The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-11
THE OREGON DEBATE.

rial Government over Oregon-ln which he taxes
decided and unequiyocal ground in favor OF L rec
dom. This week we subjoin an abstract OF the
speech of Mr. Calhoun on the other side, and that
of Judge Phelps in reply
Mr.. Calhoun denied the power Of CongreSs-ot
the Territorial Legislature, or of municipal ia"'
TO prevent the extension Of Slavery CunsroSs
could not do it, for its power under the Constltu
ton to provide regulations for the Government Oh
Territory, or all 'ncedful regulations does not
imply, directly or indirectly, the right 10 Pronipn
Slavery. The States Of the Union were Joliit
partnership with common funds; amaJorl'y ., inc
States had no right TO appropriate 10 themselves
or control to the disadvantage Oi liie H'i"oii'!'
property common TO all.
MIR. CALHoUS undertook a history OF the pas
saoe of The famous ordinance of 1877. lie ac-
knowledgcd that it was originally the production
of MIR JIFFrRsox Mr.. JEFFERsoSs PROPOSE
lion, however, was rejected by the Congress oil
the Confederation, and not till some time after
upon It's rcintroductiOn by Mr.. DANE, coupled
with provision that Slaves escaping into Tree
STATE should be returned 10 their owners did 1t pass
into an act 1t was not adopted even then, he SAID
ill the old Congress was in the last moments oil
its existence, and hardly compos meItis.
Here Mr.. CALHOUN entered into an encomium
upon the South. for its earnest fidelity i'll adher
ing to this compromise of the Constitution Tic
was sorry he could not render equal tribute Of
praise 10 the Northern States Tor Il corresponding
fidelity
He contcnded there were four reasons, acquire
mcnts or events that gave to Southern Slavc-holu
els the right 10 extend the institution INTO
newly acquired territory lst The purchase Of
Louisiana End The purchase of Florida Sd
~ 4 parific OaSt
lth The Exploration by Lewis and Clark I'M
der The rci.n of jefferson" This latter expires
sion had moRarchcaI sound, which, while the
distinguished Senator undoubtedly used IT uncon-
,ciousv, told upon his audicnce,-the more from
some Of his subsequent remarkS.) In the course
of his speech, he adduced Il letter from Mr. JET
ferson in opposition To the Missouri compromise
Il WAS address, ed TO Mr.. Holmes. then Senator
from Maine, and among the expressions was
this; This compromise, says Mr. Jefferson; Is
the rock upon which the vessel of State may be
stranded" As he quoted this remark, the Scna-
tor from South Carolina shuddercd, seemingly
oppressed with the most gloomy iorebodinSs-
In truth, his speech was gloomy. He feared
rather than hoped the for future, shouldfhe clause
prohibiting Slavery in the Territory cf OIcgoH be
carried. If the Union Of these States he doomed
to fall" said this sad mourner Of the past and
gloomy prophet Of the future, "the historian in
writing out his causes Of its melancholy fall will
devote his first chapter TO the Ordinance of 1887 !;
his second to the Missouri Compromise; his third,
II h. should erer WTite third, TO the present queS-
ton"
Mr. Calhoun denied emphaticslly that there
was on the part of the white men of the South
any repugnance TO labor with the blacks. On
the contrary white labor was more ennobled at
the South because it was white.
There were but two kinds Of labor, he said,
that the white man of the South refused TO per
form-to be body-servant or "A mental. And he
was glad and proud that they did refuse. He was
reioiced that no white man in the South would
brush hat or clean boots for hire.
Mr. CALHOUN denied. and with much original
ity Of argument the generally received truth that
all men are born free and equal"
Men were not oorn,' he said infants were
born men grew"
lie denied too, with equal force, that men were
created free and equal:
"Mcn are not created there were hut two ev-
cr created, the one superior, the other infcri-
or
Upon this declaration of the eminent Senator,
laughter, almost universal, pervaded the House.
His own countcnance however, was immovable
rs fate ITSELF
Mir. CALHOUN drew an ingenious but too sub
tie distinction between natural social and politi-
cal rehts--or rather he derived from their real
differences too harsh conclusions. lie comment
much upon the eIyor that prevailed not only in
this country but elsewhere in the world, "'rhat
all men were created free and equal" lie dwelt
hong upon this topic. and predicted innumerahle
future caamities from the general prevalence of
cf.rccouS an error. By Its introduction and
successful establishment, he said Europe and all
clristcndom would fall into hopeless anarchy, or
I've subjected 10 military domination
The Correspondent of the New York Express
gives the following sketch of Judge Phelps re-
marks -
Senator Phelps Of Vermont acquitted himself
To-day in most handsome manner, on the Ore
.on bill lie spoke in reply TO Mcssrs Calhoun
aud Rcnicn. aud uttered many truths which am
confident cannot be rcbuttcd Without attempt
ing u complete abstract. will give You few OF
his more pointed remarks lie took the ground
that if Congress had right TO the territory of Or
cgon, il undoubtedly had the power to legislate
for lis welfare, There was no clause in the con-
slituion which prohibited State from passing
its own laws, and the same was true with regard
TO the national laws. But having fairly entered
upon his remarks which were in opposition to the
extension of slavery in the new territory, he spoke
of the slave MS property. lie denied that any
human being could consistently be called proper
ty,-and what proved this assertion was, that
when 4 man from Virginia went into New Eng
Ian with slave. that very moment the slave was
cmancipaicd. The STAKEHOLDER and his slave were
subject to the jurisdiction of the state into which
The latter may he taken, and if taken to Oregon
the question of his becoming free or remaining in
bondage, should he decided by the people of that
territory Slavery stood upon local legislation
lie denied the right of SHAREHOLDERS 10 carry their
slaves into the new territory-though they had
right 10 cmigrate themselves.
They argued the right of following our victori
Gus armies, and. as We acquired new dominion,
If planting their peculiar institution in every new
country conquered. lie could not admit this doc
trinc, and wished 10 a single claim in the con-
stuilon which countonanccd the idea.
Would the INTRODUCED II of slavery into the new
territory bc ot any advantage to its Inhabitants ?
lie argued that it would not and illustrated his
proposition by alluding to the State of Ohio.
where slave had never been harbored and also
by comparing the great West 10 its advantarel
with that other section of. the country which
profcSScd to be blessed with the institution Of slave
ry- lie alleged thai Congress had a right to leg
islate for the benefit oflhc whole people but no
If rl.nW.-