Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-18
Interesting Debate
IN THE SENATE OF TIE UNITED STATES
AUGUST 10.

IN THE SENATE OF THE uNITED STATES
AUGUST 10.
The Oregon bill having been taken up, an,
an amendment offered, that inasmuch as sal,
territory is north of the parallel of SO degree
and so minutes of north latitude, usually know
as the Missouri Compromise, Mr. Webster rose
and made a few remarks. -
Mr. Webster said that the proposition for es
tablishing a government in Oregon was an i'm
portant one, and he was willing to vote for the
Bill now before the Senate, as it anne from the
House, but if the proposed amendments were
Introduced, he should be compelled TO vote
against the Bill. lie did no, intend to discus.
the merits of the Bill at large, and should be
content to express his opposition to the further
extension of local slavery, and the increase of
slave representation in Congress, and this, too,
without any reference to lines and compromises.
He had been and was now opposed to these
things, and should continue his opposition under
all circumstances, and against all compromises.
He alluded to the establishment of governments
over the territories of California and New Mex
leo, and though these were not now under con-
sideration, yet he would make one remark in re-
gard to the controversy which has arisen in the
Councils of the country. From the commence
ment Of this controversy, it was easy to foresec
the result, but it was not now as easy to see its
peaceful termination. He said he was glad he
had nothing to do with the late war, excepting
to.oppose its-he thOughtthe war and the Treaty
great calamities, but the acquisition Of the new
territories he considered a much greater calami-
ty still.
Mr. Butler followed Mr. Webster in a speech
of considerable length. After commenting up
on the peculiar features of the Missouri Com
promise, he turned his attention to the Oregon
Bill, which he denounced as a designing scheme
against the institutions of the South. lie then
went on to censure the Free Soil meetings now
being held at the North, and Afterwards spoke
Of the determination of the South to maintain
their rights at all events and under all circum'
stances.
Mr. Hale replied to Mr. Butler, and defended
the gentlemen who had brought up the Oregon
Bill, and yet he added that he did not intend &c
vote for the proposed amendment. He spoke
with some severity of the assertion made by MI
Butler that the South were determined 10 resist
the movements of the North even with their
blood, and he thought it came with a bad grace.
Mr. Calhoun said that he should vote against
the amendment, principally for the reason that
il was an ambiguous amendment. Both parties
could vote for il with a show of propriety. An.
other reason for his opposition was that he was
determined o,maintain the rights of the South.
He intended to be firm and ~Eesolute in defend
ing the institutions OF the South, and The rights
Of the South, as awarded by the Constitution
1t had ever been his opinion that this question
wonld never heal itself, and ought to be met at
once, both by the North and the South.
He believed, however, that it could never be
healed in Congress. He alluded to the origin
Of the question at issue, which was that the peo-
pie there looked upon slavery as a sin. That it
WAS a sinful institution he denied. He then
spokeO of its connection with the politics of the
country and he thought that if It had not be-
come incorporated in politics, it would have run
out. He then went on TO speak of the influence
Of general and State elections, which was to
keep the Slavery question connected with poll
Tics. lie alluded to the intrigues of party now
going on at the North, and he thought the poll
tics of the country were becoming diseased. He
condemned the conduct Of those Southern gen
tlemen who were siding with those of the North,
and IN this connection he stated that he was not
n party man, but he nevertheless had respect for