Year: 1859

!
came to vote" This same charge was made
by the Administration organs, under Mr.
Fillmore, in order to injure Mr.. Douglos and
the Democratic party, and its reiteration
comes very properly from the enemies of the
Democratic party now. The best refutatOn
of this baselcss accusation is found in Doug
las own indignant and triumphant denial of
it in the Senate of the United States. on the
23d of December, 1851, which we take the
trouble to copy. in order to show to what
measures the Lecompton organs will resort
to iuure the reputation Of the great man
whom they hate and fear.


ISee Appendix to Congressional Globe S2d
Congress, lst Session, lst No, pp 65 and &c,
Mr. Douglas said


IL voted sir, for all the measures Of the
compromise Compromise Measures of 1850
but one and undertake to say, in regard to
that one, that it was well known to the Sen
ate before the measure passed, and at the
time it passed, and has been distinctly pro-
claimed to the country since, that would
have voted for the fugitive slave law if
could have been in the Senate at the time,





pose of casting that vote l say it was DIS
tinctly known, because had so declared in
debate prior to the passage of that Act be
cause every Senator on both sides Of the
| Chamber who conversed with me knew that
was friendly to the measure; and because
when returned home, before my own con-
stituents, | assumed the responsibility of an
affirmative vote upon the bill ct, sir, the
insnuation has been repeatedly made by i'm
plication on this floor, and il express terms
by the partisan journals, that all those
whose names are not recorded on the passage
of the bill lodged the question Whatever
political sins | may at any time have commit
| ted, | think | may safely assert that no Sena
tor ever doubted my willingness to assume
the full measure of responsibility resulting
from my official position. The lodging of
votes-the attempt to avoid responsibility
is no part of my system of political tactics
And yet, sir, the special organ of the Admin
istration ant-D Democratic has on several oc-
casions accused me, in connection with the
distinguished Senator from Michigan with
having lodged the vote on this bill.


ain order to put this accusation to rest,
once for ALL now and forever, have conclu-
ded to give a detailed account of the circum-
stances which occasoned my absence at the
time the bill passed. although it may sub
ect me to the modification of exposing my
private and pecuniary affairs to the public
view. | had pecuniary obligation matur-
ing in New York, for near $4,000, in pay
ment of property which had purchased in
Chicago. Apprehending that my public du-
ties with reference to these very compromise |
questions might render it improper to leave
the city when the day of payment arrived. | |
made an arrangement with Mr.. Maury, Presi |
dent of the bank of the Metropolis to arrange |
the matter for me temporarily until my off
cial duties would enable me to give it my |
personal attention.


"Feeling entirely secure under this arrange
ment, thought no more of it until, on the day
the debt became due, | received a note from Mr..
Maury expressing his deep regret and mortifca-
ton that, in consequence of the unexpected ab-
sence of majority of the directors of his bank on
uent. thus found myself suddenly placed in
the position in which was compelled to 60 to
New York instantly, or to suffer my note to be
protested, and the commercial credit of my in.
dorser to be greatly impaired. l Immediately
passed around the Chamber, and inquired of sew
eral Senators each side friendly to the fugitive
bill whether could venture to be absent three or
four days for the purpose OF attending to this item
of ofbusiness and received from them the uniform
answer that the discussion would continue at



fore the voting could begin. Relying impl city |
upon this assurance, | went fIom the Senate |
Chamber directly to the cars, and, riding all |
night, arrived in New York the next day. Meet
ing several Illinois friends there was enabled to
meet the obligation, and avoid protest during
the three days grace allowed me by law. While
dining with these friends at the Astor House on
the day had concluded my business, one of them
alluded to the fact that the fugitive bill had been
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading in the
Senate. | expressed my surprise. and doubted
the correctness of the statement He then show
ed me the paper containing the telegraphic an
nouncement, when Immediately rose from the
table, and told my friends that must leave for
Washington that afternoon, in order to be able TO
Uote for the blu on its fhdl Ddssdge the next dav
| will take the liberty Of mentioning the names of
some of the gentlemen to whom this announce
ment was made. Among them was Judge Dick |
ey, of the northern circuit of Illinois; Mr. Neil
roy the district attorney; Mr. Cook the sheriff of
| Cook county; and, ] believe, Mr.. Gurnee the /
present mayor of the city Of Chicago, and several
Others of the most respectable citizens fmy State.


left New York in the five o'clock train that after
noon, and after riding all night, on my arrival
here the next day, found that the final vote had
been taken the day previous. Immediately con-
suited my colleague now present, Mr.. Shields,) |
who authorized me to say that he distinctly re- |
collects the conversation in which | expressed |
my deep regret that could not have arrived here |





then to ask Of the Senate permission to explain
the causes ofmy absence in reply to which my
colleague suggested that such an explanation
would be entirely unnecessary for the reason that
it was well known to the Senate and the country
that was in favor of the bill and for the further
reason that in all probability the bill would under
go some amendment in the House of Representa-
| tves, which would require it to be returned to
the Senate for concurrence, when / would have
an opportunity not only ofspeaking but of voting
for the bill. acquiesced in this suggestion of
my colleague, and for that reason made no expla-
nation at that time A few days afterwards, as
you well know, (Mr. Shields being in the chair
and as many other Senators may recOlect was
| taken i'll, aud rendered incapable of being in the
Senate but few times during the residue of the
session. | was confined to my bed for several
weeks, extending beyond the adjournment hav-
ing been rendered a cripple by a surgical opera
ton on one hip So soon as was able to be re-
moved, was taken home under the care and kind
attention of one of my colleagues of the House of
Representatives. Everywhere on my route found
the most boisterOus and determined opposition to
the fugitive law but nowhere was the excitement
so fierce and terrific as at Chicago, where | had
recently taken up my residence. There the press
and the pulpit had Joined in the work of misrepre-
sentahon and denunciation. A spirit of deter
mined resistance had been incited and seemed to
pervade the whole community. The common
council of the city, in its official capacity, had
passed resolutions denouncng the fugitive slave
law as violation of the law Of God and the Com
stitution ofthe United States calling upon the
police of the city to disregard it, and the citizens
not TO obey it. The next night meeting of two
thousand people assembled and in that meeting
in the midst of the most terrific applause ii was
determined to defy death, the dungeon, and the
grave, in resistance to the execution of the law
| walked into that meeting; and from the stand
gave notice that on the next night would appear
| there and defend every measure of the Compro-
] rntc md llxrf f,n slo