MR. BUTLER. I do not rise now at all to question the right of the gentleman from Massachusetts to hold his seat, under the obligation of the Constitution of the United States, with the opinions which he has expressed; but, if I understand him, he means, that, whether this law or that law or any other law prevails, he disregards the obligations of the Constitution of the United States. MR. SUMNER. Not at all. That I never said. I recognize the obligations of the Constitution. MR. BUTLER. He says he recognizes the obligations of the Constitution of the United States. I see, I know he is not a tactician, and I shall not take advantage of the infirmity of a man who does not know half his time exactly what he is about. [_Laughter._] But, Sir, I will ask that gentleman one question: If it devolved upon him as a representative of Massachusetts, all Federal laws being put out of the way, would he recommend any law for the delivery of a fugitive slave under the Constitution of the United States? MR. SUMNER. Never. MR. BUTLER. I knew that. Now, Sir, I have got exactly what is the truth, and what I intend shall go forth to the Southern States.... When the gentleman talks in the way he does, I choose to rebuke him. Any man who comes up here with a philanthropy inconsistent with what is practical justice and liberty, I do not say that I scorn him,--I use no such word,--but by heavens[174].... [174] Congressional Globe, 33d Cong. 2d Sess., Appendix, Vol. XXXI. p. 246. The tone of Senator Butler on this occasion shows the intolerable spirit of Slavery, which would not endure Mr. Sumner. The question, being taken by yeas and nays on the amendment offered by Mr. Sumner, resulted,--yeas 9, nays 30,--as follows. YEAS.--Messrs. Brainerd, Chase, Cooper, Fessenden, Gillette, Seward, Sumner, Wade, and Wilson,--9. NAYS.--Messrs. Adams, Badger, Bayard, Bell, Benjamin, Bright, Brown, Butler, Clay, Dawson, Douglas, Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Gwin, Hunter, Jones, of Iowa, Jones, of Tennessee, Mallory, Mason, Morton, Pearce, Pettit, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields, Slidell, Thomson, of New Jersey, Toucey, Weller, and Wright,--30. So the amendment was rejected. * * * * * Transcriber's Note: We have attempted to reproduce the spelling and punctuation of the original. Some spelling and punctuation, accents and formatting markup have been normalized and include the following: ..."very pests in the Church and Conmowealth." was changed to ..."very pests in the Church and Commonwealth." ...Here on my desk are remonstances was changed to ...Here on my desk are remonstrances ...The difference is inmeasurable. was changed to ...The difference is immeasurable. The oe ligature has been expanded.