The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-27


min. parts of California and New Mexico, containing
only about two hundred and seventy thousand square
miles OF the most worthless part OF the whole country
other words, less than onesxh in area and less than
one-twenlieh IN value OF all the territory ACQUIRED by
the common blood and treasure.
The gentlemen OF the committee from the North hav-
ng voted down this proposal made by my friend from
kentucky Mr. UsDERwooD,l a southern member, there
was indeed as The gentleman from South Carolina Mr.
CALHOUN has described IT, solemn pause in that com
mlee All hope OF amcabe settlement for the moment
vanished and unnatural contention seemed likely pre-
vail among u.s. 1t then proposed try the last
sor-the court established by the constitution TO settle all
judicial questions, and TO rest present hopes OF set
iemen on tins as the ark OF our safety Iwo-thirds OF
he committee joyously concurred IN the proposition
But even In that body OF men,, we had IN our trends
from Kentucky and Rhode Island, the representatives OF
the ultra claims OF the South and The North, who differed
with us about the report, and with one another about
everything this subject The proposition TO limit The
appeal and the Of IN other cases, TO matters
OF the value OF ~ 100, came from the senator from ken
lucky himself But the original jurisdiction OF the court
OF hd5edS corpus had been settled by the decision
of that court has been shown by my friend from Yer
mont and Others and the committee saw clearly mat
single case could and would be made at the will OF either
party which would settle the question al the next term OF
The court either application 10 the original or the
appellate jurisdiction OF the court at the pleasure OF those
interested repeat again, however, that the bill as 1t
stood when passed the Senate gave the court IN add
TO its original jurisdiction, all facilities for the exer
Use OF It's power as an appellate tribunal IN all cases
without reference to the amount IN controversy, or the
party who desired IT,
Having thus stated the course of the North and the
South in committee recur to the point of inquiry how
hey treated this simple proposition 10 acknowledge
constitutional right existing in both when the bill came
be acted upon in Congress. The truth is before the
world. The North-he stonger party In the other House
voted down the bill, and refused 10 hear PROPOSE
ton to satisfy the minds of their southern brethren as
to their constitutional rights by allowing them the
constitutional privilege of appeal to the common arb
ter appointed by the great charter which makes them
nation
Sir, this decision of the North-wth which had acted
the great question of the extension of sas cry and stood
ready still 10 act, if by any possibility legislation could
been effective to control the result without danger
he Unonhas been 10 me the subject OF grief and alarm
If any man had moved such bill as this before the excite
nent on this question became intense, and called il
thing but compromises bill simply giving to both
parties the means OF exercising constitutional right to
try the judicial question at awnot voice would have
raised against It. The refusal 10 submit to the arb
ament of the very tribunal which the founders of the
public estabished-he scorn with which the constitution
itself has been treated, in the conemptuous reputation
Of sacred constitutional right to try the question made
by whole section OF the Unon-the contumely and
eproach now poured out. without stint or measure on
10Th secons-and the shouts of victory section
" another, if triumph had been achieved for
:gn foe,-a announce not only the dawning, but the
erect day OF an attempt 10 ALLEVIATE portion of the
Union from the other. How and when is this suicidal
MADNESS TO be arrested is pal pable that bill
If any kind 10 organize governments in the territories
acquired from Mexico pass Congress at the present
session, though Intellectual efforts will be made TO pass
and that he who shall attempt to stand between the
,ontendng sections their hostile array hereafter will
be the first man struck down by both. Who will take
the hazard of that position hereafter Gentlemen both
If the North and South will go home and seek to
sustain their respective grounds by nnammatory ad-
iresses 10 their constituents The people will become
excited, and their representatives will return to these
halls al the next session s rveted their oppo
son TO one another Before Congress can act on this
question: it may run BEYOND the reach of any settlement
Is there not real ground for alarm Sir envy not that
mans feelings who can look upon the approaching struggle
without apprehension The fiery southron, finding the
ioors of justice barred against him, may seek TO storm
han md in that
event the very first men to shlrk responsibility will be
those who have provoked this tempest by their violent
ienunciations OF all compromise and all justice For
myself, confess that there is object which
could and never shall be able TO contemplate, magma
ton without terror 1t is that of my native land by
scordant sectional factons-dvided and torn into frag
ments, and finally drenched with fraterna blood To
avert that calamity, WILL at any time, sacrifice all other
considerations, and seize upon the first opportunity to
catastrophe And gloomy as the prospect may be- will
not now cease to hope The bill which was defeated in
the House by fifteen votes. passed the Senate by
jority of eleven OF two hundred and sixty four votes
in both houses, the majority against the bill was
but four! No other proposition could have possibly
approached so near to successful result In the u
iure therefore, amidst all the darkness and difficulties
Of our position we may finally find safety in the u
dietary, to which the constitution itself directs On
The eniablaue over the eastern Porco of this Capitol
stand, IL beautiful relief the marble figures of Hope, Lib
ery. and Justice. Hope, leaning ht anchor, repre-
sented inquiring OF Liberty how the constitution and
the Union secures may be best and Liberty
points JUSTICE as answer moral ought
to be forgotten Let look to the court which the char
ter of our liberties has established That is the diamond
which gers through the gloom that surrounds u.s. and
by that sacred light yet be directed TO the preser
walton of glorious Union, without which, the hopes
of all men who love liberty must sink in darkness for
ever.
Mr. CLAYTON then moved the reference of the bin
ganlze territorial government in Oregon the Committee
on Terriiores which was carried without division.
The reporter would add, that the Oregon bill after
wards reported TO the senate and passed that body NTH the
Missouri comlp9@'se added as an amendment, which
defeated in The House by III to $50 najoryno such
compromise being possible as Mr.. CLAYTON predicted
Congress dourned the 18th, leaving this distracng
question open and unsettled.