Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-05
.snularY-asIRsr CoNGnEss-isr SESSION.

THE SLAVERY GuEsTIoNSn,nMnRR, GLAi's PROPOSE
rION 10 COMPROMISE.
IDebne Concluded.
Az RUSK-I do intend Mr. President, TO enter into
,h discussion and rise simply for the purpose OF saying
extremely that the distinguished Senator from
Kennedy in his audabe desire to settle very troublesome
Question now agitang the people OF the United states
shonI have proper rather unceremonionsy as think
70 take half OF the territory of the State have the no
nor in par, represent make peace Offering to
spirit encroachment the constitutional rights OF one
half this Union do not intend 10 enter into any ds-
cussn OF that grave and important question: nor do IN
nd when the discussion of these resolutions shall arise To
put myself opposition the of the oratory OF the
Distinguished Senator from Kentucky; but 40 promise
10 prove that question shall arise that the boundaries
Of Texas The Rio Gande that no power a. all exists
in Congress take coguZance of that question; and that
the Congress United States cannot interfere with the
Of the State of Texas without nictng deeper
the high reputation OF the Government OF the I'M
teStates for justice than would be done by approprans
NE entire amount of territory which acquired by all tor
he exclusive benefit of onehalf of those who acquired IT,
Mr.'FOOTE-Mr. President, wish il were in my power
accordance with the request OF the honorable oei-
Kentucky Mr. Clay who 80 strongly 10 de-
precae debate present moment upon the resolutions
introduced him. who has strongly urged US to de-
bers8 well and dispassionaey upon these resolutions Pc
fore We take ground against then But indeed SIR iee y
impossible remain altogether silent without more or less
snbecng myself msconstructon and exposing to seI-
danger principles which hold 10 be Indispensable 10 e
Southern States of the conedeacy ana 10 inc
integrity of the Union itself know well that the lonor-
able Senator's intentions pure and patioc tat ne ae-
Signs only the safety and happiness OF the whoe
and do verify believe that if the resolutions now intro
duced by him shall be adopted accompanied ny the realh
which just uttered in hearing without any response
suggestion of objection from any southern senator
presumption of nee might arise which would be- deep
" detrimental which hold dearer than HE iiseii
do propose discuss these resolutions IN ertelSo
will not thus far interfere with the wishes OF the honorable
Senator from Kentucky; but few remarks by way OF pro
test be allowed at 70 put in These thoush
brief possible. In offering such remarks ma
myself somewhat embarrassed in consequence of never nav
ing had opportunity of reading the resolutions OF the no
noraolc Senato and only having heard mem reaa .! @
in the course Of his upon them If mlsconstTue
their import in any particular il will not be matter OF sur
prise 10 one, constitute just ground OF complaint
against me.
Ii understand the resolutions properly, they are obec-
1onabe as it l. Because they only assert
that it is not erpedien that Congress should abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia; thus allowing the implication 10
arise that Congress has power legsate the subject OF
slavery the District which may hereafter be exercised II
il should become expcdient do whereas, hold ta'
Congress has under the Constitution such legislative
at all and that any attempt thus egsate would be
gross fraud upon all the States OF the ,nion.
The resolutions of the honorable Senator assert that
slavery exist by law i'll the territories recently
acquired from Mexico; whereas | am OF opinion that The
treaty with the Mexican Republic carried the Constitution,
NTH all It's guarantees all the territory obtained by treaty
secured the privilege Southern STAKEHOLDER 10
enter any part of it, by his slave property and to
therein free from all moiesation or hnolance
Whether slavery is or is not likely TO introduced
these territories Of them proposition too
uncertain Judgment be nj present positively al
rmed and am unwilling make solemn legislative de-
claraton the point. Let The future lrorde ne dP0-
pirate solution OF this interesting question.
Considering, as have several times heretofore formal
N declared the title OF Texas To all the territory embraced IN
her boundaries laid down in her law ot 1855 uii COM
peic and undeniabe unwilling 10 say any thing by re-
solution otherwise which may in the least degree draw
that title question: think Is done by oi the eso
luiions of the honorable Senator from Kentucky.
s. | am upon constitutional and other grounds, wholly
opposed 10 the principle of assuming STATE debts which
understand b. embodied in OF the resolutions oi The
honorable Senator from Kentucky II Texan so Is 10 be-
bought (and with certain appropriate safeguards am de-
cdey III favor of IT, ie, pay 10 the sovereign State OF
Texas the value thereof money! BE- used by her aS she
ple>eS. 1t will be- as think more delicate and respectful
let her provide for the management o TINS matter when
is strictly domestic IN lis character IN such manner as si.
choosepres that she will act wisely justly and
honoraby towards all 10 whom she may be indebted
t. As the abolition of the stare trade III the District OF
Columbia particular objection il, provided IL i
done in delicate and udcious manner and Is not cohces
sion demands Of tlconss and fanatics IL
questions be adjusted this WILL perhaps occa-
sion but little difficulty
/ The resolutions which provide the restoration OF
fgtive labor service and for the establishment Of
Territorial Governments, free from all restrictions the
subject of slavery have my hearty approval The last reso
luJnwhich asserts that Congress has no power TO proh-
biz tho trade in slaves between State and State equally
approve.
: Ii all other questions connected with the subject Of
siayery be satisfactorily adjusted objection TO
admitting all California above the line Of Sc degrees So min
ues into III. Unon provided another slave State
l. laid of within the present limits OF Texas 10 as TO Keep
" present eqpoarGnce between the slave and the free
States OF Union: and provided further all this Is done
by of compromises and in order 10 save the lnontas
dear 10 any man livngD
Having thus frankly stated my objections the honoa
bic Senator's resolutions and having stated also wherein
Senate
Mr.. CLAY, is my purpose engage present in
the discussion OF this subject Nor DO rise 10 make any
observations two - what the Sc
from Texas A1r. Rusk has said lie, Think msun
dersood the line referred in the resolution the popo
sed boundary of his State. II does take hin to the Del
No.jc but il does not give him the whole Of II from Tho
mouth its And in regard 10 the portion OF coun
nv ACQUIRED from Mexico called New Mexico is propo
ST, on TO On this subject have expressed the
opinions hold and ii any time shall hnd IL necessary
discuss those opinions with the honorable Senator
no tcnns in Ii
him Sir honor the Senator's watchuiness Tor II was all
in him. Of the representatives OF the State
Texas when he found that her garments were 10 be touched
and make his protest against It, But really SIR when
think the lbeality of the offer cannot but think that
both he and his State had better accept than reject II is
OTTER however, and may be rejected or not III So each
party will remain in possession OF its own rights
Respecting what the Senator from Mississippi (slr Foote
saws know that he speaks kindness in every thing
that he has uttered, and very happy 10 lind his objections
eyeed rather the affairs OF the District of Columbia eX
cept respects the limits Of California which is subject
for consideration when the question Of her admission
shall come up. not able 10 get maps 10 consider the
question OF her limits and have therefore expressed it in
the resolution similar limits leaving my own NINA open
think the Senator from Mississippi also will find when
he comes to consider the resolution that the basis OF slavery
in this District is put firm footing win regard 70 te
constitutional question. have expressed my opimon and
we argued the matter twelve years ago IN the senate ami
majority in this body large majority thought that there
was an implied faith the part OF the Government not -
abolish slavery in the Districts but that the power existed
suppose least threeouhs OF This body believed al ina,
time And in lieu of the adoption OF resolution
think was offered BY the Senator from South Carolina Mr.
Calhoun -whose illness have heard with profound sensa-
lions of regret and whose probable speedy recovery
have heard with great peasuewhch took the ground ana
advanced the Of its being unconstitutional TOOK
difrcn, ground and least two-thds il not larger por-
lion of this BODY concured with We thought the pow
r existed bur could be exercised without Viola
non of the good faith implied in the OF the cesson oil
Inc District This the ground then taken and THINK the
same ground taken in this resolution, Is mpregnahie now
Mr. FOOTE.--I much gratitied 10 hear The eXpaua-
ton Of the Senator: still Think with great Difference that
the resolution itself is strong as The Senator has Just
stated thing assert the inexpedency OF measure
and certainly very different thing assert that II adopted
il would he fraudulent, And adopted in bad faith ms Is
nv opinion and is opinion expressed by the Senator
from Kentucky now and understand formerly expressed
by him.
Mr. CLtY-If the Senator will attend To the latter part
he will that the sepeGt-
s on the principles referred dare there many
phrass in the resolutions which be improved by sag
pes,ons from the from Mississippi and others but il
he will reflect Tor he will find thai say incN
pedient without-what Its incXpedent unless Maryland
and the people of the District consent and unless the
pery is pad for when taken. think this is as strong
ground - can be assumed would not the word I'M
constitutional.
Mr. FooTE-I regret that the resolutions of the honor
able Sen ,,o regard The power Of Congress abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia not explicit or as