The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-04-06
INTERESTING DEBATE
IN TIE
u. STATES sen ATE.
SLAVERY ~ THE TERRITORIES MR.
WEBSTER AMI MR. CALHOUN.


2 WEBSTER AND Mr.. CALHOUN.
j la Senate on Ss'ufd4y las,, smeudneu'
? TO the C'vs and Diplomatic appropriation
{ Bili, being under consideration.
, Mr.. Webster. The honorable Senator
) from South Carolina, Who has Us, 'akei
his seat, says he IS prepared to say bodily
: tina, the Norihcru Safes have not ob.efseJ
but have broken, the compromise Of th'
constitution. l, IS no duty of nine. ,ir, &c
! take Up glove tina. Is thrown to the whole
world. II 10 no duty OF mine to occep, o
general challenge. Gu, il the honorable
INT nbcr shall see fl to be 80 ob!iglng as Ia
inform the Senate. ~ my hearing, on What
occasions the Safe whose representative
stand here has lorborne TO observe, or has
broken, the compfoni o. of the cOns,liu.
ton, he viii find 10 me co.nbliaut upon
lha, question.
NJ. Buller. iok. the liberty to AK
tie genllemso, #. 10 every respect, he has
Sustained the laws Of lhr Um,ed Siates'
Mr.. Webster. have NC, lcldrd the
1lor, sir.
Mr.. Butler asked the question 10
good faith. sir.
Mr.. Webster. ! do not doubi it. viii
ieli the a,or with great pleasure # the
Senator desires, (,sk,ug hi; sesr.)
I Mr.. Butler understood tie Senator
TO ask me whether the STATE Of Massachu.
Mr. Webster in his ses'.) No ar,
Mr.. Webster. Ny opinion Is, then. Il
'he Senator asked nv Judsmeu, -
Mr.. Calhoua On b., seit) IL did no;
ask on.
Mr.. Builer. Then beg your pardon,
sir, for the INTERRUPTION.
Mr.. Webster. have no, tho Iels, oh
lectlon. sir. did nat make a point OF this.
| will hear the gentleman sith the great
est rtspect-tte respect which ! always
feel FOR hlm. Al that mean TO say is,
that II he 10 prepared 10 reduce ahai seem
oil 10 be- q general cha re to a particular
charge aud II be shall undertake to specify
Of pirncularize any case 10 which the e.
glslaiure OF the Safe whose representative
ain here. has forbofne 10 observe OF has
broken. or attempted TO break or violate
the co npromlse OF lhe constitution, Il will
be my duty to NEE, thai question. and DO
f.nd the Safe IN Which 1--we. do no,
intend to 90 in'o ihbt, SIR. q, oil At rrrscn,.
Oihef Safe, can answer Tor themselves.
MI. Pte.d n'. /, 10 Of some importance
that Ne shoul u seek TO have clear ldcas and
eotrec' notions ii the qlesion ~hlch tbs
fnduent Of tho honorable Senator from
Wisconsin presents to " and especially
OF ~ha, Is mean, by the proposition in a
ia@ 10 "citend the Constitution OF The
tnhed State. to a territory" Why. the
thing Is utterly impossible. All the legs.
laturcs 10 the ~utId. TO this general form.
could TO, accomplish II, there 10 no con.
gruI,y ;hefe is no cese for tho action Of
legs,buye power IN such matter ss that.
The Constitution why, What is We
extend tho Constitution Of the Cntied
States, by law, 10 g territory Well,
what is Tho Constitution OF the UnIcd
States 7 What sits very principle Why.
!, 1t not that all silhiu us iuiiIenee and
eomprt heuson shall be represented IN The
legislature which /, establishes shall have
not ouly right Of debate, bu, rtgh, of
vote that oil have representation 10 both
houses Of the leslsla,urel /. 10, tha, the
fundamental principle Of the Constitution I
Does It no, oil res, upon that Can VIC,
by law, extend that to a territory Of the
Cnued Statcs' Every body viii sec that
1t 10 altogether lmprsctIcable.
We'll, the amendment goes on II the
sane way, and says, further, tina, the rev.
enue laws she'll, ne far as they are suitable,
be spilled IN the territories. Nov. shou d
ike TO kno~ whether tina, eual6ca,ion Of
the honorable member 90 he understands 1t
spplIes, as far az 1t 10 suitable. TO the Con.
slltutlon itself; or whether no understands
thai qualification ss application only to the
revenue laws of the Unued Ststes which
he proposes TO establish IN the territory.
Does the expression, "as far as suitable, "
, apply to the Constitution or the revenue
laws, or both
; Mr.. Walker. | would say this, cir thai
whatever may have been said 10 the dis
cussion OF that point, !, certainly was no
my meantng to frame the smendmen, tt
, extend the constitution 10 this territory II
} those respects IN which i, may be inappi
, cahIs.
Mr.. Webster. Then i, comes to this
that the Constitution, US far as pract,cabl,
~ TO be extended to tho territory /; and how
/. far II is practicable, is TO DO left to the Pre-
' s,den, OF the United States; and therefore
n the President Of the United States, aferl
h is a territory, is an absolute despo, owe
q tina, territory. lie is the Judge Of ~ha,
Il suitable and Of What Is unsuitable; ; an
:. what he thinks suitable he applies, 40
n what no thinks unsuitable no rctuses to Of
o ply. lie is omnis in hoe. i Is 10 say
general terms that the President of III
United States shall govern this territory o
T. he sees f, until Congress makes turtle
1. provision. Ii that be It, It 10 exactly lea,
n ing the territory under the military ruI
u which now subslsts over ii. The Pres
r. dent may make the custom houses. as a
10 tempted IN tho case OF Florida, bu, N