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

|
ton amendment TO this bill, and referred TO the
fact that il received the appreciation Of all the Sena
tors from the South including those from Virginia.
to whom he had referred particularly Since the
| rejection, by decisive vote, OF the amendment
offered by him Mr. 5. Just now, it was his pur-
pose certainly. and may be that OF other southern
Representatives 10 vote against this BILL even as II
| came from the Senate. He felt proud 10 concur In
| approval of the course which has been pursued IN
| relation 10 this whole controversy with the southern
Senators who opposed the miscalled compromise
bill, and especially in that OF the able Senator's from
his cwn State, who richly entitled to the comb
dence and gratitude Of the South. lie therefore felt
bound 10 explain the very different circumstances
under which the bill was presented to and approved
| by them
| While one Of a series Of conoint measures, such
have been in substance passed here, II met their
stern, unwavering opposition, and only when all
others seemed defeated, and this stood alone, was It
acquesced in by them. II protested 10 be based on
the principle Of non intervention, and at that time
| il might not unreasonably have been supposed
| that some adjustment of the other yexed sectional
| questions might be accomplished ON that or some
similar basis With that hope, it might properly
be, he doubted not il was, allowed by those Sen
ators; but and with Va, he said the attitude OF
this bill is far different IL Is the last OF series OF
connected outrages on our section and It's citizens
| Ii communicates the gross wrong and injustice OF
| our exclusion from participation IN the vast do
| mains obtained in large measure by southern va
| lor and treasure. The vote just given has shown
4 the pretence of non intervention to be a mere
| shanI-a trap TO catch easy, crcduous compro-
misers OF the South; and that no substantial enjoy
ment, or chance of participation in that poor
| territory, is to be allowed us PEI tas aH ne
fas" either by the pretence of Mexican law or ter
| ritorial legislation we are TO be excluded Under
these altered circumstances, cannot for moment
doubt that all the southern Senators referred to
would have encountered this bill like all the Others
| with stern opposition.
Such, sir, certainly my feeling in respect to it;
| and appeal to the southern Representatives with
| whom have been acting, if the connexion OF this
/ measure with the series OF wrongs lntllctcd upon
us, and the palpabe denial OF all chances OF equal
| participation just pronounced do not render our
duty Of opposition to this bill likewise clear and
imperative? Let us have part nor lot in this foul
wrong, nor be implicated III any OF the connected
measures of aggression and INJURY perpetrated on
| US and ours. Let US not weaken the force OF our
opposition and repugnance by acquiescence in this
| the pettest Of the whole. Here, indeed il may
| avail nothing. From the dominant majority here
| we can expect redress-not even the simplest
justice. We speak to sealed ears-to fixed minds
But, beyond them, there is yet power we may in
| woke with hope To the sovereignty OF the people
| there may still be appeal, and there we may find
| power to resist wrongs and MAINTAIN nights. In
| my humble iud gment, the honor and the safety OF
the southern people are involved in the issues Of
| these measures, and TO them, with the confidence
which their history and their character justify, let
us refer as becomes their Representatives, the de-
! termination of the extent Of the wrong done and
''the mode and measure OF redress"
! The question was then taken on the amendment
of Mr. MILLsoN, and it was rcjected-ayes ~,
noes 81.
MIR. TOOMBs said that if it would be in order for
him, by opposing the (Mr. FITcH's) amendment, TO
make a few remarks, he desired to do SO.
The CHAIRMAN said that the gentleman was at
! MIR. TOOMBS continuing, expressed his desire
to say word in reply to the remarks of the gentle
man from Virginia, MIR. SELDOM The oblec-
ton that the gentleman urged to the bill seemed
to be, that there had been series of outrages per-
petrated upon the South. II the passage OF the
territorial bills without restriction the subject Of
slavery is not an outrage, and the gentleman docs
not 10 suppose that II ID, then there has been
none committed. And have this to say TO the gen
tleman if there have been aggressions perpetrated
upon the South, she has done the mischief HERSELF
! she has only herself to blame. IL is by her own
hands and by the hands Of her sons, that the
has been done.
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman is not in
order lie must conhne his remarks to the amend
ment.
Mr.. TOOMBS, continuing, said he was opposed
TO the amendment.
The gentleman from Virginia had spoken of out
RACES committed on the South. There could GER
taluly be no outrage connected with this legisla-
ton 50 far as that was concerned, IL was perfect
ly satisfactory. The gentleman WAS not justified
I IN saying that an outrage was committed upon the
South If any outrage had been committed upon
her. il had BEEN done by her own sons. II the mat
ter were tested, this would be found TO be the case
Let the question be kept in Virginia and elsewhere
I and we are prepared to stand omit.
/ Mr.. seldom said he trusted il would be tested
The question taken the amendment of
Mr. FITCH" PrOUided, Thatth Mexican laws pro-
hibting slavery be and remain in foil force in said
tcrritory'-and 1t was rejecicd-ayes 81, noes So.
Mr. Seldom offered the following amendment,
as additional proviso to the let section, VIZ:
{ "And that prior 10 the formation of State con
stituton, there shall be no prohibition by the action
OF the territorial legislature Of the emigration Of
any citizens Of the United States with any property
recognised as such by the laws Of any Of the States
/ Of the Union"
I Mr. S said that il would give him satisfaction if
he Tnuld with no hat he S.uth
ia this series % measures has sustained no argres-
sion and wrong. But the ability Of the gentleman,
great itis freely conceded 10 be, must fall far
short Of the impossible task of convincing either
himself (Mr. : or numbers IN the South OF the
justice OF such assertion. He could not forbear
expressing amazement of the source whence such
declaration proceeded, especially after the former
conduct and expression OF views of that gentleman
lie would appeal 10 him in all candor To say whe-
thcr lac did not consider the exclusion of the South
and sayeholders with their property from the vast
domains governed by the constitution Of California,
a gross wrong, Did he not believe, in his heart,
that wrong and injustice have been perpetrated in
taking away large portion Of Texas and trans-
/ ferring IL TO the free States
IL tins wrong Did be not think that discrimi-
nation had been made between the slave and non
slavcholding States, IL this wrong and outrage,
He could not imagine what are the feelings Of the
gentlemani but regarding the measures az he MIR.
s. did, he no longer considered the States Of the
South IN position Of equality with those OF the
North
! Mr. TOOMBS Ayailcd himself Of the right TO
speak in opposition to the gcnteman's amendment,
/ in order 20 answer the inquiry which be had pro-
/ pounded. lie would say 20 the gentleman, without
/ acknowledging that he had incurred the slightest
responsibility or obligation 10 respond TO any such
interrogatory. that be had voted IN conformity with
| the general sense Of the whole South. Precisely
The gentlcman's objection seemed 20 be, that there
were other measures forced upon the South which
! we're Objectionable lie denied that any such mca-
sures we're forced upon the South. Nearly two
! thirds Of the whole southern delegation had voted
for all the measures which referred particularly to
| southern interests, whilst a majority Of the north
! ern votes had been cast against them.
| As 10 the bill for the admission Of Cafornia-ior
the gentleman had particularly referred To that
| he believed u was no outrage upon the South; he
never had believed that IL was outrage upon the
South. Attempts made for eight months to
force this point upon him, but he avoided issue
| on that. lAppause. llis position was well known.
So far AZ the Texas boundary hill was concerned,
| he believed Il 20 be n wise and just measure. He
had never had any objection TO IT, he believed that
Il was advantageous 10 Texas aud advanta gcous 10
| this republic.
In regard to California lac would say, that he be-
| hcved the best policy Of the North would have been
1 -. A