The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-11

pl'hcipco uPoh WihSh that lunuutHcHt was
2. That the territories, acquired by the blood and
treasure OF the whole nation ought to be governed
for the common benefit of the people Of all the States
and any organization OF the territorial governments
excluding the citizens of any part of the Union from
removing TO such territories with their properly
would be an exercise of power, by Congress, incon-
sistent with the spirit upon which our federal COM
pact was based Insulting to the sovereignty and dig
nifty OF the States thus effected calculated 10 aenaie
one portion of the Union from another and tending
ultimately TO disunon.
3. That this General Assembly regard the conduct
Of the northern states the subject of slavery as
releasing the slavehoding States from all further ad
herance TO the basis Of the compromise fixed on by
by the act of Congress, of March 6l820-even II
such act ever did impose any obligation upon the
slave-hoding States, and authorizes them TO insist
upon their rights under the constitution; but for the
sake OF harmony and for the preservation OF our
federal Union, they will still sanction the application
OF the principles of the Missouri compromise 10 The
recent territorial acquisitions II by such concessions
future aegressons upon the equal rights OF the States
may be arrested and the spirit of antslasery ianati
csm he extinguished.
4. The right to prohibit slavery in amy territory,
belongs exclusively 10 the people thereof and can be
only exercised by Them in forming their constitution
for State government or in their sovereign capa-
| city as an independent stale.
s. Thai in the event Of the passage Of any net Of
Congress conflicting with the principles herein ex-
pressed, Missouri will be found in hearty coop,
l
ures may be deemed necessary Tor our mutual
protection against the ,encroachment Of northern
| ianaticisn.
| G. That our Senators in Congress be instructed
AMI orr Representatives be rquesied TO act in con
tormity 10 the foregoing resolutions"
The Calhoun resolutions were entitled,
"The rights Of Congress over the terrific
ries Of the Union in relation to slavery"
| and were introduced into the Senate, Feb
ruary, 1917. Those of the Missouri Lee
gislature were entitled, "Resolutions in re-
laton to slavery" and were introduced
December, lS3S-the object of both, the
same, to deny the right of Congress to
prevent, or prohibit slavery in terrific
ries, and to denaunce a dissolution OF the
Union if itdid, One was parent to the 9TH
er, and ! presume no man will deny it. And
here | make the exception which truth and
justice requires from me. | have no idea
| that,the mass Of the members who voted for
the resolutions in the last General Assembly,
had any idea that they were Calhoun's, or
considered the dissolution ofthe Union which
they announced, as a thing in actual contem-
plation. But they are not the less injurious
on that account. They are the act of the
General Assembly, and stand for the act Of
the State, and bind it to the car Of Mr.. Cal
houn, and encourage him more than any
event that has taken place. But they are
not the sense of the State, nor even the
sense of all the members who voted for them
The true sense of the State, and | doubt
not Of a large majority Of the members Of
the last Legislature, was faithfully expressed
in the resolves and instructions of the pre-
vious Legislature, which ! had received
and obeeyd, not only in the letter, but in the
spirit. These are they:
"Jont Resolution in relation TO the Missouri COM
| promise Act, of 1920.
"Resoired, That the peace, perinanency and well
fare OF our national Union, depend upon strict adj
herence TO the letter and spirit Of the Sh section of
the act of Congress of the United States, entitled.
An act to authorize the people of the Missouri Ter
riory TO form Constitution and State Government,
for the admission of such State into the Union an
equal footing with the original States, and to pro-
hibit slavery in certain territories approved March
| 9th, 1920 n, fo"
"Resolrea, That our Senators in the Congress Of
the United States hereby instructed, and rep
resentatives requested TO vote in accordance with
provisions and the spirit Of the said eighth section
of the said act, in all the questions which may come
before them in relation 10 the organization of new
territories, or states out of the territory now be-
longing to the United States which hereafter may
be acquired either by purchase BY treaty, or by con-
quest w.
The resolves passed the General Assembly
Of Missouri on the 9Th day of February,
lsA7--just four days before Calhoun brought
into the Senate Of the United States his fire
brand resolutions, which denounced upon
the spot-whch have been adopted by the
Missouri Legislature at the last session, and
from which now appeal to the State-the
whole State. How dlerent-how irrecon-
cilably hostile to each other-thc two sets
Of resolutions! One makes the peace, per-
4nanency, and welfare of our national Union,
dependent upon strict adherence to the spirit
and terms Of tile Missouri Compromise, in
its application 10 new territory-that is to
lsay, upon the constitutional right, and the
equitable exercise Of that right, to legislate
upon slavery in the new territory, and to
admit it in part, and prevent it in part; the
other makes the dissolution Of the Union de-
pendent upon the same platform Of fact and
principle denying the right OF Congress to
permit, or prohibit, slavery in territory
asserting its prohibition to be a violation OF
the constitution Of the United States--an in
suit 10 the sovereignty Of the States-an
tending to the dissolution Of the Union. Sad
contradiction this, when the same remedy is
both to cure and to kill ard although the
political doctors may prescribe both, yet,
surely, the political patient who has taken
one, has right to talk little with the doc.
tors before he swallows the other.
Yes, citizens! Congress hasthe power to
legislate upon slavery in territories, and to
admit, or prohibit, It's existence, in fact, to
compromise it. She has the constitutional
power, but can never hereafter exercise it.
The new dogma Of no power in Congress to
legislate on the subject, has killed all com
promise Those who deny the power cannot
vote for it it would be a breach of their
oath Those who want no slavery in the
new territories, will not vote for compromise
and thus extremes meet--combine against
the middle--and defeat all compromise The
resolutions Of Mr.. Calhoun have done this