The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-07-06

From the Baltimore Sun.
Col. Bentcn's Speech on Slavery

| pie oil Missouri, delivered al Jefferson city, :,
| Mo, 90 the Goth ult. There are a d,zen
columns of il; but we are limited to the
following synopsis and extracts:
The speech was drawn on, bv - reso.
lniions recently passed by the General As.
sembly Of Missouri, denying the right OF
Congress 10 legisa,e upon the subject Of
slavery IN The territories. The resolutions
we're designed to instruct Mr.. Benton and
his colleague. For himself. Mr.. Benton
declines to comply with them, and spfeuls
TO the people-the whole people.
Col. Benton starts Gu, by giving the cub,
stance OF the Missouri resolutions, witch
be says are a mere copy of Mr.. Ca nouns
resolutions Cfeie ed 10 the Senate, IN Fehru.
airy, leIN that he secs no difference te.
tween The Two, but 10 toe time ron,empla-
ted for the dissolution Of the Union-Mr.
Caihouu's tending " directly" and those of
Missouri b" ultimdt!y," TO that point. The
following are Mr.. Caihoun's resolutions J
"Resol-ed, Tha. the territories of The
United States belong to the several States
composing tins Uuion, and are held by them
as their joint ard comnon property.
teFOfTtu, Hbt N-bUSICsei ds 'tI JhHs 4
agent and representative Of the aies OF
this Union, has no right TO make any law
or do any act whatever tia. shall, directly
or by rs ,ff'.cts. make apv discrimination
, between the Sa,es of this Union, by which
any of item shall. be deprived OF ito full
aud equal ri.ht 10 nty territory of the Uni.
5 ted States acquired or to be acquired
Rtsolred, That the euactmen, OF any
O law which should, directly or by It's efects,
deprive the CT z.ns Of any Of the States Of
). thus Union from emgra'ing With their pro-
perty mo any Of the territories OF The Uni.
i. ted States, will make such discrimination,
d aud would, therefore, be a violation Of the
CONSTITUTION and the rights Of the States
II RON which such ci,iZans emgrated, and IN
I, drrogatIon of that peftec. equality which
). belongs 10 them as members OF The Union,
/. and ould tend directly TO subven the Uni.
on itself.
b s.Rfsolred, That, as o fonda men al prin.
n cipe IN our political creed, people, IN
s. forming a constitution, have the uncondl
as lional right to form aud sdor, the govern.
nen, which they may think best calculated
10 secure liberty, prosperity aud happiness;
aud that, 10 conformity thereto, no other
t. condition is imposed by the Federal Con.
L s,i.uion on a State in order TO her admis.
le sion into this Unon except tina. its consti-
oil tuition be republican, and that the imposi,
I'd tlon OF any other by Congress would not
u only be il violation Of the constitution, but
!" in dlrec. COZ fl CT with the principle on
~ which our political system rests"
e. Having established. to his own sa.isfac.
y ton, the identity Of the two sets Of resolu-
" ,ions, and declared those Of the South Cate
re DINA Senator to be the paren, Of those OF
10 the Missouri Assembly. Mr.. Ben!onfgives
o. his attention first TO the former, and begins
is with an argument agains, them, derived
ip from The conduc! OF the originator himself.
o. He says:
"ln the year 1880, Mr.. Calhoun was q
member Of MIR. Monroe's Cabinet, and 40
- such was required by the President, in CON.
- mon with the rest Of the Cabinet, to give
- his opinion in writing, TO be filed in the de-
ar partment Of State, on the question Of the
=, power Of Congress to prohibit slavery in
~ Territories, and on the consli,a'ionality OF
~ tie 8 h section Of the oct for the admission
:, of Missouri into the Unon, and which sec.
:. - lion applied the li.savefy clause Of the
ordinance OF ] 1877, to more than half Of the
~ whole territory Of LOUISIANA. The ques.
tons were momentous. The whole Union
was then convulsed on the subject Of slave.
- ~, growing out Of the Missouri conlrover.
- sy. Congress- had Just passed an act for
= the admission Of Missouri without restric.
- ton, bit with prohibition Of slavery mall
the territory north and west of her. The
~ act wa, Just coming to Mr.. Monroe for HE
air approval or disapproval. Ii approved by
=. h,m, it became law at once; if disspprov.
:" ed, the act was defeated forever for 1t was
- known that the constitutional majori,es Of
two thirds Of Congress could not be obtain.
as ed for the acs if disapproysd by the Pres.
ident.
"The whole responsibility Of passing OF
- defeating the act, then rested 90 Mr.. Mon.
- roe. He felt the magnitude Of that respon.
- sblli,y, and saw tina, it was an occasion to
= require the graves. advice Of his Cabinet.
tie determined to have their advice and in
~ the mos. maluted and responsible FORM
!" The act had passed on the 3D. OF March
81 He imme d,a,ely convoked his cablnet-sta-
~ ted the quesions-re reduced them to writing
gave copy to each member--and re-
:. CURED them to bs answered in writing
- Ga the 6h, ell the answers we're gwen
- and all in the affirmative on both questions
= and the act was immediately approved and
signed, end became the law Of che land
The law bears date on tina. dsy-March
n. s.h, 1890. Mr.. Calhoun gave his written
a opinion with The rest, 10 favor Of the con.
10 st,tulionalny Of the act. and 90 whisper
q was ever heard from him to the contrary,
-, or 10 denial Of the right OF Congress to pro.
), hiBt, or abolish slavery in ,erri.ories. until
: the introduction of his ebrand rssolu-
N ,icns, twenty seven years after bis cabinet
- .op.nron had been giveo. These resolutions
:. were brouph, in near the close Of the short