Richmond palladium., 1849-06-13
EBesStOn's Speech.

The SPEECH of Senator Beafoa, on Siarery in L
S. Terrio:ies, deiirerea in the Copitai Of Ms
so"ri, May 26M, lolJ.
The fact of the delivery Of this speech. and
something of its general character, have alread y
been made known to our readers, through teie
graphic dispatches from ST. Louis. It's republi-
cation, from the Jefferson City Inquirer, was
commenced IN the papers of that city on the
15th ult The Union OF that day contains eighi
colamns of IT. all that had been received, and
The Era states that the Jefferson City paper
could not give the whole documen mt in one week s
issue, and promises Il continuation, saving moth
ing about the coaciasi n, the next week,
We are almost deferred, by these bic
facts, from carrying out our intention of laying
this speech before readers. To CONNIE ne
ITS publication, unaer the circumstances, is like
launching on an ocean without compass, or en-
ierins Il forest without knowing how far it is to
the nextcl-aring. Mr.. Benton, however, in ma
KING this speech, which he had sometime fore
announced, laid himself out for AN effort; and
this he never does, without producing. among
much that is merely docume ntary and generally
known, ana more that is simply personal and
partizan something new and excellent. la the
immediate prospect of hot daysand sultry even
'ngs. and with vivid recollection Of the inter-
minab!e length Of Mr.. Bcnton's speech OF the
kearny aud Fremont quarrel, we cannot under
take. regularly, the entire publication of this eff
fort. even in broken doses. We shall cndeavor,
however, by means Of some what copious extracts,
ana intervening synoptical remarks, to present
fair and complete view of its general scope.
Apparently, the immediate occasion of the
speech was the reception by MIR. Benton, Of II
series Of resolutions passed by the General AS
sem5iy of Missouri, denying the right of Con-
grcss 10 legisiatc Upon the subject of slavery in
the right of the citizens Of
every State to to the territories acquired
hy the blood and treasure of the whole mon
with their oPerty--declaring it to be insult
10 the States to exclude amy of their citizens.
from so removing and settling ith their proper
ty-ai!cdging such insult to be cause of aliena-
ton among the States, and ultimately Of disuni-
on--and instructing the Senators of the State.
and requesting its Representatives, to vote in
conformity to the resolves adopted.
These resolutions, Mr.. Benton saws are a
mere copy (in substance Of the series of reso-
lutions introduced into Senate Of tho United
States by John G.. Calhoun, on the 10Th Februa
ry, 1877. MIR. Benton can see no essential diff
ference between the two sets of resolutions ex-
cept as toA;the time contemplated for "a dissolu-
ton of NUhion;" Mr.. Calhoun's resolutions
te Ising ''direct - to that point and those of the
Legislature Of Mssdufi "ultmateiy." In 9th
er respects he treats ,hein as ''identical,'
this difference he does not consider material .as
the Missouri resolutions pledge the State TO CO.
opeImte' with other sIavcholding States, and tfise
fore TO folle% th~inlead, Which may be directly,
as the Acsomac tsointions, vouchedIo be Ie
voice of ,i.t soui call 3yr State Co Sventi9 On,
as soon as ttebiIl: Can bssp.ssed for ,he purp&,
to organzsthe mo de of Moon''
Having ,e~etIisshed, to his own-sA;sfaett tn,
the identity of the two sets of reso vions md
feclafed those of the Sp~th Carolina snatq DO
be the parent of uSse fjne Missouri ASser -
Mt. Ben givH his ai,ention n fz-t to the 3sf-
mer' and Regins with an-argumeis agsrt tAen,
derfved from the conduct OF the Originator him
self. He says: a
~ the year 1920: W caR<n was m
rfdnired.sy the ' Pres' hs Is o%%sp ""n %ishs
rsst of the Calsnet.. fsgive Ills opinion%n Mri.
ting, to Be filed in r'e.deparrnent Of tate, on
hibi, slavery in'Trrriarf,s, and on The co tktru-
,ionaity. of the stIf reston q 1e AZ for III ad-
u,isslon of MissodrT L>so the trnio5, axtxhich
section applietIeo Aesdhti-sfavery clause Xi the
Ordinance Of l1s7. to than half of thd Whole
Msso& .eontroversy.. Cdngress If,d ius9 bass:
ed an get for the sdnfssio1 Of Missouri YthoutS
! ,h ton. bu. with proh ion Of slavery
was jret coming to Mr. Monroe foshis afpfoval
pr disspprovsl If approved by lkspsn became
a laws at SpnSe; if dsa6proyed, the act wH de- {
feated ioftver. for it was known that the consti
tu,oinl malRrisies of two-thirds of Congress
coudenot bYobtaiued for the act if disappsoved
qsesi ili.y Of passing or def.as
ing tile act, then rested ou MIR. IN6nros He
felt the magnitude of that responsibisty, and
est advice of his Cabinet. He determined to
have their advice and in the most matured and
responsible form. The act had passed on the Sd
of March He smmedjately convoked his Cabi- /
net--stated the questIons-reduced the to wri-
ting-gave a copy to each member-and requir-
ed them TO be answered IN writing. On the 9Th, !
all the answers were given. and all in the affirm
ative OH both questions; and the act was i,nrre-
diately approved and signed, and became the
law of the land. The law bears date on that
day-March 9th, lo20. Mr. Calhoun gave his
written opinion with the rest, in favor of the
constiutiopalstv of the act, and no whisper was
ever heard from him TO the contrary or in de- nj
al of the right of Congress to prohibit or abol-
lsh slavery III Territories until the Introduction
of his fire brand resolutions. twenty--even wears
after his Cabinet opinion had been given These
resolutions were brought in the close of the
short session of lcib-.. and were intended for
gc neral debate at the session in 1S47-S-the lonr
session which preceded the Preside ntial election
and 10 make chance for himself at that cleo
ton hy getting up test which no Northern
man could stand.
But that general debate never cime on Be-
fore the time had ripened for it. the Cabinet
opinions Of l>2o had been found out, and were
produced IN the Senate to the confusion of Mr.
I alhoun. and the utter prostration of his re>o-
lutions. They were first prod uc-d by Mr. West
cott. of Florida. and afterwards by Mr. Dix Of
New ork. The proofs were in writing, and to
the po int. and from two ditfcren mt wItnesses-and
the two, above all men in the world, the most
competent and credible to testify in the case
NE. Monroe and Mr.. AGams--both dead, but
both speaking from the tomb. and in the highest
form known to the law of evidence-;hat of re-
corded evidence. written down at the time as the