Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-22

public mind this whole subject and aid moi heco,n
statesmen and men OF high and prominent station 10 er
the weight Of their character to aid in the erclemen The
were sacrifices which must be made 10 crcums,ances ~
might very hard 10 OF these coorcd sail, MS
these few hard must be borne with, lest but
thousand times great should be incurred III [ len
complained OF was no unrlendy edct
in its character and looked to the preservation Of
mutual good feeling He knew his honorable f;xS ana
Maine considered himself bound to take the course ~
pursuing and all gentlemen who admitted the obligatory &
Of instructions were bound TO act on the principle
not State Legislature, nor all the men on o. hut
induce him TO pursue course which his should
conscience forbade. Conscience knew no , ~. y and
the Deity 0 :" pu' We laws Of
Mr. McDUFFIE said that ENTERTAINERS se,o,. a,,,..h..
slos na his friends on the per side Of the CHAMBER sh
run INTO an unpea$ns controversy ON this subec, 10 e,,
strained 70 press for the question - 10y eoi-
, M; WuopblqDGE next addressed the Seaasa ,1,
honorable and learned friend from Virginia chr Aaearal ha1
observed hat there was fever in The public mind on this sui
icy was wye VIVA thea, should the Senate aearayafe
that lover by saactaning what MANY considered -
suuona' proVision and one which all regretted should 49,
been introduced into this State Constitution nave
honeis ~" awse maxim which advsa' nan 81 o ,.s
alone The gentlemen Of me South were y nro,ecsS Il
men sn WAT nne State in this entire Conederacy had
ialsea standard against them Not one There were 10
sae enthusiasts and ncendiaries ia many of the States
nut he insertion Of clauses like these the Constitution Of
saVenong State and the sanction Of such clauses by the
would only furnish stimulus to the worst efforts Of
People he never had excused paated their PROCEEDINGS
anu 40 human being could be opposed to them than he
ou, 0outnern gentlemen might rely upon it fact
Una. W adopting measures Of this character they pact
ceanng abolionlsts II the constitutonaty of these
laws and OF Constitution which sanctioned thcm was
mater Of doubt let that question be decided by the courts
There was M and constitutional tribunal provided for the
purpose Let them decide in the GOODNESS and dignity
~ ludcai rootude but why invite discussion in the Senate
ON topic Ike that Were they throwing the apple az
scord into the community by sanctonng enacments Or this
character The honorable Senator from Virginia had insisted
al tne senate had nothing to look to in passng State
constitution but the single question whether was repubk
can but ne would ask that honorable gen,eman suppassn
the Constitution Of State applying for admission con-
!anea features papahiy and undenaby in conflict with the
OF tne United States would that Senator approve
py admtng the State would he content himself with a
silent vote Mr.. w felt very he would not,
inns argument was not the principle had bae, ,av
into dispute on former occasion Gentlemen would alI
PEI he between Ohio and Michigan touching the
boundary line between them Ohio her Constitution defined
certain line as her northern hounday The Constitution was
submitted to Congress- and dsapprohaon was expressed
ne state was admitted and her people drew the inference
ea. sanctioned the boundary line as there laid down.
put what happened when the State of Michigan applied r
admission In her Constitution also the boundary line wss
dened but defined in which came in conflict with
the Constitution of Ohio and Ohio resisted b. as being con-
ry % me authoritative decision of Congress- This showed
mat he acton OF the Senate pot TO be connod tho
single question whethsf ths Constitution Of applying State
was republican " not Mr. w did not consider it expedcn
pass silently over question Of this kind He saw no evil
hat could arise from expressing dissent from such parts of
Constitution the Senate disapproved They took fom,
Florida right If the seron of such clause In the
Constitution was necessary before the Legislature could pass
uch laws Tor the preservation of the community how were
uch laws passed in Louisiana Or her State Constellation
contained clause Of this description Better to strike il out
men let the laws be passed. and leave their constuonay to
70 tested by the courts
Mr. HENDERSON understood that the admission Of tho
State was opposed on the ground Of the sixteenth section of
The
na power to emancpae slaves He Thought that some
existed the real intent and meaning OF
ms provision 1t obviously meant that, in Florida no slave
should be emancpatpd without the consent Of his master II
vas merely ebodyng principle which was recognised and
acted On " all the Southern States Such provision was
heeyed TO be found in the constitutions Of ali of theu
Y mere was any exception it was where the Constitution
pfessy conferred such power on the Legislature If the
power not found there the Legislature ha no right to
perform the act No State organised hui for the protec-
lon OF hie liberty, and property The regulation Of these
vas inserted IN Constitution Legislature had the power
u oplterats epery The Legislature of Maine had no
eh than the Legislature of Mississippi to enact law
aolslns Tho property of any Its whole power was
ee'ed TO regulate and protect property, To- destroy H.
, sna Legislature, whether in Northern Southern
STATE should undertake. 10 pass law having such ON opera
ION there was not court bu, would declare such law to be
iu and void The Legislature go the people and pes
helr consent bes could do any thing which their pro-
'egH eS o. their hands So that, after ALL this psovon
hieh represented so great an enorrnv was onl
Equivalent to what existed in every through
'ut the Union Some few Of the Constitutions of the slave
holding States gave to their Legislatures qualified power of
hanumsson certain cscs else could have no power
whatever to that effect.
The other clause in this Florida Constitution which had en-
the opposition Of gentlemen was that which en-
lowered the Legislature 10 pass laws obddnp the inQra
o we ass OF free persons Of color from orhen yes
st Now The power TO pass such laws would be precisely
ue same whether this clause the Constitution or out
why would gentlemen spepd their time in fighting with
;s. ne clause IN the Constitution would have
aidiy brought before the Supreme Court than the lava
asseu uhder that in point of consutionality, it was
'no mierii whether the clause was retained or ex-
ArgGd.
bu IN arguing against the retaining Of this clause in
nc constitution, the broad ground had been taken that
ae could not constntonaly interfere to prevent the
hdng OF free persons in " ports, whether colored
o. He would ppt a to Senators. ship sailed from
'oson, and entered port of Florida having three free
Acs sailors board When these men attempted 10
md they turned back under the authority of the State
w. Now, in the Southern States slaves employed as
aiors as well as free Suppose them the other hand
nat ship sailed from Charon and entered the port Of Bo
on with three black savs sailors board would the State
Massachusetts far respect the relation of master and GER
ant az recognised by Southern laws to forar action in
station to these men No. She would take them away
om their master and discharge them Free Did the Sena-
y from Maine see difficulty In this fact Was not the aen
eman principle as good al end Of the line the other
nd any act o. State interference with sailors entering
ne ports q e State Of their relations az or
lave was unjust and oppressive why was not a. unjust
one side as on the other And with what face could gem
eman complain that the Southern States nterfecd with tho
ghs OF their sailors IN prohibiting them to land, when they
lemseves so far nereed with Southern sailors abolish
le property Of master in his servant zS4yt nss
Mr. WHITE said there things in this Constu-
on winch operated quite much favor OF the free States
OF the savehodng States If Mr.. W. should follow inn
ct the impulses Of Eis constituents ne could not vote any
IL. O. - n