The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
srEEoH or MR. n, II. STANTON.


tiuss, March IL, 1850.
Mr. STANTON said:
fear, Mr. Chairman. that shall not be able to say
what intend with much ease 10 myself or pleasure TO
the House. Il can overcome very stubborn hoarse-
ness under which have labcred for several weeks,
shall proceed with my remarks; Otherwise, | shall be
under the necessity OF suspendng them until 10 morrow
cannot disguise the fact that feel embarrassment
in undertaking discuss the important questions which
have engaged The attention OF 80 many abier and more
experienced gentlemen this floor iee, however,
that II Is my duty 10 meet at this crisis IN our nato al
history, responsibility which rests upon me, as one oil
the representatives from the State OF kenuckya re.
sponsibly which owe 10 generous constituency, ana
which would not, i ! could, avoid. The honorable
gentleman from North Carolina. Mr.. CLEGMAs,l who
eloquentiy opened The debate the Presidents mes
sage by the course OF bis argument ntimeted doubt as
to the position which The people Of Kentucky occupied
upon the great question which now absorbs the attention
and of which isksidsea sse aalcs ot~Fasliaent
AIRY courtesy understand them, TO speak, have con-
buted to confirm that doubt; and the position of Ken
lucky hence regarded by many somewhat uncertain
aud equivocal No man can be insensible of the act
that from these and other the foes oil the Union
the fanatics OF the Norhlook toward that great State
with some degree OF hope and encouragement while the
people Of the South the contrary, led TO regard her
with undisguised distrnst
Believing. sincerely do that all doubts as TO the
position OF Kentucky, at tine present crisis, are unjust TO
her patriotic people, should be recreant to my duty,
of her representatives. II did not contribute my
mite 70 their removal Sir, I Is not the nature o. Ken
tuckians to remain undecided at The moment OF DANGER
no matter what shape il assumes, or from what quarter
may come There nothing in their political Or personal
history from the day when the intrepid boone hrst
Ohio to the present moment which warrants the belief
that they are people given to doubts and indecson
No, cir such weakness is trait which belongs not to
the people OF Kentucky.
care not how exalted or influential may be the per.
son-l how high his position, or how extensive
his popuarity-the man who seeks place Kentucky in
any other position than that OF stern and unbendng adj
herence 10 the principles OF the constutono deep and
abiding for the Union as il was, and is with
every State upon equality with all others, and every
right securedoes injustice to the patriotic sentiments Of
her people, and will receive no sympathy from them.
Though he may have been enshrned 10 their hearts as
IDOL If he seeks to destroy the or the other no
matter by what means, they will spurn him as they
would their deadllest foe.
Has il been forgotten, sir that during the past summer
Kentucky passed through crisis which happens but sell
dom in the history OF Stale Her people had deter
mined TO modify and change her Stale constitution, and
the occasion was seized upon as aordng aavorabe OPP
natcs abroad exned in the hope that the people OF Ken
lucky could be impressed with their and dam
gerous sentiments and might be induced to abolish the in
stuon OF slavery The people of the slave States, sens
lively alive 10 all that could in any way affect their own
interests, not without apprehensons that the key
stone in the southern arch would give way user the
PRESSURE and the whole superstructure OF southern ns
tlons be thereby endangered The question OF emanc
patton made issue, and discussed in every county
in the State with unusual energy and ability. The good
sense oil the people, however, prevailed and the result
contrary, confess, to the general expectatonwas that
not single man who had avowed himself before the
people as an emancipationst was elected to the con-
yention. That body meta constitution formed,
and the Institution of slavery instead OF being less
secure, is placed upon more irm and enduring
basis. Under the old constitution, the master, by COM
plying with certain provisions OF the law, was
allowed to emanclYaie his slave, and the slave thus
emancpated was permitted to remain in the State and
enjoy his freedom. Not so, however, under the new
constitution. BY its provisions master is not al
lowed to emancpate his slave, under any circumstances
uness be rst makes provision for his removal from the
State The danger OF eniailing upon the State that
cuF fra nulotia TINA
avoided and il there is anything in this calculated
TO offend the tender sensibtes OF northern phlanthro
that is the result Of their senseess and ndiscreet
meddlng with our domestic affairs believe the people
o Kentucky have been goaded into the adoption OF this
feature q le constitution, among ine most popular Of all
htonsts OF the North with the institution oil slavery in
the State, agree with the honorable gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr. SrAsLY who addressed the House
on yesterdayand is about the only part Of his speech,
regret to say, in which do agree with hm-that the
efforts OF these northern pbanhropsls. instead of relax
,ng have contributed 10 nyet more rmy the chains OF
bondage upon the poor slave. Such know, has been
the .act IN my own State. t tttHa
In view OF these circumstances, expressive OF the
will and feelings OF the people of Kentucky can there
main doubt TO their position upon the great question
which now seriously disturbs tue tranquility Of the
nation The people of Kentucky love ibis glorious Union
the man who can. with justice. accuse her Of disoyaiy
Sr, she has sealed her devotion to the honor and glory
Of this republic by the blood of too many Of her gallant
sohse upon 100 many gore Datte neds 10 De
Justly liable to suspicion OF disloyaly But much
as she loves the Unionmuch as she has sacrificed to
perpetuate its renown, and promote its gory-she can
not and will not submit TO the degradation and dshonor
OF having her rights sovereign State, and the
ngnls OF her Tree citizens ampled upon and outraged
Wh the sentiments oi my own immediate constituents
no man Is more familiar than myself; and speak advi
sedy when say that they do not recognise any right in
Congress 70 nterdc by the Wilmoi Proyso or any kim
dIed enacment the presence OF slavery the Territories
should this, or any other involving the same
principle OF nterdction, be fastened upon BY Con-
ges we shall regard Il being done in defiance of the
PLAIN principles OF the constitution aud in contempt OF
our rights as Tree citizens Of one of the sovereign States
OF the Union
:, What right sir has Congress to say to the citizen OF
hentucky that because he emlgates from particular
SIDE oil The Ohio rIver, his rights IN the Territories
shall not be full and ample those OF the citizen who
emgrates IRON the opposite side oil thai rver None,
err whatever And yet, adopt the Proyiso, make il the
law By which the Territories be governed and you
do establish this inequality the rights Of the citizens OF
he several States OF the Union. Let look at pro
VISION OF the constituton-hat which equality
OF rights among the citizens of the several Staes and
protects them from any degrading determinations:
ART lV SEC 2 The oit,zcns of each State shall be
ed all the privileges and mmnnites Of citizens In the
What meaning does this language convey il itis not
Pronibon against the enactment OF any law which un.
Justly d'scnminaies between the citizens OF the several
Ihe Wmot Proviso, it's operation would be in direct
conmct win his provision OF the constitution, and is
exacuy one o. me cases against which the prohibition
was intended TO apply. No one will pretend TO deny
that The right OF property in slaves is recognised and
guaranteed by be consututonnot only in States where
authorized by the local laws but under certain cir
cumsiances in States where the local laws forbid ii
would TO od could say i was respected and projected