Democratic banner., 1849-07-09

Such inequality in the rights Of the citi-
zens of the slave and free States, could
never have been contemplated. Can it be
supposed that the slave States would have
ratified a Constitution giving the General
Government the power to close the doors
of the slave States upon the slave popula-
ton, and thereby, in the process Of time,
to force the white population to abandon
those States to the negroes? for such would
be the effect Of this dangerous power, could
it be exercised.
Upon the principles Of justice-even adj
hitting the powerto be in Congress without
restriction-csn that body without q total
disregard of right, exclude the citizen slave
holder Of Missouri, from emigrating to New
Mexico with his slaves? Would it be just
and proper to exclude the gallant soldiers,
who conquered and held that territory, from
settling there, with their slaves; and yet to
permit men Of all nations, Of all Languages
and %colors, without restriction? Congress
has the power to make all needful rules and
regulations for the government Of tie Ter
|ritories, but those rules and regulations can
not violate the Constitution, or the p%rinci-
pies upon which It was formed.
As to the resolutions of ths Legislature,
I ,ciN obey them: LIST. Because they express
the UiH Of my constituents. To tile Gener-
al assembly Of the State Of Missouri: am I
indebted for my seat III the United States
Senate, and acknowledge their right to in
struet, and my duty to O6eyo or resign. I'd.
I will most cheerfully comply with their in
structions, because I concur in the princi-
pies avowed BY them, and for the very rea-
sons assigned in them.
look upon the instructions contained in
the resolutions passed by the Legislature Of
Missouri in ls49 and those contained in the
resolutions passed in ls47 as substantially
the same. Those of ls47 declsre, "Thst
the peace. permanency and welfare Of our
National Union depend upon a strict adhe-
renee to the letter and spirit" Of the Mis-
souri, compromise. If the letter and spir-
it Of the Missouri compromise is not strict
|ly adhered to, the Legislature declares that
"the peace, %permanency and welfare Of our
National Union" is shaken, because it is
made to "depend upon" it.
This language is equally as strong, if not
stronger, than that contained in the resolu-
tons Of ls49. They declare that "for the
sake Of harmony and for the preservation
of our federal Union they will sanction the
application Of the principles of the Mis-
souri, compromise" There is but little diff
ference between them. Iconsider them az
similar in every respect, and do not think
any act could consistently be done under
the one, which would be debarred by the
other.
Prior to the instructions my action had
been in accordance with the spirit Of those
resolutions and I take this occasion TO ex-
press my qualification, that my action on the
agitating and dangerous question Of slave
|ry, has been approved of, even by implica-
ton; and I do not for a moment doubt, but
that those resolutions substantially express
the sentiments of a very large majority of
the people of Missouri. They require me
to oppose the Wilmot Proviso and all kim
dred measures. This I have done and will
continue to do. I do not at all consider that
l Am instructed, by any thing contained in
those resolutions, to do any act, having a
tendency to dissolve the Union. A firm
and manly resistance to the infringements
of the Federal Constitution, cannot, with
propriety, be construed into an act, looking
to a'dissolution of the Union. The Consti-
tuition is the bond of Union. When that is
violated and thrown aside we have no guar
antics left.
The fifth resolution, of the last Missouri
Legislature, has my most cordial approba-