The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-07-01


and suffering TO achieve Independence bnvoh sr
likely 10 enter into any compact, giving noyo v'
any body of men under heaven, to Mace ,Loe 10
their descendants under the dominion of anv c. OF
people2 Would the descendants of the pi.,Es'
Fnthers--of those who had been driven C.sm
land of their nativity by oppression and who e"oo we
tered the dangers of the sea, and sought Geedom
the new world, amid the pers that awaited T".m
who, in the cabin Of The Mayfower while sneoSiaS
her way from the land Of oppression concoc,od S
arranged the first code Of American popular COVE"
ment, and who carried il into practical operS,io
Plymouth, aud incucated its principles into The n0.
of their children Would the descendants oC,bo1'
Pilgrim Heroes, reared and educated in the reIioO
and political faith of their fathers; and who Ind %
ifesed their unmitgaling hatred Of oppression ""a
their own devotion to the doctrines of civil beriv "
Concord, at Lexington, at Bunker's hill and M H
the glorious battle fields of the Revolution. u". aI
they have been likely to enter into any comma, I
which this Federal Government might transfer ibo?
their descen dants to the dominion of Te,o, y"
Mexico, or Brazil, or to England itself? Sir, tho a.
seron that such powers exist in the Constitution i
reproach upon the New England character il il oS
fensive to New England feeling an impuia,iop ur'.
New England honor: it is an insult to the comma"
feelings of our people, and must inevitably call c,S
corresponding indignation in the breast Of eyery,r
son ofthe North.
But, MIR Chairman, by adopting our Federal Con-
sttuton union was voluntary formed of tho 0Ia
for each determined for itself upon the proprev a.
adopting the Constitution. The compact made y p"
visions for admitting by act Of Con gress new S5,o
to be formed out of the territory included within ,bs
boundaries dividing our Government from loreior
nations. That union, formed by the wisdom orS
falhers, and cosecrated by the blood and spferin,
which had marked their recent struggle for ndenenGa
ence, are lore and cherish. To il we shall ill.,
in all Of is stpulations We regard it as the snnc'
tuury of American liberty. We shall defend it, II
necessary, with our treasure and our lives Bpt yo
shall not surrender this Union, sanctioned br bo w.
century ofnatonaI prosperity, in order 10 try nsc
union, and that too, with slavedolding Texas, sir
every school boy must that to form nep union
with any foreign power would be "ipSo cacfo" dis.
solution Of our present Union. Now, would saw IA
nm nlbece President and a demented Cabinet, ib,,
they have not the power to form a union be,ys
our people of the free States and Texas. If such,
nnon be ever formed will be the voluntary se, n
the people of our States and those of Texas The
President and his Cabinet may enter into as man
treaties they please; re shall adhere TO our pre;
ent Union. If they wish TO leave this Union and 20
TO TeraS, |, for one, will bid them God speedn
And if any OF Southern sister States are de,rou
of leaving our present Union to form new compac,
with Texas, let them say with generous rraukness
But ic Northern States prefer adhering TO our present
Union, and refuse to follow them into such new con.
federucy ,don' let them attempt charging us with d,
SOLVING the Union. regret that any Northern man
m.
nered Such expressions are an abuse of language
The act of uniting with Texas would itself be Ina
dissolution; and refusal TO unite with that Govern.
men would be TO maintain the present Union
A gain. some Northern men appear 10 think if our
Southern States, with the Executive, prefer now
with Texas TO remaining in our present
Union, that, in such case, our Northern States
must of course abandon the sacred compact formed
by our fothers, and join snch new and unholy ALI.
Ance But, MIR Charman,ro one am most decided.
y in favor of maintaining present Union, although
every slave State should forsake it, which am sure
hey will never do. 1t is, however, true that the
Southern Democratic presses are holding out threat,
and menaces, of dissolution of the Union unles,
Texns be annexed. Well, sir, ifthe spirit Of dis,o.
uion shall enter into Southern friends and lbsy
shall 'run doWn that steep place into the sea" Of
Slarsry and are chokea by lis ioares, the fault viii
not be chargeahe upon us.
Mr. BELsER, OF Alabama, said he desired 10 not
question 10 the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. GIDDINGs My time is fast spending, but
he gentleman will be briefI will hear him.
Mr. BELsER. l wish to inquire if the gentleman
rom Ohio will vote for stakeholder at the coming
Presidential election?
MrGIDDINGs. | should be led to think fromlho
question, that the gentleman putting it, would not
vote for a who is opposed to slarerv had sup
posed my own views to he understood. | have stated
Mr Chairman that your rights and mine were perfect
y mutual. The great and leading feature of our
lights among the several States At the adoption Of
he Constitution no one attempted to introduce nchs
est for Office as that alluded to- Nor could the
Constitution haye been adopted upon the principle Of
excluding from office those opposed to slavery those
n faror Of that institution. If the gentleman from
Alabama will withhold his vote from Mr. Bney,
while he honestly believes that that gentleman will
administer the Federal Government with an upright
md constitutional regard 10 the rights Of all the States
md that he will do it more ably and more efecIua-
than any other man, merely for the reason that Nj
8rney is opposed to slavery, them sir, he must have
iIftererent views from those witch entertain. Soon
he other hand; verify believe that Mr. Clay will
administer the Government with an honest and strict
egard to the constitutional rights of all the States
This he stands publicly pledged TO do; and long
lie OF public service, in which he has shown himself
honest and independent, gives to the country the best
possible that he will maintain those right;
% which have alluded, and will wipe out the foul
iisgrace already brought npon out national character
~ attempting to make slavery and the detestabe
subject Of national support. MIR Brney
elected, and were in possession of Mr. Clay's tai
'nts and experience, could do no more For have
10 idea he would disregard the CONSTITUTIONAL invade
he rights of the south. Under these circumstances
IAN any man suppose that would abandon the hlSn
constitutional principles for which am coDendpg
md make an issue unknown to the Constitution
MIR Clay did not, himself, act on such principles
when he voted for my venerable friend near me- (m
apAMs.} SIS he honest? is he capable? is he eN-
ID to the CONSTITUTIONS the questions propoIN'u''