The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-24

of ours, who would not be safe for the slave States e
aiumit to say nothing of the pecuniary losswhe would
be source OF evil to the free States if by
their legislation they did exclude them from entering
within their mitsif he told that the question
roversy between these several States owning common
origin, having common. ancestry embarked in a
cause OF constitutional freedom the light now of the
civilized world in every portion of where freedom has
votary-if he told that the question which
agtang the Senate the representatives of these States
upon which, IN the judgment OF senator's the safety and
honor of the Union saked her glory or her shame
was hanging whether each and all willing to
stand upon the constitution, he would be unable to believe
possible that there could be any real hesitation IN at
coming to common conclusion And yet SIR, that is the
question 1t that this bill stands and it is that alone
and the country will be made that II for that and that
aone that fanatics and ambitious asprans seek keep up
the agitation of the question for the qualification of their
fendish purposes Is that the question, Mr. President
What say the senators from fifteen of the States of this
Unon What says the senator from of the other States
of the Union, Mr. PHELps whose opinions this sub
Jet strong decided and well considered they
honesi The bill provides that this question shall be
tested and decided by the tuton and by the tribunals
organized under the constitution for the decision of all such
questions.
MIR. President, suggestion of mine in fact,
when the measure came from the committee when
advised likely come, the best of all possible
modes for the of the country and maintain
ing all our rights, had made up my mndndeed had on
table copy of the very amendment which has been
offered by the Senator from Indiana, Mr. BRGHr,] and
about offer when proposed by that honor
able senatorthat the Missouri compromise alone could
settle the dispute last dd hope, that If the effect
of that line divide these equal notifies,
it would gladly have been accepted by honorable senators
who differ with upon this question did hope that those
who Of this chamber would have gladly awaited
themselves of it, and have appealed to the Congress Of the
United States if they could quiet the controversy that
mode But, sir sooner did the from Indiana
propose such amendment, although he from free
State when advised by these agators of the hour
that the adopted the of repeal would be
heard throughout the land and that the question would still
remain agating the very foundation of the govern
ment But sir when it Is remembered that the South
willing to adoPtmost OF them, at least, If not alha
| lima thaf,f
mad done before IN restoring peace ana harmony were not
only proposing line which would not divide these Terri
into moies "a division in itself but just and right
looking the relative interest and relative power of the
era Staes) but line which would give to the free States
territory which slavery time to exist equal
million six hundred thousand square miles, while il
only gave the southern States territory equal to two hun
dred and twenty thousand square miles, the unreasonable
of northern hostility to 1t is most apparent The SEN
from Maine Mr. HAMLIN the other day said that the
compromise that he was willing to make was the compro-
mise which the constitution made, and that that he
would agree not to inefere with slavery in the States
Mr.. President, it would be very perous undertaking
for the his constituents attempt such inter
ference The from New Jersey Conncctcut and
Ohio the only three other from the free States
who have spoken subject told that they
have slavery prohibited by provision IN the whole
of these Territories and that nothing less would satisfy
them. And beg repeatfor want the fact to go out
to the public Just is-ha the territory proposed
be coded back that not thought of by any of the
senator's The territory not proposed to be left as it is
without governmehat not suggested by either OF the
but the single proposition upon which they stand
and upon which, if to- judge from their manner and
language they TO stand to the very DEATH IL their
! right to insult the South.
| Mr.. BALDWIN. We disclam any such intention.
Mr.. JoHNsoN The by such disclaimer shows that
upon such subject he does not understand what an insult
is. They claim repeat the right insult the South, with
whom, if they charitable, they must believe there is
much honor, much integrity, much patriotism on
this question, and all Others to be found IN the
other States of the Union They tell that true there
are fifteen of you but this is question which
minds made up Independently of constitutional power;
| SC ,,1 IN
insult you when tell you that you now brought into
condition in which you must YIELD or we must yield, or
else and while the South proposes to yield to
hardly have been anticipated they tell we
do believe you willing separates we think we have
you power and mean 10 keep you so the neces
of your condition such that you must stand take
the insult and submit the degadaton-we will have
way, and yield inch. There is but one mode
left and that the mode which the committee has
mended. IT, gentlemen you honest-and not here
question iyou have right to doubt honesty 1t is
arrogance call in question. There is nothing about
you either in personal moral qualities, that makes you
our superiors We cannot claim that you should abandon
iota of the ground you have assumed but If you will
YIELD will yield and yield great deal more than We
ask you yield We yield for peace, but you will not
yield at ALL Sir was shocked The honorable
from Ohio Mr. CoRwiN will pardon me for the expression
Il not much amazed when heard It from the
from New Hampshire, Mr.. HALE, for was pre-
pared degree hear such sentiments from him.
but shocked hear from the senator from Ohio the
remarks in which he INDUCED in relation to the Supreme
Court of the United Satesremarks, not assaling their
honor direct TERMS but which, If suffered to go to the
world will have that cffect-emarks calculated bring
that tribunal into disrcspectl tribunal within whose limits,
thank God party has been permitted cner whose
has all times been clear and honest and PATRIOTIC
receiving the respect and challenging the admiration of the
whole Union 1t is the first time this Senate, any
other body which any of character has venured to
assa ii.
Mr.. CoRwIN. | made assault upon the Supreme
Court. would be glad if the Senator would state what
mark of mine it is to which he refers
Mr. JOHNSON The remark, in substance, this that
he knew from what he of the proceedings OF that tribu
nal that those members Of it coming from end of the
Union would be decide way and those coming
from another portion of the Union another way
| Mr. CoRwIN. | suppose it would be matter of very
little difference what may say about the Supreme Court
am unwilling, however, that the remarks of the senator
from Maryland although am sorry interrupt him,
should go without what did say going along with
them stated that if might judge from the diversity OF
opinion which prevailed this Senate between those who
of the northern portion of the Unon and those OF the
southern the diversity of opinion which will prevail IN
that court and could why the opinions OF
should be free from party bias as the opin
ions of the judges Of the Supreme Cour must conclude
would be worthy of reliance the opinion of the SUI
preme Court expressly dsclaimed intending to convey
such meaning the from Maryland has attrib
ted me stated that venerated that tribunal and that
il was invaluable in the administration Of the law.
Mr.. JOHNSON. am glad to hear the explanation Of the
Senator from Ohio. rejoice to hear him admit that he adj
mires this tribunal great constitutional arbter vested
with power and having the capacity aud integrity decide
upon all questions touching the integrity of the Union
What the Senator's objection, then, to submitting this
particular question such tribunas Wepropose to leave
this question: upon which hold opinion and he hod
another, involving 1t most clearly does the integrity
this Union the jurisdiction and decision Of that very