The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-16
NUMBER 40.

o1ueE udy Wnlcn induced me 10 suppose that you
would be glad to possess relic of Washington
Allow me to present you with this" handing to
me at the same time fragment of the coffin of
Washington-a fragment of that coffin in which re-
posed the sacred remains of washington.
Was there any thing in the incident? Was il,
as it had occurred to him, sad presage of what is
to become of that great fabric which Washington
reared?
He then moved that the resolutions be made the
special order of the day for Tuesday next.
Mr.. Rusk said he did not intend to discuss these
resolutions, but had simply arose to say that he re-
gretted that the senator from Kentucky rather un-
tremendously should take one half of the state he
represented, and give it as peace offering to the
spirit of fencroachment upon the constitutional rights
Of the south. When the question came up, he
would undertake to prove that the Rio Grande was
the true hounary of Texas; and that this congress
had no power without the consent of Texas to d.
vide her, or to alter her limits.
Mr. Foote said there was something in the reso-
luton which declared it inexpedient to abolish slav
cry in the district of Columbia, that was not alto
gether suitable to his views. That resolution
might be so construed as to admit the power of
congress to do So He did not believe congress
had such power. He did not approve of the
resolution about Texas; there was bill now before
the senate to divide that state by the creation of
new one. While he admired the protest entered
by the senator from Texas he thought it but proper
that the resolutions should be crefully considered
before discussed He referred to the action Of con-
gress the resolutions of 1888, when it was there
held by the south that congress had no power to
abolish slavery in the District
Mr.. Clay replied to the two senators briefly. and
then Messrs Foote and Clay continued the debate
upon the nature and character of the resolutions of
1888.
Mr.. Mason said that he was not willing that anv
one should suppose that he, or the state he repre-
sented, shonld be considered as conceding to the
propositions submitted by the senator from Kentuc-
ky. He regretted that senator from slave state
should have introduced such propositions. There
could be no compromise where every concession
was to be made by one party He was glad the
senator differed from the administration as to the
subjects treated of in the late message He could
never vote for resolution that asserted that slav
cry did not at this time exist in the territories
He believed the senator was actuated by the no
blest motives in introducing his proposition; but
he was surprised that such proposition should
have been introduced by "a southern senator. As
to the resolution about fugitive slaves il was very
well: but where the guarantee that it would
be observed? The Constitution itself was disre-
garded on that subject. There were other propo-
sitions in the resolutions for which he could never
vote.
Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi, said he had different
impression of the action of congress in 1888, about
the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
from that entertained on the other side. Mr.. D.
then read from the journal, to show that resou-
ton declaring that the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia would be dangerous to allthe
slave states in the union The resolutions of the
senator from Kentucky departed from the doctrine
laid down twelve years ago. He was opposed to
several of the propositions contained in the resou
tlons He saw no compromise in them The con-
cessons were all on one side. He could vote for
no resolution which declared that slavery did not
exist in the territories That doctrine had been
held and proven bv the SOUTH and had been intro
duced in an amendment at the last session by the
other senator from Kentucky, (Mr. Underwood)
In conclusion he would say, that he would ex-
cept of compromise short of the Missouri line, to
be extended to the Pacific Ocean, with guarantee
that south of that line the institution of slavery
not to be inteifered with. Nothing short of this
would be taken compromise.
Mr. Clay explained that the resolution of 1888
declared that slavery ought not to be abolished
without the consent of the people of the District
and of the state of Maryland and without Just
compensation to the owners. It is also declared
that the intermeddling by other states to obtain
the abolition of slavery here without this consent
would be highly dangerous to the slave states
There was no inconsistency in his action then and
now. AS to the Senator's declaration that he would
not accept of any compromise unless there was a
positive provosion that slavery should exist in all
territory south of 80 deg. 80 min., he had but to
say few words He owed it to himself and the
country to declare, that there existed no human
power that could force him to vote for measure to
carry the institution of slavery into any territory
now free, whether that territory north south
of SO deg. 80 min. No earthly power could make
him do SO. Applause. We find fault with our
British ancestors for introducing slavery amongst
us, and he not disposed to bear like blame
for being instrumental in introducing it in Cafor-
MIA any other free territory 1t was his opinion
that slavery did not exist in any portion of the ter
ritory acquired from Mexico He thought his prop
osition better for the south than the Missouri
promise. He regretted the premature discussion
of the subject
Mr.. Davis of Mississippi replied, and said he nev-
er proposed TO institute slavery south of SO deg.
80 min. All he asked was, that south Of that line
the subject was not to be touched
Mr.. King regretted that any feelings should
have been shown in the debate. He was satisfied
that the senator from Kentucky had been actuated
by the best motives in offering his resolutions
There were several propositions contained in them
which he could never admit or recognize.
Mr. Clay replied to the senator.
Mr.. Rusk after audng to the subject of the
boundary of Texas, said he saw no good resulting
from the introduction of abstract resolutions He