Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-02-22

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efthe U. States; holding Ibis Union as he
did,-a the only means known under. higt
Heaven by which he Immediately repre-.
scented could be. saved in Independence
there was, in his Judgment, sacrilege il
approaching il after this style.
T. This proposition; coming from any
quarter, in his judgement, was worse than
-sacrilege;.bul, coming from the quarter il
did, il assumed a political importance and
consequence. which itcould nUt derive en-
ansting from. any other source. He
through whom. the proposition was made
topull. down boldly the temple, was once
the very high priest mipistering-atthe al
tar. Itwas no .obscu hand that was
doing this thing; it was no obscure. name
that was connected with this movement.
That NINE had gone abroad connected
in his glorious union with the name ofthe
Republic all overthe world. The enc
mics ofiree Institutions, and those who
abroad are so fopdly predicting the early
destruction Of this Constitution, had their
eyes now turned in anxious hope upon the
moyement in tlns. Hall, and the move.
ments ofthet gentleman: The question
which of all others did not enter in the
slightest degree INTO the proposition which
he bad thought iofward. aud never should
but tbequestlon which tile. gentleman
was. fonder ofstirring than any other en-:
eniies of the country, as the means of ef
itc'ing thai very thing il was now propos-
ed.in the shape of solemn petition to- do
WAS a subject which he Lowell mot to
touch; and he meant not to handle. God
forbid that he should.ever stir up any to-
pic that was TO draw line between The
different portions Of this Union, and array
Southern men on one side and Northern
men on the other. which always excited
feelings that should ever be deprecated by
every true friend of his country. The
perpetuity and.the peace of This Uifon
was aprinciple'which he held Northern
men were bound as'srorgly to mdintain
as Southern men.
But he was tod that along with this
proposition was anoiher,. 'instrpcting the
committee to report egainstthe prayer OF
the petitioners. IN hishumbTe judgment,
this did not effect .,hc question at all: il
made.lt worse. Was proposition OF
this description TO be treat d as legiti-
climate Subject of legislation 10 be refer
ned lo-acormnittee Of mis- House, and re;
ported and. acted onl Was Irto become a
matter of legislative considreationq IF
presented, the precedents SO far.as it went,
amounted to this, ;batin the judgment OF
tie mover.the dissolution. of this Union
was fair subject of 'legsation-a deba-
table question, 10 be looked upon by The
eye of ldglstor as athmg within the scope
Of his powef That was the Precedeut
Which was 40 be. established npon. this
Jour9aE, and which he would NEE. at once
with the severest possible rabuke within
the power Of this. House. Had it been
his own father who had moved this propo-
| siton, he should have pursued precisely
the'same course towards him which he
had doue here.
. lie. hoped that the acton of this House
on this subject might go abroad 10 the ma
ton and to the world; and whaicver else
of misery opof mischief might hereafter
~ coming years ensne, that at least this
Congress would not for one-moment, per.
N any menber of this body 10 make
himself tie vehicle by which proposition
so monStr0us was TO be laid before this
body, WHICH could not act upon it. without
dislonor to themselves and-incipient ruin
to all who were to come. after. them. ..
Fhus much for the present he. bad
lIrouglt prof. to say in vihdicatlon of the
course he Lad pursued in offering this res
.oluton.--.
lfthere were wrong in it letlhe RESI- on
s5ilily rest upon his head. The popu'a-
-lion-of the North had gore so far in TINS
mattcr'they wereprepared to ask the Gov
eminent to CO nsider a matter OF this. sortl
Oh what a source from. whence 10 present
proposition for a dissolution oftHe Uni
on!.. Massachusetts, of. all Kinds ON which
heavens sun sheds its bright radiance
Massachusetts to come forward, and
through The man bearing the name which
this man bore, 10 make for the FIRST a prep
ositi6n 10 Dissolve. the Union! IF she has
any shame. lie, it he aroused, and let the
stverest censure Of this. House Eau upon
him through whom this proposition has
been brought forward. -
Mr.. NJ. Having CONCLUDED
The Speaker Informed The gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Adams (tharthe
position which he held authorized him 10
occupy the floor at ,his.inne.
Mr. ADAMS said he had BOT. much to
say on tie subject at this time. Tie gem
tlernn fIem Kentucky (Mr. MasshaIl) af
Ier.a or, at deal ofeffjrt 10 prove that. he
had no persona enmty to him, (Mr. Al
had in usirg alEthe luDguage.that human
fancy could contribute, now poured down
Oh him (Mr. Az the walls Of the wrath Of
thisnation as having committed 4 c grea-
test crime of which man is capable. II
the gentleman had been surprised, as he
affected I'd be; he (Mr. al confessed he
was not less surprised at tbelanguage the
gentleman had us I'd, and lie charges he
had brought.agalnst BIN, as if he had beer
GUILTY Of high treason. The Constitution
ofthe Uniied States said what high trea-
son should be, and.it-was bot for him, Mr..
NJ or his puny mind 10 ,confound thai
which is high treason with thai. which he
(Mr. "A, y bad done, and which was done
under the constitution Itself. He asked
the first volume ofthe laws Of the United
States 10 he septto him, and desired. the
Clerk TO read the first paragraph oe.the
l-nacloroti6n re Tndanendeare. which was