The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-23
wise than know that the Union is snaangsred and when

wise han know that the Union Is endangered ana when
The fact ne, stated by the Senator from New YORK MIR
DIX this morning, that fifteen OF the sovereign States
OF this Union have, by resolutions passed almost
unanimously in their legislatures, and 10 be presented
here Instructions to their delegates, required an act
which, IN the opinion OF the South must produce Inc
quality and injustice, II is no less than aggression and
injury, and there cannot be otherwise Than fear IN the
mind OF every night thinking man, that there is danger
to the continuance and the permanency OF the Union,
Does the senator from Connecticut Mr.. NILEs] be-
eve that this Union exist outside of the compro
misses made in its original institution, and when the prn
cipes OF equality upon which il was founded shall
have been departed from in e5sative enacments in this
body II he does sir, he does very great injustice 10
his New England descent and to those principles OF lib
erty OF the dignity OF which have been nculcalei
his heart through the fundamentally OF his ancestors
who first landed upon this continent.
Yes, SIR, it upon the Knowledge Of this conedera
ton of fifteen States of this Union against the best rights
of the South, that said believed the Union to be IN
danger Ii was because minority. weak In their polu-
cal strength, however strong they may be IN their pur-
pose and their determination to resist aggression, and to
assert their rlghs-because that minority is Obliged TO
together council to the means OF resisting the
encroachments OF their more powerful aes-ales no
longer, when the power which, under the constitution,
they hold shall be exeried to the prejudice the deg
daton and to the injury OF those who have been assoca
ted with them, originally, IN good faith ana brothery
feeling.
No one, sir, more anxiously than myself trusts that
this cloud may pass away. No one more than myself
would deprecae the necessity of beyond those
which may be taken by the constituted authorities for the
redress of injury but for prepared to say, Mr.
the Union and the constitution under which exists only
in the degree in which is instrumental in sustaining the
Liberties OF the people with whom associated, and IN
carrying forward in It's progress the destiny OF human
kind
do believe the Union to be in danger sir; and be-
lieve the danger is increased by every blow, such
this which the State of New York. by these resolutions
has struck AMI believe, when there is added 10 the
attempt TO wrest from the just rights to which we
entitled under the consuulionwhen there is added 10
this, personal insult and nvectve, language of oppro
brium and contumey say there danger to the Union
and is tenfold increased. Panied am however, that
circumstances have reached that crisis in the history of
the country which will lead any 10 consider the
istence of the Union involved in the result of the
measures pending.
Mr. DICKINSON If thought il would be the means
of dissolving the Union, certainly would not vote for
the printing OF these resolutions.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Since this discussion has gone so far,
| will say word or two upon It, have been in the
habit OF seeing memorials upon this slavery question
expressing opinions either sde and representing every
shade Of opinion upon both sides of the quesion-fron
the North and from the Sonth--receved in the two
houses of Congress, and ordered 10 be printed without
opposition cannot recolect an instance in which the
printing or reception of a memorial or resolution from
a State Legislature refused objected to-
have seen many that did agree in the least with my
own opinions from the North and from the South. l
remember some that thought expressed sympathy TO,
the dissolution OF the Union and yet they received
and printed Aud, sir, if we should reject this memorial
to- day, upon the groun that the State OF New York has
transcribed its rights and violated the laws of courtesy
by passing the resolutions contained in that paper we
may be awkward predlcanent Tomorrow, by being
presented with resolutions of another kind from another
quarter of the Union
Mr. YULEE Ii the senator will allow me: there has
been objection to receiving the resolutions. They have
been received and read aad will necessarily go upon the
journal merely objected to recording my vote for the
Mr. DOUGLAS Mr. President, want to know the
distinction between these resolutions and those from
Nj tssachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine. Rhole Island,
Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsyl vania New York, for
the last four, five, or SIX years.
Mr. YULEE 1t is the first time that resolutions have
been introduced here containing gralu,ous insult to
certain portion of the people OF this confederacy
Mr.. DOUGLAS Mr. President, upon that point |
only say that perceive material difference in the
spirit, or language, or phaseology OF these resolutions
from those which have before referred TO, and which
were received and printed by this body.
Again, sir see in southern State, only day or two
ago, resolution adopted taking the other side'of this
question, and expressing opinions favor of the Mis-
sour compromises measure which | once hal the
honor of intro ucng TO this body, and by which would
be very willing now to settle this agltaed question Shall
be called upon to morrow to vote against receiving
az iinst printing resolutions in favor OF the Missouri com
pro Mise! If the North have right to pass resolutions
against the South, why, sir think the rsh, reciprocal
think it is very foolish and unnecessary tor the North
and the South to quarrel about question that can be OF
practical result But this is question that each State
has right to JUICE OF, and for itself believe that
this question has practical results in it, do not
believe 1t enlangers the Union believe this Union is
too strong to be affected by the expression OF opinion
rash, imprldent or violent, though il may be- from the
North or from The South. say this is not practical
question: because no action which you may have here
can either restrain or extend the Institution of slavery one
foot believe that fundamental in the resou-
lions from New York--lmplied in the resoIutions-s
where they express opinions in relation to the extension
OF slavery in territory now free. II there is nan on
this floor who would do that am no, aware of the fact
II understand them allowing the people OF those
Territories to attend to this institution for themselves
and TO decide upon this Institution Tor themselves
No man advocates the intro ucton of slavery into the
Territories free On the other hanl they deny
the proprey of Congress interfering to restrain slavery
in the Territories upon the great fundamental principle
t,,tl, tl,ov Of
the people must all governmenttha the people
have the right in these territories 10 establish
government Tor themselves, that we had 10 throw oil
other government and establish for ourselves this
great principle of lies at the foundation
OF my objection to the encroachments from the North
fron the Southof resisting, the side, if il should
be proposed, the extension, by act of Congress, OF
slavery in country free, of restraining the
other hand, the right of the people 10 establish such in
stitutions they shall fit think there fun
damcnti leading the people OF the North TO false
impression OF the motives OF action of men IN the resou
tons introduced by the senator from New York but sir IT
is not the first series OF reso uons which, my Opnion
have contained heeses 1t is not the first of resou
tons from sovereign State which conceive was founded
OF resolutions which have presented, and Tor the
printing of which | voted, from which dssented IA
toto. ! nothing in those now before us, much as |
dissent from them which would lead me to desire to
lect out New York and fix stigma upon her for pass
ing those resolutions when she is only following in the
wake of the other States from time immemorial, in
messing similar sentiments In other words, sir shall
vote to print these; and if southern State brings for.
ward other resolutions sigmaAng this movement of the
North nstructng their senators to vote against the Mis-
sour compromise, shall vote to receive and print
those also II sovereign State should present res