Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-14
SLAVERY DEBATE.
SPEECH OF S. 2. CHASE.

The Senate proceeded TO the unfinished business,
being the resolutions from the General Assembly of the
State OF Vermont, which presented on Wednesday
last by Mr.. UPHAM.
Mr.. CHASE. 1t was not my purpose, Mr.. President,
nor is it my purpose now, to go into any discussion
upon this motion to print the resolutions from the State
OF Vermont If understand the general sentiments of
Senators, there is disposition to acquesce in the mo-
ton to print, with very few dissenting voices rejoice.
SIR tor one, that the precedent set in the case OF Vermont
some ten years ago is TO be reversed and that the
memorials and resolutions OF the States OF this Conede
racy to be received and taken in the ordinary course
no matter what may be the subject OF those memorials
or reso utions. should be glad, sir, il could state
that there appeared to be similar disposition in regard
merely TO the memorials OF sovereign States, but to
the petitions OF the sovereign people, But understand
slr that practice prevails heTeand must be permit
ted to say that i'll my Judgment 1t IS practice more
honored in the breach than in the obervance"-when
petition from individuals is presented to move the
question OF reception upon 1t and to lay that ques-
| ton Of reception upon the table. | trust, sir, that
that practice will also be discontinued. For one, ac
cord entirely with the Senators from South Carolina
when they say that it is better, lar better Tor the people
of this country that they should understand distinctly
what the sentiments of the respective States, and
merely OF the States, but Of the people who make the
States which compose this coniederacy. Let it b.
dersood what the positions upon all sides are let US
understand each other distinctly and then shall have
the best possible opportunity, when the positions upon
all sides are clearly and distinctly understood, to COM
pare those respective POSITIONS and if possible arrive
at ameabe solution OF the difficulties that exist
but sir may be permitted to say, that in my Judgment
the path to anlcabe solution OF the difficulty does
not lie through ordinations and recrminations does
not lie through denunciaons upon side and upon
the other side and may be permitted to suggest my
friend the Senator from Arkansas, whether any thing
| is to be gained in comparison between the application
OF the tetms crime" and criminals on the side,
and the application OF the epthets robber" and as
sassjn upon the other Sir, we gain nothing in this
way. Let define our positions with candor, with
fairness with ceaness and with precision and then,
understanding each other we shall be able to determine
what course becomes us as Senators, and what it
fhaS fnto IrtntJar fG,,
| Mr. President, lmay be permitted to say, and think
due to the State which in part represent here to say
that menace Of dsunion, no resolves tending towards
disunion, limitations OF the probability of disunon,
in any form, will from the path which in our
Judgment is due ourselves and the people whom we
represent to pursue Every thing Of that sort has lost
its terror at least trust it has trust that no man
hereafter is to be moved from the course which in his
judgment and his conscience it is due to the State and
the people whom he represents to pursue. trust that
no man to be moved from that deliberate course by
any threat or by any resolve, from whatever quarter
trust shall pursue path OF rectitude with entire re-
spect for all the people Of all the States, and for every
upon what that path shall be, trust shall be de-
tered from pursuing it by any intimidation OF any kind
orot this character particularly
Mr.. President, have had it ntimated in this debate
that the States OF the South have had reason to
complain of the course which has been pursued Now,
sir what is there in our past history, in present
history, which ustes that comp aint! Let it be calm
y considered, deiberate considered and then let me
again press the inquiry, what is there in ourpast pre-
sent history to justify that complaint? Have any States
OF the South, Mr. President, lacked their full proper
ton OF all the honors OF this Contederacyl Have they
not had their full proportion, at least, of all the power
OF this Confederacy? Do they not at this moment in
this hall and in the other hail. exercise all the power, to
sa the least OF it, which to them egitmately belongs
Why sir who presides in the other hall? How have
your committees been constituted here! Under what
influence have they been constituted, and with what
purpose have the committees been constituted here?
Have they not been constituted, Mr. President to
meet the claims and the EXTREMIST claims OF the gen
teen who represent the Southern States OF this Union
Has it not been held here be disqualification as
chairman of committee, that the distinguished Sena-
tor, even OF slave State, should maintain what in his
Judgment was due to the people OF the whole Contede-
racy in reference to this subject? And has it been
held also to be disqualification to other Senators that
they maintain sentiments which are common to the PEG
pie of their entire States in reference this question of
slavery Why, Mr.. President, for my own part may
be permitted say that in political sentiment accord
fully with that party which is known as the free Demo-
cracy OF the United Statesa party which sometimes
sectional, but which trust will not remain forever
tiona and which had during the last canvass if may
be permitted TO aude to it, not merely friends in the
non-slaveholdng States in this Union, but friends in
many OF the slaveholdng States also--not organiza-
tons, but friends; and in some OF the States organza-
tons also.
will add further sir, as it is known to be any posi-
ton that stand ready and willing to cooperate with
that party which is known as the Democracy of this
country whenever that party takes such ground the
subject OF slavery as accords with the principles OF the
ordinance OF l7S7.
w ELL SIT, now let us compare the p0SltlOnS leG with
reference to this very question: which exciting debate
and attention here Do understand the Senators
OF the South saying that they are prepared to act
with the Democracy oil this country if the Democracy
of this country take ground in favor Of freedom? Do
they not make it the Test OF their adherence to the party,
that the party shall respect what IN their Judgment are
their legitimate claims! Most unquesonably that test
is made. Then, sir is it not legitimate that Senator,
holding just strongly opinions in favor Of freedom as
they hold in favor OF slavery, that he should require
that the party which is TO command his operation and
| his n Iudp
ment he can reconcile to his own conscience If it be
So Mr.. President, in what position do stand here ?
Ihattests may be made up on one side, without excu
sion from the parys confidence and the parys respect
but shall be made the other side, but made
in favor of freedom they shall be ground for such
clusiOn.
Well, Mr. President refer TO this matter simply as
showing that there is nothing TO complain OF, far
this House, so far as the other House tar the pre-
sent arrangements concerned. What can be COM
planned OF lii the future What is expected? Why
sir, it is applehended that the Congress OF the United
States may adopt the principles of the ordinance of
1857 and concured in by the unanimous assent Of all
the States represented IN the Congress OF the Coincide
ration, in their application not to territory which
slave territory, as the territory northwest Of the river
Ohio claimed to be, but territory which is free
That is one OF the grounds of apprehension, Another
ground of apprehension is that the Congress OF the
United States may determine in their judgment that it
is properto apply the principles oil freedom; proper to
apply the principles OF law to the question OF slavery in
the District OF Columbia; it is appreended that the in
huence and power OF this Government may be placed
upon the side of freedom. Well, sir, what if it should
be Was that not the precise object which was marked
out by the trainers OF the constitution Was not the
precise object which was marked out by those who
concurred in establishing the ordinance OF 1887 But
told that if that crisis arises it must be met by
| the South. The Senator from South Carolina tells us
he trusts in the event that Congress should adopt any
OF this sort, that the South will meet the crisis
it ought. Well, sir, Unjust say that concur in that
| hope And how, Mr. President, ought such crisis to
be metz Ought it be met in spirit OF dlsunon or
ought it to be met in the spirit which governed the deli