Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-18

No Calhoun. SAID nashins Oi Ihs kind.
WI SosNin' am very happy 10 be uudecei-
'v'' UNDERSTOOD the Senator to conceive that
ul's a question ol power. Il is not so. Il is
question OF municipal law. of civil nolitv-
The men who framed the Constitution never
dreamed that there was to be a conhict of now.
er between the slave aud the free States. They
never dreamed thai the South was TO contend
mat they would always be equal in representa-
uon IN the Senate to the Nouh. They had no
,uea Of mat equilibrium Of power Of which we
nave heaid SO much. The circumstances Of
Ihai period forbade any such supposilion. Look
'hg al all 'hese circumstances, (and | have no
GouO' NOSE lar-sceng men regarding them care
iully,) you would have had fourteen free States
and nine Slave States. But every man who
had much TO do with the formation of the Con.
suluton expected aud desired Ihalsavery should
be prohibited in the new Stales and they even
expected TO have il abolished in many Of the
States where il existed They had no idea of
conflict and If the ultra fanatics in the South,
as well as those in the North, would let the sub
ject alone, we should have much less difficulty
in proper settlement Of the question.
While the extreme ianaIcism of the North,
il is said, would burst the barriers Of the Cons-
tuition, and rush into the slave States TO enforce
their abolition views, lrampling on your laws
and madly Oyeruning existing institutions there,
the South vents its fiery indignation in tones Of
unmeOsured reproach. But have southern gen.
llemen considered their position before the world
on this question: You declare the opinion that
Slavery does not exist either in Oregon, Cali
lornia, or New Mexico; all these immense re-
gons are now, and for many years have BEEN,
free from Negro Slavery. And now what do
the ultra fanatics of The South ask Sir, they
avow their determination TO rush into these free
Territories, oyerturn the social systems there
existing, uprool all establishments founded in
and moulded by an absence of Slavery, and
having thus swept awaythe former free systems,
plant there forever the system of involuntary
servltude. Sir, Southern gentlemen must say
no more about the fanatics of the North endea-
vorlng to uproot your Institutions while you i'm
ilate The example Of those fanatics in your
treatment Of the Free Soil Of this, Union. Sir,
there is no difference between the two cases.
/ The fanatics of the South are but a counterpart
Of those Of the North. If there be any differ
ence, it is only this: The fanatic of the North
has this apoogy-he proposes, at least in theo-
ry, to enlarge and extend the boundaries of hu-
man rights. The fanatic of the South. strange
. ly Inconsistent with the obvious tendencies of
the age, seeks TO extend, at one sweep, human
black slavery over country, new and sParsely
settled, larger in extent than most Of the Gov
ernments OF the Old World. This does appear
10 my poor judgment, not merely at war with
the spirit Of lineage, with the better spirit would
say, OF men in all ages; nay, more-l must be
pardoned if declare it wears the aspect of alb
surdny, arrogance, and temerity. Sir, have
spoken out my opinions freely, boldly, but in no
spirit Of unkindness 10 any man or any section
of our common country. | know how widely
different are the views of other gentlemen from
mine. | know how habit, usage, time, color
our thoughts, and indeed form our principles Of
ten. But must here repeat my belief, that if
we could set about this business in the spirit of
those who founded this Republic, we should
have no difficulty in enactng the Ordinance Of
, 1897. Sir, it is best 10 repeat what they did,
ln 1887, they made the Constitution. In 1887,
| they made that celebrated Ordinance for the
. Northwest. Sir, this doctrine Of free territory
! is not new; it is coeVil with the Constitution,
: born the same year, of the same parents, and
baptized in The same good old Republican church.
And now, when we are about to establish these
new Republics, much larger than the old, why
Shou'd d we not initiate their example; re-enact
) their laws, and thus secure TO this new Repub-
lie on the Pacific the glory, The prosperity, the
=, rational progress, which have shed such Iuslre
G around that founded upon the shore Of the At
anlic!
A Senator who sits before me Mr.. Fizger-
F.. aid has with great proprlety explained TO the
/ Senate the position in which he is placed on this
subject, us connected with hispIreud, General
= Cass, not now member of this body. The
t subject as bearing on the opinions and prospects
v of both General Cass and General Taylor, has
= been often adverled TO in this debate. While
Il am yet on my feet, desire 10 say word or Two
e on this aspect of the debate.
e speak of one absent from this Chamber with
h every feeling Of respect, end with some reuc-
h taace. It's said, and believe truly, that Cen
eral Cass has, within the last two years, enter.
if tained two opinions on this subject, the one III
y. direct conflict with the other. In other words,
$ he has changed his opinion respecting it
r Whereas he was at one time in favor of extend
k ing the Ordinance Of 1887 over all new terrio-
S ry; now he denies the power of Congress to
4 do so. Thus irfoows that he would arrest all
o such legislation by inerpostng his veto. His
position at present is fixed. But, sir, this acili-
!, ty in forming and changing opinions in. gen.
tieman at his time of'lile, gives some hope that
t in the future he may not ObSiinateIy persevero
n in his error. Sir, one who on such subjects can
p change in the two past years his opinion, gives
5 hopeul expectation that he may change back in
!. tbe Two wears 10 come. As Major Dugald Dat
II getty would say, "le will be amenable to rea-
J., SON" His opinion, it seems, is, that the whole
n subject is to be given over to the unlimited dis
e cretion of the Territorial Legislatures. As to
Q General Tuylors position in regard to this and
G all like sub jects of domestic policy, here de-
|. clare that if did not consider him pledged by
j. his published letter to Captain Allison not to IN"
terposo his veto on such subjects of Legislation,
il he certainly could not get my vote, nor do be-
l....A L., l.c nnu Markham SInIe,