Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21
NEGRO suFraAan-FuorTvE SLAVE LAWS.

NEGRO sUFFHA0E--FUQITlVE Slave LAWS.
message was received from the House announcing III
adherence to the disagreement on the bill establishing
Territorial Government for Montana, aud asking Tor
Mr. SHERMAN explained, that however much he
might be disposed that tho Senate reeede he thought
necessary to appoint committee to meet that OF the
Holse. ~
Mr. DoOLITTLE thought the question for which the
Senator contended abstract There was mol
would there DO any number OF negroes In mon
tana.
Mr. HALE denied that the principle Of the senste's
amendment was mere abstraction. 1t establishing
precedent of freedmen for the Territory for all time
The bill without the Senate amendments would
allow the inhabitants Of the young Territory tn be educated
in the barbarous ideas of slavery which had done so much
injury in times past ss. s.r.s
Mr. TRUMBULL thought the tendency Of this amend,
ment to ALLEVIATE legal men and help the rebellion
The amendment was not abstraction. The bill Itself
defined the right Of suffrage, and the first Legislature
which would meet ia the Territory would dispose of the
negro equality-tAs equality Of all men, and toe
before the lawand il had been urged that mattered
not whether tho by which this was secured were
constitutional not 1t was mistake This Government
could not be saved unless saved under the Consnu
ton We fighting for liberty regulated by law and,
far from strengthening the Government and weakening
the rebellion you divide the sentiment OF the people OF the
North whenever You undertake to pass an unconshtl
ona act The position of the Southern States based
upon the pretence that the Government under pretex
has usuped and exercised powers not warranted BY the
just always but we should avoid the appearance Of
violating the Constitution. We wanted no divisions 10 TINS
country except between patriots and traitors lie was
sorry that this proposition introduced here, and
would be sent out for discussion before the people, on the
Mr. FESSENDEN objected to further debate, the
morning hour having expired
TIE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAWS.
Mr. SUMNER called up the bill to repeal all acts for
the rendition of persons to service or labor he said ne
did not intend to say word about the bill 1t was as plain
the multiplication table, diary, or the Ten Command
ments. H s
Mr.. HENDRICKS did not think there should be such
an amendment to the Constitution this 1t might be as
plain the multiplication table but it was doubtful 10
him whether the high morality of the Ten Commandments
would sanction its passage 1t was decided IN 1885, ana
again in 1885, be lawful and expedient The fugitive
slave law has been decided to be constitutional by every
court of the United States and rearmed by the people
Now while the Constitution remains unchanged ana lts
provisions obligatory upon members OF Congress
it is proposed reject It, Though he was not Senator
from slave State he would vote against this blu 80 long
the oath he had taken to support the Constitution was
upon his conscience
Mr. SHERMAN said he always thought the law of 1850
unconstitutional and had objection to its repeal now
He doubted the proprey of going back as far as the year
1893 He would give the loyal people OF the South all
their constitutional rights He moved to amend the oil
by inserting Except the act approved February II 1913
for the rendition of persons from service or labor
Mr. JOHNSON regretted the proposed action, not be-
cause it would have any effect in returning single slave
but upon other grounds The Constitution not only au-
horzed the acts of 1898 and 1885, but the trainers OF that
instrument thought it just and necessary TO have some
such law. Even if these laws an original proposition,
maintained to be unconstitutional the CONSTITUTION
itself fugitive slave law If the Senator says, the
bill proposes repeal odous laws and it be as clear a.
the multiplication table, certainly it reproach 10 Keep
them upon statute books But he supposed the men
who framed the Constitution knew its meaning and true
intent well the Senator from Massachusetts, or others
in this body The President of the Convention which
framed it, coming from Slave State knew what the
clause of 1898 meant Many Of the men who passed the
act of 1893 were members of the subsequent Congress-
aud if the Senator would look at their proceedings no would
find that no one attempted breathe suspicion that it
was not constitutional and expedient
Mr.. SUMNER replied that whatever the trainers OF the
Constitution might have meant the words OF the Consu-
ton did not say slaves but persons. tf
Mr. JOHNSON said every member of the Convention
knew what he meant and what other member meant
A long coloquial debate ensued between Messrs SUN
NER and JOHNSON to the effect OF the decision Of
Chief Justice Story the law of 1893.
Mr.. SHERMAN's amendment was then adopted, as fol
lows:
YEAS Messes. Buckalew, Garlic, Collamer Cowan
Davis, Dixon. Dooe Foster, Harris Henderson, Hend
rcks Howe Johnson Lane of Indiana McDouga Nesmith
Powell Ridde, Salisbury, Sherman, Ten Eyck, Trumoul
Van Winkle, and Wiley-M
NAYS-Messrs Anthony Brown, Clark, Conness, Fessen
den Grimes Hale Howard, Lane of Kansas Morgan, Nor
rl POmeroy, Ramsey, sprague, Sumner, Wilkinson, and
Wilson-H.
Mr. CONFESS said he could not vote for the bill as
just amended and he could not explain his views now
he moved TO lay the bill on the table ReJected-yeas
nays 81
Mr. DAVIS moved to adjourn-yeas 3D. nays q.
Mr. FOSTER desired TO explain his vote, but gave wal
n tn adourn: which carried. and the Sc