The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-17

that the honorable senator is not now in his seat
bui as this 10 the only opportunity which | shall
have Of adyerting TO those remarks in connexion
with this bill. he must pardon me for disregsrding
the usual courtesy extended TO absent senators.
lie told us yesterday that the people of California
had right To establish a government, with or
without our consent; that we having failed to es-
tablish government for them, they had inhe-
rent right 10 establish one for themselves. This,
sir, ~ not the doctrine which | learned from u
Of speech that senator, delivered few years ago.
propose 10 read what were his sentimentsin l647.
read from his speech on what is called the three
million bill
"But no territory hereafter to be acquired can ~
governed without an act of Congress providing for
the organization Of its government"
Now, sir, this is precisely my doctrine, and the
doctrine Of the South. We believe that an act of
Congress is indispensable to the government of
any territory, and when we find that no such act
has passed in relation TO California, we can recog-
nize no government established by those who MAJ
happen TO be upon her soil as legitimate.
Again the senator says:
" That is the very first step in its progress, in
the new career opened to IL. Till then no legiti-
mate authority can be exercised over it.
Again, sir, agree with the senator, and am
happy TO be able TO quote his high authority
against the new doctrine of squatter sovereignty
which is beginning TO pervade the land. The
right Of few individuals to seize upon the public
domain, and erect themselves into a sovereignty
is something which, in my judgment, cannot be
too strongly reprobated. II / had no other reason
for opposing the admission Of California, this
alone would be sufficient, and might appeal to
the senator from Michigan to 60 with me in that
opposition, if he still adheres TO the opinions have
quoted.
Mr.. President, other senator's have spoken Of
the probable action of the Stat Is they represent
upon the passage Of this bill. do moi know
what Alabama may do. That her action will be
characterized by wisdom and frmness have not
the least doubt. am not here to Indicate to her
what she ought TO do. l am the servant not the
leader Of her people. Whatever they do, shall
do in despite of Executive menaces, and Of all the
bloody pictures other hands may exhibit to our
view. Born upon the soil of the State while it
was yet Territory, We have grown up together
Time after time she has committed her honor and
her interests to my hands. Again and again she
has trusted and promoted me, and recognize no
allegiance to any power higher than that owe to
her. Whenever she commands will obey. If
she determines 10 resist this law by force, by
secession, by any means, am at her service in
whatever capacity she desires to employ me. If
this be treason, am traitor-a traitor who glo-
res in the name.
know, sir, that the President, in his late letter
to the Governor Of Texas, has assumed the right
of the Government TO coerce sovereign State. I
deny that there is any thing in the Constitution
any thing in the laws, TO justify such an assump-
ton. The law is plain and Observation-Disclosures, not
States, are the subjects Of coercion Ifany State
should secede, let him, if he dares attempt to en-
ploy military force TO compel her return. He will
soon find, in that event. that he has more than one
State to deal with, and that the powers and re-
sources of this Government wholly inadequate
to the task he has undertaken. The federal doc
trine that all power lodges here has been some
what widely repudiated, and the denial of State
sovereignty, either North or South, can bring to
the Executive nothing but contempt.
hold that my first allegiance is due to my State,
and that treason cannot be committed against any
power while obeying her mandates Such opin-
ions have recently been unsparingly denounced,
but let me warn those who resort to such weapons,
that they may be used by more than one side.
There are more traitors than traitors to the Union
Sir, irpugn no mans motives who lets mine
alone. lquestioD the purity Of no mans conduct
who does not provoke retaliation by assailing 9TH
ers but when men intimate that obedience to tn,
mandates ofmy State is treason, they must expect
TO hear in return that in my opinion, there are
those in this land, and about this capitol, who
would sell their souls TO Satan for the privilege of
having hand in President making, Cabinet max
ing, and the consequent distribution of the public
Offices. There are those who would sell their Sa-
viour were he again upon earth, for half the price
that Judas accepted 10 betray him. Denuncia-
lOns, Vii. i are Weapons that two can uss, and. II
my one expects 10 employ them against me with
IMMUNITY, he miscalculates sady9 the character or
the man he assails.
l have said all think it necessary to saw. did
not mean to argue the bill here. shall, if neces-
sary, argue il at home.