The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1860-12-28

In regard to the cause. do u,
suppose the regular government,
times OF excitement like this, is real
responsible for these outbreaks
passion. II the states where thes
outrages prevail were foreip
government, and il they we're realI
authorized by the constituted autho
tiles, everybody knows, If it wei
the strongest government 10 tn
world, we would declare war in on
|day. But what has caused thi
great excltcmept2 | will tell yo
what suppose it is. / do not 9
much blame the people of the Soutl
because | think they have been lie
to believe that we, to-day the dom
inant party, who are about TO tax
the reins OF government, are thei
mortal ioee, AMI stand ready to tram
pie their institutions under loot. -
they have heen told ao hv nnr on
emles at the North, and they woui'
not hear us at all. Now, wish t.
inquire candidly, honestly, and fair
ly, whether the Southern gentlemen
who complain 30 much have an,
reasonable grounds for hat com
plaint'-'l mean when they are realI ,
informed as to our position. Tn,
Northern Democrats have said W,
have Personal Liberty bills in some
few OF the Northern states, which
would somehow trench upon You,
rights to recapture runaway slaves
a position that in more than two OF
three cases has not the least found
alton ID tact. But il these laws are
really repugnant to the Constitution
they are utterly void, and the Courts
would declare them so ut any mo.
nent. Therefore | am glad to hear
Senators on the other side gay they
10 not complain OF these bills.
., confention. this matter OF com
plaint. which Northern men have
set forth as grievance more than
any one else.
Mr.. Mason said that he said the
repeal Of these laws would furnish
no satisfaction to the Southern states
Mr.. Wade.-l understood the gen.
flemen to ssy he did not know as
they had been irjnre by them. -
These laws were not intended tn
excite the South. or to put them in
any position of degradation. as
the Senator supposes. These laws
against kidnapping are as old as the
common law its,l'. | believe the
state of Virginia has one to day a.
stringent in ito provisions a. anv Of
those OF which you complain. And
here let me say. brc use the sub iect
occurs to me, that the Senator from
Virginia seems not so much to point
nut any specific act, that the North
rrn people have done that are iniu.
rlous TO your property, as something
he takes to be II dishonor and a
degradation. | think feel as sen.
-it,ve on that point NJ any other man,
II | know myself | would be the
last man who would advocate any
law, or any act, that would humiliate
or dishonor any section f this coun
Try, or any individual in II; but, on
the other hand, let me tell those
gentlemen | am exceedingly senei.
tive on that same point, whatever
they may think, and had rather sus.
tain an injury than an insult or dis.
honor, and | wouli be AZ unwilling
to inflict it upon Others as woull
be to submit to it myself. | never
DO either the one or the other, il
know il.
But have already said these gen
tlemen who make these complaints
have for a long series o; years had
this government in their own hands
| may say these gentlemen who have
raised upon this floor their bill o.
indictment against us, have been
the leaders of the dominant party
for years; therefore. il there is any.
thing in the legislation o! the fedora
government tha. ia not right, you
and no: we, are responsible for it -
We never yet have been vested with
power to control the legislation o
the country for an hour. | know
the charges have been made anc
rung in our ears that we have beer
unIalthful TO your Fugitive Slave
bill The law is exceedingly odiout
to any free people. and deprivcs III
Of all the old guarantees OF libert,
that the Anglo.Saxon race have con
sidered more sacred than anythiu.
else.
Mr. Green said perhaps the actor
on this law had not injured anybody
but he complained OF the public cen
tlment. lie knew it was impossibl
To reclaim slave in nine cases ou
OF ten, and they risked their lives
they made the attempt. He thougl
the law no more obnoxious than i
any case of scoundrels who rob an
steal [Applause in the galleries
The Chair said the galleries must b
cleared if the applause again W,
heard
i Mr.. Wade. Never mind, let the
cheer the Fugitive Slave law, il the
please.
Mr.. Mason said he should insi
on order, ifthe indignities to the Sc
. ate did not cease. sa,- -.a 4.
Mr.. Wade.-This would be q DO
, remedy for free man in humb
circumstances to be taken under Il
, provisions OF this act and carri,
wherel Where he came from.
3 Then he might be carried into &
8 market place anywhere in a sla
/ state, and what chance has hsa
q TIT. 80 - ,v,nar L. lr.Inu--ol -,