The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-07-27
SPEECH or HON. H. 8. FOOTE,
OF MISSISSIPPI,
ON THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE, &c,
h Senate, Thurs4av. June q, 1850.


i'll for tho admission OF California, &C., and
he pending question being tho amendment
Eered BY Mr.. Sonl6--
Mr.. FooTE said: AS my position in regard to
his question is very peculiar, | shall endeayor
o occupy the attention Of the Senate for a short
inc, for the purpose Of expIplniug certain. his
OTical iacls connected with tho MissouricoHl.
PROMISE, - Iar as Il has attracted she s.lehtioH
IF this bOdywihin the last three years.
1t seems to be generally understood that the
amendment new under consideration is viTtu.
ally what is known as the Missouri comprO-
rise. AS dsigH to vote for this amendment,
although feel thoroughly convinced that it is
thnl it can obtain tie sanction Of
this body or thlt Of the other House Of the Ma
tioual Legislature, feel bound to state my
reasons for dong so, and to vindcate my con-
sstenCy as p,blic man in regard to this branch
Of the subject
Whilst vindcating my own consistency, II
l should incidentally show that certain other
gentlemen, nov the ardent advocates Of the
Missouri compromise and the violent Opposers
Of this bilI are not altogether as consistent as
they would wish to be regarded. l hope to be
excused, as tits really not my intention either
10 perpetrate Injustice or practice discourtesy.
Mr. President, during the summer Of l847,
a distinguished Pennsylvania statesman (Mr.
Buchanan) Published a letter, which was read
by US all at the time, apd by me highly approved
Of, declaring / to be his opinion that this vexed
question should be settled upon the basis Of the
Missouri compromise. Although not holding at
the time seat in this body, being in private
life and occupied with duties Of far different
character from those in the performance Of
which am now engaged, entertaining pro-
found respect for this distinguished parsonage,
| at once dechred the high qualification which
felt at the publication Of the letter, and avOw-
ed my desire to see the views contained in it
approved BY the whole nation. When took
my seat here in December, l847, was prepared
to offer the Mssoui compromise san am end
ment to the Oregon bill, which was expected
to come before Us for consideration at an early
PerfOd vf she Svssrous as 1t nctuaGly did.
But sir, what was the condition Of things
which found here then? do not design to
use The language of reproaCh; shall OF utter
one word Of nnkindness; shall call no mans
motives in question; but, sir, feel bound to
state, directly and explicitly, oil the facts relat
ing to this somewhat delicate point. The con-
diion OF things existing when took my seat
here at the period mentioned, was precisely
that which am about to describe. Sir, urged
upon distinguished Southern mon, with whom
I was then in close alliance, and whose conf
Gence and friendship was proud to enjoy, IN
cuding the distinguished Senator from South
Carolina, now no longer amOngstus, repeated
ly, the proprely Of bringing forward the Mis-
souri, compromise, at an early day, for the set
clement of the vcxed Territorial question then
being t1ercely agitated, aud likely to be pro-
ductive Of still greater excitement, in the even
oil our acquiring additional territory from the
Republic Of Mexico. | insisted with thest
gentlemen, more than once, that, inasmuch al
the Missouri compromise had the advantage
in point of precedence, over any new plan O
adjustment which could be devised, it was i'm
portant to make an early trial Of it in Congress
With view to restoring quiet to the country
But what response did receive from more thai
one distinguished Southern msn2 Why, th,
Missouri compromise was denounced, carpet
at, and openly ridiculed. When | offered my
self to introduce il as an amendment 10 th
Oregon bill, was told by M. Calhoun an
others that no Southern man could do so with
out involving himself and the whole South il
disgrace; that such a prOposltlon, 1t brough
forward at all, must originate with Northern
men. Well, sir, resolved not to deslst iron
my efforts, and feeling not altogether compe
tent, as young member Of this body, to cop
with the heavy responsibility Of introducing
the Missouri compromise, in defiance OF tn
E opposition threatened by Southern genllemer
t | resolved to cast about and see whether
+ could not succeed in persuading some Northern
0 Democratic friend to introduce it. | had n
E difficulty in finding suitable person in oil re
!, specis for the performances of this task, and on
+ who needed no cogent persuasion from myself
or from any other person, to instigate him.
the execution Of what he had already resolve
> to do. am about to narrate several incident
" Of an interesting character, never before dl
7 vulged; and what say can be attested, II ne
: cessary, at once by the highest possible ev
: dence, and that too which is now present.
: chanced to be on certain morning at th
Presidential mansion, then occupied by u
!. Iamented James X. Polk. found upon m
arrival there, the honorable Senator from Ind
, ana, (Mr. Bright) with whom | was then,
! now, upon intimate terms, and with whom
was in the habit Of counsellng freely then,
:, now, in regard to matters affecting the welfal
and safety Of the republic. A cOnversatic
y / Lo.,.n.r Ms polr the Canatnr fro