The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11

long rs | can find party honestly contendng
for the rights of the States, upon constitutional
principles, and for the freedom of the people
from governmental in Justice.
Here, on motion, the committee rose
THURSDAY, March %, 1850.
Mr.. AVERET'T continued his remarks sub
stantally rs follows ......
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: When the committee rose on
yesterday, was proceeding to show the exis-
tence and progress of revolution, by pointing to
the history of party politics during the Admins
tration of Mr.. Van Buren,. 1t is not my purpose
to deal out their bitter epithets against him, or
any other man. In the last Presidential Canvass
he became emphatically the ant-slavery candidate
of the selfstylcd Free-Soi party. "Out of his
own mouth he stands condemned" Enough Of
him. But, sir, since he occupied the Presidcn-
tial chair, what change have we witnessed in
the minds and actions of men!
What revolution do We now behold in the
workings of our political system Sir, North
ern members on this floor may pour forth their
anathemas against State legislatures in the
South for daring to resolve to defend the equal
rights Of the Southern States They may sing
hosannas to the Union, and with uplifted hands,
and eyes directed to Heaven, implore the AL
mighty Ruler of the universe to arrest the pro-
gress of revolutionary movements in the South
| proclaim to them, and will proclaim to the
people whom serve, that Il revolution is in pro-
gress here--that daring and dangerous usurpa-
tons in the Legislative and Executive depart
ments of this Government are in progress
which, if not arrested, will destroy the equal
rights of the Southern States | accuse the
aecusers. charge them with fomenting all of
this strife, and getting up and fostering revou-
ton. point to the history of their acts in this
Capitol-to the uprovoked insult offered to the
Southern people, in the Winthrop Proviso to
the Oregon bill, when no Southern man desired
to carry, or dreamed Of carrying, slavery to
Oregon. point to the Wilmot Proviso, which
was incontinently thrust forward during the late
war with Mexico, attempted to be fastened upon
almost every bill for raising and supporting .oul
gallant armies, and even attempted to be luggec
into a treaty with n foreign government
point to the course of Northern members, OF
the last night of the last Congress. the history
Of whose actings and doings, with the names o
the actors, ought to be stereotyped and handed
down as Il dark chapter in the history of thu
revolution now in progress. They boldly rs
sumed the responsibility, and now glory in 81
doing, of defeating Il bill, whose defeat woult
have stopped the wheels of Government, rattle
than permit the passage of Il measure simpl,
authorizing President Taylor to carry our Con
stitution and laws into practical operation il
, New Mexico and California. The South dit
| not ask that slavery should be carried there b,
, the action Of this Government. We simpl,
asked that the slavery question be let alone
/ and in the language of Il patriotic Senator from
the North, that that question :" be left to TIM
!. silent operations Of Constitutions"
: But our claim Of equal rights was repudiated
Every attempt to extend the Constitution ant
laws over our Mexican territory was resisted
The rights, the peace, and safety of residents
and adventures in California for whom is now
claimed the sovereignty over that golden region,
with the broad expanse Of its Pacific coast--the
rights Of the United States as a property holder
the duty Of this Government to make all need
full rules and regulations as property holder
therein-were all disregarded-set at naught--
and all legislatiOnin regard to them strenuously
resisted, unless coupled with III express provi-
sion, that the shareholders Of the South should
be excluded. All others might 90 there and
reap golden harvests The CHILEAN, the Peruvian
the Chinese, the Sandwich islander, the Spaniard
the Englishman, the Frenchmall, the Mexican
with his peon slaves, mixed breeds and motely
races, of every cline and color, except the slave
holder of the South, might freely settle there
under the protection Of the municipal laws OF
Mexico; but the gallant and generous people
of the South, whose blood had freely flowed
and whose treasure had been expended without
stint, in the acquisition of the country, were de-
MED any part or lot in it.
Sir, will not consume much time in reiter-
ating the charge made by other members of the
South--a charge known to be true by everybody
that our northern brethren have practically
nulfed plain provisions of the Constitution,
and laws enacted in pursuance thereof, providing
that runaway slaves shall be restored to their
owners. 1t is notorious that absconding slaves
| by hundreds have been seduced into the free
States and harbored there, and that the consti-
i, tonal and legal obligations to restore them to
their masters, are set at naught 1t is notorious,
that all efforts to recover them are thwarted, in
palpabe disregard of the Constitution; and al
though there are northern members on this floor,
and in the Senate, who acknowledge this sin of
the North against the South, they know that the
popular sentiments of the North will not tOler-
ate the practical enforcement of this acknOwl-
edged constitutional obligation. Here, then, we
have proof, beyond question, that the North is at
open warfare with the guaranteed rights OF the
Southern people; and in this, again, we have an
undeniabe evidence that the North has loment-
ed and fostered revolution.
But, sir, it is needless further to specify. We
| have here daily-we see in northern newspapers
dailv-developmen of this revolutionary spirit !;
and although | know that there are good and
true northren men, who condemn the course of
our assailants, yet, sir, it is deplorable fact
that they are powerless minority. Do they
mean to float with the current, and join in a
crusade against us? or will they not rather place
their reliance upon "the sober second thought
of the honest voters Of the North, who mean
right, but are going wrong, under the delusions
of mistaken and -misdrected~ philanthrophy !!
Will they not assail the assailants, and expose
the impostures, by which they have misinform-
ed and misled so many honest people?
| Sir, this must be done, else we are a divided
and distracted people, and this Government will
ere long become curse to us. Our public men
Our leading politcians-our influential press