Year: 1861

been led to believe that we, to-day the domi


nant party, who are about to take the rein


of Government, are their mortal foes, an,
stand ready to trample their institutions un
der foot. They have been told 80 by on
enemies at the North, and they would no


hear us at all. Now, / wish to inquire can
didly, honestly, and fairly, whether tn
Southern gentlemen who complain 20 mucl
have any reasonable grounds for that com


plaint-Imean when they are really informed
as to our position. The Northern Democrat


have said we have Personal Liberty Bills il
some few of the Northern States, which wo Z
somehow trench upon your rights to recap


ture runaway slayes-a position that in more
than two or three cases has not the least foun
ldation in fact But If these Laws, ars really
Irepugnant to the Constellation, they are ut


terly void and the Courts would declare then
so at any moment. Therefore am glad to
hear Senators on the other sides say they dc
not complain of these bills. Your men have
given up this bone of contention, this matter
of complaint, which Northern men have Sc,
forth as 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. e,as ui !,


Mr.. Wade-I understand the gentleman tc
say he did not know as they had been injured
by them. These laws were not intended to
excite the South, or to put them in any po-
sition of degradation as the Senator supposes.
These laws against kidnapping are as old as
the common law ITSELF l believe the State
of Virginia has one to-day as stringent in its
provisions as any of those of which you COM
plain. And here let me say, because this
subject occurs to me, that tho 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
something he takes to be dishonor and a
degradation. l think feel as sensitive on
that subject as any other man, if know my
self. Iwould be the last man who would ad-
vocate any law, or any act, that would hui
initiate or dishonOr any section of the country
or any individual in it; but, on the other
hand, let ME tell those gentlemen l am ex-
ceedingly sensitive on that same point what
ever they may think, and had rather sustain
an injury than an insult or dishonor, and i
would be as unwilling to inlict it upon Others
as would be to submit it to myself Inever
do either the one or the other, if l know it.
Butt have already said these gentlemen who
make these complaints have for long series
tofyenshaa tiriB 8vvcrnment'in their own
hands. Imay say these gentlemen who have
raised upon this floor their bill of indictment
against u.s. have been the leaders of the dom
inant party for years; therefore, if there is
anything in the legislation 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 legis-
lation of the country for an hour l know
the charges have been made and rung in our
ears that we have been untaithtul to your
Fugitive Slave bill. The law is exceedingly
odious to any free people, and deprives us Of
all the old guarantees of liberty that the An
glo Saxon race have considered more sacred
than anything else. 90 .'s.I %
Mr.. Green said perhaps the action of this
law had not injured anybody, but he COM
plakqed of the public sentiment He knew
| it way impossible 10 reclaim slave in 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
scoundrcls who rob and steal. Applause in
the galleries. The Chair said the galleries
must be cleared if the applause again was
heard. ,a, 5d ! .Ats il au' ~


Mr.. Wade-Nevcr mind, lot them cheer
the Fugitive Slave Law if they please.


Mr.. Mason said he should insist on order
if the indignities to the Senate did not cease.
4 Mr.. Wade-This would be poor remedy
for free man in humble circumstances tc
be taken under the provision of this bin tt
be carried where? Where he came from. =
! Then he might be carried into the marke
place anywhere in Slave State, and wha


chance has he? This man may be kidnap


ped and carried into everlasting Slavery, ant


does any man who has regard for the SOW


ereign rights of the States rise here ant
complain that State could not make lay


to protect her own people against invasion
and seixure2 l believe of all men those VIII
, have made the most of these complaints ar
!, the last who would rise here and deny th
the power Of sovereign State to protec
, her own citizens against any Federal Legis
, lature whatever. Then liberty bills hav
! been made, not with view to degrade tn
! South, but with an honest view to guard tn
rights of their own citizens from unlawft
f searches and seizures. / was exceedingl
} glad to hear Senators on the other side sa
f that the repeal of these bills will not reliev
the case from the difficulties / hav
heard it everywhere that the people Of tn
, Free States are unfaithful in executing tn
. Fugitive Slave law. 1t has been said, unde
a such circumstances hero, that, although


was sure as to my own State, yet, l coul
Q not rise to say did not believe word I
n what thew were saving, / never did nj,