The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-13

the present session. il has seemed il most many o.
the southern members had come to that conclusion. ii
any dssenied they could not but be that la
could pass Congress for the establishment of slavery
IN territory or elsewhere. No representative from Tree
State can ever vote for such law; and the free npes
have majority on this iioor and always Will have II
Hence such dssenters from the southern opn-
on ii any there were could fail that unless the
constitution should sustain them, no law ever would
and that consequently, TO submit the question to the
operations OF the constitutions IN the hands OF the judi
cary the best they could do Ga the other hand the
members OF Congress from the northern tates,-whigs,
democrats abotionists and banburners well as the
press and leading politicians, phlanhropsts, &c, &c
had constantly and earnestly insisted that lnasmuch
slave holding against natural law IT cannot exist in
any territory unsustaned by positive law and that there
nothing OF the kind in the constitution OF the United
States They had moreover insisted that under the con
sttuon Congress has power to establish slavery any
where. Indeed, believe that, this last point, all men
rirom all sections agree member of this House, repre-
senting northern State, who had resided in a
slave State who when he found HIMSELF by the accident
descent the owner of slave property of value sufficient
to have released him from pecuniary embarrassment,
(now happily removed) emanciPated the same, because
that, being the inhabant OF free State, he could
not appropriately discharge the duties which master
owes to his servant and for other reasons-who had
spent nights almost seepless, revolving IN his mind
how some plan could be devised to which ma
outy of each house OF Congress would be brought to
the of the Territories at last came to
the concuson that If all the professions and declarations
above mentioned were sincere, there would be no difficulty
passing bill for the organization OF the Territories,
leaving the right of savehoding therein to be tested BY
the constitution as adludlcated by the judiciary OF the
Territories and the Supreme Court OF the United States
He therefore mentioned his plan to several members, and
finally penned sketch of it, which went out of his hands
This before the committee to consider OF the subject
was appointed by the Senate. In that committee it is
known that the bill prepared. and proposed by a
northern senator Hence is northern proposition for
the settlement of weak and silly alteration, void of real
interest except to little min Is filled with jealousy and
to little men DESTROYS of occasion TO address themselves to
the local feelings of local constituencies The bill pass
ed the Senate and in the House it defeated How
Defeated Why had everybody insisted that the con-
sution favored their particular views And did not
the bill leave the question to be settled by the consttu
deep responsibility rests somewhere. II we look
at the yole find that every southern democrat voted
tor the bill Nothing therefore lies at their door, They
have proved themselves to have been sincere in their
past professions of reliance upon the constitution,
at least of willingness to submit their interests to
be determined by it, and have, moreover, evnced
question The northern democratic members who in
good faith voted for the bill, in the category
But how is 1t with you who defeated the bill! know
of you represent constituencies who not content
unless vote against everything ON the subject except
the Wimot Proviso. They too, claim that the coasu-
the Territories against the advent OF slavery
If So what do they want OF act OF Congress To
strengthen the constitutions Sir, there is not county
court lawyer in the State OF Indiana who does not know
that the constitution is the supreme law of the land and
cannot be arrested by act of Congress Ii, them the
constitution plants slavery IN the new Territories your
legislation cannot prevent from going there and, Uce
uersa if the constitution does not plant slavery in the
Territories it will never be there till some law authorize
it. We all know that there is no danger OF such law
passing this House. The bill of which | am speaking
prohibited the Territorial legislatures from establishing
slavery How, them could 1t get there, unless the con-
stution carry it there And i that be 80, how will
you prevent it, By act of Congress, which will be
egitimately declared void Bah! sick of Stiffness
know that vote in favor OF the bill might have cost
you explanations but cannot believe that there
is constituency in the United States who would ask
their representative here vote for law for the purpose
of either repeating strengthening the constitution
much fear that some democratic northern members,
unholy shrine.
As for the wing members from the northern States
believe they have been pretty consistent They have for
years mostly succumbed to the threatenngs of instinct
which they have despised and are lost in ENHANCEMENT
with it beyond the hope OF Tecuperaton What is the
constitution, compared with the behests OF ianatlcsm,
rejoicing in any opportunity to
''Atone for sins it is inclined to-
..I BY damning those ii has no mind TO r
They all voted against the bill.
How is with the wing members from southern States
who voted against the bill You very well know that
no northern member will ever vote for any law author
izng slavery in the Territories by its enacments How,
then, you hope for anything better than the bill
OF which am speaking, which left you and your con-
suens the means Of finding yonr constitutional rights
if any you have under it, Do you better like the free
agency plan is that unacceptable to you because
originated with General Cass If you like it, why
did you not propose it The most of the Cass men
would have gone with you for it. Il differs little from
Come propose it, and will give you the best assistance
in my power. Have you secret understanding with
northern wings, that alter General Taylor lS elected
President, they will vote for law placing you on sron
ger grounds than the constitution places you! Ii you
have, you will do well to take their bonds for, be as
sued they dare do anything but that, rush upon the
thick bosses of Jehovah's buckler." But how am |
tkng The day will never come for the fulhlment OF
the pledge which am supposng by way OF derdlng you
in courtesy You have lost the opportunity of securing
for the south the adjustment of this question upon the
terms of the constitution and of securing it forever
against the aggressions and tants ncdent to northern
agitation of the slave question. You have preferred to
leave the question open in hopes that northern wings
aboitioniss and barnburners may by its gain ad
vantages democrats. Upon your own heads and
those OF your constituents, be the consequences.
What have said to northern democrats, has been IN
of YOUR constituents against territorial bills not
containing the Wimot Proviso or it's equivalent, but
who nevertheless, support regular nominations wish
not wound your feelings, and will not do so INTENTION
aliy That your constituents should instruct you to vote
for the Provlso, not very surprising But that they
should instruct you to vote against bills organizing The
Territories without the Provso, is, must confess aston
shng pray you lay the truly before them, and
then if they tell you to rather lose the Territories than to
to their organization upon the principles OF Tree
az ency of leaving the matter to the cOnsltutlona
can say is that they queer constituencies, but that
they ought TO be obeyed. o"
There another class, claiming to be democrats, but
were possible God and Mammon, give not their
support but their denuncatons TO the regularly noml
mated candidates of the party They are commonly call
ed barnbuners. They have contributed, by their votes,
to defeat the bill speaking of, and to make chaos Of
everything having bearing upon the interests OF the
democratic party. pray YOU gentlemen understand
Yourselves and know MAT you understood Do
towards men of color, or towards laboring white
men, to the leaders OF your faction, who are known