The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-18

Mr., CLEMENS, am glad TO hear Il, Mr.. President
The senator from Mississippi slrand take occasion to
say that there is man for whom bave sincere
respect, no man for whomAl have kinder feelings and
warmer friendsbphas properly presumed that be might
take the liberty 10 set right upon matter in which he
thinks that may have fallen into error; and il may be-
sir, that have been wrong IN saying that the entire
body Of the northern democracy are against u.s. but sr,
cannot be wrong this that every legislature north OF
Mason and Dxons line has instructed their representa-
lives upon this ioor-to do what, sir To legislate
against The South, to legisaie against the Union, to-
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa. You are wrong, sir; the legis-
lature Of my State has given me no such instructions.
MIR. BRIGHT. ! enter similar disclaimer Tor my
State.
Mr.. CLEMENS. am glad to hear it, sir But their
representatives. here vote against the South they do not
need TO be instructed,
MIR. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Will my friend from Ala
bama allow me TO nterpose with remark think he
is led away BY the excitement OF the moment; and can
say with the fitness too, am subject TO the
same species OF excitement regret ii; feel for him
sympahze with him. II is subject upon which we all
feel and iee deeply and are apt to speak strongly But
is il well 10 open the wounds which have been already
inflicted in this sectional strifei Is il well to point TO the
wrong dongs Of Others that they may recrmnate upon
US, and widen the breach which already exists and in
crease the danger which already threatens And ask
my friend 10 calm himself and that he will confne his
remarks for the present to so much Of the discussion as
is connected with this resolution
Mr. CLEMENS. will take the suggestion Of my
friend from mississippi and let that matter pass shall
have occasion to talk about it again before long say,
then. now, Mr. President, in relation to this the only
matter which should have been dscussed-the only mat
Ter properly before the senae-ihe only matter. too that
in the first place intending to say anything about
that adoption OF this resolution is unnecessary
know, sir, that there was similar resolution up IN the
other House and think that the information sought ior
necessary to require il to be copied anew and sent to us
again My object was to get early information We
e Set Upon the mo q Re %as from
what cause by his motion and his vote that we
failed to pass the resolution before know that be said
that there was some other resolution then up but know
is and that ant to
be the case. The same reasoning might have been
employed to-day The resolution has since been passed
the other House, and do not that there Is any
occasion for i here. There was at first the strongest
Tor urging the passage OF the resolution The in
formation had not then been furnished now il has been
give notice that will not again withdraw il
Mr.. DICKINSON | ask my friend from Alabama 10
withdraw his motion for few moments.
Mr.. CLEMENS. For personal explanation only.
Mr.. DICKINSON II is not only personal explana-
ton. but explanation with regard to other persons
Mr. CLEMENS insisted upon his motion to lay on the
The VICE PRESIDENT proceeded 10 state the ques
Mi MIR. DICKINSON. appeal, then, 10 my friends on
both sides OF the chamber not to agree TO the motion 70
lay on the table.
The question being taken upon the motion. il was de-
cided ~ the negative 30 the resolution was mol iaia
up Mr. Dickinson have taken no part in hi. de-
bate, Mr. President and regret that it has arisen aad
In the hour which is usually appropriated TO morning
business, was engaged in attending to my correspond
ence which is my custom, and therefore paid but little
attention to this matter but things have fallen from
honorable senators during this debate and especially from
the unisr senator from Alabama, MIR. CLEMENS. which
require not only TO be noticed but to be noticed here and
now Sir that SENATOR when he undertakes to character
ze the sentiments OF whole communities, and the opin-
ions OF entire bodies Of men, comprising large majority
OF the people OF this Union enters upon the execution OF
a work which might well have been left to Older. # no,
better soldiers In regard to this matter Mr. President
though have done more than others, think ! may
saw without the fear of contradiction OF being charged
with unnecessary egotsm, thai have stood up TO upon
all occasions long since saw that IT was quesuon
fraught with perilous consequences saw that there
evil spirit OF sectiJnaiism rising both IN the
North and in the South, having for its object agitation for
sectional advantages and have condemned il secretly
and openly-in thought word and deed. never have
IL God gives me that strength which he has thus far
in mercy extended me, here declare again, where u
should be declared, that ! never will, but that
will lend my best energies TO crush and destroy IT,
have stood here under the sanctions oil an ohcial
oath and the acquisitions oil the constitution like Cusa
hancs upon this question, which has so unfortunately,
to say the least agaied the country Tor the last few
years, and here will stand, though mmolaon be
the consequences Others, TOO, OF my northern democratic
brethren have shown no less devotion to the constitution
they have sworn TO support. / have stood up not Tor
the Soulh but for the rights OF ALL guaranteed by the
constitution have disregarded personal consequence.
and have scorned 10 the chances OF ehemera pop
uarity and place. have permitted reproach and obo.
guy discharge me their exhaustless quvers OF poi
soned arrows that might screen the right and when |
hear myself and those with whom have acted, in roll
ing back the black and bitter OF sectional strife,
denounced unworthy OF reliance, all IN one grand
mass accommodated from communion and fellowship
with the democratic church, in single verse, and told
too, that less TO be tolerated than our political OPP
ponens, feel inclined to repe in pointed and emphatic
phrase denuneatioh so wholesale and unjust.
Mr. CLEMENS. call the honorable gentleman's at
enon The resolutions OF the 7h oil January 1917, the
10th of January, 1885, and TO like resolutions OF lsig, oil
his own State legislature.
Mr.. DICKINSON. cannot now speak OF the exact
import OF the resolutions. They doubtless OF an
anti slavery character and similar those passed BY 9th
legislatures north II is well known that differed with
those who passed them upon the best mode OF dposing
Of the questions and this responsibility will settle with
those who have right 10 call me 10 account and not
with those who have not The legislatures which pass
ed them have been sometimes considerably divided among
themselves. Sometimes they have passed with great
and sometimes with less unanimity The northern scntl .
upon the subject OF slavery aresn many respects
entirely dissmla 10 those oil the South but when we are
told that there be sectional issue raised because OF
this let the voice which declares from the North
or from the South ! stand here 10 repudate IT, The
people OF the North regard the question OF slavery as
constitutional guaranty. precisely as do the people Of he
South, and such ready TO respect H. u slhe pot
ical agitaors 10 both sections who have made all the
mischief Sir take small number Of out OF the
northern and also out OF the southern sections Of this
Union, and this accursed agitation could be settled
in less than single week have d stood up upon
this question for any particular purpose other than
to do my duty, and 10 stand by and sustain the
constitution. am for maintaining the Union in
spirit as well az in form; and have deprecated
the assaults which have made upon the
stuiion occasionally in the slavehoding States, in