Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-12

that they free soil the Southerner would go there taking
his slaves with him. under directly opposite opinion the
ofcous and anaica Aboonists would send their money,
and if need be their lawyers there suits would be instituted
BY every slave against his and the whole country would
be m state Of the alarming agitation, well calculated
produce angry feelings and collisions of the most fearful
| character. E&
Sir, may do for Democrats who belong the same party
TO make these different and opposite representations to differ
en people Of the party, and be successful in deuding
them They may, and probably did do the last Presden
al election in Pennsylvania when they asserted that Mr.
Polk was better tariff man than Mr. Clay They may and
probably did In New York, the question Of the
ton o. Texas They and probably did in the North
west on the subject Of river and habor improvements And
as one good turn deserves another the Northern Democrats
who achieved these things successfully with their consu
ency may and probably will require their Southern brethren
In this contest when Northern Democrat protesting South
principles is candidate the Presidency, odeude their
constituency upon Gen. Casss opn the subject Of the
Wmot Provso and the Improvement of rivers end harbos
The very fact Mr. Chairman, Of the diverse opinions which
are entertained by many different persons of what would
be the law under the mscaled compromise BILL is the strong
est objection that could be urged against lis passage The
country has right to require of US the utmost and at
tenton in enactng laws in such form that they will be easily
understood by the people they are intended direct gov
en, and least liable 10 misconsrucon All agreed
that the yan who published his laws for the government of
his subjects BY posting them pillars high that
could read them ascertain what they were and then
shng with severity the slightest inracton of Them cold
blooded and cruel. Would not be liable to similar
charge we enact laws which know and the time
Il
the Union and viewed in directly opposite light in the oher
1t is not uncommon charge from persons Of peju-
diced minds that awyers when they become legislators make
encourage and furnish business for their profess
sion; this however, is the first Of the kind in my expe-
rence observation where they liable the charge
The miscaed compromise bill framed purposey pro-
duce lawsuits upon most important and momenous question:
which, In opinion, had better be settled in any other
way. If said Mr. c., my recollection of the law does not
mislead me- there is such indctabe offence
offence consists in stirring up lawsuits and if
committed by common person, punishable with fine and
imprisonment but by member Of the profession, greater
punishment is awarded Had this bill become law,
certain but what its orginators, and those who aided in its
enactment would have rendered themselves liable in
dcmen and to suffer the pains and penalties for
barratry
4 But said Mr.. c., if Southern gentlemen who have
nounced their opinion that the constitution Of the United
States recognises and establishes slavery wherever goes
correct what detment will the South suffer by the failure
pass this bill The territory annexed the cons
tuition is the supreme law within it, and if they contend
requires municipal law to establish slavery the South
has all the rights upon this subject under the constitution Alone
which could have had under the compromise BILL for it
prohibited the enacng of any law for the prohibition
! Enlistment of African slavery.
Mr. NGE here made brief interlocutory reply to this
inquiry which not well heard by the Reporter, owing
the position which he stood while speaking He
desood say that the people of the North affirmed the
stutona Of Congress pass the Wmot proviso the
people of the South utterly denied it, But it doubtful
constitutional question Now, under the constitution there
provision for deciding all such questions Congress
could not decide them the Supreme Court could There
FORE by the compromise BILL both parties concerned agreed to
refer the question the only legitimate tribunal The effect
of the bill would have been discam the jurisdiction Of Con-
gre the question, because Congress could settle it.
They acuaed by rreconcieabe preudces in opposite
directions in regard to it. He would ask Of the gentleman
from Tennessee whether the South could ask
of the North than 10 agree such bill Certainly not
And how hopeless every other mode of adjustment II
the Supreme Court could settle this question, other
4 power earth could
L Wasit ,y H.
from this House such subect-to ask give the South
| rights which the constitution did not give
MrVINTON desired to ask question Of the gentleman
from Alabama. Had the compromise bill passed. and the de-
cson Of the Supreme Court been against the North, wo.d
Gen. Cass (shoud he be Presidency have abded by the dec
sion When he had been Secretary Of War he had written
very astute article denying the Of the Supreme Court
to decide such questions and claiming it for the Executive
He had then contended that the Executive could override
decision Of the Supreme Court
Mr. INGE That was in criminal case.
Mr. VINTON Well what difference did that make
Mr. NGE said the best security that Mr. Cass would abide
by the decision of the Court would be found in the fact that
the compromise bill had been agreed to by both parties
Mr. MEADE here wanted Mr.. CRozrER to yield the floor
/ that he might put question to him.
MI. CROZIER declined He had already lost too much
Of the brief time allotted to him. He had been Just about
| come to the point TO which the gentleman alluded
The gentleman took the ground that the people Of Terri
tory had right TO egsate this question, and all others
That was the opinion Of Mr. Glass; and he had announced
this in the Nicholson letter. The gentleman from Virginia
(Mr BAYLr) had endorsed the doctrine Of Cass.
Mr. BAYLY hoped he would have the opportunity allow
| cd him to explain
| Mr.. CR0ZIER The gentleman had taken the lead, and
all the other friends of Gen. Cas had seemed eager
dose their chief gentleman from Mississippi THonr
sos) and gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.VEsABLK
| had made speeches to that effect
Mr.. YENABLE here spoke, with his back to the Re-
porer,)
Mr. CROZIER said he understood this be the opinion Of
Gen. Cass and the gentlemen alluded then very
No doubt they had enough attempt modify it
now when they found the dilemma and the inconsistency
they had got into by their support Of the compromise BILL
The gentlemen who had made speeches had done for the
purpose showing to the people what Gen. Cass opinions
were. They had ell Of them most Of Them in their printed
speeches. inserted extracts from Gen. Casss letter Mr. Nj
choon He had their speeches before him. The speech Of
the gentleman from New York (Mr. BrnDsAIL) and the
speech Of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr THonrses)
both had the letter Them and both endorsed its doctrines
Here was the speech Of the gentleman from North Carolina,
(M VESABLr,) who had spoken confidently Just now
which admitted that Gen. Gass held the opinion the gentle
stouty denied it. In his speech could hold the
doctrine strongly than he did He said that to submit the
question 10 Congress would put the power the hands Of Con-
place lega for the territories and thereby
create desposm that the Of the proposition
showed its absurdy Yet this very compromise BILL Of which
these gentlemen the ardent advocates had passed
into law would have delegated by Congress the whole power
Of legislation for the Territories TO five persons the Governor
Secretary and Supreme Judges in direct opposition the doc
af