The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-25

hodng, giving majority Of so To the non slave
holding.
We. Mr.. President. have at present oulv one
position in the government. by which we may
make any resistance to this aggressive policy
which has been declared 40 aims, the south or
any other that the non slavphnldinq States may
choose to take. Aud this equality in this body is
ot the most uansen, character Already Iowa is
state hut. owing 10 some ,"mes,ir calamity is
NJ" yei represented in this body When sh. ap
pears here, there will he AN addition of twu sena
tors t" the representatives here of the non slave
holding States. Already Wisconsin has passed
the 'nitiat"ry stage, and will he here a, next ses
SION ihis VIII add two mure. making clear
majority of four in this body On the side of the
non slsveholdng States, who will thus be enabled
l" sway every branch of this government at their
will and pleasure. But. sir. if this aggressive
policy he follow ed--if the determination of the
non slavohuIding States is t" be adhered tn here
alter. and we To be Pniirely excluded from the
territories whi"h we already possess. or may pos.
sessit this is tn he the fixed policy uf The gov
ern nent, | ask What will be our situation here.
after2
Sir there is ample space for twelve or fifteen
oi the largest description uf states in the terrific
rios belonging TO the United STATES Already a
law is IN course of passage through the other
House creating one north of Wisconsin, There
is ample room tor another north nf Iowa and an
other north of that and then that large region
extending on this side of the Rocky mnnn,ains
from AZ degrees. down tn the Texan line which
may he set down fairly as an erea of twelve and
hall degrees of lautude-that extended region
IF itself is susceptible of having six, seven, or
eight large States. To this. add Oregon which
extends from 40 to AZ degrees, which will give
f"nr more. and make very moderate calcua
ti"n when | say that. in addition To Iowa and
Wisconsin, twelve mare States upon the territory
already onrs-without reference 10 any acquisi.
tl"ns from MeXlcn--may be- and will he shortly
added Ia these United States. How will we
then stand? There ill be hut Inureen ON the
part at the s0uth--we To be fixed limited
and iorever-and twenty eight On the part of the
non slavehoding States Twenty eight, Dnu.
bile oar number And with the same dspropnr
tl"n in the other House and IN the electoral
college, The government. sir will be entirely
in the hands of the non slaveholdinr States-oy.r-
whelminglv.
SIR, It this state OF things is to 90 on-f this
determination. SD sulemny made. is to be persist
IN. where shall we stand. as far as this federal
government of ours is concerned What, then,
must we do? We must look to juslice-,o our
own interesis-to the constitution. We will
have M longer shield even in equality here -
Now can we rely upon the sense of Justice of this
body Onght we TO rely upon this ? These are
the solemn questions which put all sides.
Sir Look To the past. lf are To look To
that Will not 90 into the detals-we will see
from The beginning of this government to the pre-
sent day, as far as pecunary resources are con
cerned-as far as the disbursement of revenue is
Involved. it will be found that we have been
portion of the community which has substantially
supported this government without receiving any
thing like lantanount support from it. But
why should go beyond this very measure itself?
Why 90 beyond this determine ton on the mari of
the n"n-slavehOldlng States. that there can BIZ no
further addition 10 the slaveLolding States, to
prove what our condition is
Sir. what is the entire amount of this pocv1
! will not say that it is so designed | will not
say from what cause il originated | will not
say whether blind ianacism on one side whether
hostile feeling 10 slavery entertained by manv
not fanatcal on the other has produced il ar
whether II has been the work of men, " no. look.
Ing Ia political power, have considered the agita
ton ut this question The most eflectual mode of
obtaining the spells of this government look
to the fact itself It is policy openly avowed
to he persisted in. 1t is policy. Mr. President,
which aims To munop0liZe the powers of this
government and to obtain sole possession of its
patronage.
Now, ask, is there any remedy? Does the
constitution afford any remedy? And if not is
there any hope? These. Mr.. President. are
solemn questIuns-nOt only To- us. but le, me saw
to gentlemen from the -slaveboldng States, to
them Sir, The day that the balance between
the two sections OF The c0untry--the sa yehoIdinu
STATES and the non slaveholding Slates-s de.
sir"yed, Is day that will not he far removed
from political revolution, anarchy, civil war, and
widespread disaster The balance of this sys-
TEN is in the slavehodng States Thew are Inc
conservative portion--alwnys have been the con
sentative portion--always "a i'll be the cnnserya
tive portion and with due balance on their part
may. i"f generations To cnu,P, uphold this glor!nus
Union oi onrs BIT if this policy should he car
red ""t--li we are To he reduced 10 handful-if
we are to hecome mere bali to play the Presi
dental game wnh-to count something in the
Baltimore caucus--if this is To he the result
wnl wo! | say to This Union!
Now. sir. put again The solemn uueson-
dues the constitution affurd any r, mPdy Is
there any provision in IL by which This aggressive
poIIcy-brIdIy ayowed. as if perfectly consistent
with our institutions and the safety and prosperi-
~ of the United States may be confronted
is thls pulley consistent with the constitution
No. Mr.. President, no II is, IN all it's features
darlngly opposed to the constitutions What is it 2
Ours is federal constitution The States are
it's constituents, and not the people The twenty
eight Slaies-the twenty nine States (includino
Iowa-stand under this government as twenty.
nine individuals. or as twenty nine individuals
would stand t. consolidated power. 1t was not
made I"r tile mere individual prosperity Of the
States individuals No, sir II was made for
higher ends. 1t formed that every State
constituting portion Of this great Union of Ours
shonld enjoy all its advantages, natural and ac
CURED, with greater security, and enjoy them
more perfectly. The whole system is based IN
Justice and equaity-perfect equality between
the members Of this republic, Nor can that be
consistent win equality which will make this
public domain monopoly on one side-which.
In its consequences, would place the whole power
IN one sectiou nf The Union to ne welded against
the other sections Of the Union 2 Is that equal
ity
How do we stand in reference IN this territorial