Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-03-04

4
TO the lawful establishment and admission Of the State
iaio the Union. The whole affair Of Gov. Randophs
proposition aud Mr.. Mcriss substitute, about which
much deusion has been poposs,ed has absolutely there
lore not the slightest bearing upon the question which IL
now under discussion.
Thus the law and the Constitution were, in his Judgment
beyond all controversy. With due Difference honor
able Senator from Mississippi (Mt. wsker) in what he
SAID few days ago about the opinion Of Judge OF the
supreme Court, reicrrng, he presumed the opinion OF
Judge Johnson, In the OF tho American Insurance
Company rs Conier he would take the liberty OF saying
mat u The gentleman would look the record.
ne would Ind that the opinion Of learned Judge
responded strictly with that he had oppressed and
ed to this that We must obtain foreign territory by the
ueaty.nsking power; then might admit States
from that territory by the legislative power. This the
law and Constitution OF land and this MIR, r. would
take his stand: he now said his honorable friend
from Pennsylvania and the other friends of Texas
that chamber. that Texas should be brought into this
Union 10y plain and papabe nrsction Of the Constiu
tcn such as - proposed, IL would prove n and
noia boon was impossible that the blessing OF Hea
ven could rect any measure contaminated in de-
nance oi an instrument they had support
Mo- IN the anxiety OF gentlemen. PEI tss asf nefas,
TO get IN Texas. setting aside the provisions of the
Constitution, winch required the Of wohirds Of
the States OF this Union to enter into treaties and agree.
menis with foreign Powers they would open this land
fountain at bitter waters which human power could
sanch Legislative reprisals would be mode, and
OF retaliation attempted under which this Union could not
and' MT X did not say or suppose that At would pro
duce an immediate aud formal dissolution the Union
but this he did say that this should
be eonsunmated II would lead aninosities
aud mutual Conflicts which would cmbter the Union
TO render violent disruption Of il almost inevitable. lie
did not say final disruption, for he still, willing be-
eve that II such separation did take place be
temporary only for he had cndeavored to shew, during
the last session. that Nature herself had bound together
tins glorious land OF constitutional liberty that i'm
possible even Tor the violent passions Of permanently
TO dissolve the ties by which parts linked
geher. But the dsnger was tina, the Reunion would be
ELECTED by the sword and then would follow the
OF military desposm. extngushing here, in their last
treat the hopes OF liberty and law earth That his
fe1r.
Letus now, Mr.. President, attempt to follow on, in the
visions Of the future what likely occur IT, in the
lace o the OF those took their upon
the pghed faith OF the Constitution this should
De eonsnnmled by mere majority OF the two Houses o;
Congress When the next Congress supposing the
people oi Texas have accepted the terms proposed what
might happeni His friend from Pennsy lvann had spoken
OF this JOINT resolution pedgng faith OF the nation
Mr. H. would ask, could Of the legislature pledge
the faith OF this foreign Power up the
hands OF IA succeeding Legaturei MIR. r. did read
the Constitution. The legislative majority which
passed me Joint resolution nigh, repeal it, Who could
swer Tor the changes that might take place the deep
OF Puohe opinion who could say how future elections
might turn out What security had gentlemen that the
next Congress by Their majority power might not repeal
The act OF the present Congress, and when Texas
admission the door be slammed in her ace-what thenl
But suppose Texas to be admitted. The honorable Sc
nator he likes this resolution because the slavery
question settled by IT, and finally put the basis OF the
Missouri compromise. Could the honorable Senator say
that there was peculiar sanetiy in ihs joint resolution
that must exempt from the power of future legislation =
Might not future Legislature, under the excitement pro
duced by what they deemed a wanton invasion of the
Constitution rise aud declare that had the rish;
10 act upon this question predecessor; that
Congress had nigh, bind them and, though pre-
vous body had undertaken 10 stpuate the observance OF
the Missouri compromise in Texas, when State
formed Of its territory should knocking a-
miitance, II had the right prescribe conditions
those who had before tGem, and that would a
NIT the Texan States but upon condition Of the per-
peinai Prohibition OF slavery Could they do D.
Would they not have the pOwerl And would not this
Congress have furnished them povocation, ii JUST
hcaton by their example in violating the Constitution D.
Mr. X. told his friend that he planting germ
conflict in the States Of this Union the end of which
| neither Of than could see.
And he turned Southern friends on that ,or
and he would invoke their sober should
submit 10 their consideration The entire slaveholding
portion OF this Union could place themselves for safely only
on the sacrcdness of the Constitution. They stood for
their very existence on what Mr. Jefferson had called
sacrosanc adherence TO its provisions. being the only
shield for the rights OF minority. How did they in
that body However they might rely (hc well knew on
tie fidelity Of Delaware oil the compromises the Con.
siiiuon Delaware was vet practically slayebod,ng
STATE They stood, therefore, that body
sla'ehodng twenty eight veholdng. And
in the other House the proportion eighty Re-
representatives. OF slaSehodng States to hundred and
\ e. ci6Tx, r'ur;6 rT6u- An'"-
1-ii ..-. .ae 81 -. irx1or NO which i, heeams
them well heed; they had got warning IN the other
branch which they ought not disregard. There had been
recent vote Ia Ia House a sectional question which
might be taken fair OF the relative strength Of
the interests. had been the permission to For-
da 10 divide her territory into States her popua
ton should amount 80, 900 OF the Suwannee ryer
and how did the numbers standI in favor
OF hundred and three lt-leayinp
dead majority Of fifty opposed the savehoding interest
| which was about the when that House ives full
Would Senators representing that interest the example
oil irampling the OF the Constitution and of
admitting the absolute and unlimited power of mdjofiyl
Had that been tue wisdom OF their ancestorsi Let gentle.
men look at the proceedings of The Southern States the
adoption OF the Constitution They had insisted on n ma.
Jony OF two thirds In the regulation OF commerce, which
they had lost however in the manner he had shown dur
ing the lasisession of Congress- They mad far
ed sto require twothds vote 10 override the negative
OF the President the necessity OF three ourhs of the States
for amending the Constitution, aud Of twohrds of the
States, represented the Senate for the ratification nj
treaties Mr. r. had barely alluded the question oi the
navigation Of the Mississippi in the old Congress He
hoped his worthy friends who represented that region Of
the Union would look back t1e transactions time
he referred 10.
Mr.. X. alluded 10 them a warning. Under the old
Congress the assent OF nine States necessary the
ratification OF treaty. On the arrival of Spanish Min
isier Mr. Jay authorized with him. but was
expressly required to stpnate for right of the nay
ton OF the Mississippi and for the integrity western
boundary These instructions given BY the votes of
nine States subsequently plan proposed for cedng
the navigation Of the for twenty five wears md bare
majority rescinded the previous instructions But then
arose The question whether simple majority could rescnd
vote which il bad required a majority OF two.tlds TO
adopt. Let gentlemen look the battles the bloody
battles which ensucd in the old Congress- when the seven
Northern States voted in solid phaanx and with the und
yded force OF their entire delegations against the se
Southern States. On that memorable occasion the South
had been overwhelmed by majority riding over the
provisions OF the Constitution. In consequence Of this
ar Jay agreed upon treaty with the Spanish Minister
IN which our right 10 the navigation of the Mississippi was
yielded for twenty-five years. The South and West pro-
tested against from year TO year, until last under the
wise lead and auspices OF Mr. Madison, they had triumph
ed but irlumphed only under that clause in
tho articles Of Confederation which required the OF
| two thirds for the ratification Of a treaty.
Nh H. held out this piece oi history warning the
South. They were toe weaker party. They should be
the very last TO give up tho conservative features Of the
Constitution IL they blind as To recognise
the dispensing power Of majority, the time might
come when the peculiar interests Of the South involving
their rights Of properly their domestic peace the security
OF their rcsdes, would be placed the mercy Of such
majority. Let the present measure be and
the principle involved be sanctioned, and Southern gen
emen might expect soon 10 see, 10y way Of Teprisa a ma
ory IN both Houses undertaking abolish slavery IN the
District OF Columbus; and the thing would be- under
color OF the clause 10 regulate among the sever
oil States an act prohibiting the removal aud transfer Of
slaves rom state 70 state; but, than ALL md beyond
ALL he would ask Southern gentlemen how would then
Stand IN regard to that great fundamental act, which con-
j = -.