Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-06-27

I. sAots AsS u1aSsouii CoiitfofeTSy "dS EaSillS
and every effort made BY northern abol !.
slonlslsto stop the growth Of slave states.-
The seoator from South Carolina, in his
support Of the session of Texas. and ced-
ing pari Of the valley of the Mississippi,
was then the most efficient ally of the re.
ssrictionists at that lime, and deprives
him Of the right Of setting up as the
champion Of the slave states now. !
denounced the sacrifice of Texas then, be-
lieying Mr.. Adams to have been the author
OF it; denounce ii now, knowing the sem
ator from South Carolina to be its author;
nnd for this-his fragrant rscreancy to the
slave interest in their hour Of utmost peril
II hold hin, disqualified for the office Of
champion of the fourteen slave states, for
Delaware cannot be counled.) and shall
Certainly require him to keep out Of Mis-
souri, and to confne himself TO his own
bailiwick. when he comes 10 discuss his
string Of resolutions"
In these terms, reproached him TO his
facs for his recreancy TO the slave States,
When he was catering for free soil votes.
He was forced to answer, and to admit the
vote in Mr.. Monroe's cabinet in favor OF
giving away Texas. and in conformity to
which vote the treaty was madeI but with
respect to the Missouri COMPROMISE and The
abolition question, he gave an answer
which appeared to be plausible then. but
which has turned out 10 be one OF the most
unfortunate Of his life. He said in his re-
ply to me:
al nd I frifz
fully repeled. all the charges made by the
senator from Missouri. except those relat-
ing to The Missouri compromise, aud the
abolition question al that period, for which
{ am in no way responsible. was not
then in Congress. filled The office OF
Secretary OF War at that Time, and ha ] no
agency or control over it,"
That was the answer-the whole that
he chose to give. did not then know OF
the proofs Of the cabinet consultation. and
of his opinion al the council table in an
swer to Mr. Monfoe's two questions. The
proofs had not then come to light. and he
was safe for the time. in disclaimlng all
responsibility for the Missouri compromise,
and The consequent abolition OF slavery
bv law Of Congress. in upward OF one
half Of all Lcui iana; he was safe in ia
king refuge under the declaration that ne
was Secretary OF War. and not member
OF Congress. and consequently had no
agency in this ac;, or any control over 1t.
This was plausible answer at the time,
and he stood acquitted for the moment.
The discovery of the proof the next year,
(1s 49, reyerses the acauiital establishes
his agency in the Missouri compromise
aci, his control over II, and his response
bl3Hysfpr it.
rae, he was not member of Congress
Ia 1629sie give vote amounting TO bat
little among TWO or three hunde others,
Tor or agalnt, the Missouri compromise.
but he was cabinet minister to give
heavy vote, one in five. for or against
It's approval. He was not a part OF the
legislative power. but he was Of the veto
power; and he gave his vote for the a?-
proval. and against the veto. This shows
that he had agency in the question. and
control over it. and is responsible for it.
Considering his position as southern man,
and his weight in Mr.. Monroe's admins
,ration, and he is the responsible man for
that act. The majority of the cebinet
were southern. and if he had made the
stand then which he does now he must
have vetoed the acton the contrary he
went for it. and passed it-passed the act
Of Congress legislnting upon slavery in
territories, and abolishing it over q million
of square miles and now treats such a
T.. ftba nd
Al insult to the slave States. for winch
hllllication, disunion, and civil war are
the proper remedies!
am mortified to dwell upon Mr.. Cal.
houn. II is neither my habit. or my
pleasure to speak of men. ln near thirty
years that have been in Congress have
never brought the name Of any man be-
fore the public. am now forced to do il.
Mr.. Calhoun's resolutions afe those of the
Missouri Legislature. They are idenli-
cal. One is copied from the other.
When the original is invalidated, the copy
is of no avail am answering bis reso-
lutions, and choose TO do it. Ii is just and
proper that should do so. He is the
prime mover and head contriver. | have
had no chance TO answer him in tie Sem
aie, and it will not do to allow him to take
q snap judgment upon me in Missouri. and
carry disunion resolutions in my own State
which he has been forced TO abandon in
the Senate.
Duty to the country requires me to an
swer him, and personal reasons reinforce
that public duty. He has been stigatins
attacks Upon ME for twenty years evel
since stood by Jackson and the Union il
the first war of notification. His Duf
Green Telegraph Commenced upon me a
the same time it did upon Jackson, and fo
the same cause-because we stood by tht
Union! Last summer, in his own State o.
South Carolina, where never " as, be drag
ed my name and that OF General Houston
bsfure his constituents, and denounced US il
public speech, and held US upto public
reprobation. He accused US of detection t.
the south : the Interpretation being that WI
would not join him in his scheme Of south
ern convention, to array one-half Of th
Union against the other, and form south
ern confederacy. 1t was an audacious at
tack upon two absent gentlemen, and who
as senator's, were entitled to senatorial cour
tesy from him. Neither General Houston
nor myself thought it right to suffer such al
attack to pass with impunity; but we dit
not think the floor Of the Senate the prope