The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-06

gress snaii otherwlse determine by law, and
you drive Texas into indignant rejection.
You make fundamental provision, which,
if adopted, would be an unfailinp source
of agitation, of neutrality-suspicious. Of dis
union ITSELF The spirit of political abolition
ism would rejoice in triumph. 1t would
hold a power over the action of some mem
bers Of Congress hereafter, whose faces it
would knead into dough- You would efec-
tually imprison the slave race within those
limits Of the Union, close the drain and the
outlet to Mexico, and most surely perpetuate
the existence Of slavery under the pretext
of extending the area of freedom"
Such then, Mr.. Chairman, were the SEN
timents Of all liberalmen at the North |
hope to hear no more Of the aggressions of
the South, or the slaveocracy, as we have it
classicaly expressed. The idea of a party
ina minority Of more than forty members,
on this floor, aggressing upon the rights Of
! majority, is as ridiculous as would Be- the
attempts Of weak, sickly man, to encroach
upon the privileges Of strong, hercuean
neighbor. II you mean to carry out the
opinions entertained by nearly all men OF all
parties, and restrict us to our present limits,
and forbid US from ever extending ourselves
and our institutions, say that you have be-
come more righteous, or that you UNDER
stand the Constitution better, or what you
please, but do not charge us with aggressing
upon your rights. How can we agrees
upon your rightsi We cannot pass soli-
tary measure without large vote from the
North, il all the Representatives from the
slave States were united. Can you name a
single instance where the South have en-
deavored to interfere with the domestic af-
fairs Of the North If you viii strike out
of your proviso the word $ slavery" and in
sert any other substantive in the English
language, there is not man, woman, or
child, but would rise up and denounce it.
Say that the Catholic religion, or the Meth
odist religion, the common law, or the civil
law, shall not 60 to California, and there
would be a denunciation from one end Of the
Union to the other. tits true that the Will
mot Proviso, co homine, is defunct. i was
sitting in that gallery when it was introduced,
and gentleman observed to me that it was
the worst frebrand ever introduced, and
would dissolve the Union, and we botl
went into the House, and voted against it.
The people of the South relying upon
their constitutional rights, are committed
against this Wlmot Proviso, and YOU will
not pass it. When the Constitution was
framed, the people Of the South had ntelli-
gence and foresight enough to make such
constitutional provisions as were necessary
to secure them from any encroacLments.
We think those provisions sufficient, and
are willing to trust ourselves under that Com
stitution when faithfully executed; but de-
sire 70 say lot my sen, SsIrnvur Intendlag or
wishing to commit any gentlemen to my
views, that as it is admitted by Northern
men, jurists, and all writers and commen-
ators upon the Constitution, that without
these guarantees, the Union could never
have been formed; if it shall be shown by
the legislation and practice Of this Govern
ment, that they are not sufficient to secure
all the rights of property in slaves in esse
posse, mdnendo Ell eundo, / desire to have
additional guarantees. .tf, q. K ,.-.
Mr.. McCLERNAND, wished to know
whether the gentleman intended to exert his
influence to cause the Southern Statesto Sc
cede, or break upthe Union, if they do not
get an amendment-to the Contituton'
Mr. MORSE. If those guarantees are
not sufficient, or are not maintained, will
devote all my energy, day and night--Iwill
write and talk to the people to bring this
about. My people, in giving up the right
to go north of SO deg. 80 NM, viii at least
have the doctrine Of non-intervention respect
ed south ofthat line. Ibelieve the guarantees
Of the Constitution amply sufficient, and am
willing TO submit the question to the courts
Of Justice. 9S
Mr.. McCLERNAND. :, The gentleman says
that, if such and such things are not done, he is
for disunion. He insists that slavery is tolerated
south Of 36o 80, Now the gentleman, holding
the doctrine he does, ask him, in view of that
doctrine, how can he contend that non-interven-
ton can prevent him! ..-..
Mr.. MORSE. II cannot.
Mr.. McCLERNAND. What is the difficulty
Mr.. MORSE. Because you declare in all your
speeches and preambles,- and will probably do so
in some legislative enactment, that slavery shall
not go there, or that it is forever excluded by
Mexican law. The moment you do, you violate
the bond, tear your name from it, and seek to
Mr.. McCLERNAND. You said the Wilmot
proviso was defunct. i, .a.. N, w..
Mr.. MORSE. True but there are two other
proyisos, the Executive, and, the most odious of
all, the sueTtCdn ff0rtS0, as snail call la rose
by any other name"--the quotation is somewhat
musty. .s.. .s..r 49,. ... s. ,sg-.. BAL ..st
Mr. DUER. If the Judiciary decides against
you, will You then insist on yourproposed change
in the Constitution = 1a ali ~
Mr.. MORSE. No, sir I would abide by that
decision--you cannot make your Mexican proviso
any more palatable. III am to be excluded from
the country, where you said solemnly we had
right to go,I would rather you should do it than
the Mexicans. ta&r ITO S
A The legislative and the treaty making power
are both subservientto the Constitution, and no
aw-no treaty can bind any citizen that contra
venes that sacred instrument. The President
and the Senate cannot make any treaty in def
ance Of this Consultation. If stipulation had
been inserted. etherby thecommissioners or by the
Senate, {as learn was attempted that slavery
would not go to every part ofthe territory south 10
So deg. 80 min, it would not be worth the Parch-
ment on which II was written, and would 60
there, as have no doubt we have right to do
with our slaves, and il there was an honest Judge
to be found; {any man except one who thinks he
will be justified in violating his oath because the