Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-12
SPEECH OF Mr.. CROZIER,
OF TENNESSEE,
On the Proposed Compromise Bill,
HOUSE, or REPRESENTATIVES, Aueusr 8, ls4s.


few days since had dspo+d Of the bill from the Senate
known as the compromise bill the subject Of slavery in the
Territories Il had been saidby those who opposed
that measure of LAYING the Bib the table, that the House
had not had time 10 consider he subject but how could this
be- when the subject in all m bearings had been two whole
before the country Eyer since the commencement OF
the war with Mexico we havabeen anticipating and speaking
OF the very difficulty we are w involved in by this
ton Of territory, and in this vy Congress fifty speeches had
been made avowedy upon id, All the points involved had
been fully discussed What decision Of Judge in the Ter
rtores would be- and what be the judgment Of the u
ueme Court Of the United Sates-a had been anticipated
and maturey considered Kndwing this be So Mr. c. had
given his vote for laying the By upon the table.
Mr.. GENTRY here lido an act Of justice to his coll
league He alone of the Tennessee delegation had voted
Law the compromise bill upon 1.-The table, Mr. G. had fully
concurred with him the rts Of the bill and he be-
lieved did all the members Of the delegation Yet he had
himself voted against laying on the table, not because ne
was in favor Of its adoption BID because the chairman Of the
Committee Territories said that he had another bill pre-
pared giving constitution toOregon, Mexico, and Caor
MIA Mr. G. much posed to the proposed plan Of
compromise his colleague be and he knew that even
IL the bill had been taken up a considered could have
passed. but would have been rejected by majority Of some
hirtyf forty Mr. G. considered Of the
most mscheyous humbugs with the ingenuity OF politician
could have concocted.
Mr. CROZER said that heagreed with his colleague in
believing that such have been the ultimate fate Of the
bihat it would have been finally defeated its passage
by heavy majority Of some thirty or forty votes
had been said by the friends Of the bill that the vote by
which had been uncerenonious disposed OF the
suit Of Mr. c. pronounced that assertion to be
false There had been caucus that he knew Of He Ger
tany had heard any and he believed the whole to
be eectioneernp story. 5evera Wing members here
cried that there had been What would have
been the Of taking the bill and discussing for three
four weeks, and aea laying the table, voting It
down Il would have only prolonged the session for some
five six weeks without varying the result These were
the chief which bad induced Mr. c. for laying
the bill upon the table.
And now as to the resons which had Influenced him to be
opposed the bill ITSELF Never there greater misno
mer than call that "eompromse bill There could
be bill more thoroughly uncompromisiBg. The opinion of
those intimately acquainted with legislation seemed to be
that compromise bill must contain soft and complainant
terms and equitable provisions and therefore they
generally preudced in or Of that obtains the ad
captandum name Of s'compromise." But this bill
tanned nothing of the kind As specimen Of what it did
contain, he would send the Clerks table to be read
few lines which to be found in the 24h and Goth
tons applicable New Mexico and these words contained
the soul Of the similar clause be found
in the sd section applicable California These two
tons all Of the bill shout which there any
vesy the residue Details about which there could
not be much difference Of opinion.
The Clerk read the sections, as follows:
"Sec 20 find be rtier enacted, That the Legislative
of said Territory shall until Congress shall otherwise
provide be vested in the governor secretary and judges of
the supreme court who, or majority OF Them shall have
power pass any law for the administration in said
% s sa mot Of he
But no law shall be interfering with the primary dis
posal of the SOIL respecting establishment Of religion, or
respecting the prohibition establishment OF African slayey
and shall be imposed upon the property of the United
States shall the lands other property Of
be taxed higher than lands other property residents
All the laws shall be submitted to the Congress Of the United
States, and, il dsapproyed, shall be null and void"
Sand except also that writ Of error or appeal
shall be allowed the Supreme Court of the United States
from the decision oil the supreme created by this
Judge thereof or Of the district courts created by this act
of judge thereof upon any writ OF hsbeas in
volvng the question OF personal freedom"
Now there any thing like compromise in that Did
it not make the whole Of the Territories Of the United States
either slave Territories free soil Territories according as the
question the character Of the Territories this respect
that compromised Was any question Of fact compro
missed None whatever.
Mr. c. said he would proceed give the cause and origin
of this BILL well known that another branch Of this
Congress 1.-THE Senate) select committee had been raised
upon this subject consisted Of members who represented
extreme opinions the subject of slavery both from The North
and South No doubt they anxious report bill that
would satisfy both sections of the country. Senator Ga
member Of that committee, who have for po-
cal theories that fancifu than substantial the
leader Of party who perinaciousy insisted that the
stuon Of the United States recognised slavery that wherever
"the stars and stripes" Of country went slavery went
with them that the moment foreign territory annexed to
the United States the constitution and laws Of the General
Government extended it and hyery recognised
within H. This construction and operation Of the constitution
and laws souty denied by many the Representatives
and Senators from the North, and more particularly by Sem
aor from Vermont, who also member OF the select
committee an astue, strong minded and practical lawyer.
The section Of the bill which had been read the Clerks table
included this issue and nothing else probably offered by
third person in the committee but presented the between
the two distinguished individuals whom he alluded and
would decide nothing but which was the most spacious
and astue lawyer This bill. then, was nothing than
agreed between Of lawyers and politicians be
submitted the Supreme Court for their decision and which
when decided would not give peace and quiet the country
because would not be acquiesced in Yet they gavy ask
ed the Senate and House pass this bin merely whose
specuaions would with the judgment Of the Supreme
Court
Mr.. G. said he could try such an experiment
at the expense OF the country, when there would flow bene
fetal result from il but the contrary would be attended
with great mischief IL the decision Of the Supreme Court
should be against the Morrill, would the people Of that section
Of the Union abide by il Not all They would agtae
the country great deal than they do now on the sub
ec They would insist that the decision had been made by
court majority Of whose members were from the South and
Shareholders and that they had decided contrary to law that
their decision either corrupt their judgments had been
warped BY prejudice and interest The North having the nume
rca strength this floor would insist that Congress hsd the
control Of the Territories and would call for Legislation upon
the subject to ntcdct slavery within them What would be
the result IL the court should decide against tho South
Would the people Of that section abide by the decision No.
SIR. They would probably camor still oudly-insist
that the rights OF the States could be controlled upon this
subject either by the decision Of the Supreme Cou or law
Of Congress- and that notification their remedy Mr. c.
said he had strong for supecns that such was the
expectation no say the hope Of certain Southern gentle
m off xfrenc as,hse Thcvl