Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-04-26
CONGRESS-.
REPORTED FOR THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
Senate, Wednesday, April %.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
House Oh RepresentatiYes.

On motion of Mr.. Hatton, OF Tenn, the
House resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the Presidents message, Mr..
Bufinton, of Mass, in the chair
Mr.. Florence, of Pa, submitted few re-
marks on the tariff question; when
Mr.. Elliot, Of Mass, proceeded to address
the committee on the political topics OF the
day.
Mr.. Corwin, of Ohio then addressed the
committee contending that the fugitive slave
| law was constitutional and should be carried
| out.
Mr.. Elliott, CT Mass read from the debates
to show that Daniel Webster believed that 1t
was the intention of the trainers Of the Con-
stitution that the State authorities should
deliver up the fugitive. There were instan-
ces Of freemen being carried into slavery
under this act-one not long since III Phla-
delphia.
Mr.. Corwin, of Ohio, said that whatever
might be the exact words Of the constitution,
or the original Intention OF its trainers, the
action of Congress, concurred IN by the peo-
pie, adjudicated upon by the courts, and car
ried into effect by the executive, was the
| Interpretation 10 be followed and for all prac-
teal purposes, its intent and meaning
| Mr.. Elliott read the clause OF the cOnstitu-
| ton requiring tugitives to DC surrendered ~,
and desired TO know if Mr.. Corwin believed
! that it was intended by that clause to confer
| the power upon Congress.
Mr.. Curwn said it would take him two
weeks to make the gentleman from MaSsa-
chusetts understand his position. Laugh
ter.)
Mr. Elliott can understand yes or mo
very we'll Viii the gentleman from ONO
say either of these little words?
Mr. Corwin declined t. answer the ques-
ton directly and said that it was doubtless
Intended originally that the state Judiciary
should surrender the fugitive. lie did not
fully recullect the circumstances Of the free
man alleged to have been returned from
Philadelphia as a fugitive.
Mr. Davis of Mi, said he could support
his friend from Oaio on this subject, lie
knew the ease referred to. The negro n
rested had belonged to his father. His faith
ers will provided that all his slaves should
he free, provided they chose to 20 to Africa.
This boy had lived on the Eastern shore, /"
slave in form, but in matter OF fact, working
| for himself; afterwards he left the Eastern
| shore and went to reside In Phlladel pima
| Whilst he was there, gentleman on the
| Eastern shore lost slave, and employed m
agent in Philadelphia to fad him. That
agent arrested and brought before the United
! States Commissioner a negro man who, a
evidence OF his freedom produced VIII,
which did not hestow freedom. According
| " he was remanded back t. slavery. Bat
| ON bis arrival in Maryland it was found that
| ne was not the slave Of the gentleman who
claimed hun. but the lad who had belonged
to his Mr.. Davis') father. Learning that,
one Of his (Mr D.'s) relations had hm dis
charged and there was an end q the matter
MIR. Dawes said that gentleman from
| Ohio, not present, had stated some time since
that free negroes in Ohio had several times
been arrested MS fugitive slaves, under forged
papers.
Mr.. Allen, Of Ohio, desired to correct the
| statement. His colleague had only said that
white man had been arrested upon suspl-
con Of crime, in Ohio, upon whose person
was found papers which were intended for
| the arrest of fugitive slaves, and which u
was supposed were forged. daughter.
| Mr.. CnrWn, continuing, declared that the
! fugitive slave law had been ten years on the
| statute book, and yet the only cases brought
against it were, one where one slave had
| been mistaken for another slave, and the
other an attempt to arrest 4 free negro. ~
other statute in ten years had worked as
| little injustice as that lie admitted that he
regretted the repeal of the law Of 1893, for
il was fully rs elfectua as the law Of 1850
in restoring lugtiyes from Iabpr, and wai
much less liable to invidious COMMENT
| The South proposed TO dissolve the Union
because the North did not surrender tie
| fugitive siave-hecause the negro ran -
fast that the North could not catch them.
J Laughter) Why the negro had T. run halt
the way through slave territory why didn't
they catch him there? you say nothing
| To the Southern men who don't catch the
| runaway. but the very moment he reaches
free territory, you get very angry because
every man don't know he is il fugitive, aud
| try 10 catch him-which | don't think i,
what my friend from Kentucky calls giving
us far (tair) chance. Baisterous laugh
| ter. But it is not the North that makes the
runaway slaves. 1t is Canada III il was
not for Canada no negro would run away y
| live in a free State IN perpetual tear 81 beiuG
recaptured by his owner. Why then, nc dc
handed, does not the South make war upon
| Great Britain, who protects the negroes, no.
as thew run across her territories with their
| backs 10 their owners, but "a they turn
around and snap their fingers in bis face
At Chatham they organized a conspiracy to
overthrow the government Of Maryland and
| Virginia and establish Il provisional govern
ment. Why not make war with Great Bri-
tain. Because John Bull bought cotton,
and it would not do to shut M the market.
That reason would suffice him Nlr. Cor
VIM But it was proposed to make war up
ON the North because everybody did not
turn out and chase fugitive that ran too
fast to be caught, and not to make war on
England under whose protection he rested
4 Voice. COY. Wise said he Do IT,
Mr. Corwin Well, lie i sensible.
daughter It's against England that MI
! these thunders that are now aimed al the
North, ought to be rolled. The Republican
party was not opposed to the surrender Of
| fugitive slaves. There was great deal OF
talk among them, but it meant nothing
| Let the South lie content to 20 into the ter
tile fields of Texas, where slaves would
bring $1,000 each, for centuries TO come, and
not try to divide with the North, regions -
cold that the wind blew the cows tails oil
and the trouble would cease,
| At the close Of his speech which, by
lo,,.o ,,.os az torflnd several hpurs the Com