The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-21
CITY OF WASHINGTON. SATURDAY MORNING. JULY 81 ls4s


Remainder OF MIR. Bsnten's speech.
When published the argumentatiye portions Of
Colonel Beaton's speech, delivered Al jefferson City,
Missouri. in May last we omitted those portions Of il
which were merely personal upon MIR Calhoun, prom
ising in the event that Mr. Calhoun should deem il his
duty to reply TO Colonel Benton, that would publish
the parts omitted Mr. Calhoun has al length replied 70
Colonel Benton, and we now redeem our promise BY
giving the portions Of the speech Of the latter which we
struck ont when we Published the main body OF the
address. We shall then publish Mr. Calhoun's reply to
Colonel Benton We are aware that these papers are
very long, but they part Of the history Of the times
which we deem our duty to imbody in our columns
In the year 1870 Mr. Calhoun was member of Mr..
dent in common with the rest OF the cabinet 10 give his
opinion in writing 10 be filed the Department OF State
on the question OF the power OF Congress prohibit
slavery n territories and on the ccnsuiionaity Of the
eighth section OF the act for the admission OF Missouri
INTO The unlon and which section applied the anti
clause OF the ordinance Of 17s7 than half OF The
whole IerrlIory Of Louisiana. The questions were
mentous The whole Union was then convulsed on the
SUBJECT OF slavery growing out of the Missouri conro-
very Congress had just passed ACT for the admission
Missouri without restriction, but with prohibition of
slavery IN all the territory north and west of her
The act was Just coming MIR Monroe for his approval
or disapproval II approved BY bin il became law at
once; dlsapproyed, the act was defeated forever
ior was known that the constitutional maorifies of
twohIds OF Congress could not be obtained for the
ACT II dlsapproved BY the President The whole re-
sp0nMspy O. psssnE Or defeating the act them rested
responsibility. and that was an occasion to re-
qure the grases advice of his cabinet He determined
70 have their advice and in the most maured and repon
sble form: The act had passed the I'd OF March He
Immediately convoked his cabinet stated the questions
reduced them to writing, gave copy to each member,
and required them to be answered IN wiring On the 9Th
all EnPc A.lI. -. H..
both Questions, and the Immediately approved and
signed, and became the law of the land The law bears
date on that day, March g. 1890 Mr. Calhoun gave his
written opinion, with the rest in favor OF the constu
tionality OF the ACT and whisper was ever heard
from him 10 the contrary, denial OF the right of
Congress TO prohibit or abolish slavery in territories
years after his cabinet opinion had been given
These resolutions brought in the close Of the
short session OF 1851 and were intended for general
debate al the session OF lS47s 1.-THE long session which
preceded the presidential electon and to make chance
for himself al that election by getting up test which
no northern man could stand But that general debate
cabinet opinions OF 1920 had been found out and were
produced IN the Senate TO the confusion OF Mr. Calhoun
and the utter prosraon Of his resolutions They
wards by Mr. Dix. of New York The proofs were in
writing, and the point and from different witness
es. and the two. above all men in the world. the most
and Mr. Adams,) both dead but both speaking from
the tomb, and in the highest form known the law OF
evidencethat OF recorded evidence written down the
lime The true history Of fact and without the slight
est expectation that il 70 be used against any
human being. Mr. Monioe's testimony was in has own
handwriting. obtained from his law, and consisted
OF two pecesone being the inierrogaores propounded
to his cabinet and the other the autograph copy OF
draught OF letter 10 friend The nterrogaiores Were
endorsed thus: . IafnTogatores. Missouri March 4,
1920. To the Heads of Departments and Attorney Gen.
eraIs The interrogatores themselves were In these
words:
@H.s Congress right under the powers vested in il
by The CONSTRUCTOR TO make regulation prohibiting sa-
II. the sss,h section Of the &C, which passed bob
e Ua, On VII, y, ~, me q INTO
Nth these questions was an original draught of let
addressed 10 any one but supposed 10 be written 20 Cen
Jackson, winch letter shows that these two questions
were put 10 Mr. Mcnroes cabinet. were answered BY
them in writing, and thai they were unanimous in an
swenng the questions IN the Affirmative This rs The lei
Ter;
aDran un The question which lately sgitaied Congress
oas.sse Or an ae, for tbe admission q Missouri ss
nreslined, and Arkansas likewise, when reaches ma
rade as line north OF which slavery prohibited. and
permitted the south. took the opinion Ia whiting. Of
erriioes fa.d fhs pors Of epy member saanimoa aadl
which expc; IN favor OF ~ and, ne WAS Thar the
ao 70 States when tbey should be Admired into the Union
point had rsi doubts but the opin
me- sapponed by the sense in which il viewed by ali
who voted die subject ia Congress- VIII appear by the
journals. sAiisfied me respecting IL
The words in brackets crossed out by running the
pen through them, and the word explc substliuieda
substitution evidently made 10 avoid violating the cabinet
rule NOT tell the opinions OF members, which the word
unanimous would do But the word explicit is sufhcent
Taken in connexon with the rest OF the paperwh the
resuand with the (almosi thirty years silence OF Mr
Calhoun that word u equivalent 20 the word unanimous
For II n not 10 be presumed that Mr.. Calhoun was omit
ted in the address OF the queslonsor that be JAILED 70
answer and 10 answer the President required. m wn
tingor that failing 10 answer, would not have been
noied-or answering negatively would NOT have been
equally no,edr above a H. that differing from Crawford
and Other southern men this delicate point he would
moi have lei the secret out al the time prodsced since
a. an evidence Of bis guardianship southern inter
presumpsions against him, and the absence OF all these
concomtzns Of dissent proof positive that he con
Cured with the rest of the cabinet AZ the me and never
Thought OF denying until caught fast and hard IN the
fred fact OF killing contradiction
But the other piece OF writing 40 still more close and
stern than the letter of Mr.. Monroe hn the DIARY o.
Mr. Adams writien down Al the tune. and clear and
pouied 10 every parcnlzrthe questions, the answers,
Inc unsniiy The writing Of the answer, and Their De
u.te IN the Department Of State The extract iron tins
barv furnished and certified BY the son, MIR Charles
Francis Adams, is in these words:
Erfrses from me Disy5 y q dda"s
sM.scr 4 1870 When came this day 10 my Office,
found there requesting 10 call n O'Clock ~ the
Presidents House twas then one and wen
Maine and enable Missouri make onsttuaon would
have been brought him for hts sgnsrnre and he had
snmmoncd ell The members Of the standardization 10 asa
tbeir opinions in writing % be dePosisa IN me Depst
menf Of State, upon questions Whether Congress
hsd constitutional right prohibit slavery in territory
sed Whether the eh section Of the Missouri bin lwhct
inerdici slavery sr N ise ssory norm o. =, asl,
ex,ea a nr n should become Ssaie As 70 The mrs