Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-06-10


orna, in which might be found institutions in conflict witt
the provisions OF constitution hut the those
es submitted 10 the sword OF the conquero the whole
quered country became subject the constitution of the Unit
ted States IL the law of nations recognised the
operation of laws Of the conquered far prevent anarchy
but they not conflict with the organic law of the
qnerng country The instance suggested by the gentleman
from South Carolina conclusive. Every knew tina
IN New Mexico and California the Catholic religion the
religion OF the State; bat all must know that be
conquered by religion became ree and its free
exercise was guaranteed To all.
"A hiatus here in the connexion of Reporters
copy, which, neither Of them being at hand cannot be sup
| Piled.
Did Georgia at that time include Alabama and Missis
sippi Virginia include Kentucky and North Carolina
cude Tennessee The constitution, therefore, in this pro
vision obviously contemplated the extension OF slavery all
the South State had sovereign authority either esb-
lsh 10 abolish il within lis limits Massachusetts,
much opposed to slavery, might tomorrow, il she pleased,
establish II by law within her own bounds and Congress
under the constitution would be bound 10 guaranty and pro-
tect her in doing
This argument, Mr.. v. said painful to him.
Would that the whole question had long since passed away
would that It could be forever banshed from these halls
that gentlemen from all sections and exremes Of the Union
might live together and love and respect each other bre-
then Many othose he around him had but short time
left to live under the protection and blessings OF glorious
constitution He looked back TO bright and lusrous
past, and he anticipated future happy but he at the
time looked whapprehenson and trembling at the pepe
tual agitation of this question: question which dragged
into those halls only for msche never for good end
with any good effect but merely to aid IN schemes OF party
ascendency and the struggles of ambition for party pre-
For this and this alone these reiterated blows
thus uhessy struck at the sacred bond which had thus far
held together people He trusted that better spirit
and wiser counses would yet prevail He trusted that
Territories they successfully grew up and passed from in
fancy to that degree maturity and gor that enabled them
e the child that longer needs the ad Of the mother fin
ger to steady m otterng ooseps walk alone would have
this question OF slavery slavery left them TO decide for
themselves He feventy hoped that for purpose what
would these agtatng discussions be renewed the halls
of legislation. Decided he devoted attachment
the Interests and principles Of his political party he would
not Tor the sake OF carrying out party organization
eah introduce permit discussions than useless
discussions and disputes which tended only pieces
Go where they would, he hoped and trusted that his cons
tuents and their children would be permitted to carry their
property with them and enjoy peace He earnestly trust
cd that the settlement Of delicate and agang questions like
this would not be left 10 be decided by handful OF squatters
scattered here and there in unsettled wilderness.
But gentlemen insisted that it impossible under the
suon for citizen Of the United States to hold pro-
perty But had the constitution and the laws of this Union
regarded them from the beginning property Had not direct
een imposed upon their and exaced by the Gov
enmen expressly the assumption that slaves proper
yf Even Judge Mclean himself, who often referred TO
opposed the slave tenure, had deceed the sale of
slaves which debtor had lien and awarded good title
10 their purchaser The constitution had regarded them
property from the foundation Of the Government this hour
Slaves had been sold under the hammer time and under
the direct authority Of the laws of the United States and the
holder Of such property expressly fortified in his right
pursue and it in the midst OF what by misno
called exclusively the free States They taxed
property and sold property by the order OF this Govern
ment and by laws passed by the representatives OF all the
States. Gentlemen had read their felow-members long lee
here about " free SOIL" All soil was free. II
humbug 10 talk 10 about free soil in these happy States
all soil tree Such doctrine gotten up when the
fathers of liberty first reused the trumpet blast of free
dom. such doctrine preached by Samuel Adams and
Patrick Henry and the Rutheords Men Of that glorious
day OF freedoms birth started such discussions, when
their blood flowed together in commingng before the
alars Of liberty Thousands from the North and thousands
too from the South had died together for this soil hold
in common.
All could they have supposed that after enjoying for sixty
years prosperity in golden showers after growing
three four millions TO than twenty Millions and seeing
the ssterhood Of multiply from thirteen thirty after
the clouds OF heaven dropping unequaed blessings them
and theirs that aer all this pure for any
thing but good purposes, any but holy ends their poser
would risk the shpweck Of ell their hopes abstrac
ron how cuuld they have been overwhelmed with
fu amszement Their glorious leader in council in the
field happily spared behold his country into
ona glory Heaven spared him to look upon the broad
OF her honor and prosperity mid heaven and without cloud
but had kindly snatched him from spectacle that would have
his patriot heart with anguish To this favored land the
eyes OF all the Old World turned for example, for
couragenent and the hope Of universal freedom Would
for the sake OF barren abstraction sk the bghng Of this
last hope oppressed humanity, and prove by unhappy
divisions that incapable Of freedom He trusted
He yet hoped better things He trusted that the North and
the South would agree together spirit Of unity
and OF mutual concession. And when states, whe
,her the North the South should knocking for adj
mance into the favored ehood OF blessed Union,
he trusted should meet them only with welcome and hos
ptaly, leaving each TO act It's pleasure in question
with which other had a right to interfere.
The debate here terminated FOR this day by the rising
Of the Committee
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, ls4s.
And The House resolved itself into COMMITTEES Of the Whole