Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-13
&,
'T,wenty-fiftn s'0TfggRess---2d scss.
IN SENATE
WsdMesdau, January 3, lS3SlConclndtd
MR.. CALDOUyiaEs0LUTloys.

SOtt thut ~ oSi eaktDH ~ ots' ~ 1850
TO be exercised by the Federal. Government, the Slaies
retained, screrally, the exclusive and Sole right over
their own domestic institutions and police, and are alone
responsible for them, and 4ha any intermeddtlng 81 one
or more States, or a combination of their citizens, with
the domestic institutions and pulice OF. The others, on any
ground, or under any prelext Whatever. political, moral,
or religious, with a vew,t 10 their alteration or subversion,
is an assumption Of superiority not warranted ny Tie
Constitution, insulting TO The States lnterissed win,
tending 10 e~ndnnger lhsir. domestic peace and tranquil
lily, sUbversive of the objects for which the Constitution
wns formed, and, by necessary consequence, lenafnS 10
weaken md destroy the Union itself.
MIR. Preston moved to amend the resolution ny stsiK-
ing out the words 'assumption OF superiority.
Mr. CALHOUN signi6ed that he would accept the amend
mpnt ns n modification Of the resolution, and It was mo-
difpd accordingly.
Nh. Allen moved further 10 amend Tie resolution ny
striking out The word "%religious."
MIR. Calhoun hoped this amendment would mol be
pressed, rs it struck at The main point OF The resolution.
Mr.. Morris moved to amend The amendment by slrik.
ing out the wards 'moral and religious, and on THIS
question he called Tor the yeas and nays, which were or
dercd.
MIR. Calhoun said the consequence Of this amendment
would be, that any one Stale might attack the Inslitu.
lions of another State, either on moral or religious
grounds II people chose 10 consider their institutions
immoral or ~irrrligious, then they would be left al liberty
TO attack them.
MIR. Preston suggested to insert the words IS under no
pretcri aohnsUcr;' which words being retained, the others
might perhaps be dispensed with.
MI. Calhoun replied that 1t would be possible To make
The resolutions mean nothing. The words " moral aud
religious were tie very essence of the lesoIulIon; 'un-
der any prelext whatever were but milk and water
words, not ample enough to meet the occasion.
Mr.. Buchanan began by observing tina, he concurred
with Messrs. Norris and Preston.
Mr.. Preston rose to Correct MIR. Z. Not so: he (Mr.
P had snid distinctly that he was avcrse 10 the motion
of MIR. Morris; he wished to include the words " moral
and reiigiOuS,' and, therefore, his objections By The e5-
| preston - under any prttexl whutevcr, To include these
very words, as in Il general aud sweeping clause.
Mr.. Buchanan. | stand corrected. Mr.. d. was willing
TO 90 any length 10 prevent the interference OF ihe ano'
liionisls. but he " ishfd 10 express his opinion decidedly
and firmly. It he thought the striking out these words
would weaken the resolution or make II without ineal-
ing, he would not vote Tor the amendment; Tut by re-
! rniIiing the clause ..under any pretrAt Whatever he
! ,houpht The resolution would be as strong as II possibly
could. and, therefore, wilh that clause III Mr.. Morris
would consent 10 the InodIfcainn) he ('ir. b } would
agree 10 strike out the words, %'pohHcat, moral and ret'
gious.' -.
his amendment.
Mr.. Calhoun was opposed to this as being 4 mntilation
Of his resolutions.
hr. Allen was understood 10 speak in favor OF the
amendment. as far as related to the word r,byi0uS.
Mr. Young said it was his opinion that tins question,
now thai it had come up, ought to be met at once,
promptly, boldly and directly. He had not served the
numerous abolition papers which were sent L" MN as
we'll as 10 other gentlemen, in the manner in which he
understood snne gentleman dealt with them that is I"
say, he had not thrown them into the fire but, on the
contrary, he had read and exa mined them, IN order that
he might fully understand what really was The oolecl OF
these deluted people. lie (Mr. ~ vas not willing to
make any compromise with these people, By striking
out the words "noral and religious, and leaving Them
still that broad ground TO 20 upon. Shall we lsald MIR.
Y leave them this PreieSt: Shall we leave them as
much ground as this To stand upon: lie was acquainted
will, many aboiitionists in Illinois, aud he never scru.
pied To tell them they were mad. He had put The ques..
lion 10 them, whether their proceedings would not lead
10 q dissolution of the Union, and their uniform reply
,,e hat tIt,r had m relirious duty TO Dcr[Orm. from
which no considerations OF The consequences should make
them swerYe. Thus it will be seen, that IL il entirely
| upon The ground of what they deem moral and religious,
that they base ali their action; and shall these words be
stricken oul. and this ground be left 10 them? He thought
moi. Who will venture To assert that The views OF these
People are confined IN this District: N"ts so. This DIS.
lrici is 10 them but as q drop in the bucket; their views
extend lGuch l~urther-evrn, if possible, 10 the total e&-
,inction OF slavery throughout the Unlun. They go tor
universal emancipation, their views are not limited or
| partial; such is their object, and they care not what means
they employ, provided they can but accomplish their
object.
Mr. Y. vas The representative Of n free State, and he
was proud OF that circumstance. His constituents, he
billie we'd, were in favor OF enanci patton, but they were
not in favor Of interfering with other Stales; their npi-
Mon was. that il is not advisable 10 interfere with The
domestic concerns Of other Sla!es. Nothing short oil
the very LANGUAGE of MIR. Calhoun appeared 10 him (Alr.
Y to meet lie case; and for his part, lie would not shrink
from meeting The question. lie did not know The source
frrn which the papers enanaled, bat they were daily
! laid DnOl his tuule. 1Uep DC1hl " DC Ihtl llel puRit
10 he answered, and if they were wrong, il ought to be
declared in the strongest possible language, and there.
fore he was opposed lo any amendment tending to weaken
the language Of the resolution. These very words mo
raj and RELIGIOUS were 10 be found, lie believed, IN the
Vermont resolutions, and that was a strong reason why
thew should he retained III these countcr-rrs"lutions Tie
was willing and DESTROYS 10 meet The question directly
and in the face; he was acquainted, as lie mao before oD'
served. with many rmanclpaliOnIsss IN ILLINOIS, ana lie
Knew them 10 be excellent and respectable men, but in
! his yirw. they were deludcd MEN. They say, they have
a religious duty To perform, and they will not be slliied
in The expression of their opinions; they Will speak, they
will discuss, they vii! PRINT; we on omr parts oug"l
10 saw TO them in The decided language OF The resolutions,
..f YOU will persist, we will not aid you, we will mol hear
you, VIC will not receive your petitions.
) n. M. w lad before been Of the opinion, that the
better course would have been 10 receive and refer Their
ncri,ioDs. and then To make a report decidedly against
Them. irving The reasons for such n decision. Aow,
huw. yer. that time was gone by, and reasoning any
lonrer on The snGject was out Of The question.
MIR, Baynrd said he would briefly give the reasons on
which his vote en- this occasion would be founded
These resolutions appeared 10 him 10 wear 4 double as.
nee, As far as they went for protection 10 lie S"uth so
far he (Alr. b. was in favor Of them; but there was an
a~r,hipuily in them, and behind ih:s vagueness ana anol'
nuuv he thought he could see the doctrine OF null!Ecdlloi
1naanI;,g out, and half showing its hideous features The
rcrv Foundation and cornerstone OF these resolutions was
the docl finc Of nulificalion, VIZ: That tH's governments
mot G~nycrnmrntoftt the Penple, but a treaty between Ger
;oiu independent States. This was the principle Which
nsry,dcd ali and each of these resolutions, and therefore
he. for one. would never vote for such resolutions. lie
was not willing to be caught in n trap IN ths way IL
,bc nrinciple pctvading these resolutions is sound, then
nuIhkca,ion is sound and good. He (Mr. b would not
now discuss the principle, but in his view the Senate
would be acting unguardedIy in passing these resolu-
lions. which might afterwards be used for other objects
and purposes. Mr.. Ii. was willing 10 protect the Snu,h;
he thought lis property ought 10 be secured inviolaolr;
he looked upon tie proceedings of The Abol'tionis's as
cruel, wun,on, and unju.tiiablr; but at the same time he
was mol on that account willing 10 be caught by resnlu.
ions and made TO subscribe 10 doctrines which he con.
sidrrcd 10 be essentially hostile 10 the nature and charac-
| Ter of this Government. There was not a single resolu.
lion araon1 them all in which this poison OF nulIIi'ca-
,inn might not be discovered lurking. He would not
undertake to suy that Mr.. Calhoun intended TO spread