The national Republican., 1860-12-12
THIRTY-S CONGRRss,
Second Session.
Tuesday, December IL, 1860.
SENATE

Our report Of yesterday closed when Mr.
Biger took the floor upon Mr.. Powell's resolu
ton.
After Mr.. Bigler had concluded,
Mr.. 1verson said that the South would never
submit to any proposition less than Congress
sional protection for slavery in the Territories
The Republican and Douglas squatter sover
eighty non.interventon principles differ but in
a little. They would soon get oil the power o
the Government in their hands, and by their
patronage would render the border slave States
free. Then the slave population would be cen
tired in the Gulf States, and emancipation or a
war Of races would be the result. The South
must have Congressional protection to slavery
in the Territories, and q legal recognition of il
in the States. If concessions be gained from
the North, what would they be worth a.? The
North, if she yields at all, will yield from fear
Hatred of the South is not only political sen.
timent in the North, but even a partof their
religious creed. There is only one way to
arouse the Northern mind to different state
Of things that way is by the reflection which
will ensue on a withdrawal of the Southern
States. But even if fresh guarantees be given,
what reliance can be placed upon them
The whole question, to him, seemed settled
beyond the power Of any interference this side
of Heaven. He had no doubt whatever that
five States would certainly secede before the
4th Of March, and that others would sooner or
later join them; though if the cotton States go
out alone, it might happen that if two other
States should only come out at the tail end Of
the movement they might find some points in
the coniederacy which they joined so late that
would strike at their peculiar interests. Though
opposed to a reopening of the African slave
trade, he would not be security that if the cot
ton States alone formed confederacy, that
trade would not be reopened. Daily in walking
these streets he heard curses, not loud, but
deep, from the people Of this District, against
those States which were asserting their rights
These men feared the depreciation of their
property; that would depend much on their
conduct. 1t might be that Washington, if
Maryland and Virginia seeded, as they should,
in his opinion, would still remain what its
buildings and location fitted it fora seat of
Government. If different state of things
should arise, it might be that the marble palaces
Of Washington, teeming with life and full of
mirth and pleasure would become the habita
ton of bats.
If the South shall be left to herself, her slave
population will increase in thirty years from
four and.a half to thirty millions. The slave
population will preponderate over the white :;
but if the influence of the North prevails, uni.
versal emancipation will eventually take place.
He said, from report of the Virginia Legis.
lature, fifteen years ago, the annual loss of that
State in fugitive slaves was 100000.
Mr.. Pugh did not believe that the State of
Virginia had ever lost in all the value of one
hundred thousand dollars by the escape of
fugitive slaves.
Mr.. Douglas said the fugitive slave law was
was always executed? He believed that it
was as faithfully executed as the laws regard.
ing the African slave trade. As regarded
Illinois, he believed that in nineteen cases out
of twenty fugitive slave was returned without
any process. So in Kentucky and Ohio, the
people were friendly, and he was Immediately
returned. Thus it was in nineteen cases out
of every twenty. The twentieth fugitive might
gel in some abolition quarter, and a rescue
would be accomplished. This would be para
ded through the papers, and then the cry would
be, how can we live together? Mr.. Douglas
then instanced case in Ottawa, where fugi.
tive was rescued, and his rescuers duly punish
ed. Yet the Southern people are taught to
believe that fugitive is nerer recovered. The
great number of those returned is never men.
toned, but every exceptional case is loudly
published. If the relative numbers of the re-
turned and finally lost fugitives were published,
Southern Senators would be amazed ut the
faithful execution Of the law. For the personal
liberty bills he had no apology to make he
thought them violations of o constitutional
provision. But he had noticed that the further
either one went the more intense became the
excitement. In those far Northern States,
where slaves so seldom went, that the people
hardly knew how one looked, laughter, the
personal liberty bills were the most violent
and the far Southern States, where there was
but little loss of slave property, were greatly
excited by the losses of the border slave States
Laughter and sensation.] The people of the
border States could settle this question between
| themselves amicably.
las, Davis, Fitch, Powell, Wade, Pugb, and Ma.
son, participated in debate as to whether the
fugitive slave law was faithfully executed
Mr.. Fitch, of Indiana, said: l know, in my
State, during the last twenty-five years, of but
one instance of the rescue Of fugitive slave.
Mr.. Wigfall said the whole issue of the seces
sion party was based on the principle that the
South had been denied protection to property
in the Territories and on the high seas.
Mr. Douglas said this could not be the case.
Mr.. Wiglall. Prove it.
Mr.. Douglas. The Senator voted for the res.
olution of Senator Davis, which declared that
no necessity existed for Congressional protec.
tion to property in the Territories.
After further remarks from Senators Davis,
Wigfall, Douglas, and Brown,
The Senate, at half past four o'clock, P. NJ,
adjourned.
HOUSE.
Our report closed yesterday, pending the
motion to excuse Mr.. Morrill, from serving on
the committee of thirty.three.
Mr.. John Cochrane thought that gentle.
man who voted against excusing Mr.. Hawkins
and MIR. Boyce was the last who should himself
request to be excused from serving on the com.
mttee. No more serious or important matter
could be proposed to the committee. He ex.
pressed his surprise that gentleman belong.
ing to the Republican party, which had aggra
waited present affairs, SHOULD make such a
request.