The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-27


we want TO avoid but The danger and expense OF tga
,ion and submit to him that behooves TO
by positive declaration of the law, the doubt which has
been created and which operates as barrier to the exer
else OF southern rights declaatory act the paIt of
Congress TO Tins doubt is not The passing of any
regulation with regard TO slavery IL merely exercising
the right OF the conquering country TO repeal declare
null the laws OF the conquered country In that view OF
the subject cannot but hope that this amendment OF the
from Mississippi Mr. DAvIs will find acceptance
with the Senate, and urge respectfully upon their
consideration the more that this is bill OF compro
mise Il is proposed in that spirit; il is advocated III
that spirit Certainly If gentlemen wish to concil'ate
those who have doubts with regard to OF the pro-
visions OF this bill they will mol refuse declara
tory act TO relieve this subject from the doubt which
to the enjoyment of these Territories by the OF
slaves as il there express provision prohibiting
them to them II gentlemen really desire TO have
this passed-if they want to get Compromised it
is their purpose allay the excitement which existing
in the country, ask that they will demonstrate that wish
by an act which will be merely declaratory, but which
will be effective 10 the difficulties that prevent
one portion Of this Union from emgratng TO the Terrific.
ries These are my views.
Mr.. FOOTE. feel the appeal OF the senator from
Georgia and am sorry to have 10 resist il; but do i
on his own high authority. When took my seat in this
body had never examined this great question particu-
lay and when heard the first speech OF the honorable
senator from Georgia in explanation OF il, the argument
contained in which has been repeated two three
times, with. if possible increased cogency every time OF
such repetition, Il carried the ceares conviction 10 my
mind that the laws OF Mexico in regard 10 slavery We're
not force in these Territories, and have not been
since the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo The honorable
senator from South Carolina, no longer here. (Nlr Cal
houn made, ii anything, more cogent argument even
than the senator from GeOrgabut that was Impossible;
for the argument of the latter complete irresistible.
and ought TO have carried conviction To the mind OF eve
ry unprejudced man in the country; though know that
very distinguished gentlemen still entertain different
opinion from that expressed by him. Now, beg leave
tell the senator that defer his authority than
he himself seems do undertake to say to him that
he at the present time entertaining apprehensions wholly
unreasonable and unfonDded If his former teachings
IA Ic n1nI
with such contempt he to imagine at the South
is not true that The teachings Of Mr. Calhoun are at the
present time treated with universal contempt among
southern people 1t is not true that the opinions OF all the
distinguished gentlemen from the southern States, who
have eeni times expressed themselves on this sub
jec IN unison with the gentleman from Georgia are now
held such contempt at the South that STAKEHOLDER
would dare to with his slaves to these Terrific
ries from dread entertained by him thai the Mexican
laws abolshing slavery are still IN force The cogent
and conclusive argument OF the distinguished senator and
others could be read the South without convincing
every reasonable that the Mexican laws alluded TO
have present existence in the Territories Such is the
opinion al (which have arrived, and on that opinion
feel bound to act member OF this body nor shall
give any vote in opposition tony own Judgment and IN de-
ference TO the opinions OF others, unless upon question
OF great rviallty, and where publlc deimeni could
ARISE.
Sir, this amendment is intended either 10 have some
effect IT intended to have any effect Is II.
ask intended have any effect! II so, what is that
effect The gentleman coniesses that the object Is to
give additional protection to certain rights oil properly IN
that which the constitution Affords WeU II II Is so
intended, (and that is the acknowledgmen ask would
this be intervening, by AN act OF Congress Tor he
purpose OF superaddng 10 the protection now Afforded by
the constitution TO those rights OF property IN slaves al
the present time possessed by southern men Certainly
would be. Can gentlemen undertake TO say to me that
they rely the alone and yet by their votes
prove that they do not rely the constitution at ALL but
trust act OF Congress' Can they undertake to say
that they do doubt in the least degree them.
selves tha, the Mexican laws referred to are null and
VOID, and yet claim for 10 unite with them IN the
passage OF act OF Congress, the object OF which is the
repeal OF laws which, according to their own acknowl
edgments, are already exnctF This amendment is
vain and useless thing, in my Judgment and therefore
cannot vote tor Il though should be pleased to harmo
him. did not appfehend that the adoption OF the amend
would put the bill itself in danger OF defeat But
really do believe that the adoption of tins amendment
utterly useless conceive to be- would defeat the
bill, because it is Just such amendment as may II
adopted, northern gentlemen TO vote against the
whole from the dread OF mIsconsrucuon al The
hands OF their constituents. i cannot, therefore,
for the amendment, believing II thus calculated 10
defeat the adoption OF which deem essential
to the security. happiness, and concord OF the nation
Mr. BEkKlEN. Mr. President. the senator from Mis-
sisspp has unwi,tngy proposed very strong argument
support OF this amendment II there are gentlemen IN
this chamber disposed to defeat this bill he has given
them mode Of dong it, and that ia, by adopting this
amendment These gentlemen who rely upon theopinion
Just expressed by the senator from Mississippi that the
adopton of this amendment will defeat the bill, acting
upon the primo pc that regulates his 10 determine
upon each amendment by he effect II will have upon The
tate OF the bill WILL OF course, vote for the adoption OF
TINS amendment look, then. to the enemies OF tins Dill
to give that support To The amendment winch has been
invoked ior II BY the Argument OF The senator IRON Mis-
sissIpp,.
Nj FOOTE, (interposiuk) | hope the senator from
Ceol1a does not intend 10 suggest what has words IMPLY
lhat am Invoking opposition 10 The bill
Mr. BERRiEN. ii the word Invoke gives offence,
will cheeriuly recall H. meant TO state lhe elect OF
the argument and DO for the purpose o showing The
correctness OF my view. that msndmcnt ought to
be tested by merits and not by the elect VIII
have upon the fate oil the bill.
have been very much complnented by the opinion
the senator has EXPIRE sed OF the argument delivered BY
me in suppor, of the proposition that the Mexican laws
are not now in force. have al time imagined that
tha argument that the arguments of any other south
sn senator looked upon with conempt by the peo
pie OF the Souih or by any portion OF the people oi
the South | knew there were many who disagreed
with them; but thought they were always treated
with sufficient degree OF espect To preserve them from
contempt But my proposition is this: that with what
respect those opinions may be received by the south
ern people. they will be willing TO leopard their prop
erty while this question remains IN doubt would ask
ly the reliance which southern people have upon the
repeal or annihai,on of Mexican laws, has seen the
decision in slave California by Judge Thomas,
one OF the Judges appointed under the constitution and
form of government In that Judge Thomas dis
hncy affirmed the validity Of the existing Mexican laws
With tins diversity OF opinion among ourselves and with
an affirmation OF Judge in California OF the validity OF
the aneceden laws and with the declaration that they are
now in force will honorable gentlemen hesitate some
liar adjudication Utah and New Mexico, in relation to
the validity OF those laws The senator will observe
that the decision does proceed upon the ground that
has the prohibition her constitution, but de-