The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-04

but perhaps 10 the nerpetuity ofthe Union. He was
far from being dsuuiouist; and II he ever should
become SO, il would be because his non slavehod-
ing brethren would force him 10 take that position.
! He trusted that the Union would long survive, but
he loved the rights which the Union intended TO
cure better than the Union itself lie was III favor
OF rights in the Union il he could; out Of II If he
must, His object was 20 enforce and secure the
same regard for the principles OF Justice the same
nviolable regard for the public faith IN the admin
straton of our domestic affairs between the States
aud tue different sections of the Coniederacy which
characterizes the proceedings Of the Government
abroad, III our diplomatic relations. II there were
! any disunionsts, he believed II was because men
! have lost all hope of obtaining justice Although
he believed that the number of them 10 small il the
North continue 10 insist on injustice and TO trampe
the Constitution under foot, and mnnlio5 purpose
TO exclude the South from common territory, the
! property OF all the Statcsi acquired by common
blood aud treasure, the number of disunonists Will
be increased. lie had not yet abandoned the hope
| that his northern brethren would DO the South
! justice. II the South could be united, and take
! firm stand the North would do them justice. As
/ southern man, he was willing Tor uOn-lntervcntiou,
/ 10y aboshing all laws restricting slavery from the
territories, and adding additional article TO the
Constitution, putting IL out ot the power OF even
three ourths Of the States affect the Institution in
the States, without the consent of all the slayehod
/ ing States. Then we should have agitation
from Abolitionals and Free soilers. As 10 the bill
under consideration, he would sooner vote ten mil
! lions Of dollars to defend Texas than he would 10
! ensure her MISUNDERSTANDING from her
! portion OF her territory lie maintained the right
OF Texas to the boundary, which she claims, from
! the mouth to the source of the Rio Grande.
Mr.. MCDOWELL was understood 10 say that he
would not have risen on this occasion II the propo
sihon to r. strict slavery bad not been offered And
! lac took the liberty to remark that IT was his for
| tune twenty years ago, while member of the
House of Delegates to address 10 that body speech
| on the subject of slavery, which be examined with
freedom. That spec h bad been referred TO in both
branches of Congress by The friends of the proviso,
! III overwTought and unmerlted cncomum. He did
not mean TO review the sentiment at that time
| pressed, but he meant TO say that, whether right
| or wrong, true false, nevertheless they were Ut
tered in the right place, addressed TO the right
dience, and invoked the action OF the rightiul au-
| thorty. They we're spoken in the Legislature of
| Virginia, and spoken to the people. They related
TO an institution established under their own laws
and they only had the right TO modify ahrogate,
continue 1t, Congress never had the power TO act
on the subject, in any way whatever. Until Con
grcs5 has this authority it is unwise and nischev
Gus; utterly powcrle5s ol good purpose, but pow
crful for evil. The whole control should be taken
from those who alien TO the institution, and rest
! with those who connected with il. The subject
should be cit TO the interests and wisdom of those
who, in the Providence of God have slavery in
| their midst.
! He objected TO the prOyso because it was M
constitutional, har5h and unnecessary because il
offensive violation of the rights of States to
| continue slavery. The first object of the proviso
was 10 i've all the territory now in, and ali which
ever will come into the Union, to the free States,
whole South, whatever may be her relations and
contributions to procure itno matter how she
stood in the front rank in the hour of sacrifice and
honorable SERVICES TO he thrust out fIom the body
of her assDcates, bufleed and wounded i'll spirit.
lie maintained that the Wmot proyiso, in all its
length aud breadth, waa an uudisguised, dcbc-
rate disuuiou proposition which would prevent one
section of the Union from increasing aud dividing
the States in traternal feeling. II was utterly i'm
practicable to produce any other result
Suppose the South were TO restrict the North, say
ing that she never should extend her finger beyond
her prison house, while the South would apDropri-
alto all the territory ever taken into the Union, to
make slayehoding States OF it. Had the South fol-
lowed up such measures Had they made attacks
the morals and Ia bits If thought of the North
lie asked gentlemen IN all conscience and manli-
TO say whether, if this had been the caso their
indignation and wrath would not have boiled OVER
Would they not have regarded il as derectiun Of
right, and departure from brotherly affection
Would their constituents have been still? Would
there not have been an uprising among the north
crn people: Would Fansuii Hall have been voice
less and DUMB, All New England would have
burnt as a living coal, and not a particle Of the
West would have been found not to resist propo-
| siuon which, coming from themselves, they have
| laborod 50 long aud 20 aboriously TO fix on tho
| South.
! Mr. Med. coItended for equality and Justice to
| the South, who asked no ayors, bul only immuni-
| ~ from bondage; and he made an eloquent appeal
to the North TO unite with her to put an end forever
/ to domestic discussion. The hour to which nc was
/ limited in debate expired, when
! Mr. HOLMES rose 60 address the House and
there was desire expressed on the part of the
! jorty that MIR McDUwsLL should conclude what
lac intended TO say, the gentleman from South
/ Carolina yielded loo that purpose.
! Conversation took place. and points OF order
were rsised, in the midst VI much coniusion. FL
| nally,
Mr. MCDOWELL aro-c to rcsunc his remarks,
but another point Of order aas raised, and he took
his seat.
! Mr.. HOLMES then addressed the House lie
! sax lt.,lg
| a misunderstanding JsCy were pursunga wrong
course. The trainers OF the Constitution committed
an error in not providing balance Of sections ~
well equality Of Su,tc- il California should
| be admitted the functions OF Government would be
thrown iuo the hands II the North, through lcgis
atou in other words the majority creates an alb
sOute tyranny, because il subjects the industry Of
! the "a hole South 70 the rules which they produce
\ lie urged that the abolition of slavery would de
! stroy the eouthern country, and that no southern
/ country could flourish without slave labor. Expert
menta TO dispense with it had failed. The South
! would never submit, unless she intended 10 CUR
render the eutire control OF her aborers 90 others
J who constitute an absolute tyranny. In resistance
| only there was safety.
mr. WILLIAMS obtained the floor, and gave
! way 20
Mr. McCLERNAND. who Withdrew the motion
heretofore made by hin % commit the bill to the
Committee of the Whot on thc state Of the Union.
he did co. he said, 10 diyc the question Of complicu
ton.
! TMr. ROOT had moved to amend the notion
! inrtrucung the commune Co report clause pro.
| hibiung slavery IN the 1crritorics-and this fell
with the withdrawal Of Mr.. McCLErNASD's mo-
ton, az did also the amendment 10 this, proposed
by Mr. DASIEL in the c,rIicr part Of the day, VIZ:
10 repeal The laws which prohibit African slavery
| in tic Territories
Mr.. BURT rose TO a qbcstion Of order that the
! gentleman from llinos could not withdraw the
motion W commit after thc instructions bad been
| moved. lie asked the CHAIR O. decide the point.
/ The SPEAKER said thlt the gentleman from II
/ iuois bad the right 90 Withdraw
! Mr. MEADE inquired whether the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. NILLtAHs) yielded tho floor
to the gentleman from Illinois, that be might with
/. draw tho motion to commit
| The SPEAKER repeated that tho gentleman had
I n right 90 Withdraw the motion.
! Mr.. WILLIAMS saii that he yielded the floor
f. for explanation.
Mr. McCLERNAND remarked that he had
awaited himself Of the Courtcsy Of the gentleman TO
/ make the motion.
Mr.. WILLIAMS moved tho previous question.
Mr.. BURT desired % ak what would be the eject
of the previous question at this stage Of the b lie
| wished 10 know whether, If the previous question
should be sustained, the House would not be con
strained 90 vote on the two amendments pending;
and whether il would be in order to to reduce
the amount in the bill, ten millions, to smaller