Democratic banner., 1849-02-12
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun
e. N.srrAcrna- Ian l6. lS49.

as N~ASHINGToN, Jan. 10, lo+0'
,ThsJ meeting of Southern members OF
Congress, held last evening" in the Senate
Chamber, was attended by some eighty or
ninety members. The meeting refused to
admit the press, by a vote of ID to 81
The address, prepared by MIR. Calhoun,
was read, and was substantially as has been
heretofore stated.
The debate on ~various motions, was con-
tinued until after IL o'clock, in which
Messrs. Clayton, Berrien, Toombs, Jeiier-
son, Davis, McLane, Stephens, ihomP-
son, of Miss, Rusk, Houston and Others
participated.
On the introduction of the report, a mo
ton was made by Mr.. Clayton to lay 1t on
the table and take no further action. 1t
was made to test the feeling of the meet
ine-the vote stood for it about 90, against
it about 80. Those in favor Of laying IL
on the table were nearly all wings.
The powerful objection to the report was
made by Mr.. Toombs, of Georgia. He
thought congressional Legislation was nee
essary to authorize slavery in the new ter
ritories. The doctrine of the report was
that Congress could neither extend nor
restrict slavery.
Mr.. Toombs proposed no amendment,
and it was evident that he was opposed to
any action by the meeting. He made nc
reply to.a question propounded by MIR
ThomPA, in reference to the action he
woaldS if Congress refused to pass the
necessary laws, or should enact the provi-
SO.
In repIysto Mr.. Toomb's objection, Mr.
Calhoun went into a short argument, to
show that the South could take their slaves
into California and New Mexico, and that
Congress WIS bound, by the usual acts Of
legislation, TO- protect this property and te
put it on the same footing with other prop.
efty.2 II required no law Of Congress te
authorize slavery there.
Mr.. Calhoun was calm and dispassionate
and in his earnest appeals to the South fnl
unaninity, he is represented as using Ian
guage replete with eloquence and pathos.
The course taken by the Texas delega-
ton, was unexpected. MIR. Rusk read
some resolutions, as a substitute for the re-
port, but they contained nothing decisive.
Gen. Houston seems lukewarm i'll the
cause, and MIR. Stevens is unquestionably
opposed to any action.
Members from the South, supposed to be
ambitious Of Northern popularity and fu-
turs promotion. may be regarded, as averse
to taking any action. There is one excep.
ton. Mr.. Calhoun, always ambitious, ha.
ever been true to his own people.
LfM Mr. Berrien, Of Georgia, made some eio.
quent remarks, and exoited the South e
y united. He suggested that the address.
should be made to the whole Union.
He has been placed on the committee in
Place~of MIR Stephens, who begged to be
excused from serving.
MI. Stephens was one of the eight South.
ern members who were opposed to Mr.
Clayton's compromise last session, as Weld.
ing too much. Having defeated the chan.
ces Of a favorable decision by the Su.
preme Court, some seem to think it incum.
bent on him to insist on a better remedy.
The report'wwas re- eommitted to the same
committee, with all the amendments ant
resolutions suggested in the meeting, snc
the meeting finally adjourned to Monda,
next. A motion made by Nj. Stephens t.
adjourn sine die, having been voted dowr
by Q decided majority.