The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-20

IKE the fod OF lhe pIopne Is 10 swallow up Its
| pelltor
Well sir. apart from the extravaganza Of these anc
paons what says experience II is stated that IN many
of the States OF this Unon-perhaps in moety of them,
ii not more-ths unlimited right OF protesting aud Of
terng the protest the Journal IS secured IN some by
constitutional regulations, and In others by Legislative
usage. Have any of these abuses, these political gor
gons, made their appearance there Are not the rights
OF those States safe and safely administered in
others. If there any, whose journals are inaccessible
10 these applicatonsi Has any embarrassment worth
speaking Of the OF legislation, been experienced
there which has not been felt everywhere' think, II
there danger. there faithful sentnels enough
through the country TO sound the alarm, without any
need part of exciting such terrible public appre
henslon and when abuses come, II eyer will be very
easy TO find an adequate remedy.
Now, sir, the facts and testaments oil this provost
am not responsible for them BY admitting il upon The
record neither aver the one nor sanction the other 80
gentlemen who signed il, made in this body and which II
is my duty and my pleasure TO hear And really SIR,
not sensitive my course, during this
sary controversy, that an unwilling to allow the largest
liberty OF circulation that our institutions allow, as well
the largest liberty OF discussion Even if err, the
error the right sdethe side OF Freedom Of exam
natonthe American side in all such Investigations
the OF observation in this protest may TO be
reproach upon those OF us who do not join IT, for one
ready 10 take my share OF it, without hesitation com
plant. i have not character enough 10 redeem me
from it, the sooner so home the better for my consiit-
uens But cir, do not see the paper in this aspect do
not think il should be examined and exposed with curl
Gus eye TO discover causes oil objection reasonable
latitude Of remark should be allowed, the right itself
would degenerate into dry record Of undsputed facts
But do not believe that either of those gentlemen in
tended to cast the slightest reflection upon the oiner
members of the Senate. They disavow ii, and the
planation is perfectly satisfactory to me.
But, sir the oft repeated tale is said again, and
told that such proceeding has taken place under
our government. WE'LL sir. and what them This govern
ment has existed for sixty years. and in that period the
intellect remains in state of immobili,y. Are 10
make no improvements, do not say in The principles Of
governmentthough believe there is much to improve
herebu in the feature, in the forms OF legislation.
or the process of administration Can we nterpcse no
and saluary check because the necessity not hsv
ing before disclosed ITSELF the remedy was not provided
for! The true inquiry all such Is, not whether
the proposed has been done before, but whether We
consttuionay do it, and ought TO dot That is the
true, view OF the subject Progress s one
OF the laws imposed equally upon the moral and upon The
natural world and he who does not obey It will soon
find that in yielding blind obedience TO precedent his
sympathies will connect him with past generation Ex
peence worth great deal in the affairs OF this ile
both public and private but that experience is not made
up alone of what was thought and done before u.s. Much
OF belongs personal observation. and
not be surrendered without substituting blind 0bedl-
for the dictates of ud gment-a judgment which
adds the increased knowledge OF our own times TO the
knowledge of those who preceded us the sphere OF
action
Mr. PRATT Mr.. President, do not feel disposed to
proong this debate. and delayed saying anything in the
hope that others who preceded me would advance the
opinions which entertain, or some OF thcm to the
reception of this protest did not, sir, and am sure no
gentlemen who have signed This paper with any inten
ton 10 reflect either upon the action OF the Senate or OF
the individual members OF the Senate do not mean to
do sir do not mean TO attribute to them, en-
tertaning they do the sentiments expressed in this
paper any blame for Offering the paper to the consdera.
uon OF the Senate and the country On the contrary,
do know that not their duty 10 do But is
very different question, in this age of progress when
the Senate Of the United States asked by their vote to
put upon their journal paper which contains these sen
ments when The majority of the Senate do not in
the sentiments which expressed in the paper This
paper makes out case, which, if believed by the south
ern States OF this Union will compel every southern
State, in honor 10 secede from the Union Now, il the
opinion of my friends who have signed this paper, as
the representatives of their States that the state OF facts
way as will not only justify, but which makes their own
States derect honor unless they do secede from the
Union. That being their opinion, they have the perfect
right express it, They have constitutional night 10
place such sentiments upon your Journal when they not
the opinions OF the Senate think they have no right 10
ask the Senate, who do not entertain these sentiments,
for permission 10 put them upon The journal and con-
currence those sentiments will be attributed to If
we vote 10 have placed upon our journal the reasons
which assigned.
In addition to the concluding paragraph read by the
senator from Wisconsin, mir WALKrR,l beg to call
the attention OF the Senate TO the FACT that IN the protest
there limitations that In the passage OF this bill
for the admission of California, Congress has done an
unconstitutional act On yesterday, when was about TO
comment ipon that expression, my fnend from Virginia
stated that the paper contained no such asseyeraion he
has admitted to-day that IT does Now seven different
portions OF the paper the position stated and reiterated that
Congress upon the passage OF the California BILL has done
an unconstitutional act, and unconstitutional ACT
which is subversve to the rights OF the South. under
stood the gentleman that this paper does not asser
that the passage of the blu admitting California was un-
constitutional In the first place. the first passage OF this
paper in which think il is explicitly stated is ihis
w. have dssented from this bill because gives the
OF law and thus imparts validity the unautbo
zed action OF portion of the inhabitants of California, by
which odous crminaton is made against the
~ OF the fifteen savehoding States OF the Union, who are
thus deprived Of that position OF equality which the con
tutta
and stable foundation which this Union can re
pose.
Now Mr. President submit that here is assertion
that this is which is unconstitutional in itself
II has deprived them of that position of equality which
the constitution manesty designs and which consi-
tutes the only and stable foundation which this
Union can repose !" and it is that 1--WE have dssenied
from this bill because gives the sanction Of law and
thus mpars validity to the unauthorized action OF pot
lon of the inhabitants OF California IL is, therefore,
the bill for the adm OF California which gives the
sanction OF law and mpars validity TO the Unauthorized
or unconstitutional act OF the bill Of California, by
which this constitutional right OF the South they de-
prived of. There is number one
! Again. il is said in the next paragraph
Because the right of the ssveboldng States to com
and equal enjoyment of tho territory OF the Union hs
been defeated by system of which, without the
hory of precedent, of law, Of the constitution, IL
does of the constitution but without
Authority oil the constitution, manifesty conved io
that and which Congress must sanction and adopt
should this bl become law.
Now this branch of Congress have passed the bill
This branch of Congress have therefore sanctioned hi,
one of the measures, thus avered unconstitutional
and having been originally designed and introduced oI
the purpose OF deprvng the South OF their constitutional
rights So in other parts OF this paper is