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


| win not undertake 10 decide II is question for
\ our constltuents-the slayeholdiug States solemn
and great question, MIR President And il the
decision should be adverse at this time | trust and
do believe that they Will take under solemn consideration
! what they ought TO do | give advice Ii would be
hazardous and dangerous for me 10 do SO But may
speak individual member OF that section of the
Union There drew my first breath There are all
my hopes. | am planter-a cotton planter | am a
southern and slaveholder-a kind ana a merciful
Ione, trust-and none the worst for being slave
holder. | say, for one, | would rather meet any
extremity upon earth than give up one inch of
equatyone inch OF what belongs 10 us as members
OF tins great republic What! acknowledged inlerority
The surrender OF life is nothing TO sinking down into
knowledged nferiorty
have examined this subject largcly-wilely think
see the future if we do not stand up now. and in INV
humble opinion the condition of Ireland is mercul and
happyhe condition of Hndostan is peace and happi-
ness-the condition of jamaica is prosperous and happy,
to what the southern States will be If now they Weld
MIR President, desire that the resolutions which |
now send 10 the table be read.
| The resolutions were read as follows
Resoued That the territories OF the United States belong
to the several States composing this Union and are held by
them as their lolnland common property.
OF the of this Union has no right 10 make any
law, do any whatever, that shall directly or by s
effects make any discrimination between the States OF dis
Union, by which any of them shall be deprived of its full
and equal right in any territory OF the United States,
qured or to be acquired.
Resolved, That the enactment of any law which should
directly or by It's effects deprive the citizens of OF the
into any of the territories the United States viii make
such discrimination, and would, therefore, be violation
OF the constitution and the rights OF The States from which
such citizens emgrated, and deroon of that perfect
equality which belongs TO them members of this Dnon
and would tend directly to subvert the Union itself
Resored That, rs fundamental principle in politi
cal creed that people M forming constitution have the
unconditional right TO FORM and ADOPT The government
which they may think best calculated secure their lib
ery prosperity, and happiness and that in conformity
thereto no other condition Is imposed by ihe Federal CON
stituton State in order TO be admitted into this non
except that constitution shall be repub jean and that
the imposition OF any other by Congress would only be
IN violation OF the constitution, but in direct conflict with
| the principe on which our political system rests.
| move that the resolutions be printed shall move
that they be taken up tomorrow and do trust that the
Senate will give them early attention. and an early vote
| Here the honorable senator resumed his seat
Mr. BENTON then rose and SAID; Mr. President,
we have business to transact do not intend 10
avoid business for string OF distractions
| Mr.. CALHOUN. The senator says he cannot take up
distractions. The constitution is an abstraction. Pro-
prety is an abstraction 1.-THE great rules OF life are alb
sractions. The Declaration Of Independence was made
on an abstraction and when hear man declare that he
Is against abstract truth IN OF this KIND am pre-
pared to know what his Will be certainly sup
posed that the senator from Missouri the representative
of savehodlng State, would have supported these
lutons. | moved them in good faith, under solemn
conviction of what due to those whom ] repre-
sent; and due the whole South and the whole Union
II have as little desire any senator to obstruc public
business. All want IS decision, and decision before
the three million bill is decided II the senator from Mis-
sour wants tomorrow morning, very well The reso-
lutons can be taken up on Monday,
| Mr., BENTON | will pursue my own course when
are not. know what business Is and what Is not |
am for going with the business of the session and
say shall not vote for distractions years ahead to the
| exclusion OF business He says he calculated on my,
course He is mistaken lie knows very well, from my
whole course in public life, that never would leave
public business to take up frebrands TO set the world
| fire
Mr.. CALHOUN. The senator does not at all compre
bend me,
| Mr. BENTON [ am from the right place | am on
the side OF my country and the Union
| The resolutions were then ordered to be printed
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
| The Senate then resumed, as in committee OF the
whole, the consideration OF the bill making approprla
tons for the naval service for the year ending on the
3Uth OF June, 1915
Several amendments having been adopted the bill
reported to the Senate and the amendments
Cured in.
The bill was then ordered to third reading, and was
| by unanimous consent read third time and passed
THE THREE MILLION
The Senate then resumed, in committee of the
whole the consideration of the bill making further APP
preparation to bring the existing with Mexico TO
speedy and honorable conclusion
| Mr. HOUSTON then addressed the Senate. Before
speaking OF the merits of the bill under consideration he
would refer the action of the Senate respect the
editors of the Union When the resolutions to
cue those editors discussed he did not think proper
and had not an opporunlty to offer the views which he
entertained upon the subject however deeply impressed
he might have been with It's importance That the decision
OF majority OF the Senate IN their wisdom may have
been correct, he would not undertake 10 deny but his
opinion much at variance with that course that
he would give the reasons which induced him to believe
that error might have been committed II they were
regard the privileges of that body sacred and to
hold that its members not subject TO the ordinary
influences OF public opnlon and they were to enjoy
the exclusive right of restricting others privileges IN
dulged BY members of that body, IL seemed 10 HIM
| assumption OF power in way designated in the con-
stituon This thing OF privilege had never been de-
fined by any special laws of Congress If he apprehend
ed Alright, the privilege granted to members OF that body
by the constitution was privilege securing to them
the power OF dschaging their duties without being sub
ect civil processes the of their persons, and
without being held accountable for the votes which they
might give in that body upon any subject but he could
that the constitution designed to throw
around any member of that government mantle to pro-
tect him against the expression the influence oil pubic
opinion. The constitution had delegated the power 10
of of libel to the judicial branch OF the gov
which TO seek redress in such But II the
vaguely defined privileges OF members was TO rest
upon their opinions and decisions they then be-
came Judges embodying all power in themselves, and
assuming the right TO niIct any punishment which they
might fit If person had any privileges as public
contractor accorded TO him. and the Senate thought
proper deprive him of those privileges they must have
a reason for doing What the in the present
case Was II because that gentlemans paper had be-
come scandalous towards the Senate and abusive OF ITS
character and dignity Was II because they had the
power and the right TO exclude him. without nvestga-
ton took place upon that occasion There was no exam
naton into the iacts of the Yet he excluded
from the privilege of that chamber Manltesty, II they
had right to exclude hun, they had right 10 punish nun
by any other which they might choose, beside,
exclusion If they supposed that that individual had
body would have been very easy have pursued the
ordinary and referred the subject to committee
for investigation and to give the person accused an op-
portunity of defending himself.