Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-03-22


All that Northern men asked for at that time
was the extension of that line. Their course
in my opinion, was cmincntly correct and pa
triotic.
Now, AIr. President, having made these cor
rections, must go back little further and
correct a statement which l think the Senator
]os left vcry defective, relative to the ordinance
of 1887. He states, very correctly, that it
commenced under the Old Confederation; that
it WAS afterwards confirmed by Congress; that
Congress was sitting in New York at the time
while the Convention sat in Philadelphia; and
that there was concert of action. L have not
looked into the ordinance very recently but my
memory will serve me thus far: that 6lr. JEFF
fcison introduced his fist proposition TO eX-
clude slavery i'll 1884. There was vote taken
upon it, and think on that vote every South
em Senator voted against it; but am not cer-
tain of it. One thing / am certain of that it
was three years before the ordinance could
pass. 1t was sturdily resisted down to 1887
and when it was passed, as i had good reason
to believe, 1T was upon principle of compro-
mise first that the ordinance should contain u
provision similar to the one put in the Constitu
tion, with respect to fugitive slaves; and next
that it should be inserted in the Constitution;
and this was the compromise upon which the
prohibition was inserted in the ordinance of
1881. We thought we had an indemnity in
that but we made a great mistake. Of what
possible advantage has it been to usG Violated
faith has met us ON every side, and the advan-
tagc has been altogether in their favor. On the
other side, 1t has been thrown open to North
cm population to the entire exclusion of the
Southern. This was the leading measure
which destroyed the compromise of the Consti-
tuition, and then followed the Missouri compro-
mise, which was carried mainly by Northern
votes, although now dsavowed and notrespect-
ed by them That NynS thp ppVt ctpr and no
tween these two causes the equilibrium has
been broken.
Having made these remarks, let me say that
took great pleasure i'll listening to the dccar-
ations of the honorable Senator from Massa-
chusctts upon several points. He puts himself
upon the fulflment of the contract of Congress
in the resolutions of Texas annexation for the
admission of the four new States provided for
by those resolutions to be formed out of the
Territory of Texas. All that VAS manly
statesmunlike, and calculated TO do SooI bc
cause just. lie went further, he c1niamnea
and rightfully condemned, aHG in that he has
SHOWN great hrinnec-, the course OF the North
,e!.,.iNe to the etipulations of the Constitution
Tor the restoration of fugitives slaves; but per-
NIT me to say, for desire to be candid upon all
subjects, that if the Senator together with
many friends on this side of the chamber put
his confidence in the bill which has been report
ed here, further to extend the laws of Congress.
upon this subject, it will prove fallacous 1t is
impossible to execute any law of Congress
until the people of the States shall cooperate.
heard the gentleman with great pleasure
say that he would not vote for the Wilmot Pro
viso, for he regarded such an act unnecessary.
considering that Nature had already excluded
am dspdiassd asd te esSa i5a = E
disposed of as the hand of Nature shall deter.
mine. VI What o1u h,,, ;,,z:
Leave that portion of the country more natu.
raj to a nonslaveholding population to be filed
Dy mat description of populations and leave
that portion into which slavery would naturally
go, to be filled by slaveholding population
destroying artificial lines, though perhaps they
may be better than none Mr. Jefferson spoke
ike prophet of the effect of the Missouri
compromise line. / am willing to leave it for
Nature TO settle; and to organize governments
lor the Territories, giving all free scope to enter
ana prepare themselves to participate i'm their
privileges. We want, sir nothing but Justice
when the gentleman says that he is willing to
lehVclt to nature, understand he is willing to
remove all impediments, whether real or imap
mary. 1t Is consummate folly to assert that the
Mexican law prohibiting slavery in California
ana New Mexico is in force: and Ihaye aI,yoys
regarded it So
Noman would feel more happy than my self
'" "D'h0Nc aiiC ilis Union, formed by our an
cestors, should live forever. LOOKING hack to
the long course of forty years service here I
nave the consolation to believe that have new
er done one act which would weaken It. that 7
have done full justice to all sections 4nd if
nave ever been exposed to the imputations of
contrary motive it is because have been
wiling TO defend my section from rnconstitu-
uonal encroachments. But cannot agree with
the Senator from Massachusetts that this Union
cannot be dissolved. Am to understand him
mat no degree of oppression, no outrage no
Droken faith can produce the destruction of this
umoM Why, sir if that becomes fixed fact
~ VIII itself become the great instrument of
prndncmg oppression, outrage, and broken
faif No, sir, the Union can be broken. Great
mmdi causes will break it if they go on, and it
can only beprescrved by justice good faith, and
a rigid adherence to the Constitution.
Mr.. Webster. Mr.. President, a single word
IN reply to the honorable member from Sontb
Carolina. My distance from the honorable
member ard the crowded state of the room
prevented ne from hearing the whole of his re.
marks have only one or two observations
TO make;and to begin, first notvs of the hon
oIable members last remark He asks me if
held the breaking up of the Union, by any
such thing as he voluntary secession of States,
as an impossibiE'y. know, sir, this Union
can be broken U every Government can be.