The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-28

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speech eight days after it spoken and publish
ed 1t Tor the country. copy, early in that month
laid his table and the table of the senator They
neither be afraid nor unwilling for their real opinions 10
be placed before the public and the time makes no part
OF the force, value, or weight of their opinion Both
gentlemen have since gone much further In the avowa OF
their faith the right OF Congress TO legisate on the
subject OF slavery in the territories with limit but
their Will and Their sense OF justice and upon this
absorbing subject that the public mind will act
ceasingy, until placed at ease BY some equitable settle
ment listened with no small amusement to the meta.
physical criticism which fell from my colleague in the
course OF his remarks. He proessed his inability TO
prehend the annuncaton, "that truth reduced to its ee
mentary principles, affords the only safe guide TO nvesti
CATION, and the only satisfactory conclusions those
which are formed from such development" My col,
league amused himself with what he pleased to call
my metaphysics and what he proessed to be unable to
understand | in his this subject, that he
did not understand proposition which might have saved
understand it. Had my coeage troubled himself to
duce the great principle, that in our government the en-
acnent of law is reerabe TO those elementary pnnci-
pies, TO wit power will and interest, and consequently
the will OF majority OF Congress, from this develop
men of elementary principles he might have arrived at
the satisfactory conclusion that the non-slavehoding
States needed aid from him, or from any southern
man, to fix upon the stamp of inequality OF rights and
consequently OF degradation upon North Carona-o
Glade her sons the brave volunteers, who had but Just
returned from Mexico, and their families, from land
by their valor and their privaons, and open II 10 the
emigrant and oaier from every quarter OF the world
Sir, warn my colleagues that whoever airms such
doctrine in any part of North Carolina will be sure u
matey 10 with such development of public opn-
ion will bring his mind to the safe conclusion that the
people understand their rights, and be persuaded
to abandon them, but will abandon any who advises
them to do. proposition that Congress has power,
In virtue OF ITS sovereignty TO grant away the public do
main to favorte portion of population is too
sous to require the trouble of an answer The people
will IT, and satisfactorily with their unqua
flied dsapprobaon of the doctrine ITSELF and of those
who hold 1t.
know, sir, that am considered as ultra on the sub.
lect of southern rights My colleague adnonshes not
to speak for Carolina but sir shall speak for and to
Carolina, until every part OF the State is aroused TO the
consideration of this great subject Well may she be sad
to have humble position when either directly or
indirectly, assent to assist the great effort OF the
tor from New York [Mr. DIX to surround the slave
States by Gordon of tree States, and staue slavery
We marked for rum and destruction with all the cool
ness with which political economist regards the means
in comparison with the end-equallei only by the nd
ference with which butcher regards the doomed to
be the sacrifice for the market During the process
of sarvaOn the free States must acquire ascendency
and power which would place eiectualy beyond the
reach of rivalry, but certainly in state OF degradation.
charge gentleman with treason to the South IT would
be unbecomDg to do SO, because do not believe it
to be true. have never heard Brutus charged with
reachery to Cesar, with treason to Rome but when
Caesar staggering and lettering under the blows of
Cassus and of Casca, still maintaining the struggle with
wound that the dagger of Bruus inflicted, he exclaimed,
'Et tn Brute Brutus loved Caesar less, but Rome
more So when see the South reeing tolterng, stag
gerng, bleeding at numerous wounds OF her northern
sailants but yet maintaining proaced heroic struggle
for her existence-when, at that crisis southern
men feel it their duty to admit the right and the power of
her assaans, and abandon all the positions assumed for
her protection, am compelled, amidst my admiration of
the disinterested love of justice and of right eXcaim
'thls is the unkndes cut OF all !" If see with
his face glowing with passion, his eyes flashing with rage
in his hand uped club, threatening to strike you
down-if should say to him. "You have the right you
have the power nc the blow and he forthwith fells
you to the EARTH think Jury would be apt to find me
an accessory to the act My motive doubtless an
abstract love OF justice but most ndscreetly, most
seasonably manifested The position of southern
savehoding constituencies presents most striking illus
tration OF the supposed We see in this House
majority for the Wilmot Provso. No appeals made
those who claim to be the free soil party stay the
execution of their purpose thus to humble, thus to de-
grade southern constituency The question mnges
in every discussion, the purpose is manifest in every
trenchments OF the constitution, appeal to its sacred
guarantees ask only our equal rights; and unoru-
natey, statesmen deny rights repudiate
claims and give the weight OF their talents and influence
to establish the power. Legislative precedenhe weak
of all authory-is invoked to aid in the overthrow of
claims, and the constitution itself laid PROSTATE
the feet of Congress skfu enemy will never storm
fortress, when he perceves wavering, unsteady part
of our lines where hesitation invites attack and the
and the defeat will be simultaneous Think you that
either compromise or arrangement ever be made by
those who claim all, when their power 10 take what they
claim is granted by own frends No, sir nothing but
firm united, calm and dignhed position, on the part OF
southern statesmen, the owners of slaves in
sovereign States from utter ruin Nothing be
humatng than that we should be the subjects OF the
phildnthrOpc design OF the senator from New York. to
surround with Gordon OF free States, and starve
out.
My colleague mr. DoNNELLl has also declared that
not of the Territories of New Mexico Cafor-
MIA shall come under our laws be annexed to ter
rtory, with his vote consent. A like opinion has been
avowed by other gentlemen this floor A gentleman
from New York Mr. DUER] has said that he is willing
to abandon it to Mexico and pay the stipulated price into
the bargain. Now, sir, | am somewhat astonished to
hear gentlemen in the face of solemn treaty made the
law Of the land by the President and Senate, pedging the
faith OF the nation to give protection, government, and
citizenship to the inhabitants of those Provinces declare
this floor their disregard of those treaty stpuations
willingness to abandon the faith of the nation, and
late the provisions of treaty solemny ratified and pro-
the treaty stpulaons, what be the consequence!
Did treaty terminate the war with Mexico; and would
gentlemen who denounced the and demanded peace,
reproduce that by violation of the treaty itself?
Will they take that responsibility 1t true that
may be supposed in which this House would properly re-
fuse 10 vote money to carry out eay-a of mani
fest corruption the part OF the President and Senate
making that treaty 1t is also true that this House may,
under certain circumstances, withhold supplies in a
war which originated in declaration made by themselves;
but il must be OF outrageous corruption in the of
the means OF carrying on that war the necessity must
make itself known utter disregard of all the restraints
of the constitution and the rights of man. In either case,
Justify to such means the wrong must
be fragrant open, avOwcd and it must be the only
dy to avert absolute dlshono ruin IL is at best
IRENE resistant to extreme wrong and would amount to
usurpaton on the part OF this House of the power of
abrogang or defeating treaty made by those to whom
the constitution has delegated the power 1t cannot be
that the Executive and the Senate have corrupy dis
graced the nation. Ii comes with bad grace IRON those
who denounced the war, who mourneI over the blood
and treasure expended IN lis prosecution to defeat the