The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-19

down fairly OF twelve and half degrees
OF attudethat extended region OF itself is susceptible
of having SIX, seven, eight large States To this add
Oregon which extends from 40 to AZ degrees, which
will give four more, and make very moderate call
culaton when say that, in addition TO Iowa and Wis
consin twelve States upon the territory already
without reference to any acquisitions from Mexico
may be- and will be- shortly added 10 these United States
How will we then stand There will be but fourteen
on the part OF the souh-we are to be hxed hmiled and
foreyer-and wentyeght the part of the slave
holding States Twenty -eght Double our number
And with the same dspoporton IN the other House and
in the electoral college! The government SIR, will be
entirely in the hands of the nonsavehoidng States
overwhelmingly.
Sir if this state of things is TO go on. If this
determination, so solemny made, is 10 be per-
sisted in, where shall we stand, as far as this
as this federal government of is concerned? What,
then, must do' We must look to ustce--to our
own nterests-to the constitution We will have no
longer shield even in equality here. Now rely
upon the sense of justice of this boly Ought we to
rely upon this These the solemn questions which
put on all sides -
Sir look TO the past If we are TO look that will
not go into the detailswe will see from the begin
ming of this government TO the present day, as far
as pecunary resources are concerned-as far as the
disbursement of involved ii will be found that
we have been portion OF the community which has sub
stantiay supported this government without receiving
anything like tantamount support from IT. But why
should go beyond this very measure itsef' Why go
beyond this determination on the part OF the non-save-
holding States that there can be no further addition TO
the slavehong States, 10 prove what our condition ls
Sir what is the entire amount OF this policy? will
not say that it is so designed will not say from what
cause 1t originated will not say whether blind iana-
cism on one side whether hostile feeling to slavery
ertaned by many not anatcal on the other, has pro-
duced it. whether has been the work OF men, who,
looking to political power have considered the agitation
of this question the most eiecual mode OF obtaining
the spos OF this government look to the fact itself.
1t is policy openly avowed TO be persisted IN Ii
is policy, Mr.. President which aims 10 monopoze the
powers of this government and 10 obtain sole possession OF
its patronage.
Now, | ask. is there any remedy Does the constin-
ton afford any remedy And if not, Is there any
hope These, Mr. President, solemn questonsnot
only us, but let say TO gentlemen from the nom
saveholmg States, to them Sir, the day that the bal
between the two sections OF the countryhe slave
holding States and the -savehoding Staes-ls de-
stroyed, is day that will not be far removed from po-
tcal revolution, anarchy civil war, and widespread
disaster. The balance OF this system is in the slave
holding States, They are the conservative porton-a
ways have been the conservative portion-always will
be the conservative portion and with due balance on
their part may for generations to come Upheld thus glo
out-if to be reduced to handful III we are TO
become mere ball play the presidential game with-to
count something the Baltimore caucus-t this IS 10
be the result-wo wo! say TO this Union
Now, sir, put again the solemn quesllon-does the
constitution afford any remedy? Is there any provision
in BY which this aggressive policy-boldly avowed
if perfectly consistent with institutions and the safety
and prosperity of the United States may be confront
ed? Is this policy consistent with the constitution
No Mr. President no 1t is, in all its features, daring
ly opposed the constitution. What is it Ours Is
federal constitution. The States are its constituents,
and not the people. The twenty-egh Siates--the
twenty-nne States (ncuding lowa}-stand under
this government as twenty-nne individuals, or as
twenty-nne individuals would stand to consol-
dated power 1t was not made for the mere individual
prosperity OF the State individuals No, SIR. II was
made for higher ends 1t was formed that every State
constituting portion OF this great Union OF ours should
enjoy all its advantages, natural and acquired, with
greater security and enjoy them more perfectly. The
whole system is based justice and equality-peIec
equality between the members OF this republic
Nor can that be consistent with equality which will
No
in its consequences would place the whole power IN one
section of the Union to be welded against the other sec
tons of the Union Is that equality
How do stand in reference TO this territorial ques-
tion-ths public domain of ours Why, SIR, what
is it, 1t is the common property OF the States OF
this Union They are called 'the territories Of the
United States" And what the "United States"
but the States united' Sir, these territories are
the property of the States united; held jointly
for their common And is il consistent with Justice
is it consistent with equality, that any portion OF the part
ners outnumberng another portion shall Gust them IN
this common property OF thes-sha pass any law which
shall prescribe the citizens of other portions of the Union
from emigratng with their property to the territories OF
the United States Would that be consistent--can It be
consistent with the idea of common property, held
considered in private life Would it not be considered
the greatest outrage in the world, and which any court
on the face of the globe would at once override
Mr. President not only is that proposition grossly
inconsistent with the constitution, but the other which
undertakes to say that State shall be admitted INTO
this Union which shall not prohibit by ITS constitution
the constitution of the United States Sir, | hold it
to be fundamental principle OF our political sys-
TEN, that the people have a right 10 establish
what government they may think proper for themselves
that every State about to become member of this Union
has right 10 form lis own government lis peases
and that, in order TO be admitted there but quai
cation and that is that the government shall be repub
ican 1t is not expressly prescribed by the instrument
itself, but by that great section which guarantees TO
every State in this Union republican form OF govern
ment. Now, sir, what is proposed 1t is proposed,
from vague Indefinite erroneous and most dangerous
great common liberty which people have of framing
their constitution Sir, the individual right OF men
is not nearly easily to be established by any OF
reasoning, his common liberty. And yet, SIR, there
men of such delicate feeling on the subject of Liberty
there who cannot possibly what they call slav
cry in section OF the country(and is not so much
slavery as institution indispensable for the good of
both racesmen squeamish on this point tthey are
ready strike down the higher right OF community 10
govern themselves, order TO maintain the absolute
right of individuals in all circumstances, to govern them
selves.
Mr. President the resolutions that have proposed pre-
sent, IN eXacs terms, these great truths propose TO
present them TO the Senate; propose to have vote
upon them and trust there is no gentleman here who
will refuse direct vote upon these propositions II is
manly that shall know the state of things 1t is due
to constituents that should insist upon it. and
one will insist upon that the sense of this body
shall be taken the body which represents the States their
capacity communities, and the members OF which are
TO be their special guardians. 1t is due to them sir that
there should be fair expression OF what the OF
this body. Upon that expression much depends. Ii Is
the only stand which can have II is the only posi-
thing like dependencewhich will give US any chance
at all to maintain equality in this Union, on those
great principles TO which have had reference Override
these principles, and are nothing Preserve them and