The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20

tician who has ayowed such an opinion. Even the
Buffalo convention did not go that far Again, he
says In twenty FIVE years, II we are surrounded
by free States the condinon of the South would be
that of lrelandi and soon, by the destruction OF
the remnants of the white population become that
| OF st. Domingo" And he adds = Northern men
not only admit il, but constantly in their public
speeches avow il to be their purpose TO produce
this very state Of things" Sir, must deny this.
My colleague is greatly mistaken Since read
his speech have inquired, ana am proud 10 say
have been unable to learn when northern men, or
one single northern man, ever avowcd so atrocious
sentiment. can hear of no such mar. Surely
such wretch never contaminated this place
never heard of but one man SO wicked as TO
think without horror OF insurrection In the southern
States, and he Van Buren, Democrat from
Ohio, (BENJAMIN TAPPAN, former Senator)
My colleague spoke with contempt OF those who
uttered the 'insane and senseless cry of Union,
Union" He was " Disguised" at it. This dsg ust
is but two years old.
In December, lS47, thus spoke my colleagues.
at would be vain, however, for on either side
to hope for such prosperity as we have hitherto
. enjoyed II the stream Of our national existence
should be divided, each branch must roll dimin-
ished volume, and would be able only to bear. a
lesser burden Such separation would be the
saddest of all partings. We should feel that our
way was lonely like that Of Hagar in the desert
desolate as the wanderings of our first parents,
when crime had just begun" &c, &c.
Very handsomely in the same strain:
eve have community OF interest, which it
would seem that party madness could break
up We have, too, recoections of the past
which, to American feelings, are stronger even
than calculations of Interest,"
This was neither insane nor senseless but
tonal, and sensible, and well becoming Repre-
sentative of the old North State.
single word as TO California. This will be a
'test question" The California proviso" one
gentleman from Alabama (Mr INGE) denounced
What is 1t but declaring that the people of each
State shall have right to decide for themsevesa
We have high southern authority for this. Mr.
Polk said, in his message, in IS4S "Whether Con-
gress shall egislate not, The people Of the acquired
Territories, Dhen assembled IN contention to form
State constitutions tci possess the sole and erclusve
porer 10 determine for themselves tchetter slauey shall
or shall not erist tctthin their limits. If Congress shall
abstain from intef sng tui the question, the people Of
these Territories icH De LETT free to ADJUST 1t as they may
think proper rhen they apply for admission as States
INTO He Union. No enactment of Congress could re-
strain the people OF any of the sovereign States OF
the Union, old or new, North or South, slavehold-
ing or nom saveholding, from determining the
character of their domestic institutions they
may deem wise and proper. Any and all the
States possess this right, and Congress cannot de-
prive them of it,
In the southern address it is said: .'Slavery is
domestic institution 1t belongs to the States each
for itself, to decide whether il shall be established
or mott and if it be established, whether it should
be abolished or not.'
The Southern address, aso in referring to the
Missouri question in 1919, censures those who ad-
vocate amendments 'having for their object to make
ton should have provision to prohibit slavery"
The address states 'Those who objected to the
amendments rested their opposition on the high
ground of the right of self government. They
claimed that territory having reached the period
when II Is proper for il to form constitution and
government for itself, becomes fully vested with
all the rights OF self government" &c, &c.
The address argues further, that to assume that
Congress had right to require any thing but that
the government must be republican, "would be
tantamount to the assumption of the right to make
its entire constitution and government"
commend this address to those Democratic
members who are talking of the California pro-
viso."
believe, Mr.. Chairman, if we reject the applica-
ton OF California for admission State, II will be
productive OF the most calamtous consequences.
II will raise a sectional feeling throughout this
broad land that may never be allayed cannot
vote againet her admission for any reason have
yet heard. do not see how any one can make her
admission "test question: who does not wish to
bring about dissolution of the Union. As a south
ern man want her admitted-the the bet
ter. advocated the election of our present Chief
Magistrate, "not merely as a Wing, but as THE
GREAT REPRESENTATIVE AND CHAMPION OF THE
PRINCIPLE OF THE RIGHT OF MAN TO sELF-GovERN-
MENT." i will not consent to remand her: her
people are, most of them own citizens. There
might be danger Of our compelling her to form
government without aid. She WILL i trust,
soon be one of us. If other southern man votes
as do, will vote for the admission of California.
Dead or alive, (as an Irishman said,) if can get
here, will vote for her admission.
have time for much argument but will only
present a few questions and conclude. As IA south
ern man feel indignant at the instances OF violated
faith and disregard of constitutional obligations
the part OF some of northern States, relative to
fugitive slaves. But believe, from all can see
and hear, they will do us justice in this respect.
But is dissolution of the Union to remedy this
evil? Will not separation greatly increase III
II the Union is dissolved, will Abolition societies
be deads Far from il.
What is To become Of all the property owned by
the United StatesY-what of all the money in the
hands OF the disbursng oficcrs' Where will all the
office-bolders goS There will be the voice Of la
mentation heard in old Virginia that day. But,
independent OF all considerations of interest, be-
lieve the people of the Old Dominion truly
attached TO the Union. They ought to be. Her
sons have "ruled It's destinies." They have had
full share of its honors and Offices Sir, believe
there office holders enough natives of Virginia,
to whip any army of disunonists that can be raised
IN the State.
talk OF disunon, take to provide in the Oregon
BILL and other bills containing the Wilmot proviso,
when Mr.. Polk was President, that slavery should
exist south Of certain liner No. il might have
disturbed the harmony of the party.
ZACHARY TAYLOR is now President. That makes
the difference.
II by any aggrcssons the part Of the North
which do not anticipatc--this Union is 20 be dis
solved, 1 tell gentlemen North Carolina will form
no part of southern confederacy, whose ruling
politicians entertain opinions like those avowed by
some OF the southern Democracy ON this floor. We
will build our great railroad and before we become
hewers OF wood and drawers Of water for Virginia
and South Carolina, viii try, trusting in Provi-
dence, TO stand up, SOLITARY and alone" They
would soon involve Us in on account Of black
sailors. North Carolina has not been treated by
these sisters with kindness or respect. In ls42,
South Carolina passed resolutions, and sent them
here, rejecting very unbecomingly on North Caro-
lima, and intimating that she encouraging abo-
lition, because her people voted against Mr.. Van
Buren, Time has proved were right. Yir-
ginia but few years since in her Legislature, upon
some question relating to railroads, was SO dis
courteous to North Carolina TO call for proper
but dignifcd rebuke from our Governor Graham,
in his message TO our Legislature.
Besides, the general tone Of the newspapers, and
sometimes public speeches Of gentlemen of those
States, prove that they regard people as ipfe-
ror 70 theirs. No, cir; il we had a southern con
federacy, let North Carolina go as "Hagar in the
DESERT" rather than in company where she would
be regarded an inferior II Tennessee, our own
Tennessee, our daughter, will join us, we can
stand against the world in arms. No dissolution
could separate Us; we should continue as closely
united ss the siamese twins.
II North Carolina should join a southern confed-
eracy with Virginia and South Carolina, her fate
would be that Of the dwarf who went 10 war in
company with the giant. In one engagement, the