The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-08


these caverns OF daknessnslead OF cropping with these
IDEAS so full of all that is hond and honibleet us
out into the light OF day, and cherish those hopes
that belong u.s. let devote ourselves 10 those great
objects that are iii for our consideration and action
lei raise conceptions TO the magnitude and the i'm
portance OF the duties that devolved upon US let
our comprehension be broad as the country for which
we act and our aspirations high its certain destiny
Never did there devove on any generation oil men higher
trusts than devolyed us for the preservation
Of this constitution, and the harmony and happiness OF
all that live under IL II is great popular constitutional
government, guarded by legislation, law and Judcaue,
defended by the holy affections OF the people No mo-
nafchica throne presses these States ogether no IRON
chain OF despotc power encircles them they live and
stand upon government popular IN ITS ior represent
alive in its character, founded principles OF equality
calculated hs last We hope 10 a m as0
it has crushed State has been IN all It's Influences
benevolent and bene6cent-promotive OF the general
prosperity the general glory and ns genera a spov
II large before 1t has now become vastly larger
This republic stands with vast breadth across the
whole continent The two great seas OF the world wash
the one and the other shore We may realize the descrp
ton OF the ornamental edgng on the buckler oil Achilles
mNow the broad shield complete, the artist crown'd
With his last hand, and pourd the ocean round
In living silver seeln'd the waves 10 roll,
And beat the bucker verge, and bound the whole"
Mr. CALHOUN. Mr.. President, | rise to correct what
conceive TO be the error Of The distinguished senator
from Massachusetts, to the motives which induced the
admission OF Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. have
heard with regret the statement that 1t was the desire Of
the southern people to get extension oil territory win
the view Of cuvaiing cotton with more success than
they would in crowded settlement. Now, think the
history OF this acquisition will not sustain such view
II is well know that the acquisition OF Florida was the
result OF an Indian war The Seminole Indians crossed
land and took OF fortresses The troops were
ordered out but were driven back Then, under the com
mand Of Gen Jackson, Pensacola was seized was hese
acts and not the desire for territory that caused the
acquisition OF Florida admit, however, that il had
been for long time the desire, on the part OF the South
and OF the administration believe, to acquire Florida;
but was very different from the assigned by the
senator. There collected together in that Territory
four tribes of Indians--the Greek, the Choctaw, the
Chickasaw, and the Cherokeeabout 10000 warriors,
who held connection, almost the whole OF them, with
the Spanish authorities in Florida, and had their trade
principally with them II was well known that most
pernicious influence at work there and il was in
the desire oil preventing any conflict between these In
dams, and ourselves and SPAIN that may be found the
motive which induced the desire to acquire Florida
come now to Louisiana You well know that the
cause of that acquisition the suspension
OF right of deposite at New orleans. Under the
treaty with Spain, we had the right OF navigation Of the
far New Orleans, and TO make deposiles there
The Spanish authorities interrupted that right This
brought great agitation IN the West, and maintain,
throughout the whole OF the United States Some gen.
ilemen then, opposition to highly respectable party,
if mistake not took the lead in the desire OF resorng
to to acquire that Territory. Mr.. Jefferson, more
purchase was made to that difficulty, and to give
10 the West outlet TO the That was the i'm
mediate OF the admission of Louisiana
Now, sir, | come to Texas Perhaps gentleman
had more TO do with the acquisition of Texas than my
self; and that would have been among the very
last individuals in the United States TO have made any
at that time towards the acquisition OF Texas
and 90 further and say, if know myself, inca.
pabe OF acquiring any territory simply the ground
that to be slave territory No. sir; very differ
emit motive actuated me- knew at very early period
that the British had given encouragement to
the abolitoniss who represented in the Worlds
Convention The question Of abolition was agltaed in
Adams informed him that. if the British government
chose abolish slavery in the United States, they must
commence at Texas committee from this Worlds
Convention sent 10 the Secretary OF State II so hap
pened that this very gentleman present when the In
tercouse took place between Lord Aberdeen and that
committee, and he gave him full account OF II shortly
after that occurrence stating that Lord Aberdeen fell into
the project 10 give TO the aboensts. Ii
is well known that Lord Aberdeen was very correct
and. in my opinion, very honest man. Mr.. Packen-
ham sent here TO negotiate relative TO Oregon and in
cidentay about Texas He ordered to read his dec
araton to this government, stating that the British gov
eminent was negotiating relative to putting an end to
slavery all the world, and in Texas especially II
was well known further that at that very time France
and England had negotiated with America TO effect that
purpose, and our government was thrown out The
remainder OF the sentence naudibe TO the Reporter
The object OF that ndace Mexico TO recognise the
OF Texas upon the ground that she had abo
shed slavery. Now all these are matters OF fact
Well sir, where is the man so blind as not to see that
The project of Great Britain had been successful the
whole State Of Louisiana, Arkansas, and the adjacent
States would have been open to the nroads OF the British
emssariesl
Sir as far was concerned. never did and never
would into the folly OF xaon, which always
held TO be unconstitutional and absurd; would put
i upon what might have put it-upon commercial and
considerations because these were no, my
motives principally And choose TO say what was my
motive So far commerce and manufactures were
concerned. would not have moved al that time.
Now, the senator objects 10 many northern throw
ing the weight OF their influence 10 support the measure
Df annexation. Well, il perfectly right that they
should be DESTROYS Of fulfilling the obligations the
,tuton imposes. What man at that time doubted but
hat the compromise OF 80 deg 30 min. constitutional
That territory would have fallen anyhow 10 the South
ALI the reasonable nj the North agreed 10 the extern
,oR OF that line, that part of Texas might fall within
C. The course was, in my opinion, eminenty rghtand
patriotic
Now Mr. President, having made these corrections,
must 60 back little further and make statement which
think the honorable senator has left very defective in
reference TO the ordinance OF 7S7 He stated very
ecy that Il commenced with the old confederation that
afterwards confirmed by Congress; that Congress
was sitting in New York the time, and while the
vention sitting in Philadelphia. Now, have not
ooked at that ordinance very recently, but my memory
will serve thus far jefferson introduced proposition
% exclude slavery in 1854 There was vote upon IL
md | think upon that vote every southern State voted
or IT, am not certain upon this point therefore, will
not venture my memory upon IT, But one thing will
venture furiher that three years before that ordi
nance passed II never passed I'LL 1877; and il was
hen ory passed, have good reason TO believe, on the
principle OF compromise the ordinance contained
provision similar 10 the in the constitution about fu
ri,iye slaves that should be inserted in the constu
and this was the compromise upon which that provision
was made TO commence in 1857. We supposed that IN
hat had an indemnify In that, too, made great
mistake For what possible advantage do we derive from
his stipulation in the ordinance in the constitution
f..sk nj Htta Sha IN