The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON D. c. FEBRUARY a. 1850

Wheeler the Senate is or is not punished by ne
In the suggested, it is at least certain that
do endeavor TO inhict more or less Of punishment
upon certain offenders in this body in behalf II
whom 1t is not at all surprising that the gentle
man from New Hampshire should feel q special
sympathy. am willing that the Senate and the
| country shall determine whether the honorable
/ gentleman or myself is most censurable upon the
very delicate point referred TO. As TO my being in
stigated TO address this body so frequently in the
/ manner alluded TO, am glad to have IL in my
| power to assure the honorable gentleman that the
newspapers in my yicinage. and indeed those Of
that whole section Of the Union whence | come,
/ seem not at all hostile 10 me- IL ! am censured
! by them at all, am not myself aware Of il, and,
! so far as am informed on the subject, my public
1 course stands approved, with very slight excep-
tons. indeed throughout the Southern portion Of
the Confederacy. do not very well know what
is said of me elsewhere nor do very much care.
Ii is certain that have at no time complained Of
editorial denunciations and even the letter-writ-
ing tribe have seldom irritated my sensibiiies.
If speak oftener than there is need of my doing,
il is perhaps or less attributed to the c0og-
! thes io3usndi For the comfort of the honorable
| Senator and his allies here | could almost wish
! that could become dumb; cannot doubt that
they would greatly rejoice at being relieved from
that dread of punishment which sits now heavily
upon their sensbilties When causes Of offence
become less numerous, hope to be spared The ne
cessity Of speaking so often. When this happy
state of things shall be brought about | cannot
even divine.
Mr.. Chase obtained the floor, but yielded it for
the purpose of taking up the special order of the
day, being the resolutions of General Houston on
the Slavery Question.
General Houston spoke for above two hours
expressing his devotion to the Union, and his dis
sent from all movements looking to Disunion.
Mr.. Foote submitted series of resolutions
which he intended to offer as an amendment to
those introduced by Mr.. Clay.
They assert the full and exclusive power of
Congress to admit new States into the Union, or
refuse them admission, at its own discretion that
Congress has no power to decide the legal ques-
ton whether slavery does or does not exist in
the Territories; that no reliable information had
been received authorizing any opinion as to the
probability or improbability Of slavery obtaining
foothold in the Territories that Territorial
Governments ought to be framed without any re-
striction as to slavery that California ought not
to be admitted with Territorial surface extend
ing oelow 0oO 3O, ought not TO he admitted at all,
if the Chief Executive can be proved to have used
any unconstitutional or coerciye action in pro-
noting the formation Of a STAGE Constitution
therein, and ought not in any to be admitted,
pnless provision at the sssAv i,ac ne made Tor the
erection of new slave State within the bounda-
ries Of Texas; that the western boundary of
Texas is already fixed on the Rio del Norte that
Congress cannot properly or justly legislate for
the abolition of slavery within the District of CO.
lumbia unless with the consent of all the slave
holding States; that il is inexpedient to legislate
at present in regard to the slave trade in the Dis
trict; that Congress cannot touch the interstate
slave trade; that more efectual provision ought
to be made for the recapture of fugitive slaves.
The Senate soon after adjourned over till
Monday.