New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-12

the impending danger do underftaud thst const-
tutiOnal amendments are TO lie proposed by The two
Houscs Of Congress. am not advised az To what is
expected Of that Committee. Whatever may be the
object whether in tie shape Of Congressional egisla-
1ion, in the shape of amendments the Constitution
in whatever design object may be confen,nlafed
have no confidence IN the accomplishment of ANYTHING
Now Sir let us look at this question from reasonable
and common-sense standing. il it designed TO make
Congressional e2slaonto remove the objections WI ch
The Southern States have to remaining in the Union
is il designed TO introduce legislation for protecting the
rights and equality Of the Southern States more than
they are now by the Constitution, and the present
laws III 80, what Is Congressional legislation, so far
BE tne fug1lve Slave law concerned to the rights
al the Southern peope, under the Instructions and
oiiculties-which are pre-
tented to the execution of that law by a vated pub
3c sentiment in the Northern Statesl What more can
Congress do than Congress has done ? We have a
Fugitive Slave law Of which the South does complain.
Ii Is sufficiently guarded to accomplish all the objects
Tor which 1t was designed if there was proper pub
lie sentiment IN the Northern States. No better Fuei-
five Slave law could be devised, by this Congress or
any other. Icothed the Judiciary and Executive of
fhis Government with ample powers to laws.
We don't complain that any Executive has ever been
sierehct in his duty in the discharge of this law.
Mr.. FILLMORE President when this law was passed.
and it received his sanction; and ready 20 say,
that so far as he concerned, he carried it out.
Gen. Pierce carried II out and the present Executive.
so far they have the power, they have done their
duty faithfully. But we know well that no slave has
been reclaimed from the Northern States, except under
and often loss of life. Ii is nos defect in the law it
self; but il is in the fact, to which can shut
his eyes, that vitiaed public sentiment in the North
States is strong against Slavery that no enact
ment can ever be carried out while this state of
public sentiment lasts. II is true that now
and then a slave is reclaimed. But ii has been
done at the point Of the bayonet, and at an
expense Of ten times the value of the slave.
Why is it, Sir? Not because the law is defective but
because public sentiment is defective and wrong Nor
do charge the failure of the execution of this law
81 Al.
never operated to prevent the execution of the Fug-
tive Slave law. 1t is, said mob law, in all cir
cumstances which has produced these results and will
as long as the Union and Slavery last together When
ever fugitive slave shall be discovered in one Of the
Free States and the goes in pursuance of law
and the Constitution TO reclaim him. what follows
They obtain the arrest Of the slave but before the
comes before Justice, before Judgment can be rem
dered there is mob of free negroes and whites who
are only one degree removed from their cOlorcd
brothers in brutality and ignorance. They assemble
and wres the negro from the possession of the owner
while the conservative masses, the gentlemen"
thosetwho are in favor of justice, who believe the
owner is entitled under the Constitution and the law
TO reclaim the slave, what do they do do They stand
with folded arms and look upon these mobs, and laugh
to these Southern people. Even the Senator from
New Hampshire said the other day that he believed
The Southern people entitled 10 reclaim their
slaves. But how often has he stood by and these
mobs execute their foul purposes Has he striven
to correct this initiated public sentiment Sir he has
stimulated it, and so have other Senators from the
North.
MIR. HALE Rep, n. H. lin his seat Never.
Mr.. IVERSON-What more can Congress do on this
subject Does the Senator from Kentucky propose to
amend the Fugitive Slave law Ii has been suggested
that a remedy might be found in alteration Of the
Constitution i1sOme act of Congress- in which the Free
States who secrete aud refuse bring back slaves,
will be liable in damages. In the first place. what
would such law be worth You can't sue State.
"A State in Its sovereign capacity cannot be brought
into Court. If thousand slaves were received by
Massachusetts and refused to be returned, how can
you sue the State Of Massachusetts That would be
impracticable and impossible. Besides, you would
have to sue in a Court Of Massachusetts.
The jury who to decide on your rights
would be jury of Abolitionists. The defend
ants who are TO be muleed the parties who
compose the Jury, and the Judges who decide on
the claim Of owners. All such propositions as that are
mere moekery, and no man can suppose that such a
remedy as that would be worth dollar a cent.
Then, Sir it proposed to apPease the southern states
by the adoption Of the doctrines of Congressional pro-
lection 10 Slavery in the Territories Is that the
remedy this resolution intended TO find ont want
TO know who expects such a remedy as that
will ever be accorded by this Congress OR any
other? We know that the Republican party
are a unit upon that question. 1t is the great
shibboleh on which they fought this battle and WON'T
IT is the very principle which stands at the basis OF
their political organization. 1t is, that Slavery shall
not advance beyond its present boundaries and shall
never plant footprint in the Territories OF the United
States 1t mus' necessarily meet the dsapproyal OF
every one of the $50 00J Republicans who cast their
votes for Lincoln and Hamlin and how many Northern
Democrats will be brought to Its support We know
well that, as far portion OF the Northern Demo-
Gratis concerned they were as hostile to tins plnc
ple as the Republi ans themselves. The Northern
Douglas Squatter-SOveregnty party
is represented on tits floor by the Senator from Illinois,
and bis friend from Ohio, Mr. Pugh. Would they vote
for it? We have already heard the Senator from ONO
sav he would let his arm rot from bis shoulder IN ITS
socket before be would vote for Congressional protec
tion tell Senators here to-day that the Southern people
will never be satisfied with anything short Of Congress
rional protection to Slavery in the Territories. we
know our rights under the Constitution. We stand as
equal States IN tins confederacy, ana we are enueu
60 equal participation in the common property. we
know well that we can ENJOY equal possession
of the Territories without protection 10 our properly
i know well where the WilmOt Proviso and Non-lnter,
yention- misunderstanding would lead IL WOuId
lead 10 the total exclusion Of the Southern States from
any Territory which is possessed OF may be mere
after ACQUIRED We will never submit to any sucn dc
faon as hat We are entitled to the protection OF our
prorey and we intend to have It, In the Union we
can Get IT, and out of the Upion If we cannon ge ltl'
understand the object OF all this prohlblGry eSsalo
The result OF both is to exclude the South from any en-
france into the Territories with their slave properly
III is 10 crcumscrbe the Of Slavery ana 70 mem
in on all sides and by the operations Of the feGeral
Government upon the border States, competing lnSi
as matter of policy and interest," i'll order 10 get 1d OF
tbe;r ves 10 nrecpitae them upon the Cotton States
Tlen Sir il will be but few months before the ooref
States in lie Union will become Free States LEI thls
Government pass into the hands OF the epuohcan par
tylet them be installed in pOwer-let them get pos
session of The two Houses Of Congress, az they VIII
Oct uoseesson of them in less than two years-let
them bring the power and patronage OF inns Govern
en 10 hear upon the border Statesand let 1t be u-
dersood that the Government Is In the hands OF 'hose
who are unfriendly to slavery, ana lCl ~ US unuo1
stood that the Government is divorced from Slavery
ord II viii be left entirely to the States themselves
With no sympathy from the Federal Government
or assistance to us in difficulty or danger