Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-14

was rescued and his rescuers duly punished.
Yet the Southern people are taught to belle
that fugitive is never recovered. The gre
!, number OF those returned is never ,nentio
J. cd, but every exceptional case is loudly pu
: liShcd II the relative numbers of the retur
ed and finally lost fusitives, were ful
asccrtaincd, Southern Senators would
,, amazed a. tie faithful execution of d
L law. For the personal liberty bills he b,
no apology to make; he ;houg ght them riol
, tons Of constitutional provision. But he hs
4 noticed that the further either one went, Il
: more intense became the excitement. In thos
| lar Northern States, where slaves so seldo
c went, that the people hardly knew how OF
{ looked, laughter, the personal bills were ii
the most violent; and the far Southern State
t where there was but little loss Of slave Or
perty, were greatly excited by the losses of Il
: border slave States. Laughter and sensation
The people Of the border States could sett
tals question between themselves amcably
The debate was continued ~ several Sem
tors. Mr.. Thomson, of New Jersey, stated h
entire ignorance Of the fugitive slave rescu
case in hiss Strte which had been alluded to
Nr. lVcrSon, .!The, NJ. Ten Eyck, of New Je
sey recite4sthe circumstances OF it, whic
showed that it was an arrest not on charge
the party being fugitive slave but for la
ceny, and that the posse came from the city
Philadelphia.
NJ. Mason considered that it is not in Cor
grcss, but in State Legislatures and Conver
tions that this evil complained Of should see
L remedy, and on account of which his peopl
felt humliatcd and degraded There was n
complaint Of the execution Of the fugitive slay
law, but the complaint lay in the people Of tn
! States.
Mr.. Douglas said if there was any defect i
must be either in the administration Of the Law
or in the law itself. The Senator last up hat
said there was none in the administration, ther
1t must be in the law, Of which that Senator
was the author So that it has come to this
that the Senator is going to dissolve the Unior
because the law which he himself framed hac
failed to produce its desired effect
Mr.. WiGfall, Of Texas, referred to other sub
jects Of complaint, one Of which was the home
stead bill, which allowed all sorts of people to
get into the Territories, and there to determine
upon the question Of the property" Of South.
crn lne:'. The South demanded protection OF
this property in every territory, district, fort,
snip, &c, belonging to the United States. and
would insist on the righ. Of man to traffic in
the souls and bodies of men. He said that the
South was aggrcvcd in that she could not get
protection for slavery in the Territories.
Mr.. Douglas thought this an extraordinary
grievance to come from the Senator from Texas,
who had at the last session voted that the
South required no legislation for the protection
Of slavery in the Territories
Mr. ~ trfnu coptas+o6 tho ,o,,roo,, oc IT.
Douglas remark, and, before the matter was
finally cleared up, the Senate, ut late hour,
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Cobb, Of Alabama-the motion to excuse
Mr. Hawkins from serving on the select commit.
tee being under consideration said-he did not
desire to make a speech. lie hoped the House
would stop debate, and let it be seen whether
something cannot be done to produce harmony
among tie people Of the country lie thought
he saw g'eam Of light from Boston, His
purpose was TO have an effect upon the public
mind Let the North meet the South with
returning scrse Of justice, ard let the question
which agitatcs this country he taken into the
hands o.! the people for satisfactory solution.
he again expressed the hope that the COM.
mit,cc Will be able 10 do something to larno.
niz9 the distracted public mind. lie knew his
State won.d not hc in the Confcderacy longer
Than the 9th of January, unless something
socn be done. LIE wanted something to be
done, that she might remain in the Union on
constitutional principles. He was no secession.
IL a hG oRr"dfa6 aeg Chat
it would fs!p to keep her in the Union as long
rs the sun shall continue to shine and his
prayers should be uttered for the perpetuty of
the Government.
.lr. Da~is, Of Mississippi, gave the reasons
why he would serve on the select committee.
For this he might be blamed or censurcd here;
but when his convictions were right he would
le(y tie worlds opinion us to the integrity of
us action. He stood here rct rs representa-.
i've Of his own preferences. but in the inter.
:sts Of his constituents. He expressed his re.
,rct that the resolution proposing the appoint.
ncrt OF the committee came from n Southern |
.cntleman-from distinguished son Of the
of Eirginia-but he could not
consider it diShonorable in him to serve up
N il. He could not hope from the conduct Of
he republicans 10 see an adjustment in an
amendment of the Constitution. He hoped
hat thcs oIjustice toward the South would
re restored. lie repeated, our Government
estng ON public opinion, he saw no hope of
rcscrring it by compromise or by the use Of
lie sword. The Republicans have destroyed
he only bond which can bind the Union to-
ether. The srhject.ratter referred to the
ommittce does not belong 10 this House, be-
ausc it grows ont Of principles and systems in
ne Northern States which make war directly
n the safety and the material interests Of the
outh The difficulties can be adjusted only
J the States. We here can do nothing to
ind the States. If anv action be taken, it
Mould originate with States.
The question having been taken, the House
fused to excuse Mr. Hawkins-ycas %, nays
11.
Mr. Hawkins had but single remark to
AXE, lest silence should be misconstrued-he
id with all Difference and good feeling to
losc who had voted against eycusng him,
lat he would not serve on the committee.
AGr. Boyce now asked TO be excused from
irving on the committee
Mr.. Smith, Of Virginia, objected.
Mr.. Burnett said it was extraordinary not /
excuse gentlemen who had conscicntiously, t
ID with due regard to the justice Of their t
atcs, made up their minds not to serve. !
MIR. Smith, Of Virginia, said he was one Of
ose who voted against excusing Mr.. Haw-
ms, and after the lecture delivered by the gen.
man from Kentucky, (Mr Burnett he con- =
lcred it proper TO Tindicate that vote. The :
:s:ng condition Of affairs is big with the fate Q
the republic. Although he thought discus :
IN on this question was not likely to do any 7
cd, he expressed his surprise and morti6ca. -
N that gentlemen on the Republican side !,
d refused to participate in it.
Mr.. Curtis remarked that his (the Republi- 4
nj side had not refused to enter into the de- 9
te. lie for one was ready to enter into the ~ -
cusson at the proper time, which was not =,
w, but after the committee shall have made :,
.ir report. -
;Ir. Smith replied that he did expect the op- "
-tunity would presented Of exhibiting the
Fercnt views Of members, as q means Of in
encing and acting upon the committee. He to
S anxious to see every State participate in "
proceedings Of the committee, and he could Ell
8, therefore, vote to excuse Mr.. Hawkins, of
ausc if this had been done, the State OF al