The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-01

4 nI,
sve OF the dominion, and revolving to the natural low
OF consequence and power in the larger States, wa
hnally acquesced IN Its clear justice in federativ
government, backed and enforced by that aren revolu
tonary spirit not then extinct, which natonazed every
thing, trumphed every objection and thus
ITS adoption as one of the most marked and conservative
features OF the whole constitution.
But 1t Is not much to the extent OF the compromise
IN this particular matter to which would direct your al
tenton Mr. Chairman, as it is 10 the principle which
1t is madethe principle, namely, of defending the toeaA
against the Entertainments and dggresons of the strong
81 will not have said Isocrates, when treating with
tain Grecian States about the affairs of AthensI will no
have" said he "any guarantee that you offer bu
this that you shall not be able TO hurt if you would
This is precisely the guarantee intended by consu
strong should not hurt them if they would 1t mo-
enough to the equitable and just and provilent spirit OF
our constitution makers that the States should in all
specs, be safe and well off under the constitution
then forming as they were before they looked and la
bored for something beyond this, and better than this
Determined to place every State in sonnder and safer
sufficient for all local wants. but they abored as to
possess it. at the same time. with central head, which
should be perfectly capable of defending it from all ex-
terna aggression and yet perfectly incapable OF commit
ting upon It any aggression of its own.
After this brief and imperfect sketch of the compromise
character OF the constitution, feel myself more at hber-
~ to insist upon the representative duties which that
character enolns, and to require, on behalf OF the South
and as one OF its representatives here, that Its high
hortes be executed for the broad and national ends for
which they were given Our situation in the South, so
tar as any OF the rights interests which attach to can
be subjected resultngy, TO the action OF Congress,
is just that which of the compromises spoken Of
were intended to provide for We are minority in
numbers we are minority in interest; thus la
boring under double ncapac to defend ourselves rep
resentatvely, here, and have other reliance, pin
the constitution, for the protection of our rights and in
erests, when questioned assa led except in the faith
full and righteous administration of that instrument, un
der the limitations for the objects and in the fraternal
spirit in which it was formed This is our reliance it
may be what expect il to ba-a safe and solid re
ance; It may be worthless and a rotten one What
ever it be, 1t Is constitutional all and deter
mined to stand upon it whist it lasts Should it fail
which Heaven forbid and we, consequence, be
thrown off, unprotected and aggreved then, in that
dread hour, shall look for such relief for ourselves
outside OF the constitution whole of exigency
and OF duty shall suggest Meanwhile, and as the wise
and fit preventive of any such ultimate resort, invoke
the earnest and instant of all the safeguards and
tecting energies OF the constitution And this we do with
confidence made stronger and deeper by the fact that
our own southern States amongst the foremost to
surrender the powers upon which these very safeguards
were established What State, for instance
riiced Virginia sacrificed, in constituting the coequal
ty of the Senate in admitting to an equal participation
with herself, in the adjustment of questions affect
ing her own rights some States which would not have
figured as handbreadth upon the map of her immense
dominons? When this was done, (l7SS,) Virginia
the most powerful of all the States in the Unon-the
most powerful in population, in wealth. in physical ca
pabilty, in prospective growth and UNNECESSARILY the
most in political influence and control Yet she sur
rendered these great advantages generously and without
murmur that she might cooperate with her sister
States III building up permanent and as far as possible
VI
the decnceess and the weak. The feeble in interest
or in numbers were TO be ramped on by the strong
N either or IN both ms was the immunity which she
labored and which she sacrificed to establish; and this
therefore, with special and emphatic justice she is emit
tied to demand Give to her wherever the action of the
government touches her rights that safety which she
contributed much and freely secure for the ben
eft OF others and OF all give her this and let her
perience, and so show on your part that national
crosby such hers is not in all simple and
dulterated national folly.
But, Mr.. Chairman, when thus speak of compromise
desire TO be understood doing with reference only TO
the general representative duty which imposes, but with
whatever to the measure which have been en-
deavoring to support, that OF allowing Mexican ter
ritones to take upon themselves Immediately the func
tons and the independence of State. So far from
ferrng to that, it would be extremely difficult it seems
to me, to present any measure upon any great greatly
conovered subject OF national policy, which, either
consuionally or otherwise, involves little of
promise in it as that measure does Constltutionay
sdered, it scarcely affords ground enough upon which
the subest exposItor could support the most shadowy
abstraction; whilst, practical measure, coming into
competitor with other measures demands only that it
should be preferred, that II should be taken choice,
and is to that extent, and that only compromise. 1t
calls upon to dlsavow his avowas tasks not that
any member should repudiate etract his opinions.
The anti provso and the provso both sup
port in perfect consistency with what each of them has
said of his opinions and what each has said against
the opinions of the other The anttprovso member
cannot and will not vote for support any act of this
the territories of the United States fro any of the slave
holding States will be prohibited. The provso member,
taking the opposite ground, will not, and cannot as he
AYERS, give his vote his sanction to any act OF this
government by which the introduction of slave, from
any quarter into the territories shall be allowed Thus
they stand mutually facing and detyng another and
both calling upon the great geographical sections which
they respectively represent to stand up and support them
Here it Is, at this point, that the olIered
proposes to interfere; 1t proposes to step before the
conendng parles and cut off all necessity for decision
upon the questions IN controversy between them; it
asks the privilege OF making up record in the
matter and going to trial and judgment upon that :;
proposes, in other words, to sink the whole question
OF territorial government with its long train OF diff
cutes doubts and dangers, and to eAertan place OF
1t the question of an immediate formation of State gov
eminent with its admitted rights and admitted usdc-
ton. Our whole embodiment with one another here re-
ates to the extent OF the legislative authority which
Congress may constituonaly exercise the terrific
res whilst they subject to its control We have
disagreement OF opinion whatsoever the powers and
rights OF these territories their affairs, from
the moment their territorial condition renounced and
their State condition is assumed From that moment as
we all agree, they are absolutely and entirely ndepen-
dent OF this government in the regulation and control of
their own internal concerns and have the full and
erelgn right oil perfect State to establish lust such
system OF civil rights and civil institutions as NAV be
most agreeable to themselves The measure before us
wisely avoiding the ground of irreconcilable and hone
less dispute, puts itself upon that OF az reemen
and therefore, with great JUSTICE calls upon all to come
mist parties what each of them would doubtless have
prelerred--the triumph OF his side On the contra
ry, II madlaes between them spirit of fraterna and
perfect fidelity to each, and by incinng neither to the
the other, 1t proposes and expects to accomplish
the and Just and national end of settling the claims
of both consistently with the honor and the rights of
both. Looking at II IN this light, cannot but regard it
seasonabe and happy measure of deliverauce and
relief, worthy OF all acceptaon aud all assistance Take
1t, and our troubles are overour OF cordial