines do we hold detrin
are TAI TO your Are We the settlers forth of
The new doctrines under the Constitution
ave tell you. nay There is no principle