The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-01-19
1,mE pEnATE IN TnE eENATE.

The recent debate in the United States
Senate, upon the motion TO print The anti.
slavery resolutions oftle Legislature orver.
mont drew outa capital speech from Mr.
Phelps. Mr. Phelps is ono OF tho strongest
minded men Ia the Senate; he Is never cxcn-
ed; he speaks with firmness,a and means what
he snys. The correspondents Of the Express
thus sketches tho remarks ofMr Phelps
Mason, Of Va, complained ofihe language
of the resolutions, which characterized slave
~ MS crime. Virginia had made up her
rrrind upon the subject to oppose the prii,.
ciples OF the ProvisOisls nj all hazards, aud to
the last extremity.
MIR Hale proceeded to say, that be was Ger.
lain there WINS not the least necessity for any
opposition from the other side Of the clam
her, ms the resolutions were quite harmless.
Mr. Phelps, ia reply to Mr. Hale aud to the
remarks which Ind been made by Southern
gentlemen, would define his own p6siliou,
and what he believed TO be Northern o.
t.lsiinns upnn lhie subject.
lie was listened TO with the nIost pToluund
attention, rs II seemed Ia he supposed that
he was 10 somo extent speaking the sent-
meutsUt the administration. fhg tauguHga
OF MIR Phelps wnS calm aud dignlfed, aud
was expressed with degree of force that
produced ao evident effect upon the South
ern portion of the Senate. The enunc iaiion
nj this time of the North in SO calm man.
ner is opportune and important, aud must
have no slight effect upon the future aciiou
OF the Soulful they are not lost To reason
upon this exciting subject.
IVY own position aud that ofIbe NoTiher0
people ge0ernily, as ! understand them, is:-
We are opposed to Tie existence of rlnVery
aud claim the right to express our sentiments
in relation TO Tint institution, but we do not
Pretend md never expect TO pretend to in
terfere in any way with the domestic insiitu-
lions ofany State. We claim the right Of
Congress TO re-enHct the ordinance Of 'S7
should IL I've Thought eKPedieHt or necessary
aud &c any other action Than that of cons,itu
tionnl opposition to the passage of such
measures should be undertaken by hny nor
ton OF the Union, such treason will be dealt
with IN such manner us mny I've thought nee
essary and proper, in connection with the
circumstances under which il may be III
tempted. -zi.
| My friend from Virginia mir hiasonl tells
us that Virginia had made up her mind 10
resist every encronctmenI. trust that Vir
ginin tctH resist any attemp, upon the inteR
rity of the government, aud that she will
suffer no state ofihis Union or any foreign
power 10 invade ter rights, and cen assure
her II she is invaP I'd there 10 not a State in
the Union which viii not ny nc once TO her
suecor, an'l aid her in resistance Eat nli haz-
urds md 10 the last extremity" and I will
| left Vtrgnia, lob, thsl IL che should attempt
eneroachnen's upen other States, or eDdeav-
or 10 control this government 10y Ihrents and
intimidation; if she should assume to dictate
TO Congress, upon what subjects the general
government shalt or shall no, Iegislaie, aud
what measures tl,ey -w1nli or shall pos Pass.
she places herself Ia position, tot only nd
together untenab1e, bHi iitio short OF, ridiea-
louS. IL she carries out her threats TO the
extent OF treason, the government will doubt-
less he found sufficiently powerful to protect
herrelEn
There is much good sense in the remarks