The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-08-14

ment? Is our Government an asso.
citation Of the individual citizens, ex-
tending through this broad land from
sen TO sea, bound by the acts Of ina.
lority, 10 be corrected into submission
ifthey disagree TO or refuse obedience
TO law? Far from it. We have Sc o.
arntely organized States that
claim to be and are free, sovereign and
independent States, but who have yield
cd portion Of their power to this Gen-
eral Government for common object
and for the common good; but they are
regularly organized Governments, with
executive, legislative, and judicial
branches, with unlimited power Of tax
alton, capable Of commanding the re-
sources of their people 10 an unlimited
extent, recognized and acknowledged
as Governments. Those States, by the
theory Of our Government and by usagcs
OF that Government, are bound 10 look
10 and protect the safety, and happiness,
and welfare Of their own people; and if
il be true--God forbid the experiment,
should ever be tried! but fit be true tia,
in the government Of the confederation
power is lodged 10 coerce The States
into submission 10 their will; if in this
Federal Government power resides 10
hold citizen Of State 10 an obedience
paramount TO his obedience at home,
need no, say TO that Senator and tho
country, that whenever The experiment
is tried, you will have the whole tier of
Southern States, and believe q large
portion Of the Northern States, dcny:;;p
it. Sir, may Heaven, in its providence
and in its benifccncc, avert such on is.
sue.
But we are forwarncd by the Senator
from Kentucky, as his idea OF The theory of
this Government, that il is capable, and
that it is its duty to enforce obedience to
It's laws. whether the resistance comes
from the authorities Of a State, or from an
individual. Now, cir, how do these States
stand! There is my own honored Com.
monwealth, whose limits areswithin view.
from, the doors of this Capitol, and other
States Soiith OF tbfs, Including GeoFWia,
all Of whom through their own constituted
authorities, have declared and placed it
upon their statute books, that they will re-
sist what they believe to be an unconsitu-
tlona! act OF power on the part OF the Fed
cral Government, should it bo done III
reference to this slave question. The
Senator from Kentucky replies To them
distinctly, resist at The peril OF blood, If you
DO 1t, and that his counsel and aid shall be
given TO the bayoncis OF the Federal Gov
ernment to reduce them TO submission
Sir, it is we'll they should know it, and
Ont tI,o,. .lD l. f,
tlal voice Of that Senator-and potent it is
can enforce it. Let it go TO them, and
let it 60 10 them, as it will do, cotempora-
ncous with the action of the Congress OF
the United States upon this question OF
exclusion OF slavery in the territories. Sir,
wish TO add no heat Ia this discussion
none in the world. The subject is one
that VIC should deliberate on calmly, and
tcmperaicly, and hope we shall do it.
feel at liberty 10 speak for the State OF Viz
gnil only SO Ear rs believe that under
stand what she dca,sns to do. To that
extent | am hound to speak. ! believe,
sir, in my best anil settled Judgment, that
when law shall he passed by the Congress
OF the United States, and become the law
Of the land, which shall by lis act exclude
the people Of the State from taking Their
slaves into territory South OF the Missou-
ri Compromise line, that Virginia will do
what has been declared in her resolutions
airendy-not threatening resistance---she
will take such measures, by her own SOW
crcigniy, as in her judgement will he best
calculated 10 preserve the Union, if it can
he preserved, and if not TO preserve her
own safety, aud her own welfare, out OF
the Union.
Mr.. President, after the loss of the bill,
really intended to say nothing about il.
The Senator from Kentucky insists that It
WIS bill TO give peace and Tranquility to
the country. ! am satisfied that he
thought SO; that that was his design and
object, and tina, that would be the first and
greatest wish Of his heart. But, sir, am
quite satisfied that if it had passed, and if
peace had been given to the country, it
would hlvc been peace purchased by the
surrender OF the independence OF all the
Southern States; peace purchased by the
surrender on the part Of all the Southern
States Of their right 10 equality with tho
oihcr States of this Union. ] may have
hccn wrong in that Judgment; it was The
best that could pass upon II; and that we
all acted upon il; and that we all
acted upon the best Judgment VIC
could bring 10 bear upon i, have no
doubt; none in the world should have
been highly gratifcd had it been in my
power TO have contributed to its passage,
but found it impossible and ilnpracticablc.
Perhaps, sir, what have said has been
a little in advance Of the occasion, for
rose merely to reply TO so much of the re-
marks OF the Senator from Kentucky as
implicated what | belicye not to be the
true theory OF our government, and what
believe TO be a dangerous one. While
was up, desired TO present to the Senate
the materials had collected 10 show how
The vote OF The Missouri Compromise line
OF 36 deg. 30 m. stood in 1918 and, having
performed that duty, VIII not further
lrcsnass on the time OF the Senate.
Mr.. Butler. A great deal has been
said, Mr.. President, about The rcsponsiS,li.
tywhich Senators will have to assume in
relation to certain measures, and the re-
sponsiblily they may take SO far as regards
any other measures that may be adopted.
Sir, am aware, solemnly aware, that we
arc treadng at this time upon most fear
ful history ahead Of us. | think we arc