The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-25

uf-where ulu " come from! SBr, II has been
continued in every shape and form in which IL
could be brought up. He was not permitted to
enjoy the eciat of the movement alone tits true.
he was the first TO saddle and bride the animal
but he was not permitted to ride it alone there
were thousands who mounted it with him. In
the elections for sheriff, for constable, for MEM
bers of Congress, and for Senator's the subject
was made ground of political advancement. For
this have the authority Of Senator from New
Hampshire, [Mr. HALE;] and there was an as
pirant for the Presidency, whose friends mounted
him, booted and spurred, upon the same animal.
Sir, this subject is one that has been productive
Of nothing but excitement and bitterness of feel
ing--ay, madness-from the time it originated;
and 1t is nv conviction it will continue to be so,
until it is finally disposed Of. What is all this
discussion to end in After California is admitted
into the Union--next year, VI she chooses--she
may establish slavery within her borders; she
may, at any future time, by altering the provisions
Of her constitution, allow slave property to be
carried there. All this is true; and yet gentle
men from the North insist, with pertinacty al
most unaccountable, that a paltry abstraction
shall be conceded to them.
| ask Senators to look at this subject uninAu-
enced by prejudlces, and in a spirit Of candor.
We of the South willing to settle the question
on Just principles now, and we always have been
willing thus TO settle il. Ii was upon the motion
Of Senator from slave-holding State--now no
longer here-the Secretary of State at present
that a compromise bill reported to the SEN
ate, asking for the reference Of the entire matter
to the Supreme Court. The bill passed here, and
was rejected in the House of Representatives.
This was not all The next proposition for an
adjustment came from Senator from non slave
holding State. The Senator from llnos--not
now IN his seat, Mr.. DOUGLASS --actuted by the
most pure and patriotic motives to make an en-
deavor to settle this whole difficulty-came for
ward and offered what at once would have settled
this m ra uua
The South met it in this chamber, and passed 1T
but 1t was rejected by the non-saveholding States
in the other House. Another Senator from Wis
eonsin Mr.. WALKERl came forward with another
proposition still more liberal in its terms, con-
ceding much more than the North had right to
ask or demand. That measure was adopted in
this chambers yet the free States rejected it in the
Foher House; and now, sir, we find ourselves just
far from an adjustment Of the pending dispute, as
we were at the beginning Of the controversy. 1t
is time, Mr.. President, that upon this subject we
pause and reflect.
We of the South ask nothing but what is right,
and can you expect us to submit to any thing that
is wrong? Can you, sir, abrogate the provisions Of
the Constitution, which guarantees to the citizens
of every State in this Confederacy, equal rights
and privileges, by denying to us the exercise of
those rights, and demanding that we shall submit
to wrong' Can you suppose for a moment that
such palpable wrong as this will be submitted to
If we were to yield what we consider our just
constitutional rights, growing out of the free prin-
ciples IN which our government is founded, and
the perfect equality of the States, guaranteed when
that government was formed, and acquiesce
quietly In the terms which you might see fit to
dictate to us, you would never respect us any
more. pray God, sir, that no such alternative
as that of submission to encroachments on our
rights, will be attempted to be forced upon us !;
that, in order that this Union may be preserved,
Senator'S will pause and reflect before they pro-
coed to extremities; and that, by due considers
ton Of the provisions of our common Constitu-
ion, their minds may become infused with the
spirit which caused such fraterna action on the
part of those who framed that sacred instruments
and then, coming forward and celebrating upon
the proposition offered by the Senator from Ken
tucky-from Tenressee-or any other that may
be presented, they may unite in forming some
general plan that will settle at once, and for
ever, the yexatlous questions that are now In
issue between the two great sections of the Con-
federacy.
This great question, sir, of slavery has been
argued so fully and ably by Senators more able
to do it justice than can possibly be, that shall
not, on the present occasion, so any farther into
the discussion oft. / may, sir, in what have
already said, have spoken somewhat earnestly.
III have done So sir 1T has been with no disposition
whatever to awaken unklnd or bitter feelings,
either in the hearts of Senators here, or of any
portion of the people of this country elsewhere
III Wndt may nave sttlu ana uOne, SIT, nave
acted under what appeared to me to be the die
ates of solemn sense of duty, under the circum-
stances in which am placed-a sacred duty to the
Constitution which am sworn to supports sa-
cred duty which | owe to the slave holding State
which, have the honor to represent and therefore,
actuated as am solely by strict sense ofthe OBJ
legations imposed on me as q Senator in this cham
Der, spurn with indignation any charge that |
am in favor or DESTROYS of the dissolution Of the
Union, because thus candidly state what con-
slider to be the aggressions of the North upon the
South, and the light in which these aggressions
are viewed by us. ~ F
If, sir, l have any political attachment deeper in
its feeling andextent than another, tits love to this
Union. Sir, |, in common with my constituents,
have recently given unmistakable eviden ce of our
devotion to, and attachment for, this Union. | am
attached to life by many strong ties bind any
one in existence but i'll know myself--ifI could
to-day preserve this Union in the spirit in which
it was formed--and, more than that, if could
preserve it with the fraternal feeling which should
animate the breast of every American freeman in
the land, and without which the Union would be
worthless-I would meet death in any form in
which itmght be presented, and in doing so, would
feel that | was comforting upon my children, and
upon the human family at large, the greatest legacy
that could descend to them this side ofthe grave.
PRoF. WEBSTER received information on Friday
evening, through newspaper, ofthe decision ofthe
Executive Council against his petition for COM
mutation Of sentence. The heavy tidings produced
no change in his appearance, and his behaviour
since that time has undergone no change. His
mood has, for some time past, been that of a man
in deep thought. When alone, he has book in
his hand but does not read much. His wife and
three daughters visited him on Friday afternoon,
but they were not aware at the time they called,
that a day had been fixed upon for the execution.
1t is said they have, since the rendition Of the
verdict, avoided reading newspapers, and conse-
quently would not be likely to hear the decision
of the Governor and Council at Cambridge, up to
the time they left that place for Leverett street
Jail. They have, however, since been informed,
but were not much disappointed, having had pre-
vious intimaton from friend, that there was little
hope for the prisoner. Professor Webster himself
evinced no token of surprise on reading the intel
ligence, and it is understood that he expected the
result. Sheriff Eveleth had an interview with him
on Saturday, in his cell but did not read the
"death-warrant' to him. The Jail officers do not
keep strict watch upon the prisoner, and they
have no fears that he will commit suicide. He is,
according the jail record, in the 55h year of his
! age and is five feet two inches and one-eighth in