Year: 1861

tion which has distracted the whole coun-
try for the past few years.


Sir, l suppose there is no one here who
denies-there is no one here who would
not say that il is the duty of Congress 10
provide for the rendition of fugitive slaves.
The Constitution of the United States
guarantees to the States having this pecu-
liar institution that fugitives from justice
and from labor shall be returned to tue
States from which they escape And, sir,
one Lovei y, of the State OF Illinois, one
uf the agitators of this slavery question,
has had the bad taste, in this very crisis
of our couutrys fate, to introduce reso-
ton of an agitating character in Con-
gress-


THE CHAIg-The gentleman will conine
himself to the subject unaer consideration
the subject of taking up the resolution.


Mr. PoRTER-I am glad the Speaker has
interrupted me, l hope this discussion will
come to conclusion here very soon. Our
position will never be misunderstood; and
nm not disposed 10 give Mr.. Lovejoy any
particular nutoriety. lam not disposed
TO give him amy Importance he does not
merit. know that his course has i'm
mensely delighted all the disunionists of
our country; and think We should give
the 'quietus," as some one has said, to the
whole matter by allowing the resolution to
lie on the table.


FoNrAIN SMIrn-I have but n word to
say, sir, and that is, thut feel gricved
that in the very infancy of our movement
81 firebrand, unintentionally l have no
doubt, has been thrown into our midst I;
and with all respect to the gentleman, lam
ut tt loss to appreciate hemutive by which
= \ I 7
this with all personal respect. The gem
tleman who urges it this morning, yestcr-
day objected emphatically thnt our Sena-
tors aud Representatives should beinstruc-
ted not to enter into any compromise with
the seeded States that would be detrimen-
tai to the character and dignity of the
American Republic. lie objected to such
II resolution, sir, because it would perhaps
be an insult to their judgments; but now
resolution is introduced here in relation to
subject which is plainly written in the
Constitution Of the United States-no
plainly written in the Con-
stitutiou-a law which has been sactoned
by the highest tribunal, the U. S. Supreme
Court, and declared to be consIitutionnlby
every court, and recognized by every jdriSt
of distinction in the United States rs being
constitutioaal-aud now it is no insult to
our representatives there to instruct them
to vote against the repeal of such law
The first was an insult, hut the last is
none whutever.


TIE CHAIR requested that the gentle
man would confne himself to the subject
properly under consideration.


Mr.. SMITH Then sir, as am circnm-
scribed in the remarks make, they shall
br very brief What sir, is the cause of
oar present national difficulties! 1t is the
agitation of this subject. What has cloth
ed the country in mourning? II is the agi-
tation of this question. Aud sir if the in
production of that measure in Congress
mad not been repudiated there as it was, it
might have altered our course of conduct;
hut when it was repudiated there uncquivo-
cally, the ''quictus" was put to it there,
see no necessity after this course why we
should here he agitating that question:
Just let me remark sir that if the gentle
man from Lewis desires to know the posi-
tion I occupy on this subject and his peo-
Pile have delegated mm to ascertain wheth-
er this is an abolition body or not would
say that while differ with number of
individuals around me, will say that
believe slavery is constitutionally, religi-
ouslv, politically, and socially right, and
am op osed at all times 10 the repeal of the
Fugitive Slave Law because believe it to
be Que of the guarantees of the Constitu-
tion of the United Stutes for the preserva-
tion of that property; and one reason why
am not Il Scressionist is that believe
the institution of slavery was protected
better than it could be by the formation of
Il second republic. do not believe there is
IL man here who would vote against that
law or with sentiment in conflict with
that have expressed. II it be the inten-
ton OF the people OF Lewis to ascertain
whether this is an abolition body or not,
would say TO them that this is no test of
our sentiment here. l confess sir, if We
could accomplish anything, if there was
any good TO be accomplished by the intro
duciion of such a subject here, we might
then enter our protest; but when such a
question as is alluded to in this resolution
is not pending and has met with a rebuke
in Congress when the Administration has
not nor does not intend to treSpass upon
one constitutional right of the South, it
does look like madness that we should be
agitating this question here now. But sir,
when the moment comes for accomplish
ing nything-whcnever the Institution is
in danger and single right, however
trihng, of the South is in danger, from
any action of this Government, then will
stand by the gentlemans side, and the side
of the people in the county of Lewis, in
vindication of their rights.


Now, sir, in the language of the gentle
man from Hancock, Mr.. LovejOy has ngi-
tatcd this question in Congress by the in
PRODUCTION of his resolution, and we have
every evidence that that body evinced as
much pain as we feel by the introdnstion
OF this resolution here. Because he has
panied that body, let us not inflict another
pang upon tue people of Virginia, by the
agitation of this question here.


Let me say, sir, as said in the begin
ming, that the agitation of this subject has
clothed this land in mourning. We have
,.nrrnI, horn tn lnnislntn fnr :, frnn nnnnlr