Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 09 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 09 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
In the course of the debate, Mr. Davis departed from the
main question to say that he understood the Senators from
Massachusetts sympathized with the mob in Boston, and its
resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act. He never knew that Mr.
Wilson had appeared “to back the Marshal of the United States
in the execution of that law.” Then ensued a brief colloquy.
“MR. DAVIS. I never heard that he did, or that either
of them did, perform or attempt to perform that high,
patriotic duty.
“MR. SUMNER. I was in my seat here.
“MR. DAVIS. Did you not give your sympathy to those who
resisted the law?
“MR. SUMNER. My sympathy is always with every slave.
“MR. DAVIS. That is a frank acknowledgment. His sympathy is
with every slave against the Constitution and the execution
of the laws of his country! If that is not a sentiment of
treason, I ask what is.”[3]
Meanwhile the House of Representatives were considering the
same subject, and on the 26th May passed a bill “to confiscate
the property of Rebels for the payment of the expenses of the
present Rebellion, and for other purposes,” which, on motion
of Mr. Clark, was taken up in the Senate June 23d, when he
moved to substitute the pending Senate bill. The debate on
the general question was resumed. June 27th, Mr. Sumner made
another speech, which will be found in its place, according to
date,[4] especially in reply to Mr. Browning, who had claimed
the War Powers for the President rather than for Congress.
June 28th, the substitute moved by Mr. Clark was agreed to,
Yeas 19, Nays 17, and the bill as amended was then passed, Yeas
28, Nays 13.
July 3d, the House non-concurred in the Senate amendment.
A Conference Committee reported in substance the Senate
amendment, which was accepted in the Senate, Yeas 28, Nays 13,
and in the House, Yeas 82, Nays 42. July 17th, the bill was
signed by the President.
The sections of this bill, as it passed, relating to
liberation, were these.
“SEC. 9. _And be it further enacted_, That all slaves of
persons who shall hereafter be engaged in rebellion against
the Government of the United States, or who shall in any
way give aid or comfort thereto, escaping from such persons
and taking refuge within the lines of the army, and all
slaves captured from such persons, or deserted by them, and
coming under the control of the Government of the United
States, and all slaves of such persons found on [or] being
within any place occupied by Rebel forces, and afterwards
occupied by the forces of the United States, shall be
deemed captives of war, and shall be forever free of their
servitude, and not again held as slaves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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