The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-20

duty ueVOVes on her OF giving shape to the destinles OF
the powerful Commonwealth which must one day occu.
Ply her boundaries She feels her responsibility and will
not shrink from it, She dare MOI omit the duty of main
tan umparsa the freedom Of hsT people anS
with the rest OF the Unon for without equality neither
sne liberty OF the individual nor the independence OF
States exist. The issue involves her sovereignty
and this she must defend and preserve-happy if in
doing so the Union can be preserved.
The resolutions, Mr. President speak for themselves;
they declare the united voice OF Florida they delibe
rately assume a posture and pledge from
which the State cannot recede with honor, and from
which, therefore, feel warranted 10 say she will not
recede
1t remains only for TO say that approve cordially
the course which my State has indicated for her citizens
and shall humbly but faithfully aid in giving effect TO
her will
| move now that the resolutions be read, and printed
for the information of the Senate
The resolutions were then read follows:
STATE Of Florida IL Gs~erai Assemby tonpsned That, as
friends of the Union, view with most serious alarm the
OF northern brethren in relation to the question OF
siaverya which, marked by nnkintness, wrong, in
suit and injury, has already TO most unfortunate extent
weakened the bonds which unite them and which, if
persisted in in the same spirit can only terminate in fur
Their alienation and in the inevitable dissolution OF the
Resotpsd That the recently acquired territory having
a aa bs ss n h e
entitled, equally with any other portion of the Union,
wing ha, Congress under the eo
slit1on no power TO pass such measure adopting SINH
declare as heir opinion, that Under no Circumstance.
will The people of mis- State be willing to recognise bind
object the prohibition of slavery any territory south
The line OF the Missouri Compromise holding TO be the
every the confederacy reside with his property
of whatever description, any acquitted by the
of the United States yielded by treaty with
Resoiped That the abolition of slavery in the District
Columbia involving, it Does an exercise OF power
granted by the constituon and designed il is,
means OF affecting the Institution OF slavery in the States
against which 1t is aimed blow, should be resisted
the part of the South by whatever best adapted
to the protection OF the constitution the defence OF herself
and the preservation of the Union.
Resoiped That, knowing party or political d
visions, questions involving in their settlement and
sequences the character property and lives OF those whom
represent, ready, heart and soul, with united
'front.' JON Virginia. the Caronas and the other south
States, taking such measures for the defence OF
rights and the preservation OF ourselves, and those whom
we hold dear, as the highest wisdom OF all may whether
devise
Resolved That copy of resolutions be transmitted
the governor of each OF the slave States with request
hat they be laid before the legislatures of such
in session.
Mr.. WESTCOTT. Mr.. President, trust may rely
upon the indulgence of the Senate listen to few re-
marks which deem my duty to my State and to myself
to make on this occasion.
The resolutions presented by my colleague adopt
ed by the General Assembly of the State of Florida
the 4h of last month"; Copies of them were received by
1t will be noticed they do indicate the governor of
the State the transmission OF them to the senators and
representative OF the State in Congress. They do not
contain any instructions the senators any request
the representative They are not directed to be- laid be-
fore either house of Congress The is directed
merely to transmit copy Of them to The governors Of
each Of the sauc States ,cuh the request that they be lad
before the legislatures of those States"
presume the direction thus given was because the
resolutions treat OF question OF local and domestic pol
icy of the slave States ere siueiy with which the non
slaveholding States have rightully concern and to
avoid afordng any pretey Tin reply to those resoutons)
for what might be offensive and tend to increase the un
kind feelings already existing.
My colleague in this body, upon consulta with me,
has deemed it proper to submit these resolutions 10 the
Senate of the conederacy, of which the State we repre-
sent here, although OF its youngest members, is,
under the constitutions the equal OF the eldest an proud
est We have regarded 1T due to Florida, and as due
to her sister States, that her feelings and her deermna-
ton upon this momentous question should be expressed
here and placed record and though the terms OF the
resolution do not enjon upon us to them and
tons Of the New York legislature, made few days
since, we cannot doubt the motion will be acceded to-
Mr.. President, am egotst enough to regard the for
bearance of the legislature of Florida give any nsruc
tons those who represent the State in Congress to the
confidence eposed in them by the legislature that the
subject referred to those resolutions such instructions
unnecessary Ii know myself, that confidence
is not misplaced may differ with some from the South
the best be adopted protect and defend sue
cessully the constitutional rights of the southern States
and of their citizens on this SUBJECT but will not yield
any sincerity of purpose to maintain those rights to
the last extremity. There is thing that will not do.
will not consent to make this mere party question.
will do my utmost to prevent II being prosuted to such
degenerate purpose This question shall never, with my
aid, be made football for political aspirans here
elsewhere relOiceu TO tnat the leRiS oil
my State, the resolutions laid before the Senate,
(Which learn adopted unanimously express the
opinion; and can freely declare that every senti
men every word and letter of these resolutions lind an
echo in my feelings, and approval IN my deliberate
Judgment.
MIR President in these resolutions there is menace.
There words of sound and fury slgnying moth
ing" found in them They are in grave but earnest
language, becoming sovereign State, whose free cii.
feel that they have been and are lnsultei and
wronged by those who to regard power only the
limit of right.
Sir the first resolution declares that the people OF the
State of Florida, as FRIENDS THE UNION, view with
in relation to the question OF slavery-a course which,
marked by unkndness, wrong, insult, and injury, has
already unfortunate extent weak ned the bonds
which unite them and us; which, if persisted in, in the
spirit, only terminate in further alienation, and
in the inevitable dissolution of the confederacy.''
Would to Heaven, Mr. President, that could impress
my fellow citizens of the other sections OF the Union,
with the conviction that the sad prediction there made
will be verified, If the OF insult is not hHshedt
the hand of aggression is not stayed and II sectional
faction is checked in lis selfish encroachmens upon
the constitution, and upon the equal rights OF the South
under that compact
That prediction Mr.. President is "THE INEVITABLE
DISSOLUTION OF THE CoNFEDERAcY."
What true American Is there who can look upon such
catastrophe but with horror' There may be those who
can | am not of that number. | have ever held, and
while live shall hold that The preservation OF the fed
era Union, upon the principles which were adopted as
its basis by those who made the constitutional compact,
ought to be the controlling dictate Of the political conduct
of every good citizen repeat sir, the Union ana It's
perpetuy upon the principles oil the constitution should
be the polar of every patriot look to the dissolu-
of this conederacy the political extinction OF re-
spectacle power among the nations OF the earth-of the
people of all this continent.
Nk.,t k,sH k,ch haas pTfp al