The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-20

time since looked into il Now, here we have a warn
ing trust that the south never will forget this lesson
Trust the south never will forget that act OF unmi-
ted generosity almost without precedent converted
through the force of majority OF the nonslave holding
States IN the old Congress into monopoly OF this tern.
tory from hch Virginia herself excluded and all
done without authority OF the articles of the old confeder
alton. and in violation of them What has been the con
sequence! There have grown up IN that territory,
two, three, four, five States from which not only
excluded but they made receptacle, contrary to the
constitution am giving facts, solemn acs-o our
fugitive slaves, and are thus made the medium OF depry-
OF slaves, directly violation OF the Constr
luton, which says that all fugitive slaves may be re-
claimed Organized companies have been formed in
Ohio and other StateS-n Illinois, Indiana. MIR HAN
NEGAN TN his seat) No, NOT IN Indiana was IN
error then; but organized companies have been formed
for the purpose OF taking slaves across the ONO
river acknowledged acting openly and yet the Legislature
OF Ohio rerains from any acton on the subject Now,
il there be nythng in the argument, put II TO the can
dor oil the senator from Rhode Island, and put TO any
senator this does moi read Ms lesson which we oug'
long, long 10 remember power abused must be
abused-eyer will be abused, where there is antagon-
Ism IN the constitution 10 coun,eacl IT. do not care
what the tom OF governnent-the form Is nothng--is
The government be despotic-or in the hands OF one
man, or two men, OF many men--without limitation or
resistance anagonizng with II, IL belongs to the human
heart that the power wall be abused and what rs most
extraordinary, those abusing II will not be conscious OF
the abuse, But is the mere TACT thai there no ter
rory al that time accessible TO the population of the
southern States just ground OF interpreting the const
uton that we should acquire territory OF that de-
scnption, our population could not have TO il
There is nothing in the argument Well the next argu-
ment presented by the senator is This that time there
certain proportion between the saveholdng States
and the Notwithstanding States The latter had majority
in the old Congressthey had majority when the consti-
tuition was formed, and is right that they should maintain
it. Well, sir, if yielded then, have not seen,
IN subsequent events the violation OF the old articles OF
confederation, and is il not time thai should guard
against that majority whenever we find means do
But suppose this argument of the senator had any ounda
ton whatever, II is good for as it is for him. The
dlsproponon which existed then ought never to be IN
creased and yet in the resolutions offered by his State
and other States, it is proposed that should be ex-
Guided hereafter from the whole territory of the United
States and that other slave States should be ad
mitted! . .f-
Mr. SIMMONS. There is no such proposition in the
resolutions of my State
Mr. CALHOUN. Well, thai is the proposition OF other
States live are 10 be excluded what will be the RESULT
Instead OF having this dsproporlon of six 10 eight,
will have dsproporhon OF fourteen to twenty EIGHT
Double, precisely. That will be the end OF it. And if
any portion of Mexico should fall under the authors
y OF the United States, and to be property, and
apply TO the same principle, where, ask would end?
What has led the senator from Rhode Island these
extraordinary conclusions have great respect for that
senator. believe he intends fair But let say TO him
that he has viewed all this question one sdedly. He
has considered 1t IN single aspect, and viewing thus
partially his clear and strong intellect has been brought
10 very erroneous conclusions His originates in
the belief that this IS national governmenthat we are
nalion--,tha we are one people and not union; And
to prove that we are nation, what documents does he
furnish single resolution by the State of New York
calling convention Tor the framing of the constitution
MIR, SIMMONS. quoted the language of the resou
ton simply for the purpose of showing the of the
word ':nation" at that time, which the has
pertlnacously refused to employ. But it was not at all
to sustain my general position.
Mr.. CALHOUN. Well, then, it was no argument al
all All the rest bare assertion; and vet he threw
up his hands and expressed his that any
should hold the doctrines that we held will take it
up, however. 1t is true the State of New York said
and what is further true that there large party in
the United States at that time, in favor of a national
government. The three States which took the lead
were actively and strenuously in favor of nation
al governments and the two leading spirits who
led were Mr. Hamilton, Of New York. probably
the author of that preamble and Mr. Madison, of
OF Virginia In the early stages OF the convention there
was majority in favor of national government and
who regarded UNION as great absurdity But in this
stage there were but eleven States in the convention
Rhode Island appeared there, and New Hampshire
had not yet appeared with her delegates In process of
time New Hampshire came ma very great addition to
the federal side, which now became predominant; and
1t is owing! speak il here in honor of New England
and the northern States is owing mainly to the States
OF Connecticut and New jersey that we have federal
instead OF national government-that have the best
government instead of the most despoc and inolerable
on the earth. Who were the men of these States to
whom we are indebted for this admirable government
will name them Their names ought TO be engraven on
brass and live forever They Mr. Ellsworth, Ro-
ger Sherman, and Judge Patterson, of New Jersey The
the future But 10 the sagacy. and GOODNESS of
these three men, aided by few others, but not
so prominent, we owe the present constitution.
that during a large portion OF the sngs of the
convention the word ''natona" not named. 'sFed-
eral, the ''Union,' the terms adopted The ma
tiona party completely overwhelmed and what
is still more remarkable the very who took the
lead of that party assumed the of "iederast, be-
cause that had become the popular name. Honest and
great men they were; but they disposed to make
the most OF the erm and under that they
mended that constitution TO the adoption of the American
people Now, If the senator's had been directed in
this direction he would not have been ignorant of all
this; and not being ignorant he would not have made
the extraordinary declaration he has made But this is
moi all The original federast party, satisfied sim
ply with that name, though in convention it had assumed
IT, and as IT had been taken from them by the natona'
party, assumed the OF republican," and UNI
der that asserted and carried practice the doc
trines which inserted into constitution by the
brought Mr. Jefferson into power That show The deep
OF the people of that time that this should not be
national government-tha they would not tolerate it
would never have adopted itand that their object was
TO have federal government. SO if you look to
the constitution ITSELF the same thing is manifest There
ample provisions 10 show that it federal govern
men--a union OF States and not national government
combination OF nations, and not a single nation-a
far more brilliant and striking conception, much more
philosophical and better calculated to carry the great
object In the letter OF General Washington recommend
ing the adoption Of the constitution which he signed as
President of the convention, do hear word of ma
ton Do we hear syllable about consolidated govern
men MOI one 1t Is To perpetuae the union. And what
does 'Unon' mean We had union before. 1t was
mere league-no more;-artcles of confederation Ii
was TO perpetuae the Union, not to destroy it, But the
senator used another argument am not certain that |
recall its precise terms, did make note of it,
But If do moi state it correctly, the senator will have the
goodness to correct lie dwet upon the change
OF the terms United States into States united did it to
get rid of the geographical idea because the term Un
Sta.a lr,,,, IL. Al.