The national era. [volume], April 25, 1850, Image 1

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THE NATIONAL ERl
G*. BAILEY? ED[T0R ANI) PROPRIET OR; JOHN G. WHITTIER, CORRESPONDING EDITOR.
vol. iv.?no. 17. Washington, Thursday. ai?kil -i\ i^a whole no. 17a" '
Thf National Era U Pabllthed Weekly, an KfTfith
Mreet, oppaeile O.l.i Fellawt'Hall.
TERMS.
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be addressed to G. Bah.ky, Washington, D. C.
HUKLl. k B LAN CHARD, PKINTEKS,
Sixth ?tr?et, a few door* south of Pennsylvania avinue.
THE NATIONAL ERA.
W 181IINGTON, APRIL tt, I8M.
(COPT ?l?Mf SKCl'ftBD.)
THE !>H)THEK-1N-IjAW.
a cr r::c jr?r*TE.
BV MRS. EMM A d. E. SOtTTUWOETM.
BOOK AEi.O.Si U.
VI?Continued.
On Wednesday morning, Miss Somcrvillc and
Anna were sitting out on the piazza. Both were
in mourning. Susan was engaged, mechanically,
with her everlasting knotting work. Anna was
reading to her from Felicia Hcmans's poems
They had been left to Susan by Britannia
O'Riley, bestowed upon her her whole collection
of hooks, casts, and pictures, before leaving
the Crags. There were few who rend poj^ry
with more appreciation, sympathy, or finer elocution,
than Anna. She w;is reading the " Crowning
of Corinne at the Capitol," and when she finished?
" Kvliant daughter of the nun!
Now thy living wreath ia won.
Crowned of Home! oh, art thou not
Happy tn that ftfurtaus lot f?
Happier, happier far than thou,
With the ^
Ik she that nukes the humbled hearth,
l.ovely hut to out on earth
"Head on! I like it," said Susau. "There
is the wail of a broken heart in every line she
has written."
But Anna resolutely closed the book.
" This is unhealthy, Miss Susan, this is morbid,
in you, in Corinne, and in the poetess whose
sweet but enfeebling strains we have just been
reading. The heart of this ideal Corinne was
destroyed by a conflagration of passion?what
then? She had a glorious brain. It was impossible
to live in a ruin?what then ? She might
have lived in a palace. She had no life in her
affections?well! she might have had a glorious
life in her intelleot! The soul lives in the heart
and in the head?in the affections and in the intellect.
A strong soul driven out from its own
wounded heart ascends into its brain?and finds
a higher if a colder life. It is only in despair, in
inaction, that such a spirit suffers long. The
stronger the faculties of the soul, the more it suffers
in inaction. An idiot will sit all day, and
day after day, hnppy in idleness; an intelligent
child will be miserable if confined an hour without
employment or amusement. An extremely
aged person will sit week after week in the same
arm-chair, in the same oorner of the same room,
pleased and happy ; a young person grows weary
if a day's rain confines him to the house. A feet
wuV-lnflH nr'tMonpr will linffar <vm* vmm in
his cell in a sort of torpid resignation ; a healthy,
strong captive struggles and chafes in his fetters.
The soul is a sort of prisoner in the body?and
the stronger and more healthy it is, the more it
chafes and frets, until it finds its life in action?its
freedom in action. A young person, full of repressed
life, health, and energy?full of strong
powers that crave their development?experiences
a lassitude, a listlessness, a weariness of life, for
which they cannot account, especially when they
hesr the season of youth spoken of as the season
of joy. Such a yonng person will take to reading
or writing sentimental poetry, and grow weaker,
ruorc weary, and more useless, every day. Now,
sentimental poetry has its mission, but it is to
soften the hard?not to liquefy the already soft
The cure of such brain-sick youth is not in that.
Let any young man or woman tormented by this
terrible ennui take my word for it, that the nature
of their suffering proves them to possess great
powers undeveloped ! Let such seek their vocation,
imil pursue it. And this is a sure guide!
Let them find out that useful occupation in which
they tuke the most pleasure, and then bring all
the powers of mind and body to a focus to
bear upon that point?to hreak down every obstacle,
conquer ever difficulty, and press onward to
the end, however distant, however difficult, however
seemingly unattainable?for then at least
me powera or loe uoui win oc urougui uui iu ?u
their glorious life, energy, and joy ! Every one
has his talent, and he will suffer in proportion as
he lets it rust in hiB heart. And this I lay down
:is a rule, without an exception, that no healthy
human being?however young, beautiful, loving,
and loved, however intellectual, however wealthy,
powerful, honored?that no hf.ai.thy human heI
NO can he HAPrY WITHOUT labor. LaBOR IS
destiny."
" I am knotting," smiled Susan, with a sad sarcasm,
" yet I do not find in accumulating yards of
cotton fringe, and piles of toilet covers and valances,
any peculiar pleasure ; nor am 1 sensible of
any great happiness in counting these meshes."
'iThat is not labor, Miss Somerville, though it
serves to calm your nerves. That is not labor ; it
goes on mechanically, almost without your consent
. your fingers act as your heart heats, as
your lungs breathe, involuntarily. You are
strong, and idle, and you want work. Ijihor is
Destiny
" And how, with your limited knowledge of the
world and of books, have you arrived at that conclusion?"
"One does not need a library, or a tour round
the world, Miss Somerville, to work out some
things. All human nature is contained in one
small village church?I had almost* said in one
small child. All books of ethics and philosophy
are contained in one pocket Bible. The Bible, a
few histories, and a few poems, have been my
library, as you know. The party at Mont Crystal
was roy tour of the world. For the rest, Miss
-VII. < . . ....
uun-u, "mil jr?iu were loving, 1 *U MinkMf. I
raw scores of young girls and young men at Mont
Crystal, all seeming, at first Bight, bright and
h ippy , but all, in proportion to their strength of
aoul, deadly weary of the monotonous round of
eating, drinking, dressing and flirting. Yet that
was said to have been a very delightful party ,
the young people were said to have snjuysd themselves
heartily. I knew better ; they tired of it
in three days, and only continued it because nothing
better offered by which to employ themselves.
No?with all other means and appliancea, toil la
nn indispensable requisite .to happiness. As I
said everyone has his or her appointed work,
and is tormented with restlessness until they
have found It. Whet do yon teke most pleasure
in doing, Miaa Susan 7 I know?I have studied
you, MissHusen. You ers happiest when working
for Mhers, without minding whet that work
maybe Mies Sosen, you must seek e poeition
where yon can spend yonr days la the aervloe of
others. If 1 could ekeoee a destiny for you, yoo
should be the wlfo ot some wise, calm, stroag,
country clergyman, with an ex tensive field of
lal>or before him. lint see, Mas 8uaaa 1" aaid
eke, suddenly, " while wa are talking, yon are
a
missing the effect of this beautiful moving panorama
of clouds over the Rky and river. The descent
from the Crags to the river level is said to
be monotonous, because almost destitute of vegetation?
but look! it is varied with every form of
rock, and every shade of gray. Gold in the sunshine,
and bronze in the shade! Every little
fragment of stone is gold on the one side and
bronze on the other. Now, look at the sky and
the river: seethe gilded clouds sailing through
the blue ether, and their shadows moving on the
waters! See the Isle of Rays, how it sparkles in
the sun!"
" Yet it is a forsaken and empty house."
" Just now, yes; but it beams and scintillates
all the Bame. And now raise your eyes to where
Mont Crystal towers on the opposite bank, with
its white granite walls and rows of crystal windows
glancing in the light!"
" Yes, but its cold splendor encloses an aged
and solitary woman!"
"You find gloom in everything to-dny, Miss
Susan."
I "Ah! Anna, I cannot help it!"
> "Hut look a' this picture, that God has hung
oat before you! See how the sky smiles in
Messing on the earth ami waters ! See how they
smile back in love! See how the clouds combine,
dissolve, and chunge, with a misty brightness, an
ever-varying radiance! Did ever skies beam
with more love?did ever enrtfc smile with more
gladness than now? Oh! look and listen, and
acknowledge God in his works! The halls of the
Island Palace are lined with the rarest works of
the greatest masters.. Recall that masterpiece of
Claude Lorraine, and tell me if it approaches this
in value, though that cost a thousand guineas, and
could only be purchased by a millionaire; and
this is hung out in the sight of all, for nothing!
The soul of the artist was in that, but the soul of
God is in this! The painter expressed himself
there?the Creator reveals himself here! How
can you be gloomy, while God is smiling on you
through the skies ?"
Suddenly Anna grew pale?started as she gazed
down the flight of rocks?turned, as by an instinctive
impulse, to fly?seated herself again as
by a second resolution, and gazed steadily out
upon the rocks.
* v? hat VU&c. > V juited *-Yi rse 1
Somerville. Anna pointed to where three horsemen
were just coming in sight, up the nscent.
They approached the house, dismounted, and
walked towards Miss Somerville and Anna. Anna
grew paler still, trembled?then setting ber teeth,
and clenching tightly both hands, with a gesture
full of strength of soul, she summoned her physical
energies to their post.
" Miss Susan Somerville, I presume," said the (
first nmn, lifting his hat to the young lady.
" That is my name, sir,"' replied she, rising to
receive them.
" My name is Power, deputy sheriff of (
county."
" Will you come in, Mr Power ?" asked Susan,
who heard this announcement with surprise, but
not lour. nne was ignorant 01 any c?u?c mh*
might have to dread the deputy sheriff.
"Thank you, Miss,''he replied, and followed
Susan to the sitting-room.
" Take a chair, sir."
" No, 1 am much obliged to you, Miss," he said,
setting his hat and whip down on the table, and
rummaging in his pockets for a paper.
Susan watched him with increasing perplexity
' Let me see; how many negroes have you on
the place. Miss Somerville ?"
"1 have no domestics to hire out, sir," replied
8usan, believing that she had now divined the
motive of his visit.
" How many slaves have you about the house,
then. Miss Somerville."
" None, sir."
" What 1 my dear young lady !"
"Sir, I have my foster-parents. George and
Harriet, who brought me up. and my foster-sister
and companion, Anna, who has always shared my
room, my table, and my school They are quadroons.
I do not call them slaves."
" They were the slaves of the late Major Somerville,
however T"
" Yes. sir."
" And they are yours now."
" No, sir! 1 do not for a moment acknowledge
any right in myself to hold them My dear
grandfather's funeral took plaoe only on yesterday
afternoon, and to-morrorr mornimi I go to Richmond
to take measures for their emancipation!"
said Miss Somerville, in a cold, severe tone?for
norr she believed herself in conversation with a
would-be purchaser.
"Will you? Ah lyes! well! A generous and
praiseworthy design on your part, my dear young
1 idy !" said the deputy sheriff, perceiving for the
first time that Susan was entirely unsuspicious of
the object of his visit.
' Will you, however, let me see these people,
my dear Miss SomMulle ?"
" Ob, he is the t^^^therer /" thought Susan.
" uertainiy, sir,repneu; men, lurmug iw
Anna, she said, "Anna, will you call your parents
7"
Anna, who had conquwed herself, nnd now
stood calm, cold, and impassable, went out to
obey.
" Is that one of them ?"
" Yes, sir!" '
" Tbit girl!"
u Yes, sir." ,
" Why, she is white!" 9
" Very nearly, sir." .
Anna now returned to the room with her pa- .
rents. Poor George entered from his work-bench,
with his white felt hat on his head, and a wisp of
tiue-cut flag and his working knife in bis hand. '
lie pulled off his hat at the door, and stood wait- <
ing to be spoken to. Harriet stood by him. with '
her hand resting on his arm. Anna went and '
stood by Susan. '
"Your name is George, my man?" asked the
deputy sheritl', seating himself at a table, an l '
taking out a pocket apparatus for writing.
"Yes, sir.' J
"Your age?" asked the sheriff, beginuing to
write. 1
" Sixty years, sir," replied George f
" And your wife's name is Harriet?" I
" Yes, sir."
"Her age?" he inquired, continuing to make '
notes. '
" Forty-fire,sir."
" That young girl is your daughter ?"
" Yes. sir," replied the father, the muscles of
his face twitching.
"Her natne?age ?"
"Anna?aged eighteen," answered the poor
fither, in a broken roice, clutching the old white
hat conrulsirely.
The sheriff now went to the door, and called
in the three men who had remained iu the piazza.
Two of them entered and remained standing
near the door. The third accompanied him to
the table
"This is Mr Jones, the assessor, MissSomerville."
he said, as they passed Susan.
"1 thought that you were the assessor, sir,"
said Susan, simply.
" No, Miss," said the deputy, without smiling
at her mistake. " Jones " he said, addressing the
assessor, " look at that insn and tell me how murh
yon think him worth "
"How old is he?"
"Nixty."
"Hum! he looks nearer seeenty; but these
muUttoes break down eery early lie looks rery
worthless."
" Say one hundred snd lifly dollars?
" Ye-e-e-s?scarcely that''
" One huudred J"
" Well-ll; ye-e-es
" I^ook at the woman. What is her value
" How old is she ?"
" Forty five," she ssys
"She looks more like fifty. Pot her at?at
Has your wife goal health, my man V'
' Yes, air," sighed George.
"Well! there is some work in her yet. Put
her at two hundred dollars'1
"Now, then, for the girl; you see what her
personal appearance is?eighteen years old , well
eduoated, and all that?now, what is her ralue ?'
The assessor looked at Anna, and, as his sensual
eyes re red all over her girlish figure, gloating
on her beauty, he muttered an exclamation?
"She is a handsome girl, and it would bo a
good spee* to take her to New Orleans She'd
bring twelre or fifteen hundred dollars !
" Gentlemen I" said Susan Somsrrills, turning
towards them, " You will do me a faror by getting
this a miss?sat over as quickly as may ba
Set your valuation as high as you plsnss. I do
not oars for a few dollars mors or lose of taxation,
but 1 4o oare to hare my privacy invaded end my
friends hers subjected to this iodignity?the last,
ifUplssse Ileaven, that they shall svsr Buffer,
for to-morrow I will take measures for their immediate
emancipation! Pray, gentlemen, be expeditious?will
you ?"
" A moment, young lady, a moment! At what
do you Yalue the wench, Jones 1"
The assessor walked towards Anna, still keeping
his brutish eyes meted upon her; and, walking
around her as though she had been a horse for
sale, he lifted his hand to turn her about,
"Death! Hands off my daughter, sir!" exclaimed
the hitherto patient George, springing to
his child's side.
Rut, even before he had reached her. the calmsouled
dign.'y of Anna, breathing through every
look and altitude, had repulsed him. He returned
to the table.
"She would bring fifteen hundred or a thousand
dollars in New Orleans "
" That is not the question : what would she bring
htrefn
" Gentlemen, I beg of you"?commenced Susan
Someryille.
"Be patient, young laciy. vv bat is her value
her?, Jones 1"
"Gentlemen, I insist"?began Susan again, with
her cheeks burning and her eyes flashing," I tarn/
that this is arrested. 1 conwuuul you to finish
;oar business and leave us."
"One instant. Miss Sotnerville. Well, Jones,
her value is7'
"Three buo 'red dollars ! "
" My dear Anna, can you forgive me, that this
outrage is offered you before my face? "
" You cannot help it, dear Miss Sotnerville,"
replied Anno, calmly.
"Have you ilone, gentlemen? " indignantly demanded
Miss Somerville, as the deputy and the
assessor folded up their papers and returned them
to their pockets and proceeded to button up their
coats, 11 have you done, gentlemen ? "
" Miss Sotnerville," began the deputy, " I have
now to perform a very painful duty , a simple and
short one, however."'
"Yes, as short as an execution," muttered
George.
" Miss Sotnerville. 1 attach this property at the
suit of Spier & Co, Grocers, Peakville."
Susan started to her feet, clasped her hands,
and turned deadly pale, as the truth suddenly
struck her.
Anna stood still and white.
George and Harriet threw themselves in each
other's arms, with a cry.
"To thk nootts?*Hriggs aud Brown! look to
the doors! " shouted the deputy, whom this action
Jiail y^^ru.ed.^ryimrirjr Jo J>is feet,
The two cohs'tfoies 'sprang toThfc floors' securing
them.
" Cock your pistols ! "
" It Is unnecessary, sir ; we will make no resistance,"
said George, gently diseugtging the arms
of his wife from about his neck.
" Oh, my Saviour, my Saviour, have mercy on
us!" cried Susan, wringing her hands
"Be patient, Miss Susan, dear Miss Susan,"
said Anna, caressing her
" Have you the handcuffs, Jones 1"
" Yes ; here they are."
"Oh. my God, no! you will never do that!"
cried Susan, in anguish.
" My dear young lady, if men were turned by
the tears of women, we should never do our duty.
Give me the fetters. Jones; here, we will secure
the two women together, and then the man
by himself."
And the deputy, taking the fetters, went up to
the spot where A una and her mother now stood,
locked in each other's arms
* " Yotr swam, not t>o it! Away! You shai.i.
not no it!" shouted George, bounding between
his wife and child and the otticers, and brandishing
his knife?all the latent and terrible ferocity
of the mixed ni.ooa leaping, like forked lightning,
from his eyes.
" I have been patient j I would have followed
you like a whipped hound follows his master. yon
might have handcutfed me, but not them! See, I
urn her father; and I will bury this knife in your
heart or in hers, sooner than you shall place n
fetter on her wrist! "
" What! the devil! You d?d mulatto rascal,
do you reeist an officer of the law ? "
" To TtiK i>katii ! iM^is case."
With no more addJKe deputy suddenly raised
the end 01 his loaded whip, end brought it down
in a sharp And stunning blow upon the head of
the gray-haired slave, who dropped in a heap at
his feet!
With a piercing scream, Susan Somerville
sprang forward, and fell upon her face in a deathlike
swoon !
Harriet, pale with terror, clung helplessly to
her daughter.
Anna alone was self-possessed.
"Sit down, dear mother, and let me atteud to
Miss Susan and father. Or, mother, try toat'eod
father, while I get Miss Susan upstairs" And,
gently easing her trembling mother down upon a
chair, she went to Susan's side, and, lifting her
head, and addressing herarlf to one of the men
who had taken no part in this violent scene, beyond
guarding the doors, aho said?
" Will you be so good as to lift this young lady
and bring her up stairs with me ? "
The man looked at his superior for permission.
" Yes. take her along," said the deputy, " It's
the devil's own business, an affair of this kind,
where there are so many women about."
And the officer raised Susan in his arms, and
bore her after Anna, who led the way up stairs.
Taking advantage ofSusan's swoon, Anna's absence,
and George's insensibility, to finish the
affair quickly and quietly, the deputy sheriff attached
the little old family car', the old family
horse, and harnessing 11 up, oouna ueorge ana
kid him in the bottom of it; placing Harriet, who
willingly accompanied him, by his Hide. Then,
leaving a bailiff in charge, the deputy get off for
:he county town.
They were a mile from the Crags before Susan
Jomerville recovered from her swoon. She recovered
painfully, with spasmodic twitchlngs?
>pened her eyes, groaned, shivered, closed them
tgain. Soon re-opening them, she looked around,
ind seeing Anna, said?
"Anna! Anna! are you there7 Oh, Anna, I
'lave had the mogt dreadful nightmare 1" and
lighed heavily again, and covered her eyes with
)er hands, as shuddering* convulsed her frame.
Then flaring her eyes wide open, she started up
n bed, caught both Anna's hands in berown. and
(at'd long and searchingly in her facs. Then
rroming. "Ob my God 1 It. was no thrum! It
sas trw '" fell back sod covered her face with
ner hands, in a few minutes, without uncovering
her face, she inquired, " Whereare they, Anna?'1
"Gone, Miss Susan."'
" I mean your mother and father? "
" (lone!n
"Oh, my God ! And you Anna? "
" I am left here in charge of a bailiff until ,
some other assistance can be sent to you Perhaps
I shall stay all night with you. And now,
Miss Susan, yrny and try to calm your mind, for
to-morrow you must do something."
"What is it, Anna? Oh, suggeat something
that I can do, and never fear but that I shall get
better, and grow strong enough instantly to do
it! It is the kelplrtturm of oor situation that
makes me despairing end ill ! "
" Then. Miss Susan, you had better write to
General Smart-Gordon ; be will assist us, without
doubt. Notice will have to be given a certain
number of days before any sale is made, and in
that time General Stuart-Gordon can be heard
from.1'
" I will write to-night, Anna"
"No, Miss Nusan, you could not hold a pen ,
to-morrow will l?e quite time enough."
" Alas! Anna, what has not ' to-morrow ' cost
us already ? It waa to-morrow that I win to have
gone tin Richmond to nee ubout doing you juntioe!
Ah, Anna! if I had gone to-Jay,jou and your parents
might have been saved 1"
"Not so. Miss Susan' We were watched ;
they would have followed and attached us on the
road "
" Ah ! if I thought it was inevitable I should
not suffer such psugs of remorse , but, oh, I fear
it was my delay alone' Vet I never dreamed of
an eiecution!"
II It mi am inevitable. Miss Susan. V on could not
help it. Try to be composed."
" You are so composed, Anna! How is it that
you are so composed ? "
"Ah, Minn Hasan! n misfortune long looked
for <loes not startle one when it arrises "
" Von expected this long, then V
" For more than sit months. Miss Somerville.'*
"Ah! why did you not tell me ? "
"Yon could not hare averted it; why torment
you with it, then. Miss Susan 7"
" Then, when i supposed you to be grieving
over your own position, you were only dreading
this catastrophe 7"
"That waa it, Miss Susan"
" Oh, my dear Anna! 1 have never done yon
justice I"
"Try to rest, Miss Susan "
A silence ensued. Anna supposed Mies Sonserville
to be composing herself to sleep, but presently
the low sounds of weoping, under the
sheets, atole on her ear. At last?
u Anna, are you there yet 7 " murmured Husan.
" Yea, Miss Susan."
" Go to bed, Anna! Do go to bed. Something
must be done, if it be iu thepowerof human tears,
and prayers, and persuasions. I will bumble myself
to these men, Anna. Oh! if human hearts
can be moved by human misery you shall be
saved, Anna! n
"Ah!" thought Anna, "they will have but
one answer to your prayers, Miss Susan?'the
law!"' but she said, "Yes, hope Miss Somerville!
" And feeling that Susan could not grow
quiet unless she herself seemed to rest, Anna
lifted Susan's hand, pressed and kissed it, and
bade her good night. Susan turned on her pillow.
seeming to sleep, but really busying herself
with a thousand impossible plans for saving her
foster-sister, and redeeming George and Harriet.
Anna withdrew to the window to draw the curtain
and exclude the moonbeams, that her mistress
might sleep more quietly. And she looked
out upon the rocks falliug down to the river, the
river and the banks floating in a flood of silvery
radiance, with the Isle of Rays, glanciug towards
the sky in streams of light, like a sheaf of diamond-tipped
arrows. She whispered. " Oh! beautiful!
My obi father?my gentle moiher ! it is iu
tkn n.M.t rvl* f lU.t tLa
mr luiviei ui uuu o ucnuuiui ucnwwu umi ?uwr uic
I deeds of hate are done! Vet, nnt ?W Intr?let ine
! be just! Let me be patient! Let no pas-ion of
i mine distort a local necessity into a deed of hate !
Oh, thou Crucified! who remeraberedst amid the
agony of the cross that thy executioners kuew
not what they did. and prayed for theui. give me
a portion of thine own divine calmness, patience,
and justice! Let me remember the position, the
education, the prejudices, the undisciplined passions
of these men, and do thnn justice! How
beautiful, how holy, this night! How sublimely
c ilm ! Let no storm arise in my own bosom to
desecrate this holy calm !"
And oh! a divine peace was let down from
Heaven into the depths of her spirit, and her
heart was flooded with patience and love, still dilating
into a strange joy !
" What is this? oh, angels! what is this? Kvorything.
from the centre of my own spirit to the
bounds of Creation, seems expanding, brightening
and rising ! "
A heavenly languor was stealing over her
her frame; she bowed her head vpon the windowsill
and fell asleep ! ^
U< a_yeol? dreams visited her?the walls of the
r >< yi dj#tfwtired^-the hpriron exp mded?the j
^Aia-'nneo S.p?frte heavens' opened?the
wiilgs of angels hrightrued the sky?the voices
of angels made melodious the air !
Oh, ye sorrowing! make clear the paths of the
angels to your souls ! Dismiss anger, fear, and
selfishness, that the angels may *nme and minister
to you !
"Till sorrow, toushed by li *1 griws bright
With more than rapture's ray,
As darkness shows ns worlds of light
We nertr Raw by day ! "
* *******
Ivirly in the morning, Susan Somerville arose,
and seeing fho form of Anna reclining on the
window-sill, and bathed in the glory of the morning
sun, she went up to her, spoke to her, and receiving
no reply, touched her, ind started hack
with terror?Anna was dead !
****** **
The physician pronounced h?r death to have
proceeded from some orgmin diieaseof the heart.
And no one disputed the deciiion of the medical
fncnlty
The coroner's jury came netrer the truth in
their verdict?" A visitation of Hod."
|to sic coi?tinukd.|
For tke National Kn
TO THE HON. DAMKI. WEBSTER.
No, n.
Pi:ar Sir: Your reflections upon fanatics are
ingenious, and, in the main, just. Fanatics, upon
a small scale, are especially annoying. They interrupt
the current of human opinions, without
turning the channel or enlarging its bounds.
Rut the evolution of a "single idea," when it
lies at the foundations of society and government,
is one of the boldest, most useful, and glorious, of
human achievements. The great battles of human
freedom and true morals hsve been won by just
such men as you describe. I need hardly mention
examples. Take the human life of Christ himself,
fie was a fanatic to the Jews and Gentiles. To the
Jews " a stumbling block," to the Greeks " foolishness.''
and to the Romanian Innovator?"turning
things upside down." After all, the new
ideas which he introduced into the world were
few, but of immense importance?underlying the
whole fabric of human society and government,
fly a subtle analysis of the human heart, he
enjtf ciated a rule of conduct which is applicable
toW possible emergencies of moral action, " Do
unto others as you would others should do unto
you." The other idea was the rejection of all
physical peace-offerings to God. The doctrine
of material sacrifice was worldwide,and pervaded
xll nlunaoa of iiooiptv?more fixed and universal
in human opinion, perhaps, than any other idea.
This he rejected, and restored nature to herself.
Teaching that the truo worship of God was the
perfecting bin greatest work?man. Enlighten
the intellect; purify the aoul; and beautify the
body?these are the three bases of all true worship
of Ood. And, if so, our fanatical friends,
the Northern Abolitionists, are not so narrow in
their ideas as one m?y suppose. Slavery is in direct
antagonism to the only elements of human
civilization nnd progress Are not, then, the
great m iss of cavillers at the " onr-ldealsts "
themselves to be pitied, who cannot see this great
truth! i imagine to myself John C. Calhoun
listening to your strictures upon fanatics. Now
one, then another, of these " odious agitators."
pasa in the memory's review: first lisle, and
then G id dings; and then, as you dilute upon the
subject, William L. Garrison, the arch-fanatic,
appears. He enjoys the sport: you mend your
paoe; he is in ecstncies. the " fun grows fast and
furious," till, like Tsui O'Shauter. he can contain
himself no longer ? "Well done 1'' he cries!
" Quid fidet f ile te fabula nnrrutur Daniel
Webster denounces fanatics! the greatest of
fanatics applauds 1
"Impatient men" there are, no doubt, too.
Some of them have been waiting for siity years,
and more, for slavery to "die out;" and yet it
seems as unwilling to give up the ghost as it did
iu I7S7I How much longer must we patiently
wail I How long do you think the slaveholders
would have ua wait? They are proverbially
liberal, sir; leave it to them, and we should be
as well ofl as Sheridan's creditors!?" the day
after judgment" woulJ be soon enough I I do
not see the appositeness of your parallel between
the rise of Christianity and the fall of slavery
Moral truth is one thing, and political action is
another We c innot. compel belief, but we can
action. In NiMo's garden, in IM37,your perceptions
seined to he somewhat cksxef You would
hardly have regarded it as a good reason for setting
up slavery in Texas, where Mexico had
abolished it, that the Christian religion had been
a loug time in existence, and had not yet subjected
all the world!
"Impatience," if the .South was in good faith
making efforts un?t sacrifice* to extinguish slavery,
would l?e worthy of denunciation. Hut,
when they are doing the very opposite, euch illtimed
sympathy will hnrdly l>e set down, hy impartial
ruen, as the fruit of an euWrged charity!
And moral insensibility in woree than fanaticism !
It may he true that aociety, left to itaelf, in all
caeea. may right itself at last. Soil, hy had culture,
may in a aingle year wante the accumulation*
of centurinel True, centurie* will restore
it I Hut ia it the part of wiadom to take the remedy
instead of the prevention ? No, air. it ia with
regard to government* and morale. Your idea,
that moral truth ia not capable of demonstration
as the mathematics, in now admitted by the heel
thinkers to he founded in error. The method is
different, but the result?cntiwdy?ia equally attainable,
though the process he more difficult and
the data more oomplicited. Jtut what if true?
The standard of everr man's action must be at
last whs' he believes right. Yoa aeem, however,
to follow a learned magistrate, snoh as the great
West sometimes boasts: " He was satisfied, from
all the evidenoe, that the oomplainent ought to gain
bis suit; but, out of a'/wvlante of couiion, he would
decide for thedefendant!" Your charity towards
Southern Christiana is in part well baaed. There
are many, very many, conscientious slaveholders;
but thsy ars the " weaker brethren " The leading
minds among them are as finished Jesuits and
swindling hypocrites as ever wore a black gowa I
The regular slave traders ars iafiolUly better
men I
The opinions of the fathers of the Government
were as you say. It was expected that alavtry
would u rou oat."
Sherman and Madison and others were not
willing to allow that man could hare property in
man. Those who had just made solemn avowals
to the world of ths right of all men to Ufa, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness, were ashamed
to put the word slavery in the Constitution
Washington and others looked forward to an
I early extinction of slavery as a fixed fact. All,
' all united in denouncing it as an evil. Some, as
a'curse, a wrong, and a sin.
Will any man deny, from all the evidence in
the premises, that it was a part of" the compromise"
that slavery was allowed time merely to
; die with decency ! The Ordinance of 1787, prohibiting
slavery north of the Ohio, was coeval
with the Constitution. The tiraeof slave.importation
was limited ; and the institution itself was
I denounced.
Now, sir, when so much is said about "good
! faith" and "compromise." might not one who
, comprehended the "great mission" of our nation
(such is the cant phrase!) have said to the
slave propagandists, you are at war with nature?
at war with the advance of Christianity?at war
with the progress of civilization?at war with
our avowed sentiments and the organic law of our
Government?at war with the spirit of the national
" co-partnership "?at war with " the oora|
promises of the Constitution "?at war with every
I J La a- V ? 1 ? Ml La
I?urc cvmciCDce?;iua uugni 10 op, vum win i>r,
" resisted at all hazards, and to the last extremity
!"
Pardon me I think such a declaration was to
| hare been expected from you. Allow me to My
it would hare done more even to "preserve the
Union" than all your " moderation" and all
your "charity." 1 refer you to Governor Hammond
as my authority for saying that "moderation,"
" charity,' and "moral suasion," are, with
slaveholders, synonymes with cowardice, impertinence.
and " nonsense!"
The main cause of the abtndonment of the
South of the faith of our fathers is. as you state
it, the increase of the cotton crop. Hut this cause
has passed north of Mason and Dixon's line, and
produced a change of tone in both free and slave
Htates.
The cause is one thing?the justification is
another Your defence of the South is characteristic
of the legal profession. What are truth and
right in the face of one hundred millions of dollars?
That which was a curse a wrong, and a sin. in
1 <87, by one hundred millions of dollars, in 1850,
is couverted iuto a blessing, a right, and a religious
oharity.
As much as I abhor slavery, I abhor the detence
more. One strjfys dojrn the libgrtv of the African?
ftae'o'bef, mine. One enslaves a people?
the other, the human race The one avowedly
prostrates only political rights?the other saps
the foundations of morals and rivil safety, also.
This " political necessity" is the father of murder,
of robbem. and all riliirious and irovernrnental
tyranny. This is the damnable doctriue upon
which was huilt the inquisition, the star chamber,
ami the guillotine. .
No, sir, that which is a fault in individuals, is
a crime in governments. We can guard against
the danger of a single assassin, hut a government
is irresistible and immortal in its criminal inflictions.
The doctrine that individual honesty is compatible
with political proflig tcy, or that individual
and governmental responsibility are distinct, is
one of the boldest sophisms that was ever allowed
to linger Among the shallow falsehoods of the
past.
Retribution follows swift in the footsteps of
crime, whether perpetrated by one or a thousand.
"Though hand join to hand," the wicked shall
not stand. The poisoned chalice of slaveholding
propagsndism is already commended to their own
lips Their spirit of aggression has awakened a
like spirit of resistance. They would have Texas;
we will have California ! Yes,sir; though cotton
and cotton mili.s pkrish korevkr! The unconstitutional
precedent of a simple majority of both
Houses taking in slave States, will in turn crush
the political power of the South to atoms. Then
how long will her God-defying tyranny stand hefore
the hot indignation of a world in arms!
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Mirth 25, 1850. C. M. Ci.ay.
fat the N ettouet Kr*
SLAVERY SINFUL 11 ITSELF,
AND NON-FELLOWSHIP OFfTHOSK PRACTICING
IT THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
No. 8.
Again, the objector says :
" i belipve slavery is sinful, and that the church
ought to purify herself from it; hut we anti-slavery
men ought to stay in the church, and work to purify
it?to get the rest of the members right"
We answer:
1. Then God did wrong when he commsnded
his people to " conic out from corrupt Rahylon,
that ye be not partakers in her sins, and that ye ,
receive not of her plagues"
3. The history of the church shows that God's
policy of coming out from a corrupt church is
the correct policy to secure a pure church. Jlencc
God called Abraham out from the idolatrous connection
in which he was. lie did not stay to purify
it. Christ and his followers lived in a corrupt
age, and, like the prophets, they offered sacrifice
at Jerusalem. AspmM Ihtir religion WtUlkm n
national one, anil there iras hut oivs place where nun
could ojf.r sacrifice?at Jerusalem. The necessity
of ckrkwonuj. onsKRVAjfCF*. made responsibility's
differ I nt from the. present. Hut Christ tolil the
Samaritan woman, the time wmh coming when
men oould offer sacrifice on that mount cverywhere.
And when this fulness of time came?
the lie of ceremonial observances broken?we find
Christ taking the Passover with his disciple* alone.
And from that time onward they were, in all respects,
separate from the Jewish church. Under
the Gospel, God commands, as we hare seen, this
policy ; and in this way only has a pure church
been maintained. When in the process of time
the Christian church became corrupt, a pure
church was attainod by a line of secessions, reaching
from the Novatians, A i). 2M, to the Donatints;
from the Donatists to the I'aulieians; from
these to the Alhigenses and Waldenses; from
these to the great Protestant secession in the
days of Luther and Zuingliu*. Who disputes the
duty of the Pitmfstast secession in obedience to
the command, " come out from her, my people 7"
if the reader does, then he is bound to go back to
"the mother church" ? the Roman Catholic
church, as that church yet claims. Many branches
of the Protestants became corrupt. Wesley attempted
reformation in the church; but bis followers
saw that duty and norrect policy required
them to come out, and they did so So did the
Independents and the Puritans, who planted religion
in our own country. And the churches
now, in their turn, as we hare seen, having Income
corrupt?practicing thr sins of mystic Habylon?it
is now a duty equally imperative upon
the people of God, to come out.
The opposite policy has l>een a failure. For
sizteeu hundred years, such men as Erasmus,
Kenelon, Massilou, and others, have been staying
in the church to purify it. Did thsy do it 7
Never I They died where they began, amid corruption
Like the sun-fish in stagnant waters,
umi'lut death-struggles, they reflected Home beautiful
rays, only to be covered l.y tide* of coming
corruption How different the Malory of Novatian,
Donates, Wickliffe, Luther, Zuinglius, Melancthon,
and others, who came out with them:
They and their churchea were beacon-Htare, warning
of danger on the one hand, and directing to
the port of Hafety on the other. These churches
came out, chiefly, on account of immoral practices
in the old churches, and hence they were
called, even in thedayeof the Novations, cvihuri?
puritans
In our own country, for more than half a century,
Christiana have been talking and preaching
in the church against slavery, and trying to purify
the churches by staying in the churches It
is said that our Methodist brethren, in the beginning
of their lahora after the Revolution, fasted
and prayed over this subject three daya They
came to the conclusion, in opposition to the teaching
of God, that they would suffer the eatortioner
to atay in their communion five years, and that
they would preach against it?purge it out by
" preaching principles'' What has been the result?
Why, their practice neutralized their
words, and slavery grew on them every year, until
at last It wore out many of them, ami their
principles, too. burst their churoh asunder, planted
Itself in the dwelling* of thousands of the membership
in both di visions, and sealed the lip* of the
ministry. Ones it was a vsry common thing to hear
Methodist preachers speak againet slavery, in
their sermons, in the most unsparing terms N ow,
South of Mason and Dixon's line, there are hundred*,
pcrhape thousands, who will apologize for,
to one who will even mlnoingly speak against it.
And in the church North, having vet in slave
Statee some twenty thousand slaves in herelutchss,
few of her ministers ever say earthing from the
pulpit against the iniquity, and if they do it is
to " heal ilijtklly the hurt or my people " Yes, so
paralyzing havs been the consequences of fellowshipping
the iniquity, that even the followers of
Weelsy slumber with quiet eon science over the
elankiug chains and mangled bodies of the poor
bondman, refusing to touch hi* (tallinn yoke with
even the tip* of their finger* Soon indifference
w.ia converted, in many instances, into scoffing
hate and relentless proscription. so that if one
dare speak as the founder of the body onoe did,
it was at the peril of his ecclesiastical life. A
little leaven leavened the whole lump. So
with the Presbyterian church They have had,
for more than half a century, their talks, their
sertnon?, their memorials, and resolutions. They
have "preached principles: ' and what have they
done? As in the Methodist church, their acts
of fellowship neutralited their words, and slavery
grew and spread itself over the membership, as
far as slatismen and pchticvws would let it. At
length a division took place, and from that time
to the present, in their collective capacity, and at
their highest courts, slavery still finds a shelter
Lately some individuals and churches are heginning
to come out. Many in the New School
body, after the division had hopes that that body
! would purify itself, and thought to remain in the
church, and aid in the work Hut, to their mortification.
they saw slavery under this banner, too,
regularly increasing its slave territory, and multiplying
its slaveholding members. At lsst. individuals,
presbyteries, and synods, seeing that the
policy of staying in the church to purify it is an
inefficient policy, have determined to take God's
plan of coming out, and have done so M my
others are purposing to do the same And unless
that Assembly shall speedily fake decisive measures
to free herself from slaveholding, she will
find, kindled in her midst, a magazine that will
bloat her into ten thousand fragments.
The same work of secession is now going on in
the Methodist church. Many arc now seeing that
discipline is impossible, and that the controlling
influence Is pro-slavery, and are obeying God by
coming out: some as Independent Methodists,
others as True Wesleyans, <tc. The work is
also going on in the Baptist church. Among the
Free Will Raptists.six hundred and sixteen ministers,
with their still more numerous churches,
hive declared ''that they will su-tnin no rrlation,
and perform no act, that will countenance the system,
or imj>h/ indifferent', to its multiplied enormities
' They say rurther, that41 slavery is a direct
violation of the law of God . and that by refusing
to support slavery, its principles, or its advocates,
and by trxthholdini; Chrirtuin und church f>llotcshi)>
from 'ill i;nilli/ of thr via of rluivry, and by re
I momhfttitg thos* in bond* ax hound with thorn,;
we Wlgtf '. jMk?u,'vAiv UltwVA ^..III Trt thlS
ini'l'iity "
1 hese open separations from slavcholding bodies
are doing immense good They are not ouly digging
out and holding up truth on the subject of
secession, and thereby forming pub ic sentiment
and waking public conscience, tint they are encouraging
and inducing many others to follow
their example; ho that already the old bodies
are beginning to look about for their members.
Self-preservation begins to look them earnestly in
the face. And if these bodies are ever reformed,
it will be a hundred fold more by the enlightening,
drawing, and driving influence of those who
have and shall come out. rather than the stultified
preaching of those who stay in. If they are
not reformed, they will bury in their fall the few
Erasmuses, Kenelons, and Baxters, they may have
Notwithstanding the foregoing truths, many,
as an argument for staying in the church, say,
pervertingly, "a little leaven leavens the whole
lump." They mean to assert that thoso who are
pure, and have truth on their side, should stay
in the church, to pour trnth upon error, and
thereby purify the church. We reply?
1 Then God was in error, when he said to his
people, u Come out."
|to hk coNTtat'tn.]
CONGRESS.
TIIIRTV-FIRST CONflMSS-FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
Weonrshay, A huh, 17, 18f>0.
Compromise Committee?A Struggle?A Fracas.
A great many anti-slavery petitions were presents!
by Messrs. liale, Seward,and Hamlin,and
ordered to lie upon the table. After the despatch
of the morning business, the Senate took up the
special order, being the motion of the Senator
from Mississippi to refer the resolutions of
Messrs. Bell and Clay to a select committee of
thirteen. To this motion, when the Senate adjourned
last Thursday, the following amendment
was pending:
Provider), That nothing in this reference shall
be so construed as to nssert or imply the existence
of any power whatever in Congress for the
abolition by Congress of slavery within the
States; nor to authorize the suppression by Congress
of the slave trade between the States; nor
that Congress ought to abolish slavery in the
forts, arsenals, dock yards, and navy yards of the
United States; nor that Congress ought to ubolish
slavery in the District of Columbia.
}This amendment was a modification proposed
by Mr. Clay and accepted by Mr. Benton. Meantime,
Mr. Clay, having had time to think the matter
over, concluded to back out from his rnodiflca
tion of Mr. Benton's amendment. ami extricate
th? motion of Mr Foote from embarrassment.
The reoder will have observed that Mr. Clay
hoa abandoned the position which secured him
temporary ay input hy at the North, and hue resumed
his natural place, ut the head of the slaveholding
delegation |
Mr. Clay moved to amend the amendment bjr
striking out all after the words " Proivlnlt That,'
and inserting "the Semite does not deein it necessary
to expresa in advance any opinion, or to
give any instructions, either general or specific,
for the guidance of the committee "
Mr. Clay, in submitting bia amendment, said
that be deemed the amendmeut of the Senator
from Missouri entirely unnecessary.
Mr llenton. I accepted the modification proposed
by the .Senator from Kentucky in a spirit
of compromise?the amendment is really his
own?and now he proposes to rub it all out.
Why, air, 1 will withdraw tho amendment, and
fall hack on my original one.
Being withdrawn, the amendment of Mr. Clay
went with it.
Mr. Benton then renewed his original amendment,
to withhold from the consideration of the
committee the abolition of slavery in the States,
the suppression of the inter State slave trade, the
abolition of slavery within the forts, dock yards,
and arsenals of the United Slates, the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia, and every
subject not specially referred to it.
Mr. Clay renewed bis amendment us a substitute.
Mr. Benton thought the proposed amendment
was no amendment at all?the object of an
amendment being to mske a resolution or proposition
better, but this was an attempt, to bailie
the design of his amendment altogether. He
said that the great object was speedy action.
They had but three days and a half this week.
In that time, if they would take up tho Callfoinia
bill, thev could dispose of it. But send the
subject to this compromise committee, and there
would be a delay of two weeks or more. The
committee would report perhaps in a few days,
but their report would not be taken up in the absence
of the six Senators who, by order of the
Senate, were to wait upon the remains of Mr
Calhoun to Houth Carolina?and they would be
absent one or two weeka
Mr. Benton, for the purpose of reachiug the
California bill at oner, moved to lay the huI.ject ,
of appointing ? committer on the UM?, hut withdrew
it nt the instance of Mr Cley, whoproceed- i
cd to urge the appointment of the oomroUteo. j
lie charged on Mr. llenton and Ihoee who witb i
him op|Kmeil the committee the responsibility of
delaying action on California. Let them submit,
and they could all then go to work. '
Mr Benton I propoee the point of my objection,
if there be any point in it, to hie epecioua t
amendment. My objection to it in, that it in an I
independent resolve to govern the conduct of the i
.Somite It ha* nothing to do with the business <
which ie included in the motion. Hut the Hen*- 1
tor from Kentucky makea aproposition. or renewa I
one made yeeterday. It is nothing more nor leee I
than that a jury should go out with the caae, and i
after the Jury baa gone oat with H, the counsel
end advooatee may proceed to argue it. We have
been eoftioiently advertised of the fact that that
jury is to cooelat of the distinguished and leading
members of the Nenate. These distinguished and
leading gentlemen will go out, and while they are
deliberating, why, the remainder?those perhape
who would necessarily fall into tho category of led
members?may be amusing themselves with discussing
the subjeot and presenting their views;
and whenever the jury of thirteen shall have made
up their verdict, they will oome in, and whoever
may happen to be npon hie feet at the moment
will heve to take hie seat, and will be out off elect
ly where he stood, the delivery of the verdiot
putting an end to the whole case he is arguing.
1'hU is rather a new proceeding in the Senate
of the United .state* and 1 object to the ideft of
eending out a jury with a case, and leaving other
! Senators here to argue it.
The Senator from Kentucky, sir, charges roe
with occasioning all the delay in the admission of
California. And how do I occasion it? By resisting
a motion to send this question to a committee.
Have I not a right to do that? If 1 have
I no right to do it, it is a question of order, which
the Chair may decide, and if it is decided that I
have no right, I will sit down at once. Hut while
I have a parlismentry right to proceed in a certain
way, all efforts to deter me from proceeding,
by throwing on me the blame of obstructing business.
will be of no avail. Bat this is no novelty.
We have great examples for throwing the hlarne
of being promoters of disturbances upon those
who are innoeent. I believe, Mr. President, there
were never more professions made in favor of
r"*") 1? "* ? ...... I mvit cuwuiiuius Iirinrrou
upon peace. nor ever greatersentimentsofdevotion
to pence, uttered or professed by any being opon
the face of the earth, than were uttered hy him who
w is the greatest of warriors?the great Emperor
He was always for peace; how, then, catne he to
he always in war ? Because, when his armies entered
a country, the people would resist, anil that
made war, and made him a disturber of the peace
he was so anxious to preserve. That is exactly
the way the great Emperor got the name of being
a disturber of the pence: the people would resist
when his armirs entered their country. All that
he ashed of them watt to submit; all that he asked
was that they should be quiet, and let his armies
move over their country.
In the same identical manner, Mr President,
with a parallelism which has been drawn here
somewhat too close for a parody, the Senator from
Kentucky charges me with delaying the admission
of California, because 1 resist where I h ive
a right to resist, and, more than that, where I
hold it to he tny duty to resist, an l where I am
sustained by sixty years of uninterrupted legislation
of thetwo Houses of Congress. Sir. three times
Washington, the father of his country, sent in
messages for the admission of new States precisely
under the same circumstances as those under
which President Taylor sent in a message in this
case. Tonnesaee, Kentucky, and Vermont, were
all admitted rireriselv under these circumstances.
and upon the presentation of m^swyres precisely
like this ~ f*\^Vtg>>s , ..nates %Av vA6nv\ra hner- T
wards under the same circumstances, and by message*
of iho Presidents of the times in which
those States were admitted ; making eight in the
whole, being as near half as eight can be of seventeen
I am doing what has been done for sixty
years Kvery State that has been admitted for
sixty years has been admitted in a bill by itself,
except in one single case, and then two were put
together in the same bill. Two States applied for
admission at the same time, snd had no more right
than California now has, for they made their Constitions
for themselves without the previous
authority of Congress. The Senator from Kentucky
undertakes to say that these things will go
on, and California will come in sooner, if she is
mixed up with all these foreign questions?foreign
to her, certainly. Now, he certainly understands
what he says 1 do not. The supposition
is, that the hill is to go faster when complicated
and loaded with all these subjects than it oati go
alone There is something in that which is inexplicable
to me. 1 kuow there is an idea, which
mny be called vernacular, prevalent in some parts
of the country, that a horse can pull stronger if
he has a weight upon his hack ; and 1 have often
seen large packs with two or three bushels of
grain upon a horse's back while he was straining
every nerve in pnlling a load tip hill. The argument
was, that it kept the backbone straight, and
enabled him to draw directly against the centre of
every joint, j Laughter.] That was done in the
case of drawing; hut this is a case of running.
I California has to run, and ns it seems to me she
has to run the gsuntlet and a long line. I never
heard it supposed that a horse ran faster for having
a load u|>on his back ; hilt when we come to
look at what is proposed to California, we shall
find that ghe has not only three hundred pounds
upon her back, but we shall have a hundred
pounds to tie to each leg. and still a pretty considerable
weight to tie to the tail. I should like
to sec how California would run with three hundred
pounds upon her hack ami a hundred to
each leg, and fifty pounds to the tail.
I lisve been ocoupied, Mr. President, wholly
with the preliminary question of Lying this resolution
upon the table, and postponing its consideration
for the purpose of taking up the California
bill. The question is now as to the delay, the
almost indefinite delay, with the chance of eventu
ally losing the admission between (ho two Houses
Wo have now three full days remaining of thin
week, and 1 think, if we proceed, we can in these
three days come to a decisive vote on the California
bill; and in doing that, wo shall have washed
our hands and done our duty ; and It will then he
for the f louse of Representatives to do their duty,
a thing with which we have nothing to do
Mr. Douglas rose to correct a misapprehension
of Mr. Clay in respeot to the hill for the admission
of California ? Mr. Clay having intimated
that it contained no proviaiou for si-curing the
title of the United States to the public lands in
the new State. Mr. Douglas was proceeding to
show that thia w is a great error, when he whs
called to order for discusning a subject not pertinent
to the question.
Mr. Renton moved to lay the subject on the
table, for the purpose of taking up the California
bill. The yeas and nsys were ordered, and the
vote stood:
Ykas ? Messrs. Ilaldwin, Renton. Bradbury,
thase, Clarke, Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts,
Dayton, Dodge of Iowa, Dodge of Wisconsin,
Douglas, Fetch, Qrecne, Hale, Hamlin, Jones,
Vliller, Norris, I'belps, Seward, Shields, Smith,
IValker, and Webster?24.
Navs?Messrs Atchison, Radger, Bell, Borand,
Bright, Butler, Cass, Clay, Clemens, Davis
if Mississippi, Dickinson, Downs, I'oote, Hunter,
{.log, Manguin, Mason, Morton, 1'carce, Rusk,
tehaslian, Smile. Hpruanoe, Sturgeon, Turuey,
Jnderwood, Whitoomh, and Yulec?28.
|lt will be remembered that on the motiou of
11 r HntiffluM luMf Thnrmlft v In lav th?? mill
ect upon the table, the role (a test vote) stood?
reiw Wfl, nays 2H. Tho vote above shows a Wing
off of two in the minority Mr. Upham,
vho voted yea on Thursday, wan absent to-day.
Mr. Sturgeon, who was absent Thursday, voted
my to-day. Thursday, Mr. Webster voted nay,
o-day, yea. On tho former occasion, Messrs
(Vales and Sprtiance of Delaware voted yea;
o-day, Mr. Wales did not vote, and Mr. 8prunce
voted in the negative. Mr. Cooper of Pennylvania,
who canvassed that State during the
'residential contest for Taylor and Free Soil, debouncing
slavery in the bitterest terms, knew
hat the subject of this Compromise Committee
ras coming up Thursday, and left the city, to
,tten I the Clay festival in New York.. He ehnnied
the responsibility of voting then, and also
o-day. Why Mr. Upham was absent on this
iccoslon, we do not know, Nothing but a sickles*
disabling a .Senator from being oarried to the
ienate can eacuee his absence at such a time.
It will he perceived, then, that the minority
vas reduced by the desertion of Mr. Spruance of
Delaware, the refusal of Mr. Wales to vote, and
he absence of Mr. Upham, while it gained Mr.
iVebster. Had Messrs. Wales and Sprnanoe
naiutsined their ground, and Mr. Upham been
n his plsce, the vote would have been a tie; the
Vice President would probably have given it in
'avor of Freedom ; and the anhjeot of California
vould have been taken up.|
The (juration recurring on Mr. Clay's amendnent
to Mr. Benton's amendment, Mr. Miller of
Mew Jersey aaid that he thought this amendment
I Th. - X a a. l_
mi. iu urmr. isa IBICUUIUUI ODIJT IITKW
>ut the amendment proposed by the Senator from
Missouri, but, if adopted, U dseLures that no furher
Instructions oa any other point shall be given
Lo the committee. Now, can that be donel If it
can, i mistake the rule in regard to a bill. Suppose
this amendment Is offered to a bill, and a
Senator moves to strike out all of the amendment,
and to substitute la lieu thereof a declaration that
no farther amendment shall be made to the hill.
Can that be dons7 The amendment goes further
than the amendment offered by the Senator from
Missouri, for it uot only striken out hta amendment,
but declares that no farther Instructions
shall be given on any other point. Now, by the
rules of the Senate, when a r see lotion or bill is
under consideration, it may be amended at any
time, and we cannot declare by an amendment
that no farther amendment shall be mads to the
bill. Neither can we declare that no other or
l?ss rot am raus ]