Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-03-13

stone State was wheedled out Of her vote,
and s.Polk and Texas" were elected.
She was annexed as State. and politi
cal power was thus brought into the Sen.
ate equal to that Of the most powerful
State Of the Union. BY these means.
and by that power, the tariff of l842 was
destroy ed: for. il will be remembered. the
repeal passed the Senate by majority Of
only one role.
The gentleman from Mississippi Mr..
Brown complained bitterly of the charac-
ter Of the persons who were authorized to
vote in California. He regarded the
whosale system Of naturalization, as he
gotten, perhaps. that, but a few years ago.
Of foreign nation, (Texas,) but in the
naturalization of its entire population. by
a simple resolution! Not only were the
free foreigners themselves brought into
the national councils. but also represen-
tation based upon the slave population.
The consequences of this annexation,
predicted by MIR. Clay and other states
men. were fully realized. 1t brought a
desolating war upon sister republic.
do not propose now to discuss that war
Its history is fresh in the memory Of all.
The uherring pen Of history will record
the purposes Of those who brought il
about as foul blot upon the proud charac-
ter Of the land Of Washington. Its dire
full consequences will be felt throughout
out the land for long years to come. espe-
cally if the "fruits" which were demand
ed as a condition Of peace should produce
the sad consequences SO ably depicted by
the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr..
MANN in the event Of an attempt to dis
solve this Union. Suffice it for my pur-
pose to say, that there was indirect ag-
gression upon the North in :he sacrifice
Of many of her gallant sons. whose
patriotic ardor induced them 10 "follow
the flag Of their country"
Mr.. Chairman, the Constitution guaran-
ties to every citizen the right Of petition.
Some of our northern people, believing
that in territories over which Congress had
power to legislate, slavery should be either
Immediately or prospectively abolished.
They sent here their petitions. Southern
power treated them with contempt, and
trampled them under foot! Was there no
"aggression'' in refusing our people the
exercise of that sacred right!
We sent you from Ohio Senator, Mr..
Ccrwin.1 who, during the waging Of that
war upon a weak sister republic, plead for
the cause Of humanity with power and
eloquence worthy the best days of Greece
and Rome. His arguments were unans-
~ered and unanswerable, and we had
evidence Of your indisposition to aggress
upon our State pride, and our feeling in
the fact, that you burnt him in eGgy!
4 colleague Of mine, now upon this
floor, Mr.. Giddings. was sent here to
represent as intelligent and as patriotic
people as is to be found in the whole land.
lie presented, in the discharge Of his
official duty, series Of resolutions against
slavery and the slave trade. They were
obnoxious to the South, and with the aid
Of northern dough-faces, who are fast
finding their level, you expelled him from
this hall. and attempted to disgrace him.
Yet, during this session, we find that be-
fore we perfec, an organization, pro-
position is boldly made to dissolre the
Union, by members from southern States,
in the event that the peoples representa-
tives pass a particular law; yet nothing
like cemsure is proposed by those lately SO
sensitive.
A sovereign State. New Hampshire,
sends Senator. He expresses senti-
ments lot suited to southern tastes, and
forthwith Mississippi notifies him. in ar
rogant and self-important tones, that it he
were in that State he would be hung upon
the highest tree!
Who has been depressed" in dividing
the honors and emoluments of office!
The poor, down trodden South! She has
almost monopolized the important Offices
since the formation Of the Government.
Let those who wish to have official evil
dence of her wrongs in this regard, ex-
anime the Blue Book. Virginia suffers!
There are still few Of the "first families
unprovided for, and it is an act of un-
paralleled aggression! Why, sir. so crav-
ing is the thirst for these honors, that see
in one town Gall the whites having been
provided for, suppose they procure the
appointment of a negro as Postmaster!
How much did we aggress in organic
ing this House! And who gave the
strongest evidence Of desire to organize
by geographical tests! We always found
on this side Of the House, southern Wigs
enough to hold the balance Of power, who
preferred the election Of southern Demo-
crat to a northern Wing. On the other
side, southern Democrats enough to elect
a southern Wing in preference to north
ern Democrat. And if, in the course of
our efforts to organize, any candidate Of
either party. was suspected Of having ever
seen the city of Buffalo, his fate was
sealed.
But Mr. Chairman, am consuming too
much Of the brief hour allotted to me, in
detailing this account of aggression.
What has the North done to produce
this loud and continual clatter about
"aggression.'' Bear in mind an act Of
aggression must be an act Of ,rrong. So
long as we act for the promotion Of that
which is morally right, we cannot aggress.
Much complaint is made about negroes
running off to the free States. suppose