Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-30
Remark, Of Mr.. Newman of Madison.

cpHsidcratI0n
hone The House will moi be startled at my ia
king TIE floor. II is not my purpose 10 lhnicl
speech ol any length upon those who are alieaoy
exha listed by he elaborate arguments addressed
to our consideration; but have risen 10 appear
10 the House that II terminate This discussion
that il take he Vote. Could the people ~iluess our
proceedings Iney would direct US 10 vote naa III
tended 10 have given silent vote upon this ques-
lion; but The opponents OF these resolutions nave
Iaken postions so extraordinary, and promulga'
tec doctrines SO utterly repuenan' ana antaeonls,
,ical 10 the guarantees OF The Constitution, that
am induced 10 break that silence which had
hooed 10 keep. The opponents OF these resolu'
lions have resored TO all SORTS OF parliamentary
man1yring 10 defeat them; AMI that is not a =
They have sci al1aI, in Virginia, the aoomina'
ble befes;. that The Congress Of this Union has
The coDs,itu ional power 10 interdict slavery from
territories acquired by lie common blood and the
common Tea.urs OF the whole country. l ca!
upon gentlemen who contend that Congress has
this power, TO point me 10 that clause in The sa
cred instrument that gives to our representative:
or trustees power 10 exercise 50 Udions dlS
tincliun as would result from The power contend
ed for by these modern luminaries-whose ephe'
neral brilliancy will scarcely last till The storn
OF an indignant people will burst upon their de
voted heads They cannot show that clause; bu
claim The power By an implication. Now this
hold 10 be The true doctrine thai there IS no I'm
Piled POWER given BY our constitution, unless II is
for The lulfllmenl OF a,spee,fe power; and IS there
is NJ specified power giving to Congress this
right, The implication falls.
| must say, that am mortified, deeply morit-
ed 10 near Yirsnians declare, in effect, that their
rusty servants, delegated by Southern consIi'u.
ency 10 construct a Constitution tor This land,
were either so blind or recreant 10 their high trust
as to have provided ample protection Tor The pros
perty OF our Northern breihren and neglected 10
provide The same Ior u.s. This they have NOT done,
unless they have given 10 all he same common
privileges 10 take our properly any where within
the borders oil our country.
Mr.. Speaker, The gentleman from Fairfax ur-
ges the adoption OF hi, resolutions, because they
have been adopted by The Legislature OF NoHh
Carolina Ii the gentleman is such an advocate
for precedent, think he should complain oil Nor'h
Carolina for not adopting The resolutions OF tins
State, passed unanimously in lS47, and which We
now propose to reafifm. The gentleman thinks
Virginia ought 10 change her ground. No, sir
Virginia will nol should not cannot recece from
her position. She has her rights and she will
maintain them and The whole South will stand
by her in SO doing. Virginia abandon the ground
she has taken Why the idea is pfeposlerons i
hold in my hand resolution adopted hy Congress
in 1886 supported by Northern men too, de- larng
that 10 abolish slavery 10 the District of Columbia
would be enda ngering Inc Union Now look al
The rapid stride OF aggression and entertainment.
But few days since Congress instructed The
on The District Of Columbia to brias
in bill having for its object the aboishment OF
slavery and the slave trade in The District. Yet
gentlemen rise here with these facts staring them
in The face. and oppose the resolutions because
they are 100 strong. humbly believe The OILY
way TO preserve this glorious conlederacy, is 10
10 our deluded and ianaiical bTe' hren
of the North, unequiyocally our purpose 10 resist
all encfoachmcnls upon our rights.
Tine gentleman from Loudoun announces the
fact that his position is a peculiar one; that in
AT when the resolutions passed unanimously,
h. voted for them. To sustain his peculiar p
siion he has resorted 10 peculiar means; and one
OF his mqsi formidable objections TO our rcsoiu-
lions is Grammar-yas, sir, The eiymoloey oi The
resolutions. And has II Gene 20 This, thai our
rishl, should BE- deserted for The want OF thorough
knowledge OF the rules OF Lindiey Munay7 The
gentleman has grown in grace-tha, is, in gram.
mar-since The year l947. HIS classic taste
found no objection TO them in that year. Blu,
would not do he gentleman The injustice 10 say
hat his objection ,es,s exclusively upon Inlss Of
The classic Virgil he quoies as an an-
nor sustaining his peculiar position. Bat, after
hearing his concss Of unlimited power, 10 TIE
general government and his sneer,ng reference
ID The resolutions q '95- 80, | am MI surprise.
i, his hostility 10 The resolutions Of 49, ncr an
much frightened b. his Hostility. And | will
,av 10 that gentleman, that when he rights OF VIr.
s;nia are invaded. she will speak in voice noi
d be misunderstood though 10 The gentleman il
NAV not sem stiicsl? grammatical.
The gentleman tfom Alexandria informed Us
in he commencement OF his speech, that he was
A Ia eyer AMI considered US judges. Tnen, Is
one Of tie Judges, claim lbe light 10 say thai
Congress has no constilu ional ro@et 10 iGeidict
slavery in the territories Ard, sir, WI! all The
knowledge Of constitutional law ard
with The help OF his distinguished friend from
FauqI:er, he will mol b. able 10 convince Alex
aniria II ihr soundncss OF the doctrine he has ad
voca;ed on this hoor relative to The Wilmo, Pro.
yiso. The gentleman says both Whigs and De-
nocrals fought the battles in Mexico. readily
assent TO the truth oil that asser ion; and how does
be propose 10 treat both Wings and Demo
crasl He would say 10 Southern Wings
md Democrats thai Congress has the consi!u-
iona power 10 lesislaie 50 as 10 inhibil the in
reduction Of their slaves into the territory
or which they fought; and then he would say
o Northern Wings ard D. mocrais, rhry have
he right to carry into the territories any species
,i property they may be masters Of Now, am
Inclined 10 think his Southern friends would not
hank him Tor the compliment. But again and
again, deny that Congress has the power 10 tx
Guide the properly OF The Southern man, and
tefy The gentleman, with all his knowledge OF
constitutional law, 10 show il.
Mr. Speaker | have heard o. the lone star OF
he South, bul think another star has made lis
appearance near Alexandria, AMI know OF no
name more appropriate Tor il Than that OF The
Northern star.
The distinguished gentleman from Fauquer is
opposed 10 any action On the question by this
Honse. the gentleman questions The compe-
ency Of members to ACT on this question. lie
,peaks Of The matf1ias oi Yhich this House is
composed, and says when the time arises for
Virginia TO act, she will send Other men here
rhai The present members were elected because
ney v,ted for Cass, others because they voted
ar Taylor, and because they were Tor mis- road
Ind others Tor that He wants 10 know if wc
ave been instructed on this question. Now,
mink The gentleman is attempting 10 do The very
hing he demonstrates against We, Mr.. Speak
=, only propose 10 reaffirm The resolutions
ldcp,cd unanimously by the Legislature in 1917
which resolutions were approved Of throughout
he Safe, and contend 10 that extent We are in
,lructed 10 re-adopt The resolutions; bu, suppose
Virginia had not adoped these resolutions in
si7 d. We not see daily developments al the
North that should prompt Us 10 speak car senli-
nerts7 What is il that has caused Southern
members OF Congress to hold meeting, Wings
md Democratic 1t is to demonstrate against The
movements oil those fanatics. Now demand OF
The gentleman 10 Tell this House where he gets
Ms RICH, 10 present his string Of resolutions as
substitute and to be adopted by this Housed Who
instructed him 10 present his resolutions, which If
adopted would place Virginia in bis own psrlic-
Iar position1 How inconsistent is il Tor tn
gentleman to urge the adoption OF his resolutions,
aud oppose those of The Committee, on tie ground
!ha, it is impolaie 10 all.
Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman has even gone so
far as 10 say that he has never seen an Argument
agains; the Wilmot Eroyiso entitled TO decent
II is true, that tie gentleman
subsequently apologized for using The decar