Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-22
DEBATE IN THE SENATE
ON THE ADMISSION OF IOWA AND FLORIDA,
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH /, ls45.

Representatives
read
Mr. EVANS said that the bill now stood il would be i'm
possible Tor him to vote for it. Both his colleague and him
sell We're under instructions of the Legislature of their
which forbade them do So Before he could give the bill
ms support must be put into shape more satisfactory
ms constituents Mr. E. said that the Constitution which
was now presented the Constitution of Florida framed
ny 'ne people OF that Territory long ago 1888 he dl
not know that there any evidence that the present popu
aon Of Florida desired still retain that Constitution and
be admitted under it. He believed the Constitution had been
printed and was among the documents of the Senate
mr. bEhRlEN here stated that majority of the last Lee
gslaure OF Florida had expressed themselves favorable to
her admission as State into the Union
Mr. EVANS said that quite likely; he believed to
be so but question for the people and for the
Legislature to decide and matter of very question
able propnety whether without evidence OF the present
wishes OF the people of Florida, could back and
take up the Constitution of 1888 and impose that upon them
as their Constitution. That which ought to be
LEFT to themselves to decide That Constitution, printed
copy OF which lay before him, him exceedingly oec
tonabe gave the Legislature power pass laws which,
IN the view Of his constituents exceedingly grevous
which they deemed wholly unconstitutional and against which,
on more than occasion, they had soemny protested
Laws of similar tenor existed in other savehodng States
and they operated in which, several instances had
been very grevous the citizens of Maine and other North
States It would do say that this sense of grievance
and this view of the unconstutonaty such laws was all
fanatcism, that confined to those who sought
the immediate emancipation the slaves The fact was not
So far from being confined the Abolitions this was
general nay, universal feeling throughout his State
and he believed most of the Northern States Their citi-
had been subjected annoyance and the States con-
sdered themselves aggreved nsomuch that the State Lee
satures had adopted resolutions expressive Of their opin
ion against the constitutional right of the States TO enact the
laws which was now proposed explicitly give Florida the
power to adopt and enloning their Senator's and requesting
their Representatives to their endeavors obtain repeal
OF them. They believed them to DC wholly unconstitutional
and that would be determined by the highest judicial m
buna IN our country whenever case involving that question
couh be presented for its consideration The laws he aud
ed to were those which authorized the and prson-
ment OF free coored arriving the ports of Southern
States IN American vessels from other sections of the country
Practices had been INDUCED under these laws which
uemey harassng and injurious Northern and ship
pers nsonuh that voyages had been broken up
delayed and embarrassed in consequence Of the deseon
cooed who had left their discovering that
they were to visit Southern ports. The feeling of opposition
to these laws unjust and oppressive through
the North The sentiment was common TO all parties and
had nothing to do with party politics 1t the feeling of
the most intelligent and respectable of the people of the
Northern States, and the resolutions of the Legislature of
Name on the subject had passed both Houses he believed
unanimously Mr. E. not sure but he rather believed
that his honorable colleague the way M FRFIELD)
had himself been IN the Executive chair the time they
adopted and had given them his personal sanction Mr. E.
had sent the resolutions the Secretars table, and ask
ed that they might be read
They were read accordingly, follows
Resolved That while deprecate all interference with
the social institutions rights of other States and while we
hold ourselves bound by the strongest possible obligations
comply with every requson of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States and especially with that Of section 3D. article 4th
hold the of every citizen colored or not coored
to the protection OF that Constitution his and his pro-
perry, to be equally good
pie oil this State protest against the existence of
any OF the States Territories of this Union, which
our free coored citizens 70 the liability be arrested
prisoned and to be sold into slavery the payment of the
costs OF such arrest and imprisonment that protest
against such laws unconstitutional endangerg this
Union
Resolved That Senator'S Congress be instructed and
our protest soemn against such
laws and their best efforts procure repeal all
such exist.
Resod That copy of the foregoing resolutions be
warded to each OF Senator's and Representatives
ge and to the Governor Of each Of States and
Approved March %, ls45
From this document would be seen what were the opn
ions entertained by Northern of all parties relation to
these laws
Now, the Constitution Of Florida did that which he brev
ed the Constitution Of other State in the Union ddi
conferred express authority the Legislature Of Florida TO
pass laws Of this very description To Mr. E. this appeared
very unnecessaya thing wholly supeeregatory
provision of this kind in the Constitution II laws this
character, when passed BY other Southern which
had such clause in their Constitution were nevertheless
valid where could be the necessity of inserting such power
in the Constitution Of Florida And in admitting State
with such clause in her Constitution, after that Constitution
had been submitted to the Senate those who voted for the
mission would be Justly considered giving their sanction
such provision and if Senators from Maine did this they
would sanction by their that which they and their State
LEGISLATURE and the people OF their State and the people OF
other Northern States held to be- and had publicly declared
10 be, wholly unconstitutional The insertion of il was I'M
necessary the principles of shareholders themselves
and so long such clause remained in the Constitution Of
the State, Mr. H. could and would not vote for her adj
mission Although he did not recognise the
with other gentlemen the doctrine of instructions and
passive blind obedience, yet when his judgment and
conscience approved the recommended in
hon ne was most happy to act in conformity to them but
when his judgment and his conscience disappoved the
sure no power earth should induce him TO vote in Its ia
In this his fully conceded with those OF
the Legislature OF Mane and he therefore should act in ac
cordance with their wishes
But this not the only provision in the Florida Constit
ton which he considered thus Objectionable There was an
other clause which withheld from the Legislature the power Of
emancipation This prohibition also he believed 10 be pecu
liar Florida There were in some Of the Southern states
lcs to this effect but here constitutional prohibition
which to him appeared advsed and unsuitable to repub
can constitution Why insert prohibition Of this sort which
must operate in all future time in the organic law Of the State
Why not trust this matter of emancipation the growing s
r Of the age Of philanthropy Of humanity Why not leave
TO the progress Of civilization aud Christianity Why not
leave the people 10 act in this through their Iora
tuc from time time, instead Of inserting an inerict which
must remain in force until the Constitution be anended-a
process difficult and sometimes impossible to accomplish
Mr. T. much regretted find features Of this kind in the
Constitution submitted the Senate for the new State now
applying TO be admitted. If Florida is entitled admission
he was disposed 10 admit her the footing with other
States but these provisions stood nsuperabc obstacle
IN his way Why insist eainia them in the Constitution
when any purpose they intended to secure good or
land ne believed them bad might Just well be secured by
ordinary acts OF legislation Ii calling on the Senate i,
sanction, which he for one would not give 10 oppes-
sve laws and oppressive institutions Although he might
TO receive State whose Constitution admitted free action on
these subjects provided SILENT that in receiving her.
I Ill 49,. .k.n h,a..atF r. 49,. n