Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-04


this point, that they arc ready to strike down the
higher right Of a community to govern them :
selves, in order TO maintain the absolute right of
individuals in all circumstances, TO govern them
selves
Mr.. President, the resolutions that have pro- {
posed present, in exact terms, these great truths.
propose to present them to the Senate, pro-
pose to have Il vote upon them and trust there
is no gentleman here who will refuse q direct
vote upon these propositions. 1t is manly that
we shall know the state Of things. 1t is due to
our constituents that we should insist upon il:
and J. as one will insist upon it that the sense
OF this body shall be taken the body which rep.
resents the States in their capacity as communl-
ties, and the members Of which are to be our
special guardians. 1t is due TO them, sir, that
there should be fair expression of what is the
sense of this body. Upon that expression much
depends. 1t is the only stand which we can
have. 1t is the ohy position which we can take,
which will give us any chance at all to maintain
an equality in this Union, on those great princl-
pies 10 which have had reference. Override !
these principles, and We a;c nothing Preserve
them, and we will ever be respectable portion
of the community.
| Sir, here, let me say word as to the compro-
mise line. | have always considered it as great
crror-highly injurious to the South, because 1t
surrendered, for mere temporary purposes, those
! nigh principles Of the constitution upon when
think we ought to stand. | am against any com
promise line Yet would have been willing to
have continued the compromise line. One OF the
resolutions in the House, TO that effect, was OF
fered at my suggestion ! said to friend thcre,
MIR Burt Let us not be dlsturbcrs of this IN
ION As abhorrent 10 my feeling as is that CON
promise line let it be adhered to in good faith
and If the other Lortlons of the Union are will
ling to stand by 1t, let Us not refuse to stand by
it,. 1t has kept peace for some time, ana IN the
circumstances, perhaps it would BE- better to keep
peace as it is" But, sir, it was voted down by
an overwhelming majority. 1t was renewed by
a gentleman from a non slaveholdlng State, and
again voted down by an overwhelming majority.
Well, | see my way in the constitution. can
not in the compromise. a compromise is but
act of Congress. 1t may be oyerruled at any
time. 1t gives US no security. But the constl-
tuition is stable. It is rock. On 1t can stand.
1t is principle on which VIC can meet our friends
from the non .slaveholding States. 1t Is firm
ground, on which they can better stand in oppo-
sition 10 lanaicsm, than on the shifting sands oil
compromise.
Let us he done with compromise. Let us go
back aud stand upon the constitution
Wen, sir, what if the decision of this body
shall deny to US this high constitutional rsht,
which in my opinion is clear as any IN the IN
strument sGlt--the more defined and stable, in
deed, because deduced from the entire body Of
the instrument, aud the nature OF the subject TO
which it relates What then? That is ques-
ton which viii not undertake to decide. 1t Is
question for our constituents Il the slayeholdlng
States. A solemn and great question, Mr.. Pres
ident And if the decision should be adv erse at
this timc trust and do believe that they will take
under solemn consideration what they ought TO
do give no advice 1t would be hazardous
and dangerous for Inc to do so. But | may speak
as an individual member Of that section OF the
Union. There | drew my first breath. There
are all my hopes. | am panter--a cotton PLAN
ter. | am southern man and STAKEHOLDER - u
kind and a merciful one, .rust-and none the
worse for being STAKEHOLDER. say, for one,
would rather meet any extremity upon earth than
give up one inch of our cquaIlty--one inch OF
what belongs to us as members of this great re-
public ! What! acknowledged inieriorlty The
surrender Of life is nothing to sinking down In
to acknowledged inferiorityl
| have examined this subject largely widely
| think | see the future if we do not stand up
now; and in my humble opinion, the condition
OF Ireland is merclful and happy-tho cordtlor
of Hlndostan is peace and happness-the con
dton Of Jamaica is prosperous and happy, to
what Southern States will be if now they yield
Mr.. President, | desire that the resolutions
which now send 10 the table be read.
The resolutions were read as follows
Resolued, That the territories of the United
States belong to the several States composing
this Union, and are held by them as their joint
aud common property.
Resolved, That Congress, as the agent and
representative of the States of this Union, has
no right to make any law, or do any act whatev-
err that shall directly, or by its effects, make any
discrimination between the States of this Union
by which any Of them shall be deprived of its
full and equal right in any territory of the Uni
ted States, acquired or to be acquired.
Resolved, That the enactment of any law which
should directly, or by its effects, deprive the Cit
zens of any one of the States OF this Union from
emigratng with their property into any one Of
the territories of the United States, will make
such discrimination, and would, therefore, be a
violation of the constitution and the right of the
State from which such citizens emigr.ted and il
derogatlon of that perfect equality which belongs
to them as members OF this Union. and would
tend directly to subvert the Union itself
Resoired That il is fundamental principle If
our potical creed that n people in forming ,
constitution have the unconditional ripht TO farm
and adopt the government which thew NAV ,binA
hest calculated 10 secure their liberty. prospert,
and honDiness; and that in conformity thereto
no other condition is imposed by the federal CON
s,itution on n State in order to be admitted into
This Union. eXcept that its constitution shall be
republican: and that the impostion of any othel
L C,orors ,,,,,ld NOT onI, bo IL, ,iola,on Of tLo