Year: 1860

States, which would somehow trench upoI


your rights to recapture runaway slaves


position that in more than two or thret


cases has not the least foundation in fact


But if these laws are really repugnant te


the Constitution they are utterly void, and


the Courts would declare them So at any


moment. Therefore am glad to heal


Senators on the other side say they do moi


complain of those bills. Your men have


given up this bone of contention, this mat.


ter of complaint, which Northern men may


have set forth as grievance more than any


one else.


Mr.. MASON said that the repeal of these


laws would furnish no satisfaction to the


Southern States.


Mr.. WADE-I understood the gentle


man to say that he did not know as they


had been injured by them. These laws


were not intended to excite the South, OF


to put them in any position of degradation,
as the Senators supposes. Those laws
against kidnapping are as old and common
as the law itself. believe the state Of


Virginia has one to-day as stringent in its
provisions as any of those of which you
complain. 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 peo-
pie have done that are injurious TO your
property, as something he takes to be a
dishonor and degradation. think feel
as sensitive on that subject as any other
man, if know myself. l would be the last
man who would advocate any law, or any
act, that would humiliate or dishonor any
section of this country, or any individual
in it; but, on the other hand, let me tell
those gentlemen l am exceedingly sensitive
on that same point, whatever they may
think, and had rather sustain injury than in
suit or dishonor, and l would be as unwil-
ling to unflict it upon others as would be
to submit to it myself. l never do either
the one or the other, if | know it. But |
have already said these gentlemen, who
make these complaints, have for long Sc
ries of years had this government in their
own hands. may say that these gentle
men who have raised upon this floor their
bill of Indictment against me, have been
the leaders of the dominant party for years; ;
therefore, if there is anything in the legis-
lation of the Federal Government that is
not right, you, and not we, are responsible
for it. We never yet have been invested
with power TO control the legislation of
the country for an hour. know that the
charges have been made and rung in our
ears that we have been uufaithful to your
Fugitive Slave bill. The law is exceed
ingly odious to any free people, and de-
prives US of all the guarantees of liberty
that the Anglo Saxon race have considered
more sacred than anything else.


Mr.. GREEN said perhaps the action on
this law bad not injured anybody, but he
complained of the public sentiment. He
knew it was impossible to reclaim slave
iu nine cases out of ten, and they risked
their lives if they made the attempt. He
thought the law no more obnoxious than
any in case of scoundrels who rob and steal.
Applause in the galleries.


The CHAIR said the galleries must be
cleared if the applause again was heard.


Mr.. WADE-Never mind, let them
cheer the Fugitive Slave law if they please.


Mr.. MASON said he should insist on
order if the indignities of the Senate did
not cease.


Mr.. WADE-This would be a poor
remedy for. a free man in humble circum-
stances to be taken under the provisions
of this bill to be carried, where? Where
he came from. Ther he might be carried
into the market place anywhere in slave
State, and what chance has he? This
man may be kidnapped and carried into ev-
erlasting Slavery, and does any man who
has regard for the sovereign rights of
the States, sit here and complain that
State could not make law to protect her
own people against invasion and seizure
1 believe of all men those who have made
the most of these complaints, are the last
who would rise here and deny the power
of sovereign State to protect her own
citizens against any Fedral Legislation
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. l was exceedingly glad to
hear Senators on the other side say that
the repeal of these bills will not relieve the
case from the difficulties have heard |
it everywhere that the people of the Free
States are unfaithful in executing the Fu-
gitive Slave law. 1t has been said, under |
such circumstances here, that, although L
was sure as to my own State, yet could |
not rise TO aay l did not believe word |
of what they were saying. l never did |
and never could, until our enemies here
rise in their places, and, with a magnanimity |
l commend, have said this was not so.-
My eollea9,e Mr.. Pugh. } with magnan-
unity for which l give him my thanks, has
stood forth to testify that, in the State l
in part represent, Republican Judges,
Courts and Juries have fulfilled this repul-
sive duty with perfect faithfulness, and so
said the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Doug
las,) and so l understood the Senator from
Indiana (Mr. Fitch) to have said. There
fore, the calumny is removed from us, so
far as the statements uf our political enc
mics can do it. know our Courts feel
themselves bound to administer the laws
just as they find them. Let me say, to
gentlemen of the Senate on the other side,
where Won have lost ones slave bv the nm