The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. seldom said: Mr. Chairman, have, on be-
half al myself, and, doubt not, oil every southern
an,stiye on this floor To make TO my friend from
rratein acknowledgements ioi the ability and wisdom
with which he has exposed the dangers which menace us
ali from the state OF affairs induced by The reckless agi
t,on of the gentleman IRON New York. Sir he has
discharged in part duty which feel 10 be incumbent
me likewise When, two days since, the extraordinary
sentiment which, under the subefiuge OF personal
nlanatop the gentleman IRON New York, MIR Preston
Ewc1 ayowed, in formal, elaborate argument, prepa-
red with all the skill and sophisry he could command,
were heard by me- my first impulse at to rise
and demand of the courtesy and Justice OF the House, an
opporluny instantly and on the spot, to meet and repe
his insidous assault, not less the constitution OF the
country and the union OF these States, than the nst
taons and rights OF my own section. That restrained
tins strong impulse ascnbabe not TO any conviction
Of It's improperly, but because there present older
andabler members from the south, from whom thought
might more appropriately and potentially come the rebuke
the gentleman richly merited, and the ylndication
of the rights and interests OF section. When, under
the circumstances, they held silence felt it must be
from hopelessness OF being then heard, and that it i'll
became me TO obtrude myself needessly forward But
ar only stayed my Impotence until could legtmaely,
under the rules oil the House, obtain the opportunity oil
reply; and after striving must congratulate my
self that liberty OF speech IS accorded Sir, per-
sonally, know myself TO be Of the humbles OF the
members of this House; but however unworthy have
the honor represent of the most enlightened and
influential constituencies in the leading southern State of
southern man--souhern by birth and education In feel
ing and in interest; and should be craven to my high
representative duties, and dead to all the emotions that
animate the purest pusaons OF my heart, 1t did not
warmly maintain the assaulted institutions and interests
of the SOUTH and Indignantly epel the glaring injustice
medltated against them. But, Mr.. Chairman, before |
proceed TO my purpose 1t may be well 10 be guarded
against the possibility OF msconception misepresenta
ton matter in reference to which prejudice and camor
but too often usrp the place OF justice and sound udg
men,- wish to state the estimate which land may not
say We of the SOUTH for all believe accord in this mat
terpace upon the Union of these States lregard and
the noble work OF the heroic ancestry who
achieved and established our liberties AS the result
OF ovidcnta necessities of the time, stamping it. in its
consequent adaptation to the circumstances and feelings
of the people for whom ii framed, with more OF a
ivi than human WISDOM the system under which,
for sixty years. fathers and ourselves have prosered
and lourshed, enjoying government OF laws, and the
institutions of freedom But the high and patriotic asso
cations which hallow it to our feelings no less than q
mperayely demand that il should be valued and rever
ed not for It's its senbance, but for its spirit
and Its realltlesfor the constitution on which 1t rests
Tor the solemn compromises OF that sacred instrument,
and the guarantees it affords TO liberties and our
rights That constitution was designed to MAINTAIN the
freedom to guard the peace, and guarantee the rights OF
the people OF all the States equally and lmparhaiy
While it operates it is beyond all price. But SIT, let
be perverted from its Just ends of equal government
and be made the preeyt and instrument gross nequali
~ aud tavorsnof direct attack on the institutions and
peace OF onehal Of the States OF the unionof insult
and injury, outrage and wrong on them and theirs, it be-
OF less worth than the scroll which it is writ
ten, and, like every symbol OF tyranny, should be rent
and scattered to the winds The crisis Mr. Chairman,
which the rash and l-advised course OF the gentleman
from New York has developed, is grave and momentous,
indeed profoundly feel il to be In it, l. and
believe every southern representative here has taken his
position; and we mean TO hold 1t, not from midlty OF
weakness, but from prudence and choice We plant our
selves the constitution and its solemn compromises
and, occupying even its outermost works. stand on
the defensive resolved resist any, the least encroach
ment at the hazard OF all future consequences The u
tnate of the conflict may involve the dissolution OF
the Union; and the consequences Of that great DISASTER
OF the subverson OF the whole fabric OF our tederave
nstituons-no human vision is extended enough TO dis
cern--no mortal ken wise enough TO predict In my
opinor-as, had time would endeavor to showthese
consequences would be of infinitely greater disaster to
the north than to the south BE they, however, OF whatcv-
er rghttul aspect u coming from our position and ac
ton in defence OF the constitution and our guaranteed
rights not be the responsibility. We are but Ill
the simple line Of obvious duty, and may well leave re-
suits TO time and God
''sSi rflctus iabtur orbis,
Nos mpardos ierent runm.'
And when sir from the grave of the present then the
past shall emerge sad visions of the bright prospects oil
this great republic whole, forever bastedof its
glorious augurles OF future grandeur and utility to man.
forever unfufled and gone--when from that tomb
shall emerge the pale spectre OF mangled constitution
and dsnembered union not for MS Will 1t be to start
quake, but for the nsgators and in the
ton attacks made upon us, to have their cyeballs
scared and TO shrink covering and aghast. Vain for
them the coward plea Of Macbeth "Shake not thy cory
locks al me, twas not y mat dld IT, conscience Will
point home 10 them the fearful apparton and the exc
cratlons OF their counrymen will pronounce them guilty
OF "he deep damnaton of that taking OIL" come
now, MIR. Chairman to an examination OF the gross anu
offensive proposition mbodied in the bill thrust upon us
BY the gentleman from New York. What is III Why,
briefly to orain as permanent fundamental law OF the
Unon that no acquisitions OF territory to be made by
the United States, whether in the present war or here
after by conquest by purchase, in any what
ever, shall be open to slavery Or other words,
70 the slaveholdIng population OF one-ha OF this con
iederacy with their property This proposition as often,
slye it is grossly unconstitutional is sustained
by long argument struggled into the House, not less
ogant and presumptuous than fallacious and untrue
say SIR the proposition is grossly unconstitutional 1t
more than violates single specific clause OF that nstru
ment Il outrages its whole scope and spirit, and sub
ves the very bass OF its being The fundamental prin-
cple OF the constitution is the perfect equality and entire
reciprocity privileges and immunes which IT secures
to the people OF the several States AT the inception of
the constitution, any other principle of its formation would
have been utterly inadmsslbe and would have been
vain task to have woven rope from the sands of
the to have bound in union the States of this con-
cderacy on the least principle of admitted nfcrorty and
inequality as to the people OF any of the States II never
would have been endured that the rights or property of
section OF less worth and less be protected
than those of another Our fathers sir had Just emerged
with herosm and with glory from all the trials and pers
Of the revolutionary struggle, in which, from resist
ance TO principle mainly, though OF trivial practi-
cal oppression, their far seeing wisdom discovered a
concession of neriorty to feowsubjects of the Brit
sh isles, and the consequent facilities OF future ex-
actions TO their utter rum. They had, though IN
colonial infancy, braved the mistress of the seas
and the most potent power OF Chrstendom. ihey
were fresh from such recollections The phlloso-
ply of history had taught them now bids us heed
that the least concession Of inferorty position OF
nghts-the smallest provision in the framing, or action
IN the working of government by which the interests
or property OF part of the people TO be less con-
served preudciay operated upon than those OF
another in the of events, time and occasion