The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-11


Mr. CHASE then proceeded as follows: II was not my
purpose TO take up the time OF the Senate upon this
iion TO print the resolutions OF the State OF Vermont
understand the general tenor of the feeling OF the Senate
tnere 10 disposition to acquesce In the motion to print
with very few dissenting voices am reoiced sir for
that the precedent in the OF Vermont ten years
ago. = now TO be reversed that the petitions and me-
MORALS, and resolutions OF States in this confedeacy
to be received and take the ordinary course of refer
ence, no matter what the contents Of those
riais, resolutions or petitions. | should be glad
could say that there appeared to be similar disposition
IN regard, not merely to the memorials OF sovereign
States, but the petitions OF the sovereign people But
understand, sir, that practice prevails hereand may
De permitted to say that 1t is in my opinion, practice
'more honored in the breach than in the observance
when petitions OF certain character sent here from
INDIVIDUALS to move the question OF reception, and 10
lay the motion oil reception upon The table trust that
that practice also viii be abandoned for accord en-
trey in the sentiment OF the senators from South Caro-
lima, when they say that is better far BETTER hepso-
pie OF this country that they shall understand the senti
mens OF the States and not merely OF the States but oil
the people that make the States which compose this con-
ssdeSSasy Let Be understood what The posiiionsoI all
and then we shall the best possible opportunity when
the petitions and memorials OF all the States dis
lacly and clearly understood. and when we have
an amlcabe arrangement OF the difficulties existing
But sir, may be allowed to say, the path to an ami
ea9e solution onn 81 difficulties does not through cm
elaon upon the one side or upon the other side And
let me suggest to my friend from the State OF Arkansas
n bs ns ue whether to b
crimina" upon heone side and the epithets "robber'
and assassin" upon the other Sir gain nothing in
this way. Let us define our positions with candor with
fairness. with cearness and with precision and then,
understanding each other, shall be able to determine
what course becomes us as senator's and what
It becomes the States as sOyereigntes, TO pursue
think it due, Mr.. President to myself and 10 the
Slate which in part represent here, to say that
menace no resolve tending towards dsunion no inma-
ton OF the possibility Of dsunion in any FORM will move
m ludg IN dua IN our.
selves and to the people whom represent to pursue
Everything Of that sort has lost its terror at least trust
has trust that hereafter is to be moved from
the course which, in his conscience and in his Judgment
is due to the State, and the people whom he repre-
sents, TO pursue trust that is to be moved from
that deliberate course by any threat by any resolve
from whatever quarter. trust that shall pursue the
path OF rscude with respect TO all the people OF all the
States, and OF every State in the whole Union Having
determined what that is trust that shall not
be deferred from pursuing it, BY any ntmaton Of any
kind, and OF this character particularly.
Mr. President We have had il ntimated in this debate
that the States OF the South have had
complain OF the course which has been pursued Why
Mr. President, what is there in past hisory-what is
there IN our present hisory..whch justfes that
y consdered-and then let me again press the inquiry
What is there in past in present history which
Justnes that complaint Have not the States Of the
South had their full proportion OF all the honors of this
conederacy Have they not had their full proportion
at least in all the power in this confederacyS DO they
not, al this moment. in this hall, and in the other half
exercise an ihe powell say the least OF il, which to
Who presides, sir in the other halll How have your
committees been constituted herel Under what inlu.
e sYe h.y lo @ s SC
constituted, Mr. President, to meet the claims, and
the EXTREMIST cams Of the gentlemen who represent the
southern States OF this Unionl Has not been held here
10 be disqualification for a chairman of committee OF
the Senate, even in distinguished senator from slave
State, 10 maintain what in his Judgment is due to the
people OF the whole confederacy in reference to this
subject Has not been made disq
demn the sentiments OF the South in reference 10 this
subject of slavery
For my own part, Mr. President, may be permitted to
say, that 10 political sentiment accord fully with that
party which is known the free democracy the United
Sates-a party which is sometimes denomin ated section
al but which trust will not remain forever sectional
and which had, during the last canvass, IL may be per-
miited 70 alude to IL not merely friends in the slave
holding States, but friends in most OF the slavehodng
States also will add further that il is known TO be my
position; that stand ready and willing 10 cooperate
with that party whenever takes such ground upon the
subject Of slavery as accords with the principles OF the
Well sir, now let US compare positions with reference
to this very question which is exciting debate and atien
on here. Do understand the senators from the South
saying that they prepared to act with the democra
cy OF this country, II democracy takes ground In favor OF
ireedom' Do they not make i test Of their adherence
party, that the parties shall reflect what in their
judgment their legitimate caimsl Then, sir, is IL not
legitimate that senator, with precisely the opinion
in favor OF freedom that they held in favor OF slavery,
should require OF the party which is to command his
operation, that il should take ground which, in his
Judgment he could reconcile 10 his own conscience I
IL this be so, Mr., President, in what position do we
stand here' A test may be made upon one side, and
Is ground OF exclusion from party confidence and
party respect But tests shall not be made upon the other
side II made in favor Of freedom shall oe good ground
for exclusion from party refer TO this matter Tor the
purpose OF showing that there nothing be complained
Of far this house. far the other house, lar
the present arrangement is concerned What can be
complained OF in the future Why, il Is apprehended
that the Congress OF the United States may adopt the
principles OF the ordinance OF 'S7, concured in by unan
on in their application TO territory which slave ter
ory the territory northwest OF the Ohio claimed
TO be-teriory which is now Tree territory That is
of the grounds OF apprehension Another ground o ap-
prehenson s that the Congress OF the United States may
determine in their Judgment that i spoper to apply the
principles OF law TO the question OF slavery the District
Of Columbia Is apprehended that the influence and
side OF freedom. Well. sir, what II il should be what
i should be Is il not the precise object aimed at by
the trainers o the constitutional Is not the precise OBJ
ect aimed al by those who concurred in establishing
the ordinance OF 81!
But are told that IL this crisis arises must be met
The senator from South Carolina tells that he trusts
that ia the event that Congress sha adopt any measures
Well, sir, must say that concur in that hope; and
how-how, Mr. President, ought that crisis TO be met
Ought TO be met in spirit OF dsunon ought u not
to be IN the spnt which governed the deliberations OF
those who framed the constituon-the spirit of those
who framed the ordinance OF 's7that, sir, which was
then universal in this countryside spirit which animated
the breast OF every gentleman who had seat in the
Congress OF the confederation at that timei
Mr. President, trust for oneand this s all have 10
say upon this subjecbat, whenever this crisis shall
come, will be met in the spirit OF the fathers of the
republic, and II he ~ met, rely upon it, there will be