Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-28
VOL. Xiv, NO. ,oWuO1E No ooe7

I>OItH Oi of uep. Vi 4NOitH Idtituue, 10
formed into free states, for a fair equvaleI
in money or in the payment of her debt.
think it an object well worthy the consider
alton of Congress, and | shall be happy t
concur in it myself, if | should be in tn
public councils of the country at the time
| have one other remark to make. |
my observations upon slavery as 1t has e,
listed in the country, and as 1t now exists,
have expressed no opinion of the mode c
its extihguishmeut or amelioration. | vii
say, however, though have nothing to pro
pose on that subject, because | do not deer
myself so competent as other gentlemen t
consider it, that if any gentleman from tn
South shall propose scheme OF colonial
ton, to be carried on by this government
upon large scale, for the transportation o
free colored people to any colony or an.
place in the world, should be quite dis
posed to incur almost any degree of expens
to accomplish that object. Nay, sir, follow
ing an example set here more than twent,
years ago by great man, then Senator
from New York, would return to Virgin
ia,-and through her for the benefit of the
whole South-the money received from thu
lands and territories ceced by her to thi:
Government, for any such purpose as to re
lieve, in whole or IN part, or i'll any way to
diminish or deal benefically with the free
colored population of the Southern States
| have said that honor Virginia for her
cession of this territory. There have been
received into the treasury of the United
States eighty millions Of dollars, the pro-
ceeds of the sales of public lands ceded by
Virginia If the residue should be sold al
the same rate, the whole aggregate will ex-
coed two hugdred millions of dollars. II
Virginia and the South see fit to adopt any
proposition to relieve themselves from the
free people of color among them, they have
my free consent that the Government shall
pay them any sum of money out of the pro-
ceeds which may be adequate 10 the pur-
pose.
And now, Mr.. President, draw these
observations to ii close. have spoken freely,
and | meant to do so. have sought 10
make no display; have sought to enllven the
occasion by no animated discussion nor
have attempted any train of elaborate ar
gunent. have sought only to speak my
sentiments, fully and at large, being desir-
Gus once and for all to let the Senate know,
and to let the country know, the opinions
and sentiments which | entertain on all
these subjects. These opinions are not
likely to be suddenly changed. If there
be any future service that | can render to
the country, consistently with these senti-
ments and opinions, shall cheertully rem
der ii. If there be not, shall still be glad
to have had an opportunity to dlsburden my
conscience from the bottom of my heart,
and to make known every political senti-
ment that therein exists.
And now, Mr.. President, instead ofspeak-
ing of the possibility or utility Of secession,
instead OF dwelling in these caverns of dark
ness, instead Of cropping with those ideas so
full OF all that is horrid and horrible, let us
come out into the light of day let US en-
Joy the fresh air Of Liberty and Union; let
US cherish those hopes which belong to US !;
let US devote ourselves TO those great objects
that are fit for our consideration and our
action let US raise our conceptions to the
magnitude and the Importance of the duties
that devolve upon us; let our comprehen-
sion be as broad as the country for which
we act, our aspirations as high as its certain
destiny let us not he pigmles in case
that calls for men. Never did there devove
on any generation Of men higher trusts
than now devolve upon us for the preserva-
ton of this Constitution, and the harmony
and peace of all who are destined to live
under it, Let us make our generation one
of the strongest and the brightest links in
that golden chain which is destined, fond
ly believe, to grapple the people of all the
states to this Constitution for ages to come.
1t is a great Constitutional Government,
guarded by legislation, by law, by ludlca-
ture, and defended by the whole affections
of the people No monarchial throne pres
SEES these states together no iron chain of
despotic power encircles them they live
and stand upon a Government popular in
its form, representative in its character,
founded upon principles of equality, and
calculated, ve hope, to last forever. In all
It's history it has been beneficent ; it has
trodden down no mans liberty it has
crushed no state. Its daily respiration is
liberty and patriotism, its yet youthful veins
are full OF enterprise, courage ane honora-
BILE love of glory and renown. Large be-
fore, the country has now, by recent events,
became vastly larger. This republic now
extends, with vast breadth, across the
whole continent. The two great seas of
the world wash one and the other shore
We realize, on mighty scale, the beautl-
ful description of the ornamental edging of
the Buckler of Achilles -
Snow the broad shield competc the artist crowned,
With his last hand, and poured the ocean round;
In living silver seemed thu waves TO roll,
Aud beat the buc klers verge, and bound the WHOLE
Mr.. CALHOUN.-I rise to correct what
| conceive to be an error of the distinguish
ed Senator from Massachusetts as to the
motives which induced the acquisition Of
Florida, Louisiana and Texas. lie attrib-
uted it to the great growth of cotton, aud
the desire Of the Southern people to get an
extension of territory, with the view of cul-
tivating it with more profit than they could
in compact and crowded settlement
Now, Mr.. President, the history of these
acquisitions | think was not correctly given.
1t is well known that the acquisition Of
Florida was the result of an Indian war
The Seminole Indians residing on the line at
tackled one of our fortresses troops were
ordered ont they were driven back and