The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-05-15

own view with regard to the proper manoer
OF arranging this difficulty is, aud has ell O.
long been. that we should sdopi and carry 10
the Picifc ocean The Missouri conpro,piss
line. have thought il IN itself ~sss iuss
and reasonable settlement t. ccmmeld.d to ",
besides, because II Is an old mcasure-s meas.
ure, heretofore adopted with proc;i ;al 1esulCD
OF peace and quiet to the countIy. ard huyisk
therefore % much Of that kind Of reverence
which belongs TO old things a. can ~eIi h
found 10 nution Of 30 rscen. origin ss outs. \
Isavs preferred Il alec upop smother grouf1
! believe that our county Is too Isspe.
was utterly opposed TO Tho exfension Of cur
domains which resulted from tho ratification
OF the treaty with aleaico; d my bes, 10
gct the treaty so amended Us TO exclude all
acquisition Ct territory; l voted ageinst its
rai'hcsiop, beceuse Of the acqu,s,tioo, and
Tor no other reason. Aud, Mf. Pfes,deut, be
iissIog that cur country 10 too laree-bel,ev.
ing that our danger les in an indefinite exlen.
sion oi our lImits-a premature expansion of
our population, weakening Of all the cen.
IRA! ParIs without adding real strength TO The
circumference, should deligh, n seeing II at
Missouri cooPfomise line spplied, because I
believe It would close The account Of etGulsi.
ton of territory, on the psr Of our govern
/ meni, forever. II the character of territory,
which NIGH, be acquired north or sou,b Of
any given line, were liked 90 40 to fall IN With
the views or interest Of either one or the other
portion Of the Union, Q constitutional ,nsi ri.
'y, IN my Judgment, could never be procured
~ this body for the acquisition of any tern.
tory, North, South, East, or West. Aud, sir,
! menlion j, because intend to state frankly
my own views. | do no, suppose i, within the
reach Of possibility that any such measure
can be adopted. bave no u,imatum TO pro.
pose upon this sui jet. go for The adjust.
ment o this question, and for moderating and
letting down the excitement upon each and
every topic connected ~iih II, 50 that, if pos.
sbe moderate men, these who ore not ex.
ttema. these who do not insist Upon pressing
their own notions in their Ultimate ex,en, to
actual adoption, may meet together upon 9
common ground. Nov. it seems to me that.
ahe' what has beeu said upon this subject by
50 mauy abe and distinguished gentle mea up
on 'h', d 'or, and par,'cuisrly after tho ohser.
senator Gom Massachusetts. Iwr. Webster,
We ought to be able TO unite upon a propos,.
ton TO drop the Wllno, Pfo,,so a,cce, her.
Tho honorable Senator from Michigan Nr.
Css., 10 clearly 10 issor Of having no Provi.
so (; but he meets the Psoviso upon he ground
oil want oi constitutional power TO apply il;
and az others uho may desire TO soc il applied,
do mol enter into and adopt his particular
view upon lhe sui lsc; Of course the opinions
and iud. .nent which he gives do no: have up.
On hi, question The weight 10 shch his high
and emlnent character 50 justly entities hiW.
But from the Senator from Massachusetts We
have reason tor dropping this odlous Pfovi.
so, which may be received bnd acted on by
every man, whatever his views OF the ques.
lion OF power may be, WITHOUT violating, IN The
slightes, degree. the notion. Of legal right OF
appearing to surrender constitutional aU'hori.
iy. Nov, sir. am one Of tht 5, Who believe
IN the Constitutional power. have had &c.
casiou TO say, aud have endesvored so lar rs
| was abe, TO prove Al on The fl ,or tf the Sen.
ate. have SAID II at home, have sad II
everywhere; have SAID II ut large mass
meel,ngs and | choose to sly II agalp, b-.
cause | have no concealinent upon thus sub.
j-ci, and believe ,ha, what sin at can be
best accomplished by frank avosai Of tie
truth, go far as | understand Il. ! hare said,
and say it again, that Congress has he con I
sututlonal power to apply the Wilinot Ptovt
so 20 this ,erriory, aud all The territories that
belong to the United States. believe that
Congress has eut,Ie power and jurisdiction
over the territories; that we are the supreme
lawgiver over them NAV dispose o their IN.
s,,tutions rs we thiak right, aud let IN AID
shut out list whom aud just what We please.
But, Mr President, when the power to adopt
a measure is bdai,,ed, permit me TO ssy ,ha,
very li,ie 10 done towards ascefta,nIng that
It IS proper that the power should be exercl.
sed. An abuse even OF an admitted power Is
col only jus. ground Of compliant, but, under
circumstances. it may be jis! as fair and rea-
sonsbe q ground OF resistance rs It the pow
er exercised were usurp,d. II our govern
men, were a simple despollsm, It oil the pow.
ers of all its branches we're cen'ertd IN the
hands ol one single ruler, II could not ba satd
90 any occasion that he usurp,d power but.
if hc abused the powers thus conhded 10 hIm
TO purposes Of oppression and mjuslice-if his
udmin,sltat,on rendered property insecure and
life lntolerab able-bey ond all doubt, there would
be the .uMe right oi reslstence us il tho pow.
er thus unjuslly and oppIesslvely used had
been usurped. instead Of having been confer
red. The one is case Of urjns, seizare Of
power the other Is a case oil wan,on dlsre
rard and violation of the confidence upon
which the power was gwen. One 10 violence;
the other is fraud. Oae is open rapine; the
o,he 70 breach Of trust.
Now, cir, i, has been said, and well said
truly and philosophically said-,ha' the as.
settlon Of extreme ,igh. is always odous.
In political matters such an assertion Of ex.
ueme right, such resolution to do whatever
We NAV lawfully do, to the u'most extent Of