The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-07

and that they still remain, and will remain, in force
until repealed by positive enactment. Well, this
hypothesis be true, not this bill complete and
unconditional surrender, on the part OF the slave
States, fevery foot ofterritory acquired by us from
Mexico? j, however, concur with my friend from
Mississippi do not believe in the truth Of this SO
called great truth in law. differ with the sena-
tor from Kentucky on this subject, and believe
with Southern statesmen and lawyers, that 1t is a
most preposterous proposition and hence voted
for the bill, leaving il to be decided by the Su-
preme Court of the United States whether this
was or was not truth in law. But, under this
state of things are those of our Southern friends
who have thought proper to oppose the bill de-
serving Of censure fiom any quarter, be IT North
or South' think not, sir.
Such were my feelings during the whole contest
in regard to that BILL Every Northern man who
opened his mouth on this question asserted this
great truth of law, and the additional truth that
no legislation here could ever overcome the laws
Of nature excluding slavery from the Territories.
We'll, il they believed what they said, had they not
every thing in the contest which they claimed, ex-
cept positive legislation in the shape Of the."Wl-
mot or some other proposltlont YES SIR, the
responsibility rest upon them. 1t was a stretch
of patriotism on the part of "a Southern man, or a
man representing slave State, to vote for that bill,
and felt the responsibility which incurred in
doing it but willing TO meet 1t for the sake
of peace and tranquility Now, the senator from
Georgia says that the Legislature of his State-by
know not how large majority, but, if recol-
lect Alright, by vote OF about two-thirds of each
branch--adopted a resolution making it the duty
of the Governor to call the Legislature together
when Congress should pass bill admitting Cali
forna with her constitution and boundaries as she
thenpresented herself. And the senators from that
State to-day, as they did yesterday, rise and ask
and implore the Senate to relieve that Governor, in
the existing state of excitement, from calling her
II ola thar NJ Iuoe Ruti a hare
any thing unconstitutional in their being thus called
together, MS the distinguished senator from Ken
lucky, for whom have the most profound respect
and veneration, yesterday, and the senator from
Mississippi to-day, would seem to supposed They,
as conceive unnecessarily, and as further con-
movement of this kind in the strongest language.
Mr. FOOTE. have repeatedly stated that
do not intend to refer to the action ofGeorga
in the most remote manner. have stated is so
often that am afraid am wearying the patience
Of the Senate by repeating it. intended to limit
my remarks to the facts presented by me yesterday
relative to occurrences within the limits of another
State of the Union. Nor did Irefer to the question
of the admission of California, which, involving
as it does many delicate questions, preferred to
leave to the State of Mississippi to act on hereafter
as she NAV choose.
Mr. ATCHISON. Very well, sir; will
pass by that point. ! believe, sir, that commit
tees, composed as they are Of men, are operated
upon and governed by the same motives and the
same principles of action that individuals are
Now, sir, it is mere hypothesis upon which
these gentlemen argue. They suppose that re-
sistance will be made, either on the action or non
action OF Congress on the subject Of slavery in
the Territories; but think it is premature and
impolitic to infer any where the existence Of such
state Of things. g Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof" If an Individual is threatened,
,,nlo ha he n nd sad x.n
not rather induce resistance on his part than if
kind words and patience were used towards him 7
Upon mere hypothesis the military force of this
Union, the bayonets of its soldiers, are to be
turned against the States--against Texas, unless
she surenders her claim to the territory in dispute
against South Ceroina, unless she submits to
the Proviso.
Mr.. FOOTE. | have not said that
Z Mr.. ATCHISON. lam arguing on a hypoth
esis # a
Mr. FOOTE. 1t certainly is not my doctrine.
\ Mr.. ATCHISON. 1t is all unnecessary Just
as unnecessary as it is for senator here in his
place to threaten disunion in the event of the pas
sage Of any law of Congress. These matters will
do well enough outside the walls Of the Senate
chamber, and of the House Of Representatives
and flaming editorials may be written or stump
speeches made on the subject And if Congress
shall attempt to deprive u sovereign State of the
South--ior the Senator from New Hampshire in
formed us yesterday that there were no sovereign
States at the North-of any of its rights, why, a
thousand orators will mount the stump and
threaten dissolution of the Union, and even the
conquest Of the Union, by the smallest and least
formidable State in it. But suppose they do 2
Suppose a sergeant drinks toast denouncing the
Union, or major, or even colonel in South Car
DINA shall d. the same thing, is it worthy Of no.
tice and attention in the Senate chamber? Why,
sir, almost every paper in the Southern States,
and almost every orator who mounts the stump,
if this is correct doctrine, deserves halter and
should receive it, 1t is all mere gas, and regret
that some portion of this gas has entered both
ends of this Capitol
Now, there is one way to avoid forever disso-
luton of this Union and that is, to let the Federal
Government and Congress exercise no power
which is doubtful. Let them pay due regard to
the rights and interests of every section Of this
Union, whether it be the North or the South, and
let them bow even to the prejudices Of any sec
ton of this Union. This, sir, is the way in
which, as humbly conceive, this Union is to be
saved and perpetuated. Now, if our Northern
friends had but come to the rescue, if they had
voted for this bill, they could according their
own theory, if they believed word Of what they
said, and if they were not the veriest hypocrites
that ever crawled upon the face of the earth-if|
they had come to the rescue and passed this bill,
the whole question would have been settled.
doubt their sincerity sir whether or out of the
have used, wrong and unsenatorial as
perhaps it may be in itself
Mr.. FOOTE. have but a short reply to make
to the senator from Missouri regret indeed
that he has taken me to task on what he well calls
a hypothetical case, for certainly more hypo-
thetical one was never stated here or elsewhere.
/ was not speaking of the action of State when
unconstitutional acts were perpetrated by the
Government amounting to ntolerable oppression;
for stated yesterday that have ever believed
that it was in such case the duty Of a State or
States, or of any portion of the people, to resist
1t to the utmost. The senator says Ne thinks we
should not so out way to bring in here matters
and things which occur in South Carolina, and he
thinks also that the sergeant's toast and the
speeches, extracts from which read yesterday,
are unworthy of notice by the Senate. He has
forgotten that the distinguished gentleman whose
speeches quoted are commended to my especial
esteem. as ,I~H #....
Mr.. ATCHISON If my friend will PERM,
me, should have gone on to say, that did not
approve Of the speeches to which he refers.
have consulted all along with him in regard to this
bill, and | know that the motives which inhu-
enced him in his course were pure, patriotic, and
honest. ..
Mr.. FOOTE. merely intended to say that the
l. n y. 4