Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-10

SOUND Tor Tie NrSt Tune on MS ear, W
the House. If he mstook not, some three or lout
years ago Il member from South Carolina, and gen.
teman now member Of this body, prepared rrso'
lution-whether he submitted it or not or asked leave
to present it, not within his recoiiecton-nut lie
knew that there was letter published, when ne oe-
lieved the gentleman had afterwards nvowed hiseIi
TO be the author Of in which lie said that he had had
in his dra for time a resolution asking congress
for the appointment of committee consisting OF one
member from each State in the Union, to devise mea-
surcs for the dissolution of the Union.
Mr.. WIN. BUTLER here requested the gentleman
from Virginia TO state what me mber from S. Carolina
| he referred 10.
Mr. Bolts said he had referred TO Mr.. Rhett.
! Mr. RllETT said, expecting this, Ia laugh he had
brought 10 the House the document concerning the
| fact; from which he about proceeding to read,
Mr.. ARNOLD said he hoped that this would be post
poned
Mr. Bolts said he yielded the floor only for an ex-
PLANTATION. (Cries of no, mol
| Mr. RllETT said he wanted no explanation, except
that the gentleman would allow the document TO which
he had referred 10 be read, short extract oil IT. TO
show the real character Of what he (Alr ~ at That
time did and said The resolutions were intended as
an amendment proposition to abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia, submitted i'll the form OF Instruc
tons by the gentleman from Vermont.
| The SPEAKER, addressing Mr.. Botts) Does the
| gentleman yield the floor
| Mr. BOTTS said he had objection but other
resolution, and would give il 10 him, he would read IT,
Mr. RiiETT requested leave to explain, not BY any
words of his but by the words which the gen
,lcman relied for his accusation. lie held in his hand
pamphlc, from which he requested leave TO read single
page. Il pamphlet containing an address TO his
constitne ns containing the resolutions alluded 10, with
narration Of the circumstances under which they were
prepared. 1t reciies that they were written al ms
seat, but offered TO he House. during speech de-
livcred by the gentleman from Vermont, Mr.. Siade
who discussing the sui jet OF slavery IN Nrenin.
Ii was that memorable occasion when the Southern
members left their seats and down stairs to deli
berate together this wanton aggression oil their com
mon interests. He then read the following extracts
"Beiore entering upon the merits OF The resolutions,
however, permit me to remark, (what suppose might
be apparent 10 all) that had expectation OF pass
ing, them or Of even taking vote upon them. They
were intended amendments TO motion 10 refer with
instructions 10 report bill aboshng slavery IN the
District Of Columbia. expected them To share the
fate which inevitably awaited the gina motion,
soon rs the floor could have been obtained, viz to I've
laid upon the table. My design in presenting them
was place before Congress and the people what IN my
opinion, the true issue upon this great and vital
question; md TO point out the course OF policy by which
II should be met by the Southern States Inc reso-
lutions follows
-"and the Constitution Of the United States having
proved inadequate TO protect the Southern States in
the peace able cnoymen, OF their rights and property it
is expeden' that the said Constitution should be amend
1 u.
| "Rcsoircd, That committee of two members from
each State in the Union be appointed TO report upon
the expedency and practicaby Of nding the Con-
suon, the best means OF peaceably diSsolvng the
| Union"
aft them fellow citizens the South is no longer in
The peaceabe Enjoyment Of her rights and peculiar in
snons under the Constitution of the u States, the
question arises upon the second proposition in the
solution: Is il expedient that The Constitution should
be amended, or the Union be dissolved
"Those OF course, who design using the Union and
the Constitution for the purpose Of destroying The IN
stitntion of slavery in the South, will recognise no
such expediency. With them the bonds Of the Union
constitute the cords by which they propose to bind lie
victim 10 the altar. With such designs, next TO the
atrocy OF holding slaves, will be the least resistance 10
the means by which they expect 10 accomplish their
purpose Traitors themselves 10 the Constitution and
every principle of faith honor which brought us to-
gether, they may imagine that by cnmorously accus
ng Others Of want of fidelity their constitutional
engagements, they may cancea their own base Perhdy
towards theirs and when they suppose that we can
be frightened abandonment of our rights by the
cry of disunion, they only prove how soon we des
pise those whom we have wronged. With those, how
ever who have any regard for their own rights or the
Union the expedency Of one of these alternatives will
be easy understood. The evil must be arrested IL
vain, utterly vain, 10 suppose that the South VIII
submit 10 the present state of things. Peace must
have in or out of the Union Our first duty is, to
deav to obtain il consistently with alliance with
our sister States in the Confederacy. il has been
through The Constitution under the Of the Union,
that security has been threatened and our peace dis
turbed To amend the Constitution is the most obvious
remedy. Make that clear in the Constitution which
they mot the Abolitioniss only, but the Northern peo-
pie generally affect to consider doubfu take away the
power to abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia
and in The Territories South OF the line established by
the Missouri compromise shut the subject Of slavery
forever out of the Halls of Congress- where il has
been most fathlessy introduced and let sister
States agree do what the laws of nations require Of
every friendly people, restrain their citizens from COM
binng and plotting the overthrow of our institutions:
If such amendments are proposed and adopted by the
consu ona majority, the Soo,h will have reposc, and
the Union be perpetuaed. But if they rejected,
il will conc usvely prove TO the South that the Union
ought 10 be dissolved. We can hold terms Of ALI
with deliberate open enemies; who seize Tor per-
nit their people 10 seize) upon the opportunity afforded
by friendly connection with them Tor other purposes,
accomplish the overthrow of institutions: and
when required 10 disayow the hostility and cease the
aggression, decline to do either. But have no doubt
such amendments TO the Constitution, If proposed IN
time, before the spirit of Abolition has Infected the
public mind, will be adopted They take nothing from
the North while they are necessary TO the South.
Mr. Bolts continued. lie was very willing TO
hear from The gentleman the arguments for The motion
he had proposed to make. 1t was enough for him 10
know that member Of the House had prepared and
was ready 10 offer resolution, to effect dissolution OF
the Union. lie did not understand him whether he
asked leave to offer il.
1Mr. Rheit did not
MIR. B. Yet the gentleman himself, who had pre-
pared resolution, and ready and waiting only the
opportunity present it TO the House, that the House
should proceed to dissolve the Union, that gentleman
voted against laying the table the proposition ocen-
sure or expel the gentleman from Massachusetts IT
was only the doctrine of the gentleman from Sou'h
Carolina, but of his whole State or majority OF that
State They held that they had right to secede from
the Union. If one State had right 10 secede, thur
teen had The separation of dissolved the Union.
The barrel falls to pieces the moment one stave is
taken from the hoop Gentlemen would excuse hun
for saying with his knowledge of what had transpired
this House. that this had appeared 10 him great
farce from the beginnng-a perfect storm in teapot
Talk abon, censuring the gentleman from Massnchu-
sets Look at the other end of this avenue: There
they found standing at the head Of the right arm
of The defence Of this nuton-he meant the Secretary
of the Navy-who, the last time lie had had CONVEX
salon with him on the subject was open, avowed,
undisguised advocate Of the immediate dissolution OF
the Union.