The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-21

less lev remarks which submitted the other day, 10
oppestics % The ntTo4acon q snnsasssAry end sssss
wait topics, may be deemed exception Under such
circumstances. IustI shall be nduged in occupying
brief portion Of the time Of the Senate, TO present. in
tend to, views differing essentially from those which have
been urged on the body BY most OF my friends from the
free States.
became, Mr. President. as you will recollec,, mem
Der q sns hauss Of IN 70 ns ali q 's
interval OF two yeafe until took my seat in this cham
Der in March, lS48. have no recollection that during
the considerable period Of my being member OF the
House, addressed myself 10 tha. body on any ques-
ton arising out of the ever-recurrng and troublesome
subject of slavery contented myself with responding,
in conformity with Scripture injunction, "yea yea,
nay nay" 10 vast variety of propositions This
nexi0n being OF the opinion that in relation to all mat
te Of unnecessary agitation. whatsoever is than
much misconsructi0n and misrepresentation particularly
at the South, where have been held up entertaining
views hostile and offensive to that section But an ex
animation Of the record will evDcs that have done
than reflect, in reasonable and moderate degree,
the psedominaDg sentiments OF my constituents and
,lon Of the Union have not been ah as,'ao. On the
free to confess that cannot regard the institution with
c0mplAcency.
disturbance n Congress this subject. arm not respon
sble Ii the harmony OF our public councils has been
interrupted, and if The public business has been from time
TO time Obsructed and delayed, the fault OF mine
Ii the affections of the people Of different sections of the
Union have been estranged from each other, and the
public mind has been and 10 more or less rated, the
My course hcn having been heretofore, il will be
hereafter, this and other kn red subjects, that OF mod
Grafton and resson am pre- ATea 70 approach the ex-
and hope TO give thea just and an equitable consdera-
ton
try are involved in considerable difficulties and embarras
ments, by reason OF the acquisitions which were the
result ol our recent war with Mexico The dangers
greatly exaxgeraied Many honorable members have
expressed apprehension that we might be involved IN
some serious convulson and some have looked to
the possibility of dissolution OF the Union have my
1slf felt very little alarm this subject. There is in
tho country strong and aPervading attachment TO the
Unoa which cannot be weakened much less destroyed
but by serious grievances. deeply affecting great and
essential n,eress--grevancss 90 enormous that men
will hy to any rather than submit to them.
But nevertheless. there are very considerable evils
now present with Much irritaon exists in The pub
lie mind and . spirit OF sectional alienation has spread
less the country Il ID desirable 10 apply TO
the case the best remedy in our power 70 the end that
harmony may be restored to our national councils, and
peace and good will TO the entire republic.
The difficulties that attend adjustment Of this con-
tIoversy great So II ever is with sectional ques
tons but now they aggravated as we have had .
heated contest passions and preudces are aroused and
misconcepon disor,s the public mind in all quarters Of
the Union.
Hence we may well feel sincere disrus, TO the
soundnsss Of any opinions Va may express in ndca
ting what course, in my Judgment should be pursued,
shall do 70 with proper defersnce tor the views OF
othAsA
Bxt seems to me there sands out. in front Of the
whole subject question OF responsibility to which some
attention should be paid How is IT that the country has
been blaHsd in this situation Why has 20 much die
order been inuuded into public councils Why has
one section Of the Union been arayed against another
And why are many apprehensons expressed that
serious cAlamilies lowering over u.s.
II is believed that all these difficulties the legitimate
i,us Of ,hs policy Of the late BY many
dieze4. cannot develop that policy in full do not
propose % consides the OF these embanass
me1s4he xation Of Texas, and the measures which
lad N th0 with MEXICO But / have
thing to cay about the OF the late Executive, in
converting that which should have been, his own
principles, defensive war, into OF invasion, acqu
stion and conquest-and more. his success al de-
mand from Mexico OF vast expanse OF territory, over
and above the satisfaction OF any just claim. IN our favor
The late Presidsnt, in his annual message to the
9olh Congress, (st sessoh took the ground that the
only indemnity which was IN the power OF Mexico %
make 10 sa6sfaction OF caims. was - cesslon to
the UDitsd States Of portion OF her territory Msxi'
co.. he sad, has money 10 pay and no oiher means
TO make the required indemnify II We reiuss tins we
obtain nothing elsa To reject indemnity, BY refas-
ing to accept Of territory, would be TO abandon
ali our just demands and wage the leaving all its
s.n hs Socns o 30 oy
the doctrine OF indemnity, and. if sanctioned, would
be public acknowledgment that our country was wrong
unanimy. was unjust and should be abandoned-an adj
nisson uniounded in fact and derogatoy to the national
character"
have nothing 10 say at present on the correctness OF
the assertion that indemnity could not be obtained in any
other form than by cesson of territory nor on the wis
dom sven the fact be so) OF taking territory with the
certainty of s becoming the source OF serious dssen-
siOns among ourselves; but IT sproper 10 ask why the
late President did not restrict himself the principle OF
indemnity and consider what consequences have fol-
lowed departure from that principle
What them were claims against Me x'co and what
amount or extent Of territory was required to satisfy
them These consisted Of
l. Certain claims which had been hquidated and ascer
tanned by joint commission and umpire under and BY
virtue OF convention between the two governments, on
which was due t2ooso24 ~, n part having been paid
and
q Unlouidated claims which the joint commission and
umpire cnuN not adjust within the time prescribed BY the
convention and which, by the treaty OF 0uadalupe HI
dago are estimated At % 25o, in Ill the sum
Of &5.34SyOo4 ~.
In his communications to Congress- the late Executive
insisted that entitled to not only payment OF nese
claims, but also to indemnity for the expenses o. inc
war; on the ground that had been wantonly commenced
by Mexico Thus, in his annual message to Congress IN
December, 1646. he says that
The war has besn carried into the ensmys county, and
will be vigorously prosecuted there. with view TO obtain
honorable psaoe, and thereby nsS trdsnswfy
for the sxpeMses of the we'll muchinured cti
zens who held large pecunary demands against MEXICO
And again. in bis aAaaal message December. ls47. he
nys:
Since the liberal proposition OF she United States
authorized be made in Ap3b Aass, nsEe expenditures
have been Incurred and the precloua blood Of many Of our
Patriotic eow-cixens has bAen shed IN the prosecution o
khs war This CONFEDERATION and the obstnass Psrssvs-