The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
VIOLENT RESISTANCE THREATENED WITHIN
THE HALLS OF CONGRESS-.

The threats of rioloh resistance to the passage
of any act, which the pro-slavery men may deem
unfavorable to their interests, is quite common
in the Halls of Congress.
Mr.. Davis of Mississippi thought it best, if
Northern men persisted in their policy, that the
conflict should begin here and nom that Is, in
the Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr. Clingman, alluding to some suggestion
made as he said in Northern paper, that men,
beers determined to disorganize the House should
be expelled, invited the Northern members to try
their hands at such a measure, admonished them
that this was slaveholding territory" our own
territory n--and that such an attempt would not
leave a quorum to do business
Some other Southern member-we forget his
name-intimated that, in the event of a conflict,
in few moments three hundred armed men
would make their appearance in the Hall of the
House.
Mr.. lnge of Alabama was even more palpable
From the closing paragraph of his speech, deliv-
cred the other day in the House. we extract the
following open invocation to civil war:
"From this consideration alone, the present
admission of California would meet with deter
mined and unmeasured resistance. Will the rep
resentatives of the North attempt by the power Of
numbers, to outrage the Constitution and degrade
the South by the admission of this Territory rs q
State, without the offer Of some equivalent |
suggest to them to remember that we are sworn
to support the Constitution, and could scarcely sd
IN tame acuiescence and mtness Us open and shameful
violation The attempted conSupimaton OF such an
act mould Jefhs optyihrow Of The Constitution, -rhch
The Deople IRE represent moHid bytorce ofdrms. We
are here rs the representatives OF the people, but are
our obligations TO the Constitution and the South
less than those Of other ndirifHal citizens, mho an
the aggregate, are he people? We assume dddi-
tional obligations when come as representatives
but are me relisred from those mheh rested upon as
as nitrate citizens? My individual opinion is, that
1fhs Southern people ought 10 resist msasure Of az.
erosion, after is coasummatiou, IRE here are mn
DIR The soms or higher obligation 10 resist us con-
summation These suggestions are made, not in the
nature of threats or menace do not underrate
the frmness of the North as a matter Of dscre-
ton, II is always proper to assume that your an.
tagonist is firm, even il the fact be doubtful Bm
me course proper 10 BE- pursued any and erery event
is for the determination Of Southern members am
ruling 10 suggest, and II my course IS NOT Gppfoped
10 folion any path Of honor mich may be pointed ou
BIZ those mho are older and riser. Trust that IRE shall
stand iogshsr one nun, and present our breasts a.
the shield Of The Constitution"
II this mean anything beyond mere brarado, il
is direct call upon the Southern representatives
in the House, to rise up and BY brute force prsr'n
the majority Of that body from poiing in obedience 4
their eompieiions Of duty
We are far from believing that Southern rep
resentatives generally sympsthi1e with these bru
- Hi III
renee Of them otherwise than by silence. Ever,
Northern man Of any spirit must regard sucl
menaces with utter contempt. There will Away