The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-24

North and the South as that which is now under con
siderafion.
The next ground upon which the honorable gentleman
thought proper to complain OF me was. that had under
taken TO speak OF Mr. Adams republican Statesman
and to quote from his letter OF 1898 certain passages
declaralve OF sound and approved republican doctrine
Mr.. Adams is pronounced by the senator from Alabama
TO have been quite uncertain political guide, inasuct
as he afterwards became aboionisL Now, confes:
oil abolition doctrines, some twenty years after. has TO do
with his political opinions in 1923. II what MIR. Adams
wrote in 1929 and what seems TO have been generally
sanctioned 10 y the republican party o. that period cannot
charge OF feeling less sympathy with the aboli
tonsls, then indeed committed grots in referring
% Mr. Adams at all But imagine that few besides the
honorable senator from Alabama will find much difficulty
an discovering how il is possible that man may be
quite safe guide at one period OF his lfe when writing
Tor the purpose OF securing the confidence and respect Of
patriotic and intelligent party and yet become subse-
quently an object OF dstrust and condemnation, when
afterwards. having the eins Of authority suddenly torn
from his grasp, and being thrown into comparative OBJ
scuy he becomes the wretched agent and rngleader oil
noisy and unprncpled faction. The senator from Ala
bama seems 10 to have grossly underrated the nei
gencao the southern people he supposes that by such
ingenious expedients he has adopted he succeed
in awakening the least prejudice against me.
Another accusation has been presented against by
the honorable senator from Alabama, which is really
present administration This accusation is accompanied
with charge against the senator from Kentucky Mr..
CLAY,l that he is inmical 10 the administration This
hostility OF the senator from Kentucky, asserted TO
have been exhibited in connection vi the measure now
under consideration All this must be little surprising
TO those who aware that the senator from Kentucky
and myself recognised by the from Alabama,
in the very speech which am answering, as "coabor-
ers IN support OF the scheme Of compromse now in pro.
gress. confess that not able to perceive how
Of could evnce friendship aad the other hostility
those in power BY supporting the sesame measure, and
BY declaring precisely the same general views in sup
port OF il.
But the honorable gentleman supposes that must be
in lavor Of the famous policy if.I doubt the
power Of Congress- upon strict Interpretation OF the
federal constitution, to establish territorial government
at all Well sir, the honorable senator from Michigan
Mr.. CAss, and other democratic worthless OF almost
equal consideration, will have 10 be recognised also
supporters of the action policy, since they have
wel myself declared that such power as this Of
territorial governments to them to
have been given Congress by the constitution, and
that the exercise OF It could only be excused upon the
ground OF 0UerrIling necessity
Upon this point the honorable gentleman thought prop
to be quite faceous. and observed, with origin
be
the hint. and will beg leave to suggest to him that
fear that this fine saying OF his will presently become
01evs @ nsy sha
in their efforts to defeat this bill So long as shall
lnue TO vote with the hightoned patriots with whom
am now acting, shall not fear the application Of the
friend from Alabama will be found in the sequel of this
contest 10 be equally free from suspicion Of
the objectionable opinions Of those with whom he may be
found acting.
But really does the honorable senator not perceive the
injustice of charging me with favoring the non-acon
policy, when he considers that earnestly urging
The most extended and comprehensive action which can
possibly take place the adjustment OF all the questions
growing out OF slavery Let ask him il he does
apprehend that he may himself be accused, and with
effect too, OF favoring this action policy, by
hose who shall ascertain that he, with his eyes perfectly
open to the consequences likely ensue has struggled
10 defeat this measure OF compromse-knowng, as he
could not but do that il he succeeded, the non-achon
policy would be necessarily acted upon--as California
would them in all probability, be admitted separate
measure, and territorial governments be established
Utah and New Mexico, until the people OF these Terrific
should be ready claim admission as Statesi Le,
my friend. ali soemnity, that the Discerning
people Of the South will not fail to understand this whole
matter, and that they will certainly hold those to rigid
who shall take il upon themselves from
whatever motives, to favor the adoption and enforcement
OF this wretched non-action policy, which is TO keep
open the asfacns questions which nave 80 long aglta
most baneful permanence 10 the military government
in operation in New Mexico, and be productive of
other consciousness equally 70 be depioed BY all good
But, sir my honorable friend from Alabama has under
taken not only TO accuse me, on this OCCASION o having
been guilty Of various grievous political offences. but he
has taken upon himself 10 play prosecutor, court and
jury in very regular manner indeed He has underta-
ken TO try" me first, as he says, by the "Congres.
sonal record and then by speeches deliberately pre-
pared and deliberately revised which last unders
TO he in part his speech already referred to, and
which he AYERS that sanctioned fully and in part speeches
delivered by myself Well, sir hope, If my honorable
friend. who has thus subjected me TO trial, should
manage to convict me, he will al least not subject
hanging or other severe capital punishment
In reference 10 the extract read from the honorable
senator's speech have said already that have not
found fault with II, though, as have already stated,
have never yet read the speech OF which II constitutes
a part. In relation to my own speeches, | have
heretofore challenged the production oil any proof of in
upon the question OF admitting California
and feel justified in asserting, alter the elaborate
rance with myself. that he has read not single extract
from any OF my speeches. numerous as they have been
from the beginning OF the session up TO the present
hour, which | do not now sanction, and which
could not now REUTER-, without feeling myself to
be in the least possible danger OF being accused by any
strong adverse feeling OF some kind, OF having been
guilty Of the least inconsistency whatever IN relation to
This question oil admission. Always have heretofore
declared that TO admit California separate and dis
tistinct measure unaccompaned with such settlement
Of all the questions growing out oil slavery as wouli be
calculated 10 compensatnE advantages OF some
kind and among them the inesmable blessing OF social
onie and freedom from annoyment for the future would
be an act so UNJUST insulting, and so grossly inqu
tous az TO Justify the South in resorDg to any means OF
for the vndcaon oil her honor and
the establishment OF her domestic security upon ounda-
ions too stable to be hereafter disturbed or put in danger
But whilst entertaining and expressing THIS view OF ,ne
ent moment, that the admission OF California, whatever
nfonnates may have occurred in bringing about her
present political organization, provided the measure Oh
admission should constitute only one portion oil general
scheme of adjustment and compromise, upon the whole
satisfactory in ts character wond IN my Judgment nol
might with some plausbility at least, be hailed as
,sa.nra ~ h;oh national importance, and entitled 10