Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-05-04

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Mr. DoueLAs.-I have listened to this debate
with good deal Of interest But while | have
seen considerable excitement exhibited on the
part Of u few gentlemen around mo, confess
that have not been able to work myself into a.
nyhng like passion. | think that probably
the Senator from New Hampshire has done much
to accomplish his object His bill is very
harmless thing in nsolfi but being brought for.
ward at this time and under the present circum-
stances, it has created good deal of excitement
among gentlemen on this side of the chamber.
Mr.. CALHOUN, lin his seat Nat the bill--the
occurrence
Mr.. DouGLAs.-On this occurrence desire
to say a word In the first place, must con-
graduate the Senator from New-llampshire on
the great triumph he has achieved. He stands
very prominently before the American people,
and Is | believe, the only man who has national
nomination for the Presidency. firmly believe
haton this floor to-day, by the aid Of the Senator
from South Carolina, and the Senators from Mis-
sissippi, he has more than doubled his vote at the
Presidential Election, and every man in this
Chamber from Free State knows it looked
on with amazement Tor lime, to see whether
there could be an understanding between the
Senator from New Hampshire and his Southern
friends, calculated TO give him encouragement
strength and power in the contest. But know
that those distinguished Senators from the South.
to whom have referred, are incapable Of such
an undertaking, yet tell them il they had gone
into caucus with the Senator from New Hamp-
shire, aud AFTER a nights study aud deli5eration,
had devised the best means to manufacture abo.
litlonism, and abolition votes in the North, they
would have fallen upon precisely the same kind
OF procedure which they have adopted to day
a few such exciting scenes sulliced to send that
Senator here. mean M dsrespect of him per-
sonally, but say with his sentiments, with his
principles, he could never have represented a
free State OF this Union on this floor, bu, for the
aid of Southern speeches. 1t is the speeches of
Southern men, representing Slave States, going
to an extreme; preaching anatcisnI as wild
and as reckless as that OF the Senator from New
Hampshire, which creates Abolionsm in The
North. The extremes meet. 1t ls no other
than Southern Senators acting in concert, and
yet without design, that produces abolition
Mr.. CALHoUN.-D the gentleman pretend
to say that myself and Southern gentlemen who
act with the upon this OCCASION are fanatics? p
Have we done anything more than defend our
rights, cncroached upon at the North : Am | TO
understand the Senator that we make Abolition
votes by defending our rights? If so, thank him
for the Information, and do not care how many
such votes we make.
Mr. DoUeLAs. We'll, will say to the Sona-
tor from South Carolina, and every other Senator
from the South that far be it from me to entertain
the thought that they design to create Abolition
lists in the North, or elsewhere. Far be it from
me to impute any such design! Yet assert that
such is the only inevitable effect of their conduct.
Mr. CALHOUN lin his sea(- are only de-
Tending ourselves.
Mr.. DoUGLAs.--No, they are not defending
, themselves They suffer themselves to become
excited upon this questlon---to discuss it with
degree Of heat, and give il an Importance, which
makes it heard and felt throughout the Union.
, 1t is thus that abolition derives its vitality. My
friend from Mississippi Mr. FoorE,) in his zeal
and excitement this morning, made remark in
the invitation which he extended to the Senator
from New Hampshire to visit Mississippi, which
Is worth ten thousand votes to the Senator, and |
am confident that that Senator would not allow
, my friend TO retract that remark for ten thousand
; votes!
MIR. Foerr.-WilI you allow me'
Mr.. DooGLAs.-C Certainly.
Mr.. FooTE.-lf the effect of that remark will
be to give that Sctator all The Abolition votes,
| he is fairly entitled to them. Had the Senator
: from Illinois lived where have resided - had he
f seen insurrecton exhibiting its fiery front IN the
midst OF The men, women and children of the
communicated he had reason to believe that
the machinery of instruction was at such time
in readiness for purposes of the most deadly
, character, involving life, and that dearer than
life, 10 every Southern mln--had he witnessed
such scenes, and believed that movements like
that Of this morning were calculated to enCender
feelings out Of which were to arise fire, blood,
and desolation, the destruction finally of the
South, he would regard himself as a traitor to
the best sentiments OF the human heart if he did
not speak out the language of manly denuncia-
f ton. | can use no other language. | cannot
but repeat my conviction, that any man who dares
to utter such sentiments as those of the Senator
from New Hampshire, and attempts to act them
out anywhere in the sunny South, will meet
death upon the scafiold, and deserves it
Mr.. DouGLAs.-l must again congratulate
the Senator from N. Hampshire on the accession
of FIVE thousand votes! Sir, | do not blame the
Senator from Mississippi for being indignant at
: any man, from any portion Of this Union, who
= would produce an incendiary eXcitcment-who
would kindle the fame OF civil war-who would
/ ncite a negro Instruction hazardng The life of
any man in The Southern States. The Senator
has, am well aware, reason to feel deeply on
this subject But | am not altogether unac-
quainted with the peculiar circumstances of the
sections Of the country to which he has alluded.
have lived good portion of my life upon the
1 immediate borders Of Slave State. have seen
/ the operation Of such eXcoments as those of
which he speaks, upon both sides Of the line. |
can well appreciate the excited feelings with
which gentlemen in the South must regard any
agiang movement TO get up Instructions a
mong their negro servants.
Mr.. DAVIS of Missssppi.-I do moi wish to
be considered as participating in the feeling to
| which the Senator alIudes. have no fear of in
A surrection, no more than have of my cattle.
do not dread such incendlares Our slaves are
c happy and contented. They sustain the happi-
est relation that labor can sustain to capital. |.
D is paternal institution. They are rendered
C miserable~G1y ty TIE unwarrantable interference
f of those who know nothing about that with which
= they NEEDLE. | rest this case with no fear of in
. surrection and wish it to be distinctly under
t stood, that we are able to take care oc ourselves
and to punish all incendlaries 1t was the insult
Y offered the institutions which we have inherited
G that provoked my Indignation.
r Mr. FooTE.--Wlll the Hon. Senator allow me
n to make remark
i Mr. DOUGLAS. great deal of pleas
;, ure.
Mr. FooTE.-If it be understood that | ex-
s pressed any fear of instruction which might
a grow out of this movement, it is mistake.
. said that such an audaclous movement as this
: could not be tamey submitted to without en-
r couraging its authors to proceed; and in that,
q think, all who have spoken on this side of the