New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-06-29
sneech of Mr. Calhoun.
of The Tribune.

1,.,earlv bonr. the floor and galleries Of the
senate were filled.
There are but three Senators who draw iuli
-. yvgssrgR. CALHous and CoRwIS--all
representatives of ideas
NJ CALHOUN denied the power of Congress--oi
,bs Territorial Legislature, or OF municipal law
=, ,reyeut the extension Of Slavery. Congress
,o,ld not do IL. Tor It's power under the Consttu-
ron 10 provide regulations FOR the Government OF
Territory, or all neediul regulations does not
.mply. directly or indirectly, the right to prohibit
slsvery The States Of the Union were Joint
nsrtoership with common funds a majority OF the
states had no right % appropriate to themselves,
mr. c5.trol b the disadvantage OF the minority
property common to all. Congress, he SAID was
tut cesfn que trust every lawyer knew tnat tle
rower Of cestui gpe trust was limited by the
Inject and nature Of the trust Congress had no
,,ower over Territories but for the benefit OF all
the states.
The Territorial Legislature could not prevent
the Introduction OF Slavery because sucn Legs
sture was but the creature OF Congress, us i0cam
ts.eas; and what the principal could not 90, the
subordinate surely could not.
The local law or municipal regulation so lar as
il excludes Slavery from the territory recently
acquired from Mexico,was not 70 be regarded. Ac-
cordinc 10 every writer on the Laws oil Nations,
he said the laws OF conquered countries renamed
ia force only till the conquerns power extended
its own laws over them. The laws OF the con-
anered existed By mere liberation
NJ. CALHOUN undertook a history OF the passage
n the famous ordinance Of l7s7. He acknOwl-
edged that it was originally the production OF MI
JEFFERSON. Mr.. JEFFERSON proposition, now
ever. was rejected by the Congress OF the Con
federation, and not TIL some time after upon It's
reiutroducton by Mr.. DANE coupled with pro-
vision that Slaves escaping into free State
should be returned 10 It's owners ala II pass INTO
an act II was not adopted even then, he said,
nm the old Congress was in the last moments OF
is existence and hardly comPos meHttS
Here Mr.. CALHOUN entered into an encOmum
upon the South for its earnest fidelity IN adhering
10 this compromise OF the Constitution. lie was
sorry he could not render equal tribute Oipralse 10
the Northern States for corresponding hdellty.
All the States framed out OF the territory conceded
by Virginia TO which applied the ordinances OF
"a, except Wisconsiniust entering into the mon
and Illinois, TO her great honor be 1t spoken he
said, had passed laws preventing the recapture OF
Slaves, or by incorporated individuals prevented
such recapture.
Here Mr.. HANNEGAN interrupted him by beg
ging leave to inquire when Indiana had passed
such law.
Mr.. CALHouN replied that he depended upon a
report OF his colleague for his facts HIS colleague
was his authority.
Judge BUTLER. being thus appealed TO, said
that Indiana was not included among the states
alluded 10 IN his report.
Mr.. CALHOUN was glad to hear the correc ton
Of his colleague. He then proceeded IN the same
train of remark when he was addressed by Mr.
CoRwIN who inquired if he understood the Sena-
from South Carolina to say that Ohio had passed
laws prohibiting the recapture OF slaves IN hei
territory.
Nj. GALHoux replied, he so understood-but he
was free TO confess he had derived his Information
from the report OF his colleague.
Judge BUTLER had supposed that Ohio had pass
ed such law. Ii mistaken m such suppositlOn
be- was not however, in the assertion that lndiNi-
duals there had organized for such purpose.
II is said Mr. CoRwIN may speak on tins ques-
ton and surely no occasion this session has offer
ell where he could better display his eminent
abilities TO the more perfect establishment OF sound
principles.
Mr.. CALHOUN denied in the course of his argu.
ment. that Congress had the power to abolish
Slavery in the District of Columbia. The State Ol
Maryland he said, had granted to the United
States the soil and crciUstUc legislation but had
reserved the sovereignty. How such sovereignty
could be exercised or made To appear after the
grant of exclusive legislation, he did not inform
the Senate.
He contended there were four reasons, acquire
ments or events that gave TO Southern Slayehol
ders the right to extend the institution INTO the
newly acquired territory. LIST. The purchase OF
Louisiana. End The purchase Of Florida. 3rd.
The Discovery OF Capt. GRAY ON the Pacihc Coast
9TH The Exploration by LEWIS and CLARK under
the reign of JEFFERSON. This latter expression
had monarchical sound, which while the dlStin
gushed Senator undoubtedly used II unconsciously
told upon his audlenCe.-the more from some OF ms
subsequent remarks. In the course OF his speech,
be adduced letter from Mr.. JEFFERSON IN Oppose
ton % the Missouri compromise. 10 was addressed
10 Mr.. HOLMES, then a Senator from Maine, and
INsna
MISE SAYS Mr.JEfFERS0S, is the rock upon which
the vessel OF State may be stranded. As he quot
ed this remark, the Senator from South Carolina
shUddered,seemingly oppressed with the most gloo-
nay iorebodings.
In truth, his speech was gloomy He feared
rather than hoped the future, should the clause pro
hlbtlng slavery IN the Territory Of Oregon be car
ried. II the Union OF these States be doomed 20
tal, sad thlS sad mourner OF the Past and gloomy
prophet OF the Future, " the historian in writing
out his causes OF It's melancholy fall will devote has
first chapter 20 the Ordinance OF l7s7 his second
o the Missouri Compromise his third II he should
erer lcrife q hird to the present question"
Mr. CALHoUS denied emphateallv that there
was on the part OF the white men OF the South any
repugnance 20 labor with the blacks. On the con-
trarv white labor was more ennObled at the South
because Il was white.
There were but two kinds OF labor. he sald, that
the white men of the South refused 70 periorm-to
be a BODY servant or a mental. And he was glad
and proud that they did refuse he was reioiced
that no white man in the South would brush a hat
OF clean boots for hire.
Now this may be all good Democracy at the
South. But at the North we should make no sgci
distinction We should treat the brusher OF ha'
as we would treat the builder Of hat the cleaner
Of boots as the maker thereoi-and all with the
same respect we wished 70 be treated with our
selves
Does not this declaration OF Mr.. CALHoUN
prove the very converse Of bis proposition Does
not the repugnance of the Whites 70 such oinces
arise from the fact that they are performed IN the
South BY Slaves alone
1t would be unfair, however, to Mr. CALHOUN
aud 10 the class in the South OF whom he is the
representative a. withhold another statement ne
made that the white men who labored on ms
plantation had seats at his own table aud took
their meals in his company. This reminds one OF
the pstriarchsl times.
Mr.. CALHOUN denied. and with much originah-
~ Of argument, the generally received truth that
ell men were born free and equal"
=" Men were not born, he said infants were
oorn men grew"
He denied too with equal force, that men were
ereoted free and equal;
- Men are not created there were but two ever
created. the one suDeriOr the other INFERIOR