The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-29
CONGRESSIONAL.

On The Territorial Question delivered in the Senate,
March 25. 1850.
The Senate having under consideration the message OF
the President Of the United States transmitting the con-
Mr.. HUNTER addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENT shall follow the example OF some
but the whole OF what conceive to be the great issue
now pending between the North and South, 1 shall
speak my mind fully and frankly, but in such terms.
wound no mans sense OF sell-respect My pursuit is
truth, my object is justice believe the time has come
when we should look difficulties in the face, when
we should ascertain not only the nature but the whole
extent of the evil and apply the remedy il II be possible
to do co. Or il we should come to the conclusion that
no no. remedy can bs applied see nothing S et to as
must divide US Live together, sir, we cannot. unless
something Is done to settle these differences and compose
this strife. which seems 10 be growing daily in intensity
and bitterness. The cords which bind this Union to-
gether will fret asunder from the force Of agitation,
unless something can be done g quiet it.
The evil, MIR. President oil which the South complains
arises out Of the fact that party in the North by
means contemplate in point Of numbers, is seeking to
convert this government through its direct legislation,
into instrument OF warfare upon the institution OF
slavery in the States, and from the fear that majority
Of those in the free States. who hereafter to control
and manage this government will use il not lis positive
legislation, at least its moral influence for that purpose.
Government is designed 10 protect persons and property;
but with what feelings will it be regarded if instead Of
performing those functions, il should become either d
recty or indirectly the source OF constant assaults not
only upon twelve fifteen hundred millions OF property
in the South but upon the very safety OF those whose
peace depends upon preserving the existing relations be-
tween master and slave in those States9 Some, Mr..
President may regard these apprehensions as wild and
chimercal II seems too monstrous state ot iacts 70
suppose but whoever will examine past history IN
relation 10 this matter Will be surprised to find how much
there is 10 justify such anxiety
In reviewing this history, shall pass over the early
and better days of the republics when the recoectons OF
common suferings and common struggle were yet
fresh in the minds OF men when all felt the necessity OF
union and common exerons Tor future security, and
fraternal spirit animated the people OF all the States.
know that the northwestern ordinance was then adopted
but the fruit OF the seed which then sown did not
until long after The warfare really commenced,
has been said BEFORE at the time OF the agitation OF
the Missouri question: contest into which the North
entered prevent the addition of any slave States,
and which ended in dePnvng the South OF the right to
settle and colonizc the larger portion OF the territory ac-
quired by the Louisiana cesson II was then that Mr..
Rufus King declared that the question was one OF polt
cal power and that no kind OF interest ought to reconcile
the people of the North to part with any portion OF their
power that the constitution Of the United States did not
recognise slavery but forbore to Interfere with it, "and
that all laws and compacts imposing such condi-
ton (meaning slavery any human being were abso-
lnely void, because contrary 10 the law OF nature which
was the law of God, and above all human control"
This. sir the declaration OF that war upon slavery
which, with some intermissons. has been waged
since by the North against the South. There have been
periods Of truce. know, but solid peace the con-
creased bitterness and fury The sentiments then ut
tered and the feelings inspired by the contest renamed
in the minds OF men, aud began not very long after
10 develop themselves. ASsOCiduOnS were IOIneu IOT
the abolition Of slavery presses were established tracts
were disseminated, and system of agitation was
commenced, whose object was TO make the institu.
,ion odious, unprohtable, and even dangerous, and
thus lead 10 its destruction. To alarm the slave.
their agitation. but they looked beyond this; they
sought not only to convert the halls OF national egs
laon into the for anti slavery agitation, but also
to commit the government of the United States through
series OF 10 the proposition that there can
be property in man. In this purpose they have not
only been perseverng, but consstent it is TO this end
that all their efforts through federal legislation have
been directed They got up what has been denomnated
run of petitions upon every subject upon which the
passions or prejudices OF northern members could be
pausbly invoked, TO induce them TO commit them
selves and the government TO this proposition II there
rve loose in all the armor, or the smallest breach
in the constitutional defences OF slavery some reacher
Gus shaft sure TO find IT. They peioned Congress
withdraw the protection oil law from slavery wherever
il was given BY the national government And why
Because slavery ITSELF in their opinion, was unlawful and
one man had right to hold another property They
peoned Congress TO abolish slavery in the forts arse
nas and dock yards OF the United States, in the
|saye States Their object TO exhibit 10 the master
land to the slave in those States the example and in
faence Of the general government operating in their
very midst and in opposition TO slavery. They had
probably other things in which were even better cal
eulaed for 10 this war upon slavery These places
thus TO be fitted as the arenas or anti slavery aga-
|on in those States, and TO be opened sort OF free
negro Asaia, where he might hold his perpetual satur.
palla OF license and OF crime Thus the forts designed
oI our military protection were 70 De sonyet.a INTO aoo
But there also another purpose Tor which they in
oked t action Of this government IN such manner as
commit II to the principle which was the foundation oil
heir action. They asked Il 10 abolish slavery IN
he District OF Columbia, and made 10 proposition 10
compensate their owners The constitution provides that
private properly shall be taken for public uses with
but compensation. But they dad not acknowledge the
Existence of this species of popery according TO their
principles they sought the Liberation OF persons unlaw-
aly held in bondage 10 have acknowledged The right
property these slaves would have inlerposed const.
utonal difficulties oi the serious character which
hey doubtless and appreciated II property existed
these slaves compensation was TO be made, according
the constitutions OF the federal treasuryout OF the
ommon money OF the people-contrbu,cd by slavehold
m as well as others and this 10 be expended for the
purpose only Of aboshng slavery here, but oil Affect
the institution IN the States That this last the
teal object OF such measure-that 1t was the conse-
1--we character to it-few doubt when they look TO
he probable effects OF such example upon the
Founding slave Saes and TO the convenience OF the asy
um which il would afford 10 the free negro, perhaps TO
he refugee and certainly to the anti slavery agl,aor IL
vould seem to be unconstitutional TO appropriate the
honey OF the Union to the abolition OF slavery every.
where it would certainly be so 10 apply IT, either direct
n or Indirectly such purposes IN the STATES But the
uhors OF these petitions had no such diicultes they
enied the right Of property itself in slaves and they
pushed their object without regard TO the effects OF such
IN agitation here upon the feelings, the interests, and
aey OF the surrounding States oil Virginia and Mary
)and.
Bu, they petitioned for still more dangerous measure
uhey Congress pass law prohibiting the slave
3rade between the States; and thus they aimed what
would have been the most deadly blow, short OF actual
boltlon al the Institution Of slavery which could poss
y be given What this process OF ''pennng up las u