Macon (GA) Weekly Telegraph, "The Fugitive Slave Bill," December 3, 1850

The Fugitive Slave Bill.

The New York Herald, after its own peculiar way, presents the following true history of the passage and fate of the Fugitive Law. Its effects upon Northern politics and politicians are not at all exaggerated. 

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL––THE LATE ELECTIONS––THE STAMPEDE.––Of all the measures comprised in the slavery adjustment, the Fugitive Slave Bill has worked most emphatically in the North. On the day that the bill went through the House, Mr. Clay rose in his place in the Senate and expressed his congratulations that the measure was finally passed, and that the great work of compromise only required the abolition of the District slave trade. Teat bill, also, was at length passed: when Mr. Clay took occasion to express his convictions that peace and harmony would speedily restored to our bleeding , agitated, and distracted country. A few Abolitionists in the North, and a few reckless ultras in the South, might be supposed, the attempt to revive the agitation; he supposed, attempt to revive the agitation; but their efforts would be ridiculous. The great masses of both sections would be satisfied. Harmony would be restored, and the North and South, under the same vine and fig tree, would bury the hatchet, and smoke the pipe of peace together for a very long time to come.

Such was the prophecy of Mr. Clay. What is the fact? The Compromise bills were but the beginning of the agitation. The fluster, bluster, bravado, clap-trap, gas, and terrible threats of Abolitionists and Southern Ultras, before the settlement, were mere moonshine to what had succeeded. It is just the difference between the maneuverings of two armies before an impending war, and the actual guerrilla warfare after the first battle is over. All the peace measures of the last Congress only to carry us to Buena Vista––the battles of the Southern columns of the army have yet to be fought.

The Fugitive Slave Bill may well be called the Buena Vista of the compromise measures. As in the fight in Mexico, so in the contest in Congress; there were many among the bravest left upon the field, and many who deeming "discretion the better part of valor," kept quiet or took to their heels. In the Senate, Colonel Benton was accidentally absent on the engrossment of the bill, and owing probably to the "noise and confusion," Gen. Case did not answer to his name. From one cause or other, (and, as far as we are informed, we give the causes,) the following Senators were absent, or dumb, or just stepped out, on the engrossment of the bill, which was the test question: 

Absent, Stepped Out, or not voting.

Alabama––Jeremiah Clemens, for several weeks–gone home

Arkansas––Solon Borland, off in Arkansas, all the session

Florida––Jackson Morton, absent

Indiana––Messrs. Bright and Whitecomb, (Bright stepped out, Whitecomb hard of hearing.)

Illinois––Messrs. Douglass and Shields, absent or mum.

Kentucky––Mr. Clay, absent at Newport.  

Maine––Mr. Hamim (freesoil) absent.

Michigan––Messrs. Cass and Felch. Mr. Cass was in his seat, but too much "noise and confusion' to hear his name called. Mr. Felch accidentally missing. 

Missouri––Mr. Benton missing: supposed to have stepped out.

New Hampshire––Messrs. Hale and Norris. Hale off home. Norris no answer.

New York––Messrs. Dickinson and Seward paired off to allow Seward to visit New York. 

New Jersey––Mr. Miller, gone home. 

Rhode Island––Mr. Clark, gone home.

Vermont––Mr. Phelps, absent from sickness.

Total gone home, absent, stepped out, or not voting, twenty: or exactly one-third of the entire Senate, on the passage of the act. But to make the case more clear, we give the ayes and noes, and the missing, &c. 

Senate Vote––Fugitive Slave Bill

Ayes.

Atchison,

Badger,

Barnwell, 

Bell,

Berrien,

Butler,

Davis, of Miss.

Dawson,

Dodge, of Iowa,

Downs, 

Foote,

Houston, 

Hunter,

James,

King,

Mangum,

Mason,

Pearce,

Rusk,

Sebastian,

Soule,

Spruance,

Sturgeon,

Turney,

Underwood,

Wales,

Yulee––27.

Noes.

Baldwin,

Bradbury,

Chase,

Cooper,

Davis of Mass.

Dayton,

Dodge, of Wis.

Greene,

Smith,

Upham,

Walker,

Winthrop––12

Absent or not voting, &c

Brenton, 

Borland,

Bright,

Cass

Clemens

Clay,

Dickinson,

Douglass,

Clarke,

Felch,

Hale,

Hamlin,

Miller,

Morton,

Morris,

Pratt,

Phelps,

Seward,

Shields,

Whitecomb 20.

Per the third reading of the Fugitive bill,           27

Against the bill,                                                 12

Absent, stepped out, or not voting,                   20

One vacancy from Ohio,                                     1

                                                                         –––

Total Senate (California not then admitted)       60

The vote was ominous of what was to come. The stampede upon it in the House was also very significant and suspicious. Thirty five members absent, or just stepped out (J.B among them) or not voting! It was a fugitive bill in more senses than one. Seldom does a single shot create such floundering and flattering. The Democrats rushed it through the House, to throw the burden upon Mr. Fillmore. It puzzled him prodigiously whether to sign or not to sign––to veto or not to veto. He signed. The Attorney General explained, or rather apologized, for the President, in view of the New York election.

Then commenced the re-action. It has been overwhelming; but it has not stopped with the administration. Cass Dickinson, Douglass and all concerned in, or evading or consenting to the measure from the North, have been absolutely overwhelmed in the late elections, excepting in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where the people want a modification of the tariff. All prospects of national candidates, upon the prop of the Fugitive Slave bill are shivered into fragments. The very thing which Mr. Clay considered the cap-sheat of the compromise, has turned out to be the wooden horse to the Trojans Call, Felch, and Benton, and Douglass, and Bright, smelt the rat, or rather the cat; but they have not escaped it. It has turned everything upside down from Cape Cod to the West Bank of the Mississippi–from Buffalo to Mason and Dixon's line–and all the arrangements for all the presidential favorites of all the cliques, of both the old parties, are scattered helter skelter in this nullification excitement––this fugitive bombshell––this Pandora's box to the politicians Mr. Clay was wide of the mark in supposing that the Fugitive bill would end the agitation––it only begins it. Mr. Mason thought it would do no good except to test the sincerity of the North in their professions of good faith. The test has been applied. It works wonderfully. It has turned Whigs and Democrats into fugitives; and it is difficult to tell whether they or the runaway slaves run the furthest from the law. But there is this difference––the fugitive politicians have been overtaken while the slaves have generally escaped into Canada. If such is the beginning of the stampede, what will be the end?–their platforms–their principles their parties? Swallowed up in the Fugitive bill. Gone?