The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-02
CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.



territorial governments tor Utah and New Mexico, and
hkinE proposals to Texas for the settlement OF her
pnlein and western boundaries and the pending ques-
a neing upon The amendment offered days ago BY
Mf. BARNW ELL said. Mr. President, am very reIuc
a. 70 respass upon the attention OF the Senate in this
age of their proceedings. Disuse and dsinclinalion
pmDinc 70 Increase this rtluclace nor is il essened by
10 consciousness that the illusions which have been
lade 70 ny ggeat predecessor invite comparisons which
hnnot 0uf De unavorable TO myself Ii is not nv inten-
on TO enter upon the discussion OF the OPINIONS ener-
lined and expressed by that great statesman; but IN
fsssing ny own opinions, may perhaps illustrate by
nectng ms Not that my recent intercourse with that
lsngushed senator OF intimate character az 10
bable 20 speak Of his private opinions or 10 have
med ny own upon them but because was impossible
pr any Soati Carolnan, deeply sympathz,ng with the
eope Of that State In the unbounded affection and conf
hnce which they manifested towards him from the be-
snnng g me close oi hs isrious career not to have
70 political opinions greatly modified by those of that
istingu'shed statesman II is something cannot
quail excellence, possess power 10 discriminate and
ieedom from jealousy 10 admire IL 6&
turn 10 the consideration Of this Missouri Com
fomlse line ldoubt not but that the position which
" distinguished predecessor occupied in relation to.
lls matter was not widely apart from. that which L
pw occupy With myself, he maintained that the slave
pldng States Of TINS coniederacy the equals of the
her States with which they associated speak mol
DIV OF equality IN wealth, in morals. intellectual cul
ire l-speak Of equality Of political rights Entering
to this confederacy upon terms Of perfect equality with
pc other Siates recognise nothing in their past his
pry Or present condition which has justly forfeited
u,
ully. and with patriotism discharged the duties which
heir relation towards the other States imposed upon tne
deny that any proof be offered from The past or
be present. 0f such marked inferorty as to Justify
he withdrawal Of any OF the privileges exercised
y any other portions OF the confederacy might we'll
further and appeal to the Intellectual and moral con-
lt,on OF the savehoidng States manfesty Indicating
hat hey have at all degeneraled from those whose al
ance you eagerly sought, association with whom you
anes,ydesred Where syour warrant then, for endeav
ring 10 TX the brand Of ineriorlfy upon such people
md yet such is the design which you have recently
rosecuted, and are now about to Because
ier social condition differs from Your because the
shtution OF slavery exists among them, to which expe
ence well as habit has strongly attached them, and
pom which their whole civilization rests, implicated
nth it BY ties 80 deep and strong that their dissolution
Just place IN most Imminent peril all things which as
zen patriots they should value and proect-he rec
ectons of the past, the happiness of the present. and
e hopes OF the fuiure; because they will not at the
cailon OF others abandon this inststution they have
zen denounced with the most unsparng bitterness Nor
be said that this may be borne the clamor of Ia
lticism. Not So sir. Those whom the people have ee
lied TO posts Of honor, members OF thus Congress, have
piled such language TO the slaveholdng States, which,
Iserved, would justly condemn them 10 the adherence
khe civilized world, even here in this grave Senate, and
\There In tar greater degree. ii we willing to
rue this bitterness political anmosites and seek
s back the fair exponenls o popular sentiment what
language OF many Of the Stale legislaiuresi More
ee, more vtupeative, more yndictIve, with actions
icative of deeper seated hostility. And il we penetrate
deeper and seek the symptoms of The disease social
, even deeper magnify Ia exhibted-he strong bonds
lies Of morals openly violated and their violation just
I'd This ii 10 which makes this conflict mighty one
his 1t Is that makes discussions here deeply i'm
prant These territorial questions but the ndica-
pms OF the dSease There is war steadily prosecuted
kanst us; carried on incessanty insidously; the
ne. the most releners; BY which we 10 be stigma
kn OF this deepseae hostility in large and increasing
Ply in this country, already swaying our couacils.
Ich makes i the imperative duty OF the South TO insist
on strict justice IN the disposition TO be made OF these
vTltories IL 10 not that they valuable; II is moi
p they covet the gold OF California; but because they
bard their exclusion from this territory stigma TO
bid not the disng uished senator from Massachusetts,
hend that, however distant might be the sea upon
hich our flag noaed, the property Of every American
we be your equals, should not property receive
equal protection, by land and BY seai Why should
! alone be singled out, and forbid TO transport our
bpefty into these Territories, common property
we, indeed, such disreputabie members Of your com
Piy that VIZ cannot be admitted into equal association
your III this injustice, this attempted discrimna.
p which has deeply moved the heart and mind OF the
hhern people and II they were net deeply moved they
puld deserve the inequality In which you have placed
en-. and the degradation 10 which you have doomed
en-
trust that the Senate will pardon the desultory
these femarks as until very recently my pursuits have
Pa entirely removed IRON any active participation in
aItical affairs.
But 10 proceed When tae citizens Of the slayeholdug
ates claim the rights of admission with their property
on terms OF perfect equality with other citizens, into
Territories recently acquired, they are met by the
hcuIty that foreign laws prevail :acre, by which their
hts of property endangered. Such is not my opin
ii on the contrary, IL seems to me that II under the
hsttuon you can make no law prohibiting slavery IN
Territories preventing me from taking my properly
pthem. 80 neither BY treaty you subject my prop
or my self To restrictions which you could not impose
your own authority. Whist, however, entertain
opinion, aud would certainly act upon II without
lta,ion in politics., cannot but recoect that many
y eminent statesmen and lawyers have expressed their
kment against these views. know how sensitive is
.xtuk ...4t G.t.t. al 49,
D1ghf, 80 we ought TO demand that the authority OF
adverse laws pretended, Judge il 10 bel should
FORMALLY abrogaed, and all impediments removed
BeFfy.
s important, for true estimation of the great ssues
pch depend upon our right decision of those questions
hch hare relation 10 the institution OF slavery properly
bppreciaie the feelings and opinions of the slsvehod
people in reference 10 it. The senator from Mass
sets, IN ,hat great speech which we ali have rssd
admiration, refers to this subject, and EXPIRE sses his
pse the very marked change which has taken place
ihe southern mind with respect TO this institution OF
very Ii il marked not to have attracted the at
lion OF obsefveB much less scIue than the distin-
she'd senator. The time was--we seek not TO deny or
enuae the fact-whcn very many OF the leading and
tnguished Statesmen Of the South looked with dislike
disirus upon this institution Of slavery, regarding IL
moral social, and political evil, and anxously sought
ich they were members But there has undoubtedly
ne about great revolution in the public judgment
IN this subject The senator refers Il chiefly 70 the
anced value OF the products OF slave labor and doubt
but that this had its influence We none OF us In
sble 70 considerations OF this kind. and when the i'm
lance Of the products OF slave labor TO the comfort, in
TRY, and commerce Of the world were considered,