The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-25
MIR. billiards Speech.

MIR. billiards Speech.
We publish this morning the revised
copy of the speech of Mr.. billiard, Of
Alabama, delivered in the House of Rep.
resentatives of the United States, on the
Presidents message, in relation to the
government of the territory acquired from
Mexico by the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo.
Mr.. billiard finds it impossible to give
his support to the policy recommended by
the PRESIDENT. His first objection is,
that the plan of the PRESIDENT leaves the
great question open. If by leaving the
question open, Mr.. billiard means that
it leaves the question where it is placed
by the Constitution, we admit that this
view of the subject is correct; but we do
not agree with our friend from Alabama
in the inference which he derives from it.
We consider this the great merit of the
PRESIDENTS plan. 1t is desirable in our
Judgment that this question should remain
precisely where the Constitution places it,
and to this end it must remain an open
question. 1t is not in the power of Con-
gress to close constitutional questions.
Congress cannot bind the hands of its
successors. The men who now figure
in the two houses cannot alter the fun
damental law Of the republic by legis-
lative declarations, nor in any other man
ner. The men who will occupy their
seats twenty or fifty years hence may scat
ter all their compacts and all their laws to
the four winds of heaven, but they cannot
change, any more than Mr.. billiard or
his colleagues can change, single line or
a single letter of the Constitution of the
United States. If the Constitution leaves
a question open, no law can close ii; and
therefore, when Mr.. HILLIARD calls for
such law as a condition precedent TO
the Resumption of his allegiance to the
Union, or of his sworn fealty TO the Con-
stitution of the United States, lie calls for
an impossibility.
The next objection of Mr.. billiard to
the policy of the president is, that if
California is admitted into the Union, the
balance of power would be against the
slave States, and that il is therefore nor
the duty Of Congress 'fo ascertain and fla
the future policy Of this Government"
So far as the policy of this Government is
or can be fired, it is fixed BY the Consti-
tuition. 1t cannot be fixed by laws, be-
cause the laws change with the change of
Legislators. But Mr.. HnIIARD invokes
the Southern States TO "hrow up bar
riers" and 10 "demand guarantees" The
only efectual barriers and guarantees are
those Of the Constitution. If Mr.. Hill
LARD means that the South must insist
upon extra-constitutional b;uiers and guar
antees, then he means reyplution-for il
is not within the jurisdiction of Congress
to erect any such barriers, OF to extend
/ any such guarantees. The balance Of
power must regulate itselfoy events, under
? the Constitution.
. The remaining portion Of Mr.. Hn-
LARp's speech is founded upon the as
sumption that the northern members OF
,, Congress propose TO exclude the southern
9 States from an equality Of rights in Cali
lornia and New Mexico, AID in future &C
I QUESTIONS. Mr.. HILIARo ought to know
!, that it is not in the power If this Congress
! TO law down any law for future acquisi-
: tons. Is not the spirit Of conquest salts
: 6edl Does Mr.. HILLARD look forward "a
: further dismemberment ofneighboringna-
: tions' Does he call upon Congress to
adopt nor, in cold blood the laws by
e which they will govern at some future day
: countries with which we have a solemn
I treaty Of amity on which TIE ink is hardly
! yet dry or the wax coldl Can Christian,
;, patriot, man Of civilizaion, insist up.
n on legislative guarantee" that when
!, friendly provinces shall hate been invaded
le and conquered, they shil be parcelled
out, one-half 10 the North and the Other
! half TO the South, withou regard to the
Is laws and usages Of the conquered nations,
, or TO the constitutions thai they may see
D ct TO frame for themselves
to But whatever may be what Mr.. Hi.
?. LIZARD calls the determination Of the North
&c on this subject, we do nj see how such