Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-12-26

specific acts that the Northern people ha,
done that are injurious to your propert,
as something be takes to be a dishonar an
a degradation. | think / feel as sensiti,
on that subject as any other man. if | kno
myself. | would be the last man VIII
would advocate any law, or any act. thu
would humiliate or dishonor any section
this country. or any individual in it; bu
on the other hand. let me tell these ger
tlemcn | am exceedingly sensitive on tina
same point. whatever they may think, an
had rather sustain an injury than an in
suit or dishonor. and | would he as unwil
ling to infict it upon others as as | voul
be to submit TO it myself. | never d
either the one or the other. if | know it
But | have already said these gentlemen
who make these complaints. have for
long series of years had this government
in their own hands. | may say that ties
gentlemen who have raised upon this hop
their bill of Indictment against me. hav,
ben the leaders Of the dominant party f.,
years; therefore. IL there is anything in tn,
legislation of tie Federal Government thar
is not right. you and not We. ere respousi
bic for it. We never yet have been inves
ted with power to control the legislation o
the country for an hour. | know thu
charges have been made and rung in on
ears that We have been unfaithful to you
Fugitive Slave bill The law is exceeding
ly odicus to any free people. and deprive,
US of all the old guarantees Of liberty thai
the AnglO-SaxOn race have considered
more sacred than anything else.
Mr.. GREEN said perhaps the action OF
this law had not injured anybody, but ht
,omplained of the public sentiment. liz
kew it was impossible to reclaim a slave
in nine cases out of ten. and they risked
their lives if they made the attempt. liz
thought the law no more obnoxious tn L
any in case of scoundrels who rob and teal
Applause in the galleries
The CHAIR said the galleries must be
cleared if the applause again was heard.
Dir WADE-Nevcr mind. let them
cheer the Fugitive Slave law if they please
Mr.. MASON said he should insist on
order if the indignities of the Senate did
not cease.
Mr.. WADE-This would be a poor
for a flee man in humble circum
stances to be taken under the provision
Of this bill to be carried, where? Where
he came frem. Then he might I've carried
into the market place anywhere in a slave
State, and what chance has be? This man
may be kidnapped and carried into ever
Slavery. and does any man who
h s Il regard for the sovereign rights of the
sit here and complain that a State
not make a law to protect her own
against invasion and seizure? IM.
licve of all men those who have made the
most of these complaints. are the last who
would rise here and deny the power of u
sovereign State to protect her own citizens
any Federal Legislation whatever.
Then liberty bills have boen made. not
with a view to degrade the South. but
with honest view to guard the rights of
their own citizens from unlawful searches
and seizures. | was exceedingly glad to
rear Senators on the other side say that
the repeal Of these bills will not relieve the
,ase from the diffculties-and | have
learl it everywhere that the people of the
Free States are uufaithful in executing the
Fugitive Slave law. 1t has been said.
under such circumstances here, that. al
| was sure as to my Own State. vet
could not rise to say | did not believe a
word of what they We're saying r never
lid and never could, until our enemies here
rise in their places, and with a magnani-
| commend. have slid this was not
50. My colleague [Mr. Puehl, with a
n~agnanimity for which l give him my
has stood forth to testify that, in
The State | in part represent Republican
Julses, Courts and Jurics have fulfilled
this repulsive duty with perfect faithful
hess, and so said the Senator from illinois
(Mr. Douglas) and 50 L understood the
Senator from Indiana on. Fitch to have
said. Therefore, the calumny is removed,
from US. SO far as the statements of our
enemies can do it | know u
Courts feel themselves bound to administer
the laws just as they find them. Let me
say. to gentlemen of the Senate on the other
side, where you have lost one slave by the
lnfaithfulness of Legislative tribunals. we
have had ten men murdered by your mobs
against law. | cannot take up a Southern
paper but | read of men who travel for
business, but you wait upon them by some
and tell them to return. And
what is the cause? Why. Sir, you como
Ohio, and they don't inquire VIVA.
party you belong to. Many of these acts
nave been done usder circumstances that
would disgrace a savage. We have no SC.
,urity in travelling nearly one half Of this
J~Onfcderacy especially the Gulf States
don't care what a mans character may he.
md if he never violated any law under
heaven. but if he from the North.
md if he has exercised his p%olitic.l rights
md voted for Lincoln instead of somebody
Use. it is an offence punishable by indieni-
y. by stripes, and by death. And YOU,
whose constituents are guilty of all these
can stand up and accuse us of be.
ng unfaithful to the Constitution of the
indl
make the assertion here. that [ do not
in the history of the world there
,ver was a nation or a people where a law
10 repugaant to the general feeling was
yer executed with the same f~aithfulness as
las been this mostrepugant Fugitive Slave
Law. You have a law in South Carolina
~ which you take the free citizens of Mas.
'lchusetts or any other maritime State and
Ock them up in Jail under a penalty. If
he poor man eannOt pay the Jail fee. eter-
lal slavery stares him in the face. 1t is a
nonstrous law. revolving to the best feel
ngs of humanity. and in conflict with the
o n,titution of the United States. Idon't..
this by way of recriminatiOn. l knsw
he excitment peradving the country, AMI 10
wish to add a single coal to the fame.
Nevertheless, / wish the whole truth t, ap-