The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-24
Mr.. Benton's Speech.

70 this .ee, and especially ,seS, a.scsn
tinianees.
Mr. Kenton's Speech.
We had designed publish entire the late speech de.
ivered by Mr. Benton to the people OF Missouri at JEFF
fsrson city, in that State, but find good share Of il
relates mainly to personal differences between himself
and Mr. Calhoun and not really necessary to eucdate
the grounds of his appeal from the resolutions of nsruc-
tons passed by the legislature of his State We there
fore omit as much of the speech which relates
to the personal differences of the two distinguished sena.
tors, without at the time leaving much that
may be necessary to give true view of Col Bentons
positions upon the question which is pending between
him and the people of Missouri.
We Also for the purpose of giving readers cor
rect idea Of the nature of the contest now going on in
Missouri, copy the short address to his constituents of
Charlton and Howard counties by C. F. Jackson esq
author of the resolutions which passed the legislature of
Missouri and from which the appeal taken by Colonel
Benton.
And in conclusion, give the letter of General Foote
to Henry A. Wise, answer to the speech of Colonel
Benton. General Foote, regarding himself as coming
within the implications of the Speech has taken this
method to reply
We have only to add, that if Mr. Calhoun shall con-
then deem duty to publish those portions of the
speech of the latter which we have omitted, together
with the answer of Mr. Calhoun
Extracts from the speech Of the Hon. Thomas H. Benton
TO MePsope Missouri, delivered IN the city of Letter.
CITIZENS have received certain resolutions from the
General Assembly of Missouri denying the right of Con-
to egsate upon the subject of slavery in errtores
asserting the right of the citizens of every State to re-
move TO The territories acquired by the blood and treasure
|of the whole Union, with their propery declaring il to
be insult to the States TO exclude any of their citizens
from so removing and settling with their property alleg
ing such insult to De cause OF alienation among the
States, and ultimately of disunion and nstructng the
senators OF the State and requesting its
10 vote In conformity 10 the resolves adopted.
These instructions (of which now only give the sub
sance) were adopted by the General Assembly after the
81 Co1sss a, and after The time that i must
had been disposed OF in Congress- and while other
lutons incompatible with them had been given by the
by me. and still hand They mere copy Of
the Calhoun resolutions ered in the Senate in February
ls47, denounced by at the time frebrand intend
ed for electoneerng and dsunion purposes and aba-
doned by him after their introduction without call
ing vote upon them, for which will be here
alter shown. produce them in order to justify the char
acter give OF them, and to show them to be the original
o those which have received from the General Assem-
bly, of Missouri:
The Calhoun resoiations
Resoued That the territories Of the United States belong
the seyea States composing this Union and held by
them as their Joint and common property.
RsolOed That Congress as the Joint agent and repre-
any law do any whatever that SHALL directly or by
this Union BY which any them shall be deprived Of its
full and equal right IN any territory Of the United States
Resolved That the of any law which should
directly its effects deprive the citizens of any the
States this Union from emigra,ng with their properly
into any OF the territories of the United States will make
such nation, and would, therefore, be violation
OF the constitution and the rights of the States from which
Sucn citizens deTOgaOn OF perfect
equality which belongs to them members Of the tnon
and would tend directly to subver the Union itself.
"Resoipfd, That, as fundamental principle in po-
ea creed, people, in forming constitution have the
which they may think best calculated secure liberty
prosperity and happiness and that in conformity thereto
State in order to her admission into this Union exec pit
of other by Congress would only be violation
the constitution but in direct conflict with principle
on which political system rests"
These resolutions brought into the Senate Feb
ruary 49, ls47 and the prototype of those by
the General Assembly of Missouri no difference
in them but in the time contemplated for dissolution Of
the Union, MIR. Cahouns tending directi' and those
of Missouri ultimately to that point In other re-
spects they dentca and this difference is not mate
rial. as the Missouri resolutions pledge the State to
operate with other savehodng States, and therefore,
to follow their lead which may be directly the Acco
mac resolutions vouched to be the voice of the South
call for State convention soon as bill can be passed
for the purpose to organize the mode Of action con.
slider the Calhoun resolutions the parent of those
adopted by Legislature, and entitled TO the first
point vi VIEW snail speak 10 tnem nrS
and begin with argument against them derived from
the conduct OF that gentleman himself.
This is my second personal reason for dwelling on Mr.
Calhoun. II is to epel his attacks upon me- Public
duty in the Senate of the United States would have re-
quired to reply to his resolutions If he had called
them up there. Their passage through the Missouri
legislature makes it still more my duty to do These
resolutions are his, copied from his, with such exacude
of ideas, that some tansposon OF clauses and some
variation OF phrase deceive one II only berays
a design to disguise where disguise is impossible have
read the original; here is the copy:
RESOLUTIONS ON THE sUpJscr OF SLAVERY.
Rsolpsd By the General Assem6iy of the State of issour
That the federal constitution the result Of
between conflicting of the which
formed it, and part of that instrument be found
ANY Of Congress egsate the sub
OF slavery excepting special provisions having
the prospective abolition Of the African slave trade
made the securing the recovery of fugitive slaves any
attempt, therefore, the part OF Congress egsatc
1.-THE subject, affect the institution of the
States the District OF Columbia, in the Territories
say the least, violation OF the prime pies upon which
that instrument founded
- That the territories, acquired by the blood and
OF the whole nation, ought be
mon benefit of the people OF all the Sates and any orgsn
cation OF tie territorial excluding
|o any part OF the Union from removing tertore
with their property would be power by Com
Inconsistent with the spirit upon which federa
compact was based Insulting the and
|y OF the States thus affected, calculated ALLEVIATE one
portion OF the Union from another and tending
TO d,sunon
"3 That this General Assembly regard the co ,duct of
the northern States the subject Of slavery releasing
the savehoding States from all further adherence 70 the
basis OF compromise fixed by the of Cong Of
March ., 1920 IL such did impose obi-
cation upon the saveboldng States and them
% insist upon their rights under the constitution but, fof