The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-03

done, as understand its history, in the belief OF
the statesmen and patriots Of that day. that when
the time had arrived, them il appeared II had
then arrived, when people living under common
government could not enjoy property IN common,
il prudent to avert the danger that would fol-
low discord and discussions by dividing the pro-
perry; and this line OF 36o 80, since called the
Compromise line, was adopted The Southern
States have acquiesced in il from that day TO this,
period of thirty years. They are prepared TO
acquiesce in il now. feel as one of their repre-
sentatives prepared to vote for it, conscious that
the people of my State will approve the vote and
acquiesce in It. But they viii do il only as pro-
position to preserve this Union. Sir, l have
chosen to bring up the vote as it stood within two
years, in order that, if the measure is not now
assented to, my constituents NAV see and under
stand what within two years the majority have
determined against them, for we are in minority.
Now, Mr. President, one word in regard TO what
fell from the senator from Kentucky do not
know whether that senator speaks the opinion or
judgment of a majority of the States represented
on this floor. | DO know that his age, his expert
ence, and his position have enabled him, as he is
entitled from his high and lofty intellect to do to
direct the measures if not mould the opinions OF a
large portion of the American people; and heard
him declare here to-day in his place as senator,
addressed to his brother senators, that IT is the
duty OF the Federal Government to take no fur
ther account of State resistance than they would
citizens against the laws of the land
Mr.. CLAY. That is not what said. said,
and repeat, and | wish all men who have pens
to record it., that if any single State the people
Of any State, choose to raise the standard of dis
union, and to defy the authority of the Union, /
am for maintaining the authority of the Union.
That is what said.
Mr.. MASON. That is exactly what under
stand the honorable Senator to say--that resist
ance made under the authority of State is no
further to be respected by The authorities of the
United States than if it were made by body of
individuals on their own score.
Mr.. CLAY, Tin his seat.) No further; none
whatever.
x Mr.. MASON Then understood the senator $
meaning correctly, and stated it so. Now, sir,
4 what is our Government? Is our Government an
association Of the individual citizens extending
through this broad land from sea to sea, bound by
the acts or majority, to be coerced into submls-
sion if they disagree refuse obedience law?
Far from it. Wehave separately organized States
States that claim to be and are free, sovereign,
and independent States, but who have yielded a
portion of their power to this General Govern
ment for a common object and for the common
good; but they are regularly organized Govern
ments, with executive, legislative, and judicial
branches, with unlimited power of taxation, ca
pabe Of commanding the resources of their people
to an unlimited extent, and recognized and ac-
knowedged as Governments. Those States, by
the theory of our Government and by usages of
that Government, are bound to look to and pro-
tect the safety, and happiness, and welfare of
their own people; and if it be true-God forbid
the experiment should ever be tried but il it be
true that IN the government Of the confederation
a power is lodged to coerce the States into sub
mission to their will; if in this Federal Govern
ment power resides to hold citizen of State
to an obedience paramount to his obedience at
home, need not say to that senator and the coun-
try, that whenever the experiment is tried you
will have the whole tier of Southern States, and |
believe large portion OF the Northern States de-
nying it. Sir, may Heaven, in its providence and
IN its benifcence, avert such an issue!
But we are forewarned by the senator from
Kentucky, as his idea of the theory Of this Gov
eminent, that it is capable and that it is its duty
to enforce obedience to its laws, whether the re-
sstance comes from the authorities of q State or
from an individual. Now, sir, how do these
States stand? There is my own honored Com
monwealth, whose limits are within view from
the doors of this Capitol, and other States South
of this, including Georgia, all of whom, through
their own constituted authorities, have declared,
and placed it upon their statute books, that they
will resist what they believe to be an unconsttu-
tional act of power the part of the Federal
Government, should it be done, in reference to
this slave question. The senator from Kentucky
replies to them distinctly, resist at the peril of
blood, If you do it, and that his counsel and aid
shall be given to the bayonets of the Federal Gov
eminent to reduce them to submission. Sir, it is
well they should know it, and now they do know
1t, so far as the potential voice of that senator
and potent it scan enforce it. Let it go to them,
and let it go to them, as it will do, cotempors-
neous with the action Of the Congress of the
United States upon this question of the exclusion
of slavery in the territories. Sir, wish to add
no heat to this .discusson--none in the world.
The subject is one that we should deliberate on
calmly, and temperatey, and l hope we shall do
it, feel at liberty to speak for the State of Vir-
-
what she designs to do. To that extent / am
bound to speak. believe, sir, in my best and
settled judgment, that when law shall be passed
by the Congress of the United States, and become
the law of the land, which shall by its act ex-
cude the people of the State from taking their
slaves into territory South Of the Missouri Com
promise line, that Virginia will do what has been
declared in her resolutions aready--not threaten
ing resistance-she will take such measures, by
her own sovereignty, as in her judgment win be
best calculated to preserve the Union, if it be
preserved, and if not, to preserve her own safety,
and her own welfare, out of the Union. h#E
Mr. President, after the loss of the bill, really
intended to say nothing about it. The senator
from Kentucky insists that it was bill to give
peace and tranquility to the country. | am salts
fed that he thought so; that that was his design
and object, and that that would be the first and
greatest wish of his heart. But, sir, | am quite
satisfied that if it had passed, and if peace had
been given to the country, it would have been a
peace purchased by the surrender Of the indeper-
dence of all the Southern States-a peace pur-
chased by the surrender on the part OF all the
Southern States of their right to equality with the
other States of this Union may have been
wrong in that Judgment; it was the best that
could pass upon 1t; und that all acted upon it;
and that we all acted upon the best judgment we
could bring to bear upon 1t, have no doubt
none in the world. | should have been highly
gratifed had it been in my power TO have con-
tributed to its passage, but found it impossible
and mpracticable. i1a fE
81 Perhaps, sir, what | have said has been little
In advance of the occasion, for rose merely to
reply to so much Of the remarks of the senator
from Kentucky as implicated what believe not to
be the true theory Of our government, and what
believe to be a dangerous one While WIS
up,l desired to present to the Senate the mate
rails ! had collected to show how the vote of
the Missouri Compromise line of $50 80 stood
IN lS4S, and, having performed that duty, l
will not further trespass on the time Of the
Senate. i BIOS es.i H''.,-- -I.fgEGe.a, as r
Mr.. BUTLER. A great deal has been said,
Mr.. President, about the responsibility which
senator's will have to assume in relation TO GER