The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-14

uiiSuSe'1,'N'
vso then by all means let II remain But almost m the
same breath in which the senator charges with doing
nothing he charges with declaring that slavery shall
not be prohibited because do not suffer the territorial
legislature to II this original with the
tor should think ii entitled to consideration, bat
il comes from various quarters. We are adnonshed
by the gentlemen of the press of our monstrous deTe
LECTION of duty, while none OF them give you
accurate account of the provisions and effect OF the
bill. Sir, have had great deal OF defamation
upon the subject Gentlemen do not seem able, al
though the bill is open to their inspection, TO point
It's defects. TO show how ii olerates slavery
An important argument to the effect OF the bill,
gumen which goes TO explain ITS legal import and effect
is denomnated sophstry The very gentlemen who be-
slowed the epthet upon IT. have repeated my argument
word for word and If there be sophstry, then the paer
nifty hes with them They have agreed with almost
entirely, and yet there is something in the bill which their
astuteness has enabled them discover but which
requires sophistry TO conceal Now, sir, put the ques
on where have we lodged, or endeavored to shuttle Oft
the question. Suppose had recommended to the Sen
ate not to act upon either way, but TO defer II TO
favorable opportunity, it might have been said that there
shuing of of the question. But, ask, where the
shutting, where is the skulking, IN relation to it! be-
live am about the last man TO be charged with skulkng
for Judging from present appearances am standing alone
among the wings OF the North my yindcaon OF this
measure and perhaps rendering myself obnoxious TO
all the wing party in the North. Sir, know the aga-
ton OF the question that is going know how man
may become obnoxious TO public feeling, under the
cited sensbility OF that feeling Sir know tie oppro-
brious ephets that may be applied. may be hung
burnt IN eigy; but sir, having formed my opinion OF the
propety OF the measure, and of the expedency of adopt
ing IT, II Is my duty TO stand here and ylndlcate those
opinions let the opinions feelings of my friends at the
North be what they may. do not 'skuk" and | tell
gentlemen that although the OF the demagogue
be put operation, shall shrink from the vindi-
cation OF my honest CONVICTIONS here else where
But what could the committee do' Here is very i'm
poant question: the most troublesome dangerous, alarm
ing question that has arisen since the government was
esiablished-a question difficult OF adjustment,
pregnant with greater danger to our Institutions with
greater danger TO the harmony and prosperity of this
country than any question which has heretofore arisen,
or is likely hereafter TO arise. Sir, the committee
have proposed the only measure which their ingenuity
could devise and II their proposition IS not satisfactory,
let ask gentlemen who object TO IT, what it is that
they would proPose Ii is easy matter to find fault
Nothing done right in the estimation of all.
The world ITSELF and man It's were made wrong
in the opinion of modern philanthrops; but is
well for they have not the power OF making it
again But let me conure gentlemen who find fault to
inform us what proposition they would present Let
them tell us what is 10 be done If this measure is not
palatable to them, what do they propose Sir we have
the Missouri compromises will these gentlemen go for il
viii the senators, either of them, go for 1t? Will the
senator from New Jersey go for it! They answer
If they will not sustain 1t, will they the commit
tee for not recommending what they condemns Will
they for not proposing compromise against
which both they and are committed?
Well, what else is there' The Wimo provso These
gentlemen will 60 for that So will |. am not behind
them that subject But will majority of the Senate
do so knew and every member of the committee knew,
that if met this question upon the ground of the Will
mot proviso would be voted down. and was not my
disposition present the question to the Senate such
form that 1t could not fail to be decided against me- 1t is
not my purpose, IN carrying out the principles and views
of my constituents, make up in case which
know must be decided against me. may be permitted,
hope to borrow something from my personal experience
If were about 10 present case before Judge whose
capacity distrusted, Jury in whom had no con-
dence, should feel at liberty to my if could
by moving for continuance, by changing the mere
form OF the issue Knowing that the Senate could not be
brought to carry out my purpose IN that for et ut lib
ery to attain my object another way and at the same
time to obtain an arrangement altogether more salts
factory to the advocates OF freedom than an unfavorabe
becis hp nrOvI he IN
OF the committee is the only one which has been pre-
scented which affords the slightest chance of an adjust
gratifed if any gentleman of the Senate could propose
anything more satisfactory. The purpose of the commit
to extricate Congress from the difficulty in which
were placed in regard to this subject | am well
of the effect It's agitation is likely TO have through
out the country 1t is very convenient eecloneerng
topic. My own sentiments are known: | am hostile 10
the institution of slavery but trust that my hostility is
to be regulated by national and constitutional VIEWS but
my sentiments shall not be degraded by being applied TO
this wetched business of demagogism popular excite
ment | caution gentlemen on this subject Gunpowder
very good thing 10 fight with, but ii is dangerous to
explode too much OF il at once. Popular excitement is
moi matter be hed with in this country, in any
other All experience shows us the danger of amper-
ing with popular feeling. There is not page in his
tory, from the creation to the present day, peg
nant with warning than the page that Is now being
enacted There is inquietude restlessness desire for
change pervadng every portion OF the world. We
have seen the wheels of revolution revolving in En,,
rope, and can any tell when those wheels will
STOP who is the last victim that shall be crushed be-
meath them tits but few days ago that con-
graduating people upon their thus far the
course of revolution An individual, who had spent his
life his books, unknown TO the political world,
sprung into political existence a moment the pre-
siding officer OF the provisional government of OF the
most powerful and most restless people the world and
sir our congratulations had hardly reached him before
the revolutionary wheel which bore him trumphantly to
the top, threw him from his high position into compare
tive nsgnitcance and obscurty. Where will this move
ment now proceeding with such tremendous power, ter
minate' There is but intelligence which can pre-
dict its terminatlon and but power that control
its results, and that power Is not human power, We
following in the footsteps of our fellow men in the
old world popular excitement and popular violence are
not unknown IN own country. The man who en-
deavos carry this excitement to extremes and TO alien
the feelings of this people from each other, TO the dan
ger and perhaps destruction OF Institutions, should
be careful to ascertain whether he control the tenn
pest upon which he attempts ride The history of the
old world shows that the demagogue who puts in motion
bloodshcd, deposites his bones last in undstin
guishable mass with those of his victims. And in this
more peaceful hemisphere, which revolution and anar
chy have not yet reached the political agtator who rises
upon whrlwind of excitement finds, to say the least
of him, an early political grave
Sir | have particular anxiety on this subject be-
of any peculiar interest may have in the agiia
tons of the day. know there a disposition the
part of make what is called political capital by
they may be successful in this is not for me to
say. They are suppose, tired OF old associations, and
seeking about for something new. new political
church has recently been formed, which may serve as
sort of city of refuge TO unfortunate politicians but
known enough Of the people OF the North to know that
although they may be thus played upon for the mo-
ment, yet have sufficient confidence in their dscre-
,,y.u .,I n,,pI nI.rnan IN holI