Senator James Murray Mason:Comments Delivered on the floor of the Senate, March 2nd 1858.

United States Senate, James Murray Mason, Slavery.

Mason briefly elaborates on his understanding of slavery as a legal concept under Federal/Constitutional law. Slavery, preexisting the creation and authority of the Constitution, is according to Mason not created from its clauses, but merely recognized. This recognition being in force since its ratification, Slavery, according to Mason, has constitutional protection throughout the entire Union, thereby justifying southern opposition to Slavery's limitation and southern enthusiasm for legislation such as the Fugitive Slave Act.

James Murray Mason (1798-1871)

John C. Rives (1795-1864)

The Congressional Globe

University of North Texas Digital Library

2, March, 1858

Santiago Jauregui

Item not held in Copyright, Public Domain

Digitized Book

English

Transcribed Speech