Democratic banner., 1849-06-04

admission of Missouri, without restriction, bu
with a prohibition of slavery in all the territory
north and west of her. The act was Just com.
ing to Mr.. Monroe for his approval or disap.
If approved by him, it became a law al
once: if disapproved, the act was defeated for.
|eFs.f ] for it wal known that the constitutional
Ihajorities Of two-tlrirds Of Congress could moi
be obtained for the act if disapproved by the Presi.
dent. The whole responsibility of passing, OF
defeating the act, then rested on Mr.. Monroe.-
He felt the magnitude Of that responsibility, and
saw. that it was an occasion TO require the gray.
est advice Of his cabinet. He determined to have
their advice, and in the most matured and respon-
sible form. The act had passed on the third of
March. He Immediately convoked his cabinet
stated the questions-reduced them to writing
gave a copy to each member--and required
them 10 be answered in writing. On the sixth
all the answers were given, and all in the affirm
alive on both questions; and the act was immedi-
ately approved and signed, and became the law
of the land. TIE law bears date on that day
March 9th, 1920. Mr.. Calhoun gave his writ
ten opinion with the rest, and in favor of the
constitutiOnality of the act, and no whisper was
ever heard from him 10 the contrary, or in deni-
al of the right of Congress to prohibit, or abol-
@A SoNSh III hIllt Tx IbIOuuStiOfl
of his fTe-brand resolutions, twenty seven year.
after his Cabinet opinion had been given. These
resolutions were brought in near the close of the
short session in 1867, and were intended for
debate at the session Of lS47--S--the
TO make a chance for himself at
That election by getting up Attest which no North
ern man could stand. But that general debate
navnr N poco.a IL. &C., LII Il f.
It, the Cabinet opinions Of 1920 had been found
nut, and were producedin the Senate, to the con-
fusion Of Mr.. Calhoun and the utter prostration
81 his resolutions. They were first produced by
Westcott, of Florida, and afterwards by Mr..
DIX, OF New York. The proofs were in writ
ing, and TO the point, and from two different wit.
the two, above all men in the world,
lie most competent and credible 10 testify in the
:ase---Mr. Monroe and Mr.. Adams---both dead,
but both speaking from the tomb, and inthe high
est form known to the law Of evidence---that Of
recorded evidence, written down at the time, as
he true history Of a fact, and without the slight
expectation that il was ever to be used against
my human being. Mr.. Monroe's testimony was
IN his own handwriting, obtained from his son.
n-la", and consisted Of two pices---one being
he in~terrcgatories propounded to his Cabinet,
md The other the autograph copy, or draft, of a
etter to a friend. The interrogatories were en-
iorsed thus: "hterrogatories, Missouri, March
1920. To the heads ofdepartments and .fnor-
ley General" The interrogatories themselves
we're in these words:
"Has Congress a right under the powers vest
ID in il by The Constitution to make a regulation
prohibiting slavery in a Territory
sis the 9Th section of the act which passed
10th Houses on the Sd inst, for the admission of
into the Union, consistent with the con-
titution?"
With these questions was an original draft Of
letter in Mr.. Monroe's handwriting, not dated,
igned, or addressed to any one, but supposed toI
re written to Gen. Jackson, which letter shows
hat these two questions were put to Mr.. Mon
oe'S Cabinet, were answered by them in writ
ne, and that they were unanimous in answering
he questions in the affirmative. This is the let
er:
"DEAR SIR:---Thu question which lately ag-
lated Congress and the public has been settled,
$ you have seen by the passage Of an act for
he admission of Missouri as a State unrestrain-
and Arkansas likewise when it reaches ma
urity, and the establishment of the BOD. 30m.
lorth lititude as a line, north Of which slavery
5 prohibited, and permitted to the south. Itook
he opinion, in writing of the Administration as
0 the con~stitutionality Of restraining Territories
dndh Thu vote Of every member Uas unanimous md
which was explicit in favor of it, and as it was
hat the 9Th section of the act was applicable to
only, and not to States when they
hould be admitted into the Union. On this lat
er point / had at first some doubts; but the opin-
on Of others, whose opinions were entitled to
weight withme, supported by the sense in which
was viewed by all who voted on the subject in
as will appear by the Journals, salts
ed me respecting it,"
The words in brackets were crossed out
y running the pen through them, and the
Vord explicit substituted-s substitution
Violently made to avoid violating the Cab
net rule, not to tell the opinions of men,
ers, which the word unanimous would do.
tut the word explicit is sufficient. Taken
connection with the rest of the paper;
nth the resultant with the (almost)
hirty years silence of Mr.. Calhoun, and
word is equivalent to the word %unani-
nous. For it is not to be presumed that
fr. Calhoun was omitted in the address of
questions-or that he failed to answer,
nd to answer as the President required. in
or, thatfailing to answer, it would