Year: 1860

determine for themselves.


Mr. Feseenden of Maine, having replied at length


MIR Douglas, he made the following rejoinder:


| Mr. Douglass Mr. President, shall not follow the


Senator from Maine through his entire Speech but sim


ply notice such points demand of me reply He


does not know why introduced my resolutions he


not conceive any good motive for it he thinks there


must be some other motive besides the that has
been avowed. There are some men, know, who cam


not conceive that man be governed by patriotic


proper motve but it is not among that class of men


that look for those who governed by motives Of


propriety. have no impeachment to make of his mo-


tives brought in this resolution because thought
the time had arrived when should have a measure


of practical legislation had expressions of opn
ion against the power from authorities high that


felt it my duty to bring to the attention of the Senate.


had heard that the Senator from Virginia had intima


ted some doubt the question Of power, well as Of


policy Other Senators discussed the question here for


weeks when was confined to my sick bed. Was there


anything unreasonable in my coming before the Senate


at this time, expressing my own opinion and confnng


myself to the practical legislation indicated in the


luton? Nor sir have in my remarks gone outside Of


the legitimate argument pertaining to the necessity for


this legislation first showed that there had been
great outrage | showed what believed to be the


that had prodeced the outrage and that the


which produced it still in operations and argued


that so long the party to which the gentleman be-


longs remains embodied in full force those will
still threaten the country. That all.


The Senator from Maine thinks he will vote for the


bill that will be proposed to carry out the objects


ferred to in my resolution. Sir whenever that Senator
and his associates the other side of the chamber will


record their votes bill the character described


in my resolution and Speech shall congratulate the
country upon the progress they making towards
sound principles. Whenever he and his associates will
make it a felony for conspire run
off fugitive slaves and punish the conspirators by


inemcnt in the penitenary, shall cOnsiderthat won
derfu changes have taken place in this country tell


the Senator that it is the general tone of sentiment in
all those sections of the country where the Republican
party predomnates far as know, not only not to
deem it crime to fugitive slave, but raise
mobs to aid in the He talks about slandering
the Republican party when intimate that they
making warfare upon the rights guaranteed by the
constitution Sir, where, in the towns and cities with
Republican mnjorties can you execute the fugitive
slave law? Is il in the town where the Senator from
New York rsides? Do you remember the Jerry rescu-
ers? Is it at Oberlin, where the mob raised that
made the rescue last year and produced the riot?


Mr. Fessenden. ! stated, and believe it all I
said that matter that was disposed to agree with
the Senator in his views the question of power
that with my views | should go very far-far enough
to accomplish the purpose-to prevent the forming of
conSpiracies in State attack another. did not
understand the Senator say anything about conspira
ces to away with slaves; did understand him
to say anything about the fugitive slave law. How |
should act in reference to that matter do not know;
will meet it when it comes; but ask the Senator whe-
ther that part of his first speech, whether is
part of his reply?


Mr. Douglass. The Senator will find it several times
repeated in my first speech and the question asked
Why make it crime to form conspiracies and
bnations to off fugitive slaves we'll to off
horses any other property? am talking about





States, to invade and enter, through their agents, the
slave States and seduce away slaves and them off
by the underground railroad in order to send them to
Canada. 1t is these consiraces to perpetrate crime
with mpuny, that keep up the irritation. John Brown
could boast, in public lecture in Cleveland, that he
and his band had been engaged all winter in stealing
horses and running them off from the Shareholders in
Missouri, and that the livery stables then filed
with stolen horses and yet the conspiracy to do il
could not be punished


Sir, desire law that will make it crime, punish
able by Imprisonment in the pententary after convic
ton in the United States court TO make conspiracy
in State, against the people, property, government
institutions, of another. Then we shall get Mt the
root of the evil. have doubt that gentlemen on
the other side will vote for law which pretends to
comply with the guarantees Of the Constitution without
carrying any force or efficiency in its provisions,
have heard men abuse the fugitive slave law, and
press their willingness to vote for amendments; but
when you came to the amendments they desired to
adopt, you found they such would never
turn fugitive to his master. They would 60 for fugi-
tive slave law that had hole in it big enough to let
the drop through and escape but that would
comply with the obligations of the Constitution. So
shall find that side of the Chamber voting for law
that WILL in terms, dsapprove Of unlawful expeditions
against neighborng States without being efficient in
affording protection.


But the Senator it is part of the policy of the
northern Democracy to represent the Republicans
being hostile to southern institutions. Sir. il part
of the policy OF the northern Democracy, well
their duty, to speak the truth on that subject did
not suppose that any would have the audncty to
arraign brother Senator here for representing the
Republican party dealing in denunciaton and insult
of the institutions Of the South Look your Phla-
delpha platform where you assert the sovereign power
of Congress the Territories for their government,
and demand that it shall be exerted against those twin
relics of barbarSm-polygamy and slavery.


MIR Fessenden. Let me suggest to the Senator that
he is entirely changing the issue between him and
did not desire say, and did say, that the Re-
pubcans Of the North unfriendly the insti-
tuition of slavery. admitted myself that was; trust
they all 1t il not in that respect that the
of the North of fmisrepresenting the Repub
licaI party. 1t in representing that they desired
interfere with the institution in the southern States
That is the ground-that they opposed to south
rights. That they do think well Of sa cry az
it exists in this country do not undertake to deny
do not know that southern gentlemen expect to be
friendly to it. apprehend that they would not think
we'll of if pretended be friendly to it, five
friendly to the institution should try adopt
we certainly should not oppose it, but what charged
upon the northern Democracy was that they msrepre
sened position. That opposed to the
tension of slavery free territory that called IL
relic of barbarsm, / admit; bnt do deny that the
ever exhibited desire or made movement towards
with the rights Of southern the States
any constitutional rights that they have anywhere
That is the charge made.


Mr. Douglas Mr President, fos what purpose does
the Republican party appeal to northern passions and
northern prejudces against southern institutions and
southern people unless it is TO operate upon those in
stituticns They represent southern Institutions
better than poIygamy the STAKEHOLDER better than
that they did not like TO associate with the slavehoder
any better than with the poiygamist. a mon-
lowering of the flag in the Senator's speech and
explanation / would respect the concession if the
fact acknowledged. This thing of shrinking from
position that every northern knows to be truer