Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 11 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 11 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
April 20th, the Senate proceeded with the bill, when Mr.
Foster, of Connecticut, made an elaborate speech, especially
vindicating the Act of 1793, in the course of which he was
frequently interrupted by Mr. Sumner in answer to points of the
argument. He was followed by Mr. Gratz Brown, of Missouri, who
concluded by saying: “I cannot support this bill as it has been
amended. I cannot support any bill that recognizes as right and
proper any Fugitive Slave Act; and I shall therefore refuse
to give it my sanction, if it comes to a vote upon the final
passage in its present shape.”
April 21st, Mr. Van Winkle, of West Virginia, seized the
opportunity to speak at length on the question of the war.
Mr. Howard, of Michigan, moved an amendment at the end of the
bill:--
“But no person found in any Territory of the United States,
or in the District of Columbia, shall be deemed to have
been held to labor or service, or to be a slave; nor shall
he or she be removed under said Act of 1793; and the fourth
section of said Act is hereby repealed.”
Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, moved an executive session.
Mr. Sumner suggested that it should be an hour later. Mr.
Brown thought the bill could not be finished that evening.
Mr. Fessenden did not like to interfere with this bill, but
he must give notice, that, if the bill were not disposed of
that afternoon, or by one o’clock the next day, he must then
move to go on with the Army Appropriation Bill. Mr. Sumner
hoped “we might go on for at least another hour.” Mr. Conness
“did not understand the anxiety of his honorable friend from
Massachusetts in pressing this bill in its present condition.”
Mr. Pomeroy hoped Mr. Sumner would let the bill go over;
there were half a dozen amendments to be proposed. Mr. Sumner
replied: “Very well; if the friends of the measure request
that it shall not be pressed to-day, I will not throw myself
in their way.” Accordingly, on the motion of Mr. Conness, it
was postponed to April 27th, and made the special order at one
o’clock; but it was then superseded by the unfinished business
of the day preceding, being the National Currency. With the
amendment fastened upon his bill, keeping alive the Act of
1793, Mr. Sumner was not encouraged to press it, and he waited
the action of the House of Representatives.
* * * * *
June 6th, in the House of Representatives, Mr. Morris, of New
York, reported from the Committee on the Judiciary a bill in
the following terms.
“AN ACT to repeal the Fugitive Slave Act of eighteen
hundred and fifty, and all Acts and Parts of Acts for the
Rendition of Fugitive Slaves.
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