The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-22
THE UNION

such thing He pronounced judgment other
mans conduct, but IN HIM II would have been wrong.
He left the matter wholly with themselves however, for
he knew nothing OF the facts
Mr. STANTON continued. have no disposition to
understood him as | did: IA voce-Certanlyl and
recoec ALSO the very just reply to the sentiment BY the
gentleman from Georgia, MIR. TooMss, in which there
was much truth as severty fol, II the gentleman
20 into my district and entce away slaves in viola
ton of law without being guilty OF moral wrong then
every bond by which society is bound together, and by
which human rights maintained, Is gone--sundersd
forever Upon this matter he could hardly refrain from
saying, that he would not complain OF ciZens who
might be thus injured, il upon the mob principle they
hang up such nsgatos OF servile rebellion upon
the first tree they should come to.
He had said this was not the time nor the occasion for
those who favor slavery to enter upon the contest which
that institution He had said had better ground TO
stand onground, standing which we can never fail,
unless truth should fail tor may stand upon the con-
sttution. We may point to that sacred instrument and
demand in the fathers whose blood has pur
chased rights that all its sacred guarantees shall be
respected When the question comes up on the terrific
rial issue, Mr. s. would take his stand upon this ground
and point to the blood OF the south which has been
poured ont the soil OF Mexico, and demand that the
south should also inherit its just share OF the advan-
tage it has procured. He would point to the bones
of our brethren from the north and from the south,
who, side by side, have fallen pleading together the
same great cause, and ask you, now that the work is
south 10 be surrendered He would refer to the const-
tuition and that issue he would show clearly that this
government has right TO interfere with slavery in the
Territories; and that in the admission of States the
Congress exercise in this respect only species of
tuteary supervisory power such may be necessary to
that they shall come in with republican institutions
that laasnuch as this government cannot prevent the
older States from regulating and perpetuatng slavery,
neither It suppress that institution the States
without violating the first principles of the compact He
would point also, to the Missouri compromise and say
to the NORTH that when that contest came on although
they had right TO place that restriction upon slavery
yet for the sake OF harmony for the sake OF compromise
and union tor the sake OF our institutions and the pre-
servaon OF glorious example of liberty, the south
consented to compromise which, as far it goes, has
shorn us OF our rights. He would tell Them neverthe
less, that still ready to maintain that solemn com
promise-ready to extend that line to the Pacific
oceanready to do this, and all that may be justly de-
manded OF us, IN that spirit OF Cancellation which
our institutions. He would point TO the thousand mil
lions OF dollars invested in slave propertywoud regard
this interest in all its magnitude and ask gentlemen
if they are mad enough to suppose that slavery, at
present lnerlaced with all our nsutons-politica
cal, and economlcal-can possibly be violently rooted up
without destroying everything with which it is connect
ed He would show them that the effort, if it were at
tempted, would be as trultess the puny effort OF
to stop up the flow OF the mighty waters of the Mssis
spp. No. sir the north may goad us at sides-they
may attack us upon the outskirts Of our tower-they
may strike at our rights and eXasperate usbut they
never destroy our Institutions.
The slavery institution, right wrong ours-wheh
er il be protected or whether be destroyed 1t is not
in the power of the north to attack with success IT
would take OF itself Its continuance could not be
prevented so long it was found to be profitable. The
people OF the north only rid themselves OF il when it be-
came unproftable and the south may follow the
pie when that time shall come to Them but not before.
When he spoke of profit he had reference to the moral
as well as , the political Of The to the
comes Improbable, 1t will cease When its moral disad
vantages become great that the results OF manums-
sion will have terors for us, then shall get rid Of
slavery But such result will be accomplished
by hemming us round and contning us within mar
rover sphere.
Mr. s. would not say that the negro would have been
better off had he remained in the unges of Africa and
pursued his primitive OF cannibaism; because he
assured that the change had wrought for him great
zaton-a hard school, he admtted-hard in its require
ments and oppressive IN the obligations imposed; but
it has been the same school to him with that which,
energies from barbarism, has been obliged to undergo
all ages Whenever the intelligence Of the slave shall
come up to that measure which will qualify him for self
government then the power Of the MASTER like that of
the late masters of Europe will longer be able to hold
him in subsection. But that day has not yet come; and
until it does come the abos of these opposers Of slavery
Mr. THOMPSON, of Kentucky, would confne himself
to the question involved IN the resolution. With refer
ence TO the poprey OF passing the resolutions he said if
there had been violence the laws of the District were
sufficient for the redress OF every grievance The courts
and grand jury were even now in session. What are
the privileges claimed for this House under the resolu
tom These privileges. like the privileges of the Crown
and Parliament of England were in derogation of the
rights Of the people He enumerated the restricted priv
eges OF member OF Congress, and remarked upon them
The question of privilege could only respect overt
acts of violence 1t had nothing to do with mere
threatenings. Under. the claim OF privilege, could
we so out into the street and arrest an ind
vidual with any good result' Unquesionably not
He referred to the of the arrest of General Sam
Houston on account Of the affair between Mr.. Stanbemy
and himself and to the proceedings with reference TO the
duel which fatal to Mr. Cey, and the duel between
Burr and Hamilton, all resulting in no benefit. If the
principle OF the resolution correct, we might go out
and arrest half the editors of newspapers in the land
Nothing was done with Lawrence, who assaulted and
fired his pistol President Jackson in the rotundo; and
rotundo upon the and private secretary OF President
Adams. Upon the committees acting and reporting in
this latter case, were placed Mr.. McDuffe and the
late learned Judge Barbour; and they took similar ground
to that which was taken yesterday opposition to this
resolution, Upon the principle claimed by the friends OF
the resolution he the extreme of tyrannythe House
proposing become accuser Judge, and jury in the
of their members. The offenders, in this case have
only had the audacity to talk They had committed no
violent act and should in this country set ourselves
punish for talking 1t would not bear discus
sion.
Further upon the question of privilege he showed
that the citizen who might offend against this assumed
right of privilege must, from the nature of the
remain ignorant OF the law; and to punish in such
case would be. in effect to enforce an er post fdcto
law The protection of the House could extend no
discharge OF their official functions here. We could
not go beyond this, without making parade OF privilege
Of arbitrary power. wholly alien and repulsive to the
breast of every republican As the Speaker very proper
y remarked yesterday, the resolution contained no
specifications Some people have taken the liberty to
talk. This the sum of the whole grievance. Against
these claims of prerogatve and privilege the French peo