Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-05

L.ol III, anu tncy WOulA mol near us at all
Now, | wish to inquire canddly, honestly
and fairly, whether the Southern gentlemen
who complain so much have any reasonable
grounds for that complaint mean wien
they are really informed as to our position.
Ihe Northern Democrats have said we have
Personal Liberty Bills in some few of the
Northern States, which would somehow
trench upon your rights to re-capture run
away slayes-a position that in more than
two or three cases has not the least founda.
ton in fact. But if these laws are really
repugnant to the Constitution, they are ut
tery void, and the Courts would declare
them SO at any moment. Therefore am
! glad to hear Senators on the other side say
they do not complain Of these bills. Your
men have given up this bone Of contention,
this matter Of complaint, which Northern
men have set forth as a 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-I understood the gentleman
to say he did not know as they had been
injured by them These laws were not in
tended to excite the South, or to put them
in any position of degradation, as the SEN
ator supposes. These laws against kidnap-
| ping are as old as the common law itself.
| believe the State Of Virginia has one to
lday as stringent in its provisions as any Of
those Of hich you com plain. And here
let me say, because the subject occurs to
me, that the Senator from Virginia seems
not SO much TO point out any specific acts
that the Northern people have done that
are injurious to your property, as some
thing he takes to be dishonor and deg
relation. | think | feel as sensitive on
that subject as any other man, il know
myself | would be the last man who
would advocate any law, or any act, that
would humiliate or disA, a5r any section Of
this country, or any individual liz x; but,
on the other hand, let me tell those gentle
men | am exceedingly sensitive on that
same point, whatever they may think, and
had rather sustain an injury than an Insult
or dishonor, and | would be as unwilling
to infiict it upon Others as would be to
submit TO it myself never do either the
one OF 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. | my say these gentlemen who
have raised upon this floor their bill Of in
/ dictment against us, have been the leaders
lief the dominant party for years; therefore
if there is anything in the legislation Of the
i Federal Government that il not right, you,
and not we, are responsible for If. We nev-
or vet have been invested with power to
lcontrol the legislation Of the country for an
hour. ! know the charges have been made
and rung in our ears that we have been UNI
faithful to your Fugitive Slave bill. The
Jaw is exceedingly odious to any free peo-
Iple, and deprives US Of all the old guaran-
tics of liberty that the Anglo-Saxon race
have considered more sacred than ANYTHING
/ else.
Mr. GREEN said perhaps the action on
this law had not injured anybody, but he
complained Of the public sentiment. He
knew it was impossible to reclaim slave
in nine cases out Of ten, and they risked
their lives if they made the attempt lie
Thought the law no more obnoxious than
any in case of scoundrels who rob and steal
n Applause in the galleries. The Chan
said the galleries must be cleared fthe APP
plause again was head.
Mr. WADE-NeYer mind, let them
cheer the Fugitive Slave Law if they
.Iplease.
i Mr. Mason said he should insist on or
der if the indignities to the Senate did rot
lease
j Mr. WADE-This would be a poor rem
] edy for a free manin humble circumstance
to be taken under the provision Of this bill
to be carried wherel Where he came
from. Then he might be carried into the
market place anywhere in slave State,
rand what chance has he? This man may
! Be kidnapped and carried into everlasting
Slavery, and does any man who has re-
gard for the sovereign rights of the States
Ifiise here and complain that State could
not make law to protect her own people
/ AGAINST invasion and seizurea i believe OF
! all men those WHO have made the most o.
these complaints are the last who would
rise here and deny the power Of a soYer-
eion State to protect her own citizens
against any Federal Legislature whatever.
! Then liberty bills have been made, not with
view to degrade the South, but with an
honest view to guard the rights Of Their
own citizens from unlawful searches and
seizures. / was exceedingly glad to hear
] Senators ON the other side say that the re-
neal of these bills will not relieve the case
/ from. the difliculties-and have heard il
everywhere that the people Of the Free
States are unfaithful in executing the fu-
toitive Slave law. 1t has been said, under
such circumstances here, that, although
was sure as to my own State, yet, could
mot rise to say did not believe word O.
what they we're saying. | never did and
never could, until our enemies here rise u
their places, and, with a riagniinity ! com
mend. have said this was not 50. Ny col
.Ileauge OR. Pugh,) with magnanlnity
Efor which / give HIM my thanks, has stood
-iforth to testify that, in the State ! II par,
il ssz,nt pnn,,hlican Ju1oes Courts alIc