Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-18

Cabinet adviser. 81 have mind to annex Texas "And
what will you do next "Why, Mexico is next door TO
Texas, and will be easy subject her arms Sand
having conquered Mexico and taken Of such Of her
you DESIRE what next does your exceency pro-
81 think shall then be ready for passing over to
Cuba" "And what after that" Why, then, we will de-
vote ourselves to peace, and enjoy quiet e "And Why
hyt might well have been asked-should you not enjoy
hat peace and quiet Why viii you persist in disturb
ing the quiet and perng the peace and putting in jeopardy
The glorious Union you now enjoy, by rushing into SO Wild
50 wanton, and had almost said so wicked policy T
Sir be denied that it is this spirit OF annexation
and conquest growing by what it feeds which has in
voved in all present troubles, and which threatens us
with still greater troubles in future. We are reaPng the
natural and just results Of the annexation Of Texas and OF the
war which inevitably followed that annexation We have
almost realized Gas Ibeeve have somewhere else sad the
Of the greedy and bird in the old fable Eop
tells Of an eagle which, of its towering flights see
ing bit of tempting flesh upon altar pounced upon II
and bore il away in triumph to its nest But by chance, ne
adds coal of fire from the altar sticking to at the ime
which set fire TO the nest and consumed it In trce Anc
American eagle, has been seen STOPPING from PRIDE
place. and lowering the aars OF weak and neghbor
ing Power II has at last pounced upon her PROVINCES ard
borne them in triumph But burning Goals have chung
to them Discord and confusion have come with them!
And American homestead is now threatened with
conHagration
This Mr. Chairman is the brief history Of condition
trust in Heaven that the lesson will not be lost upon u.s.
Gentlemen talk Of settling the whole controversy which has
been kinded between the North and the South by some
sweeping compromise comprehensive plan OF recon-
Citation hope that the controversy will be settled sir but
earnestly hope and pray that will not 50 be settled
that shall be in danger Of forgetting its origin hope
and pray that it will be settled that shall again
imagine that enter with impunity career OF ag-
gresson spolation, and conquest This embered strife.
this proacted these tedious days. and weeks snd
and months of anxiety and agitation, will have had their n
compensation and reward if they shall teach again
forget the which has been upon those
who their neighbors land marks !" they shall teach
us realize in all time come, that policy Of peace and
pand of
domestic harmony and our own national union
And now Mr. Chairman how is the great controversy BY
which country is agitaed to be settled
In the first place. sir do believe that is to be settled
by multiplying and accumulang issues have faith in
the plan Of akng open all the subjects Of disagreement and
difference which have existed at any time between different
sections of the country, with view of attempting bring
them within the influence of single Panacea Certain
y sir, if such plan Is to be attempted not to forget
that there two sides the question OF aggression The
Southern States compain the sde that Of their
runaway slaves have been delivered by the free Staes
ageeably the provisions of the Constitution OF the United
States The Northern States complain, the other side,
that ohe feemen have imprisoned in the
slave Sates contrary to the provisions Of the consu-
ton. was myself called upop some years ago, by the
merchants and shpowners of Bostonas patriotic body of
be found the face of this continent and whose
zeal for liberty is less conspicuous than their devotion to
union-to bring this latter subject to the attention of Con-
made report ufon it to this House in ls43 in
which, among other remarks used the following language
That American or foreign charged with crme
and infected with contagon should be searched for
board the which they belong should be seized
while in the discharge of their duties or, may be- while
asleep in their berhs should be dragged shore and nca
cerated without any other examination than
their skins and should be rendered liable, certain
ngencies which they may have possible control to
be subjected to the gnomny and agony of the ash and
NE md % @ and a,s oe
idea too monstrous to be entertained for moment"
Now, sir will not undertake to compare the two grev
which have thus alluded. But this do say, that
if the is TO be insisted subject for immediate
dess and reparaon why the other should no, be
also. For myself acknowledge my allegiance to the whole
Constitution of the United States, and willing to unite
fulfilling and enforcing, in all reasonable and proper NODES
every of its provisions. recognise, indeed, Power
above all human lawmakers, and Code above all earthly
constitutions And whenever perceive plain conflict Of
jurisdiction and authority between the constitution of my
country and the laws Of my God my course is clear shall
resign my office whatever may be, and renounce all
nexion with public service Of any Sort Never never, sir
will put myself under the necessity Of calling upon God to
witness my prom to support constitutions any part OF
which consider to be Inconsistent with his commands
But tbs aibe upon the Constitution of the United States
and, what is worse sir is libel upon the great and good
who framed adopted and ratified it it is libel upon
Washington and Franklin and Hamilton and Madison, upon
John Adams and John Jay and Rufus King it is libel upon
them all and upon the whole American people Of 1889 who
sustained them in their noble work. and upon all who from
that time to this generation after generaton in capacity
National, Municipal, State, have lifted their hands TO
Heaven attesaon of their allegiance to the Government
of their country it is gross libel upon every Of them TO
assert nsnuate that there any such inconsistency Let
not do such dshonor the Fathers Of the Republic the
Framers of the Constitution. is favoe policy, know,
of some of the utrass my part of the country stg
matze the Constitution of the United States pro sarery
compact deny il, sir. hold, the other hand that
is proHbrty compact-the most effective prolibery
pact which the world has seen Magma Chara
cspted-and which friend liberty human liberty
political liberty, ought seadasty to maintain and support
"To the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
posierty This the grand climax in that enumeration
OF its objects which constitutes its well remembered peam
be This the object for which it avowedIy, and for
which il really framed and this the object which it
has, in fact beyond all other advanced and pro-
noted
slavery, indeed fixed fact upon soil and Of
the provisions which they adopted had undoubtd and admit
ted reference to that fact But what is the legitimate inter-
preta'ion of these provisions II remark think old
Epicters that every thing has too handles and is
true Of these provisions Of every thing e that must
take hold Of them by the right hande in order understand
their true design.
We told that the constitution encouraged slavery by
providing for the toleraon Of the African slave trade for
ty years. In my Judgment sir should rather be said that
the constitution struck strong and its trainers undoub
edy believed, fatal blow at avey, by securing to the Fede
raj Government the power which before possessed
prohibit that trade at the end Of twenty years.
We told that encouraged slavery by making it the
basis of representation in this House. In my judgment, 1t
should rather be said that discouraged slavery by taking
away wohs of that representation which the Southern
States would have been entitled their ba population if
that population had been wholly free population.
We told that j, encouraged slavery, by providing for
the suppression Of surrerfions But everybody knows that
this provision had much reference instructions in the
free States in the slave States and that in point Of fact
Shays rebellion in Massachusetts, which, being pro-