The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-06

were strcnuously and dctcrminedly In favor Of
serting and maintaining the constitutional rights
Of the South; there men there who remained
true TO the South and under circumstances OF ex-
treme opposition They of the South who stood up
for the rights of their constituents were not entitled
| To the credit that they OF the North merited The
southern members by their acts and speeches, were
likely to obtain popularity at bome but the north
| ern members who stood by them were acting In
| the face Of bitter and relentless opposition at
home, and against the preudices OF their consitu-
ents. Northern men were To be found on the noor
of Congress defending the rights OF the South with
feariessness and an eloquence not surpassed by
meeting at New York had shown that the sound
constitutional doctrine Of the South was as well I'M
derstood and maintained there as II Is at the South.
MIR. BUTLER said that he rose to say word or
two, without any understanding with his colleague
| for that purpose He had not understood his col
league as saying that the Union could not be pre-
served, that it could not be continued under COM
promise without this amendment Of the Constitution;
but he understood his colleague to say that il
desired TO make this Union perpetual, with har-
| mony and equality in all its members and constit-
| uent parts, and make that harmony and equality
perpetual, provision should be made in the Con-
stitution placing in the southern States the power
to preserve the equilibrium which has been de-
| stroyed
Mr.. CALHOUN asked what question was before
The VICE PRESIDENT said there was none
| Mr.. CALHOUN said he regretted very much that
in his absence, before one o'clock, any Senator
should have commented his remarks. He did
not hear the Senator from Mississippi did that
Senator charge him with disunon Did the Sena-
| tor insinuate it?
Mr.. FOOTE explained and repeated what he had
formerly stated /; and said that If it act Of
impiety to call in question the opinions even of
the Senator from South Carolina, he would have to
declare that that Senator was not his leader. He
| (Mr. f. represented sovereign State, and in the
exercise ofhis constitutional right, he would always
express his sentiments, and comment upon all pro-
positions with which he could not accord.
| He had hia Arfao M bia fats tn anAh a
would perform them. He had his duties also to the
Union, and he would perform them, whatever might
be the difference it would create between him and
| others.
| He did not browbeat any mamie would allow
| no man to browbeat him; he insulted no mamie
| would allow no man to insult him. he Hectored
| over mamie would allow man to Hector
over him. He respected and admired the Senator
from South Carolina for his many services, and for
his devotion to the Constitution; but if that Senator
desires that the Constitution shall be amended in
the respect intimaed, and that, too, before there
could be settlement of these ditficulties-if he
made this amendment sine qua non in the settle
inent Of these dificultiesthen they would have to
| part company on this subject. He and the Senator
differed on other subjects, but he nothing Grim
nal in the difference of opinion. If the Senator was
endowed with higher faculties than he was he still
thought that those faculties, given to them by Hea
ven, was to be exercised Independently.
Mr.. CALHOUN said that the Senator from Mis-
sissipp might have saved himself the protests utter
ed against being under a leader. He (Mr. CO was
leader; he Claimed 10 De leader OF OF
no party He sp Ike always on his own RESPONSE
bility. lie wanted that his remarks should go out
to the people as they STOOD and not to goo as
planned by any individual The Senator had mis-
4 taken his intention. BY the speech yesterday he
had considered the causes of the difficulties
isting, and in the examination he could not over
look the fact that one of the greatest causes of dis
content was the inability OF the South to protect
herself 1t was to remedy this he proposed to
amend the Constitution. He would say, and say
boldly, that as things now stood, the southern
States could not remain in the Union. He ap-
pealed 10 Senators, was not this the facR He put
| the question to the Senator from Mississippi
Mr.. FoOTE said he believed the southern States
could remain in the Union with honor if the present
difficulties settled; and he believed those diff
iculties could be settled in days if they would
4 20 about il in the right manner
MIR. CALHOUN said the South could not remain
in the Union without some provision guarantyng an
equilibrium Of power 10 protect herself If the diff
iculties not settled now. they could never be
/ settled.
Mr.. FOoTE said he believed they could remain
/ in the Union without any amendment of the Con-
stitution, IL the difficulties settled. Fac
\ ton then would be at end.
Mr.. CALHOUN said, then he and the Senator
differed. On the other portion of his remarks the
Senator mistaken, also. In remarking on the
feeling at the North in regard to the institutions of
the South he had said, that portion of the North
regarded slavery ms a sin; another portion as
crime, and another blot ON the national fame
every other portion at least hostile to the South.
They all opposed To slavery; no northern man
would rise up and say that he was not opposed to
slavery.
He never made professions in favor of the Union;
he left his nets TO speak for themselves; his devo-
ton could be judged by his acts. If professions
were the test he would stand low; but, II acts
were considered, he thought he might stand as
\ high as others
Mr.. FOoTE then defended The people ofthe North
as body from being hostile 70 the South, and
alluded 10 the proceedings Of the Union meeting in
New York, and TO the letter Of Senator DICKINSON
| 10 that meeting.
Mr.. CALHOUN said that at the meeting alluded
| 10 many sentiments were adopted Of which he APP
proved but he looked not TO acts, but TO the ends
TO be attained by those acts. That meeting in New
York was for the purpose of Wrestling California
| from the South.
! Mr.. BRADBURY moved, and the Senate then pro-
ceeded 20 the consideration Of the motion TO refer
the Presidents message and the accompanying
copy Of the constitution Of California to the Com
mittcc on Territories.
| MIR. HAMLIN said he considered that the subject
Of slavery in any either Of its numerous sha pes
| the question of Texas boundary, nor any other Of
| the many questions introduced and discussed, had
any connection with the question Of admitting Cali
! fornia into he Union as n State. That question
should be considered upon il own merits. lie would
have preferred 10 have considered IL upon bill pro-
| vidng for her admission instead Of debating the
motion 10 refer lie had heard Of the cry OF disu-
Mon. He had no fears Of IL. lie saw no cause for
alarm. There cause for alarm. IL was
false cry, got up TO promote particular ends and
objects. In his section there was once body Of
disunionists; u there were any who now were desi
rous Of initiating them, their history should be re-
| corded on the same page
The question for their decision was, shall there
be another added To flag, another sister 10
| the Union lie was in favor Of Il. He in IA
vor Of admitting California now, and with her pre-
sent boundaries. The people Of California had
| adoptedsa republican constitution, and was enti-
tied 10 admission a. State.
Mr.. II. then examined at great length the ques-
| ton OF the power Of the people Of California TO
adopt and frame State government and constitu-
/ ton, citing 10 sustain the Affirmative, from the
Constitution, the Fedcrast, the debates In the
vcntion, the reports of committees in Congress on
other similar cases. tho speeches and resolutions Of
various Senators and others, and from judicial de-
| cisi0ns.
| lie also examined In detail the action precedent
and Subsequent upon the admission Of every State
into the union, since the adoption Of the Constitu
| ton, 10 show that 10 form a State government by
the people ofbc Territories, preliminary action
or consent on the part IL Congress was required
OF ibc seventeen States admitted into the Union,
/ nine had no precedent action by Congress The
| conduct Of the Administration In regard 10 Cali
| fornia held 10 be not only proper, wise, and
Just, but The only course that could be adopted lie