Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-27

opinions nave equally and
probably greater Influence entertain the opposite opinion.
The practical result of this diversity Of opinion is that
Southern men, with their particular species Of properly
as eecusy excluded from this territory if the Mexican
laws existing and in force from the doubt which
hangs the subject and the unwngness Of persons pisne
with this species of property into these Territories to subject
themselves to litigation by which they might be divested
OF their property. The Senator from Mississippi Twill
ecolect "the glorious uncertainty of the profession
which he and are members The "gorious uncertainty
OF the law has passed into bywo not because there is
really any uncertainty in the law but because there is
finite variety the interpretations of the law The uncertainty
which hangs this subject say, operates eectuay
against the rights OF holding this species OF property
emgatng to these Territories asf the Mexican laws
decided to be valid, in force The amendment of the
Senator from Mississippi is in fact declaraory act
part OF Congress- for the purpose Of removing these doubts
and difficulties and enabling persons holding this species of
property to exercise their rights without having suspended
over them the dread Of litigation It is in that siew although
the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. FooTE) and myself agree
perfectly TO the principle of the operation operation
Of the Mexican laws, that support this amendments and
submit to him that it removes all the ditcuty-dficuty
not BY the existence force of the Mexican laws
bu by the doubts ecaatory act the part OF Congress
removes that difficulty 1t does intervene by any possible
legislation in regard the subject Of slavery the
right OF coniueriHg country to modify, repeal declare
null the laws of conquered country and in that would
hope that the amendment Of the from Mississippi will
hnd acceptance with the Senate And urge it more espe-
cay from the consideration that this is bill of comprom se
was proposed in that spirit, is advocated in that spirit.
1
have had doubs in regard the provisions of this BILL they
will not refuse decaatory act, which will relieve this
question from the doubt which overhangs it, and which as
eectualy denies these Territories if there were
positive inhibition to enter them with slave property If gen
uemens object really be compromise, if they
daion, il is their purpose aay the excitement which
existed in this country, ask that they will demonstrate by
acqulescng III proposition which will be purely declaratory
to remove the difficulties which prevent portion of the
population of the Union from emgrang into the Territories
Mr. FOOTE feel the appeal Of lbs Senator from Geor
ga, and sorry have resist it but do it his
high authority When took my in this body, had
examined this great question particularly, and when
heard the first speech Of the honorable Senator from Georgia
in explanation of it, the argument contained in which has
been since repeated two three times with, possible
creased cogency every time Of such repeton carried the
cleares conviction to mind that the laws of Mexico
gard to slavery force in these Territories and
have not been since the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdago The
honorable Senator from South Carolina longer here (Mr
CALHOUN made, il any thng more eogent argument
even than the Senator from Georga-but that mpossi
bic for the argument of the latter complete irresistible,
and oushtto have carried conviction the mind every
eudiced man III the couniry though know that very dis
ingushed gentlemen still entertain different opinion from
that expressed by him. Now, beg leave tell the Sena-
tor that defer to his authority than he himself seems to
do undertake him that he is the present time
entertaining apprehensons wholly unreasonable and
founded his former teachings sound 1t is
that his authority treated with such contempt he
to imagine at the South; is that the teachings of
Mr. Calhoun at the present time treated with universal
contempt among Southern people is that the
opinions of all the distinguished gentlemen from the South
ern States who have different times expressed themselves
this subject in unison with the gentleman Georgia.
now held in such contempt the South that STAKEHOLDER
would dare to with his slaves these Territories
from dread entertained by him that the Mexican laws
abolishng slavery are still in force. The cogent and concu
sive argument of the distinguished Senator and others could
be read the South without convincing every reasonable
man that the Mexican laws alluded have present exist
ence in the Territories. Such the opnioh which have
arrived, and on that opinion feel bound member
:, hldC
own Judgment and in Difference 10 the opinions Of Others
unless upon aquestion Of great viay, and where pub
lie detrment could arise. .,... >.., ...>
Sir, this amendment intended either to have some effect
or it is not intended to have any effect Is it, ask, intend
ed to have any effect so, what is that effect The gen.
eman confesses that the object is to give additional protection
to certain rights of property in slaves in the Territories the
Union, and above that which the constitution
Affords Well, m is intended (and that is the acknow
edgment) ask would this be intervening, by
Of Congress- for the purpose Of supeaddng the protection
afforded by the constitution those rights Of property
in slaves at the present time possessed by Southern men
Certainly it would be- Can gentlemen undertake TO say &
that they rely the constitution alone, and yet by the
votes prove that they do not rely the constitution at ALL
but trust to act of Congress Can they undertake to
to that they do not doubt in the least degree themselves
that the Mexican laws referred null and void and yet
claim for to unite with them in the passage OF act OF
Congress- the object of which is the repeal of laws which,
according to their acknowledgements already ex-
tnct This amendment is vain and useless thing, IN my
Judgment and therefore cannot vote for it though should
be pleased hamonize with colleague, ana should cnee
fully with him. did not appehend that the adoption of
the amendment would put the bill itself in danger of defeat
But really do believe that the adoption of this amendment,
utterly useless conceive it to be- would defeat the bill,
because is just such amendment may, if adopted,
Northern gentlemen to vote against the whole
from the dread of msconstrucon the hands Of their
constituents cannot, therefore, for the amendment,
believing it thus calculated to defeat the adoption
OF which deem essential TO the security, happiness and con-
cord of the nation.
Mr.. BERRIEN- The Senator from Mississippi has,
Willingly, furnished with perhaps very strong argument in
support of this amendment, for hee gentlemen in this
chamber who disposed so for this BILL the Senator has
pointed out mode of doing -hat is, by defeating this
amendment Those gentlemen who rely the opinion
pressed by the Senaor from Mississippi that the adoption of
this amendment w the defeat of this bi acting
the principle which has regulated his in deciding upon
each amendment by the effect which it may have the fate
Of the BILL will Of course for the amendment look
then to all the opponents Of the bill for that support which
is excluded by the invocation of the Senator.
Mr. FOOTE. Ihope the Senator does not intend to sug
gest what his words would imply that invoking oppo
siton to the bill.
Mr.. BERRlEN. If the phrase invoke is unpleasant to
the Senator cheeruy recall it. meant say that was
the best Of his argument, and did it for the purpose Of
showing the correctness my own views that amendments
ought be tested by their merits and by their effects
on the BILL am very much complmensed by the opinion
which the Senator has expressed Of the argument delivered
10y myself in suppo Of the proposition that the Mexican
laws not in force but have time supposed that that
argument the arguments delivered by other Senator'S
looked upon with oeRemp by any portion of the people Of
the United States. know that there many who dissent
from them, but think those arguments sways treated