Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-01
cONGtE,,--Eirs,s session
WEDNESDAY,, July &c, ISIS.


SENATE.
The Senate continued in session until lat
(early) hour after my letter of yesterday after
noon was closed and despatched by the Afternoon
train, and the debate has become 50 nterestn!
and important as il progresses so necessary Il
a proper understanding Of the whole subject
that have continued my sketches up to tht
hour Of adjournment hastily, il is true, Du
reliable, nevertheless.
MIR. DIX had concluded before ] had return
ed from the cars, but his remarks had evident
ly produced profound impression iount
Mr.. Butler replying aud referring particularly
10 a decision of the Governor Of New York
which he characterised as ne Of the most fla
grant violations Of the compact between the
North and the South which ne had ever kuowI
of any where. Whether that act had been
sanctioned by the New York Legislature, he
should not take the trouble 10 ascertain-he
should take the word Of the Senator from New
York. To all that The Senator had said IN r.
gard to the gallant conduct OF the sons Of the
two States al Churubusco he had nothing TO re
ply, for it had met response in his own DO
SON it had touched his feelings (Mc. Dix
speech was in opposition TO the bill
Mr.. Dayton obtained the floor but al the re-
quest OF Mr.. Mangum, gave way Tor E,o!on BY
Mr.. Mangum To adjourn, though opposed 10 the
motion. It was decided by yeas AMI pays, IL 10
TO 80, in The negative, and MI. Dayton proceeded
He desired, he said that the question should be
taken before The rising OF anohtr sun. The bill
had been reported as COMPROMISE" lie hal
no sympathy with those who ceGoGnce i! as
skulkins measure. He looked upon il as !ali
effar, oilhe committee a compromise. bis irleni
from New York Mr.. Dix seemed 10 think ina
they had yielded 10 the South all that They had
asked ior-they asked Tor more than they had
hitherto claimed-the constitutional right 10 ke
their slaves into territories where slavery had
never existed In this there had been no skulk-
ine-their course had been aight iorWard-ior
one, he was disposed 10 acqui; Southern men o.
any imputation Of skulkins. There had been no
lodging, either by the Senator rom Vermont
(Mr. Phelps il there Ia been doising any where.
There had been many effort 10 Justly lie in
PRODUCTION OF lhis bill, but lie mus vote agains, H.
Experience shows US ne said that all these
idle dispositions on Slavery in the aos'rdci cnl-
ed in breaking down that feeling which shouIt
exist between members Of ,ht san- b.olei hood.
He therefore assumed Inc opinion 4, the outset,
that Congress had the power o:eI his whoir sub
]ect. And he had never seen any thing wa!ca
much surprised him, as the ditt renee u SEMI
mcnl which bad 50 suddenly s2rGng up in ms
tody-lhs difference oi sentiment, WHICH was
bounded by Mason'> and DMon's line. he asked
the Senator from Sonlh Carolina, whether when
this law, confirming III act i; Ia territorial Ie-
gislature OF Oregoa prohibiting slavery comes
back here Tor approval h. vii vo'e Tor j.
Mr.. Calhoun Iepiiec emphaiicai!y, after ,hr
repetition OF The question Two or three times ant
evasive repies-Nu! Mr. Berrien then explain
ed that the laws OF Oregon would remain IN iorcr
until rejected by Congress, and such rejection ap-
moved u hp Mr.
tended womb no, change The character OF the
provision, or he power Of Congress 10 nulliiy the
wishes OF the people Of the TERRITORY II the con.
siruction thpS given were correct, then there was
sill less 10 the bill than he has supposed. The
question had resolved itself into one OF mere
expectancy. Slavery could never get INFO Ore
gon-ne same was true Of Cal,iolnia-a lew
might get ;nete, but The institution could never
FIX ise.t there. There agriculture was princ.
paliy brought about BY rIigatiun-rrquiring a
nice sort OF Labor. wholly unsuitsd 10 slaves. For
this reason, he believed nei her Oregon nor Cali.
turnia can ever become slave STATES.
While the South had been making monsirous
strides by "comptomises"-ihe North had been
remaining comparatively iationary-compromi'
ses for The South had been made in reference 10
Louisiana, Missouri, Florita, Texas When
nothing had been lett for lhc Suu.h . il! up. uui
OF these compromises, Texas vas tr1"cht here
and he then stated ina, he woui i" wiling i
their Southern friends would stop there though
he had then Sail. wha, he lid not cXprc, % see SC
soon verifi-t tnat soon would the Soulh be fouEt
ready 10 walk hand in hand with them 10 th'
Isthmus aud the Pacific. That declaration he
had placed upon record!
Whenever he was placed in position which
required him - vote on the question Ct slavery
he could vote bu, one way.
He commended that the number OF Slaves woa'c
increase in proportion TO the facilities at prded il
the way OF an increase Of slave territory. IL
regard 10 The territory acquired, he insisted TIA
slavery, which did not exist there now. could no
get there without some municipal act The domcs
tic slavery nov existing there was that slavery
which exists in consequence Of The power excr
cised by The creditor over the 5tor-!iqnidaiet
SO soon as the debt is pad-thc claim ceases $,
far as The lien on the debtor has b"ea worked out
No such personal lien constitutes ! e-'v ii Il,
eye OF the law.
He was unwilling to vote for this Compro
mise bill, as before stated, because he d! %
wish 10 go upon the record as seeming 10 lavol
Slavery. because he might be mistaken ~ 10 Ia,
law on the subject, for other rsdica. objection,
TO the bill, because fihe difficulties in carr, Ing
out the law, and, further, from an unwilling
ness 10 throw upon the Supreme Court the set
make that Court the sheet anchor Of onr hopes
the organ through which 10 throw of orr po
litical steam-to drag that "archor'' into tn,
political arena.
But he had other oblecti"ns--thc instruction
Of tho Legislature of New Jerscy--;hough Ii,
would not obey instructions, when they did no
coincide with his opinions he consiiere,
such instructions entitled 10 respectful conside
ration.
He felt shocked at the assertion Of Southern
Senator, few days since, that ii the knife Q
the Southern Slave, were at the throats of thel
masters, their Southern brethren would expcc
no assistance from the North. He felt Gale,
upon to repudate such declaration, as wllhou
the shadow of foundation.
Mr.. Upham of Vermont followed Mr.. Day
ton. He insisted that Slavery was not bsyon'
the control of Congress, and if Senators wer
prepared to make such declaration, they wer
prepared to disregard the intentions and OPT
mons Of The trainers of the Constitution.
He argued that Congress had the power t
prohibit Slavery in the territories that Con
gress, If they did not pass such law, would
disregard the wishes Of the people of The terri
tories now involved by the question and tina
this bill was not such law as would carry on
the wishes Of the people in the States and Ter
rltories. He denied That the bill should be pass
ed, even on the ground Of expediency.
If the power of Congress 10 exercise lh
power was ever TO be exerted, now was til,
time TO exert IT. The introduction of SLAYER,
would be an element of danger, and opposed I,
the prosperity Of these territories. Then VIII,
not exercise this power, why allow Slavery I,
obtain foothold, where it will necessarily re
main through all time, and exert an influence fol
veal or woe on the deslines Of that country.
j: had become their duty TO decide upon The
Constitutional question. No one ever thought OIL
leaving the question Of the Tariff and OF o
United States Bank both constitutional qucs
tions-to the Supreme Court.
He regretted that there was any difference OF
opinion between himself and his coIlcague-but
be was happy 10 know that there was no differ
ence of principle-it was only as to The mode