Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-29

the matter i'm issue. He strove hard TO
show US that he occupied the right ground
upon the question under consideration
and before he concluded he proved to the
satisfaction of the House that he occupied
no grounds at all. In all candor, slf,
must give my friend from Alexandra credit
for his find of legal and historical lore
He pondered over the dusty pages OF He
reimbursement to be perfectly an tat
among the ruined columns and mutIlated
tombs of Greece and Rome, and spoke OF
Hale, Kent, Coke, Marshall, Story and
others, with as much familiarity as Sir John
FaIIstaff did of his royal master Prince Hail.
Next upon the list, Mr.. Speaker, came decided
ly the prince of distractions, the gentleman from
Loudoun. His two days speech was taken up IN
telling what every body knew, to witt that he was
member of this House in AZ, and that he thought
he voted for the resolutions now before the House.
LII recollect rightly, he plead Ignorance OF the
matter contained in the resolutions as an excuse for
said vote: and he now declares that if he had ex-
amned them lie should have opposed their passage
at that time A member of this body solemnly
swears in the Council Chamber to support. the
Constitution Of the United States. An old and eX
perienced legislator, representing large and nigh
ly respectable constituency, votes two years for
set Of resolutions touching the subject OF slavery
lWlluOut HAVING Tedu tlleill, Vi hoWlHS "h't
ter they contained. Two years afterwards, he OPP
poses said resolutions upon the ground that they
lare antagonisoal to the spirit OF the Constitution,
aud might, if passed, endanger the Union Sir, an
Inconsistency glazing deserves no comment.
| do not doubt the truth of his statements, nor the
sincerity of his present opposition to the resolu-
tons; but when think Of the awful consequences
| that might have followed the adoption OF the reso-
uons in ~, according to the doctrine now held
by the gentleman from Loudoun, for his sake re-
81, r. holl
powerful opposition that occasion. AS to his
Speech like the gentleman from Alexandria, he
failed to make single point, from the simple fact
that he turned and slew them fast he made them.
Indeed, when reflect apen the scope OF the first
/ half of his speech, ana so much pleased with it
that can scarcely find voice to condemn the rest.
But then that rest demolished the first. Congress,
he SAYS has no power to legislate upon slavery in
the territories still he wont vote for resolutions
which declare the Same thing. He declares against
ola Southern Confederacy, In case Congress shall
interfere with slavery in the District. His position
is illustrated by the following lines Of the poet:-
81 shall, and | shan't, will and won't;
I'll be damned if do-I'll be damned if don't"
But enough of this. take, think, common
sense view OF the powers vested by the Constitu-
ton in the Congress Of the United States. hold,
sir, that have the right, as free citizen OF this
Union, to emigrate to the territory OF New MeXl-
leo, whenever tnlnk proper DO HAS l1le 0itlLcH
of any State in the confederacy The Northerner
may go there with his goods and chattes, the Yam
kee with his notions, and the Southern man, if he
chooses, with his slaves The territory belongs to
the Union: it was purchased with the nations
blood and the nations treasure; the gallant Wat
son. the brave Hardin, the generous Ringgold, and
the chivalrc Clay, fell fighting in the same cause
The daring band who bore our coors over the ra
vines and up the cliffs of Monterey, and, perching
the eagle in his eyrie planted the bright stars and
broad stripes on her lofty battlenents, were the
Representatives Of every section of this Union.-
The Green Mountain Boy and the Texas Ranger
the heightened Virginian and the hot blooded Caro-
| nan, stood side by side on the plains OF Buena
Vista. The sons of every State followed the vete-
ran Scott on his march from Vera Cruz to the I'm
perial City. Sir, the South are part owners Of the
territory acquired by the treaty with Mexico The
contract is settled, the deed recorded and portion
of the purchase money paid. Who, then, Will say
that that territory ought not to be held in commons
free to the adventurer IRON every quarter OF TINS
Union. Ii the Constitution authorizes the Congress
of the United States to pass law declaring my ne
groes free their arrival III that country then the
Constitution is humbug, and the laws by which
my slaves are wrested forcibly from my possession
are oppressive and tyrannical. But the Constltu-
ton never gave such authority TO Congress, and
the passage of any law by that body injuring the
emigrant or the property of the emigrant, from any
section ct this country to New Mexico, would be
violent assumption power, contrary to the spirit
IOl lG6 OGStllUliOu, anu lH Naoioeioh "a Aeo
compromises.
MIR. Speaker, l look upon the discussion that has
grown up against the resolutions as peculiarly un-
fortunate Clouds dark and portentous are hover
ing in your National horizon. large and power.
full party on the floor of Congress- are ready to haul
down the banner of the Union, to trample OH the
dearest rights Of the South. Sir under these cir.
cumstances, all the eoquence, all the logic and all
the arguments OF the gentlemen on the other side
of the house, fall like an iceberg my heart. 1t
| ~, ,okf anlyN
horts of fanacism careering through her terri
tory. But let the crime be on her head 1t she does
not sti1e the denatienazing spirt-ere it burst in
to stream of blood. Sir, do not fear for this no.
be Commonwealth, for the lovely daughters that
cluster around your fre-sides, nor your gallant
sons hut do fear for this glorious Union: In by.
gone days common blood cemented the broad
4 altar Of liberty around which we worshp-When
the hurricane of war swept over this country, our
banner was borne aloft, through the DIN OF pat'ie
and the dusky storm. by an united vaor. Now,
when the incendary is lighting his torch and the
vultures Of society are looking on with felon eyes,
l pray that all Southern men may stand on the
same altar and cluster around the same banner.
Mr.. Speaker,I cannot believe that the passage Of
the resolutions will in any way endanger the safety
OF the Union. 4 love this Union as do the lie
blood that gushes about my heart. 1t is to save,
not to destroy the Union, that shall give my vote
for the resolutions. We should act-forbearance
has ceased to be a virtue; let Virginia and the
South take determined stand, the Norm VIII re-
fleet, and this embarrassing question will be settled
forever But if we stand IDLY here porting over in
|tricate questions of constitutional aw-the NORTH
will be emboldened by your want of action, and
]God knows what may be the consequences. Sir,
would demand at the hands of Congress justice te
the South we are anxious TO perpetuate the I'm.
lion, hut we are not willing to be tranped upon.-
When we pass our resolutions, when we have sent
forth warning voice to our Northern brethren, we
have done all in our power to do IF they listen to
reason and are willing to do justice 10 the South,
the Union is saved. IT, on the contrary, they are
not satisfied, and insist on forcing upon us unwhoe-
some laws, then Virgnan and Southern
man, am prepared'to redeem the pledge made IN
therresolutons to resist at all hazards and to the
Hast extremity.
Saturday, Januory20.
Prayer by the Rev Mr.. Moore.
The committee of Schools, &c, reported bill
to incorporate the Fincastle Seminary
| Cd from