The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-07


sisting ON ENGRAVING the proviso Of the ordinance
ofl757, and the Senate dissenting. At the next
session, Maine was knocking for admission. The
Senate coupled the two States together in one bill
and said fyou do not admit Missouri we will moi
admit Maine This was done by decided ma
jority The bill went through all the stages of con-
ference before il was settled, and then it was set
tied by dsconnecting the two States. And then il
was that Mr.. Thomas, Senator from Illinois, pre-
posed the line Of 36o 3d. and il passed. and SO il
went 10 Missouri, and for while quieted the coun-
try BY reference TO the journals it appears that
in every instance this line of 800 80 offered by
Mr.. Thomas.
The line of $50 80 was voted for by majority Of
the Senators from the South, among whom were
MIR. Pinckney of Maryland, and Mr.. King Of Ala
bama. In the House the majority of the southern
members, headed by Mr.. Lowndcs, voted for it.
He believed he did too.
AT the next session il was discovered that Mis-
souri, had inadvertently introduced into her consti-
tuition an Introduction of free colored people, and
when the constitution came to Congress the coun-
try was in an uproar. Legislative bodies had taken
action to keep out Missouri because Of this inter-
diction. He did not come TO Washington that year
till january, and, with view to settlement, he
asked committee Of thirteen to be appointed from
the old thirteen States, and that committee re-
ported resolution, which was defeated by three
southern votes. The matter then laid over. He
believed he could have carried any thing, as there
was majority in Congress in favor of settling the
dfhculty; but there was the ayes and noes, and
fortunately there was not enough of Curtiuses and
country.
He then proposed joint committee, that of the
House TO consist of twenty three members to be
chosen by bailot-for Mr.. Taylor was Speaker, and
IT was Mr.. Taylor who had proposed this proviso
ON all occasions-an the first ballot eighteen of
the twenty three persons nominated by him as
members OF the committee were chosen. The re-
manning five were then chosen. Much TO his re-
greet, some Of these declined, and Mr.. Randolph
was appointed on the committee. The two com
mittecs met in the Senate chamber on the Sabbath,
and but a few days before the adjournment of Con-
gress and. alter consultation, adopted a rcsolu-
ton submitted by him. That resolution was re
ported to both houses, and became the law.
And what was it 1t was mere resolution, de-
clarng, as great fundamental principle, that the
Constitution Of the United States was the nara
mount law of the land, and that all State consttu-
tons and laws We're of effect if in conflict with
the Constitution of the United States. That, if
there were any thing in the constitution Of Missouri
III conflict with the Constitution of the United
States, Missouri shall, by some solemn act of her
Legislature, suspend its operation; and that upon
such act of Missouri being communicated TO the
President, (Mr MosRoE.) the President shall
admitted into the Union This was the compro-
nlise All parties were satisfied with the assertion
of an incontestable principle of law, couchcd in
rather high-sounding words, which meant no
thing.
The enactment of the line of 36o 3O would be an
introduction of slavery north of that line. Will the
South be satisfied with this? The Senator from
Mississippi (Mr. DAvIs) has said he will accept
nothing short of recognition Of the right to hold
slaves south of that line, which proposition could
not command over twenty votes in the Senate. Is
not non action by Congress the best policy? II is
better to have non action than legislation nterdict
ing slavery north of $50 30, and no recognition of
it south of that line. No earthly power could make
him vote to introduce slavery south Of 36o 3O but
ifa majority decided that slavery should be inter-
dictcd north, and recognised south Of that line,
which would be but equal justice, however much it
would conflict with his principles and feelings, he
would be the last to interpose any obstacle to its
adoption But non faction by Congress, as he pro-
posed, was the best policy, 1t bad been said that
non action secured every thing the North demand
ed; and who was to blame for thisi Not Congress.
If the people of California thought proper TO exclude
slavery, that was their own business, and a policy
they had right TO adopt. If nature had rendered
the soil of the rect of that territory unfit for slavery
to exist there, there to be reproached save
nature and natures God.
Mr.. C. then traced the history of this nation
crease in population and in territory; the glori-
GUS manner in which it had prosecuted several
wars, and the brilliant renown it had gained
through the gaalantry, skill and achievements of
its officers. The events of the late war, and the
conduct of the two great and leading officers were
dwelt upon with much power The universal pros
perity OF the country, with the exception of few
manufacturing districts, was unbounded; and it
was from the very wantonness OF prosperity that
most Of the wild schemes of the day emanated
he then enumerated the various leading acts of
government adopted when the North held SWAY in
the counses of the nation: they were bank of the
United States the assumption of the State debts,
protection to manufacturing interests (ls79,) the
alien and sedition laws, and the quasi war with
France. These the leading results of the
northern counsels, which had sway during the first
twelve years OF the government. For the last fifty
years the South preponderated in the counses Of
the nation, and the results were: the embargo re-
strictions, the war with Great Britain, the over
throw Of the Bank of the United States, the extern
n aul fa(.
lures, the establishment of the Bank Of the
United States, the same put down again, the acqui
siton OF Louisiana, the purchase Of Florida, the
OF Texas, war with Mexico, the acqui-
sion OF California and other territories protection
by free trade, the removal of the In
dams west OF the Mississippi, and the admission of
fifteen new States.
In attributing these events TO northern and
southern counses he meant not that they were
affected by either separately, but by prcponderat
ing OF each interest in and during the respective
periods. Upon review of these events, he thought
the South had but little to reproach the North with
They had adopted at different times opposite poll
cies. They had established Bank of the United
States, under the administration of Mr.. Madison
and the bill was reported by the Senator from
South Carolina (Mr. CAIHoUs); and he (Mr. CLAy)
had voted for that bill, although in 1916 he had
voted TO put down the Bank. Afterwards the
South, aided by few from the North, and headed
by General jackson, had put down the Bank again.
The South had extended protection TO manufactures
member of the Southern States had threatened
dissolution OF the Union in her opposition TO that
protection.
Florida was purchased, and slavery allowed
70 exist there. Louisiana acquired, and over
all OF her territory that was valuable, slavery
now in existence.
The South pressed the annexation Of Texas and
she was admitted--being slave territory. Texas
led TO the with Mexico; the war led TO the
acquisition of the territories After all this is il
Just Tor the South TO speak Of dissolution when the
North claims that the only portion Of the acqusi-
lions to the territory Of the nation to which she
could put forth claim, should be freeI
Wll dsunion be any remedy for evils Of which
the South complainsS The exclusion of slavery
from the Territories, the abolition Of slavery in this
District, and the refusal TO surrender fugitive
slaves, arc the grounds upon which the dissolution
oil the Union is To depend. II the Union be dissolved
can slavery be carried into the Tcrroriesl II can
not. Ifabolished in this District will the dssolu-
ton OF the Union restore slavery 70 the District II
viii not. Would there be any better chance Of re-
capturing your fugitive slaves after dissolution
OF the UnionS Certainly not.
After dissolution all redress IL at am end. Will
the South be secure in their slaves within
their own States after dissolution than they arc