The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-08-05
from the Baltimore SUM-
Congressional.

Mr.. Dix had concluded before had returned from
the cars, but his remarks had evidently produced
profound impression. found Mr.. Butler replying
and referring particularly to decision of the gov
/ ernoY of New York, which he characterized as one
of the most fragrant violations Of the compact be-
tween the North and the South which he had ever
known of any where. Whether that act had been
sanctioned by the New York Legislature, he should
not take the trouble 10 ascertain-he should take
the word Of the Senator from New York. INT.
DIxs speech was in opposition TO the bill
Mr. Dayton obtained the floor, but at the request
Mr. Mangum, gave way for motion by Mr. Man
gum to adjourn, though opposed to the motion 1t
was decided by yeas and nays II to 80, in the ne
gative, and Mr. Dayton proceeded. He desired, he
said that the question should be taken before The
rising of another sun. After few remarks he ask
ed the Senator from South Carolina, when this law,
confirming the act of the territorial legislature OF
| Oregon, prohibiting slavery, comes back here for
| approval will he vote for it.
Mr.. Calhoun replied, emphatically, after the re-
petition of the question two or three times, and eva
sive replies "NOl" Mr. Berrien then explained that
! the laws of Oregon would remain IN force until
| rejected BY Congress. and such rejection approved
| bv the President This. Mr. Dayton cOntended,
would not change the character of the prOvision,or
the power of Congress to nullify the wishes of the
people of the territory If the construction thus
given correct, then there was stu less IN the
| bill than he had supposed The question mad re-
solved itself into one of mere expediency. Slavery
could never get into Oregon-the same was true OF
California few might get there, but the lnstlu-
ton could fix itself there. There agriculture
was principally brought about by irriEaton-re-
| curing nice sort of labor, wholly unsulted 10
! slaves. For this reason, he believed neither Ore
gOn nor California can ever become slave States
| But he had other objections besides those he hNd
stated-the instructions of the Legislature of New
| Jersev-lhOugh he would not obey Instructions,
! when they did not coincide with his oplnlOns-buf
he considered such instructions entitled TO respect
| full consideration.
| He felt shocked at the assertion of Southern
| Senator few days since, that if the knife of the
southern slaves were at the threats OF their masters,
their southern brethren would expect assistance
from the north. He felt called upon TO repudiate
| such declaration as without the shadow OF toun-
| dalton.
! Mr. Upham, of Vermont, followed Mr. Dayton:
He insisted that slavery not beyond the control
of Congress, and if Senators prepared to make
such declaration they were prepared to disregard
the intentions and opinions of the trainers OF the
| constitution.
He argued that Congress had the power to pro-
hbit slavery in the teTrltories-that Congress, IL
they did not pass such law would Disregard the
wishes of the people of the territories now involved
| by the question-and that this bill not such
law as would carry out the wishes of the people IN
the states and territories. He denied that the bull
should be passed, on the ground of expedency
| If the power of Congress to exercise this power
was ever to be exerted the time TO exert it
1t had become their duty 10 decide upon the Con-
stitutiOnal question. No one ever thought of leav.
ing the question of the tariff and of United States
Bank-both constitutional questions-tO the Su-
preme Court
Mr.. Bell next addressed the Senate, first in reply
to some of the remarks of the Senator from New
York, and then at length in opposition to the bill
He had so far, heard nothing to Influence his mind
in favor of its passage, nor had he been able from
all the investigation which he had given to the
subject to find any thing satisfy him that the bill
he pdIp fed n DIV and
the different portions of the Union. 1t was n0ueC
mOde-a great mode. it had been argued-but he
confessed himself unable to discover wherein its
greatness consisted. In referring it to the Supreme
Court, upon a question which we are told is con-
vulsing the UniOn-upon the different and contra
dictOry opinions here expressed And the Supreme
Court is the weakest department of the Govern
ment-denOunced as the aristocratic branch of the
Governmental is upon the shoulders of this weak
est tribunal that you propose shift the RESPONSE
bil0E. We have it already asked from the North,
Do you propose to refer this question to packed
court IA packed jUrg, to term which VIII be
better generally understood Mr.. Bell inquired Of
Mr. Berrien whether, without reference TO this bill,
he believed this committee would vote for the Mis-
souri, Compromise
Mr.. Berrien replied, that so far as he was con-
Cerned-and he only spoke for himself-he would
vote for that Compromise, so DESTROYS was he to
settle this question but not without the express
recognition Of slavery south of that line
Mr.. Bell inquired, Then, why not adopt that line !
Why postpone it to a future time until, in the
language of the North ii shall be ascertaned what
sort Of a country that is! And he proceeded to
argue that greater population could not exist south
of $50 30, than now exists in New Mexico and
California north of that line. The great party at
the North, he argued, had not been formed with
view exclusively to 9 free soil - and the exclusion
of slaves from free territory" That no one
would believe was the cause of the uprising there
of the movements OF one who had attained the
highest position in the gift of the people, and Of
another who had attained nearly the highest
honor which could be bestowed upon him under
the Government. 1t was a question of political
pOwer-Of political ascendancy, rendered the more
poignant in feeling from the long continuation OF
the Virginia ascendancy. And if they were to pass
the WimOt prOVisO tonight, they could not pass
greater infection upon these gentlemen at the North
Agitation was their desire, and sterile and unpro-
dnctive as California, 1t was fruitful subject
OF agitation for them For himself, he would pre-
fer The passing of the WimOt proviso TO any meas
ure which they would adopt tonight, to aay this
excitement defeat the objects OF these men, and let
cool reason resume its proper sway This was the
only way or 10 take them into the Union at once.
He would even prefer that to this proposition
Rather than Oregon, California and New Mexico
should become subjects of dscOrd, he would prefer
that they should declare themselves free and indie
geographically they do not belong to US
give Them new and glorious Republic on the
shores Of the Pacific
Mr. Berrien then spoke for a short time in favor
of the bill after which, Mr.. Bradbury made few
remarks directly to the point, when, shortly after
l O'Clock an Intellectual effort made to adjourn
Mr.. Bradbury appeared to think, and very properly,
that where the South supposed the North had gained
everything, and the North that the South had gained
everything, there danger that one party would
be disappointed Aapl lie did not believe that the
passage Of the bill would be calculated to allay ex-
element. He pointed out one two defects in the
bill, in reference to the habeas corpus, which he
no iu1Dra
drawn from his remarks was that he would vote
against the bilI.l
Mr.. Boriand followed, and denied the power of
Congress TO egislate at all on the question ofsavery
He regarded the institution of slavery as one of the
best which existed throughout our whole Land, 60
cially and politically.
MIR. Baldwin took the floor at a quarter past one,
and read speech, which had been prepared, at
considerable length, for the OCCASION and in which
he also argued the whole question, and expressed