The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. mILLsON,

| appropriate Standing commitiees; delivered IN hi
Houssof Representatives, February 81 and 90, 1880.
| Mr.. MILLSON said endeavored, Mr.. Chairman L
get the oor Immediately upon the close OF the remarks
submitted by OF the representatives from Pennsyva
MIA, Mr. STEyEss1 wished TO give instant expression
TO the irritation occasioned by the gross and offensive al
iusions to The State from which come That irritation
however, was but momenary, and has since subsided
into quiet feeling Of loathing and indgnaona feel
ing more fitting the accusation and the In speak
1g o. the slave population o my State and o. ths EN-
TO declare that Virginia was now so degraded, that
but will not cannot repeat the gross language uttered
by him could not do without violating the decorum
Of this body-without ouaging those propriees which
should, at all times, be respected and observedwthou
shocking the deicacy OF that portion Of our auditors who
attend our deliberations in the CONFIDENCE that they will
hear nothing 10 offend their modesty or wound their SEN
sibliy. Sir, do mol mean 10 defend Virginia against
such charges-such nputailons as these: she would
disdan them Ii would, indeed, be kind OF
degradation she, by the humblest Of her rep
resenatves acknowledge that such vindicaiion could
be necessary. The member from Pennsylvania has no
power, and hardly have the expectation 10 do her
Jury Does he talk OF degradatioa2 Does he call de.
graded the native land OF Henry Of Wyhe Of Pendleton,
Mason, Marsha Jefferson, the Lees the Raadophs, and
OF that greater than all whose wisdom and whose
valo secured the member from Pennsylvania the very
privilege he has abused OF addressing the representatives
OF tree and happy people, Look there look there
[pointug to uli-length portrait OF Washngton1 Lei
that mai site figure awe him into confusion and shame
leave him to The condemnation of that constituency,
whose opinions and feelings am he has insrepre-
Il
whose OF decency and justice know he has out
ragged; and what will be tar greater punishment than
all, leave him to the blghung applause OF his sympa-
thizers and abettors.
Sir desire now to notice. very briefly some of the
remarks which fell from the gentleman from OHIO, Mr.
CAaPBELLl That gentleman, with what object do not
know, was pleased to instruct the House upon some
points OF our early history. by reading, among other
things account OF public meetings held in Virginia
before the revolution, at which resolutions adopted
against the importation OF slaves; that TO say, resolu
4 hesp inns
read by the gentleman with air OF triumph, and
he spoke OF them as if he supposed that the sentiments
OF the present people OF Virginia upon this subject were
sadly different from those entertained by their ancestors
Did he design to make the impression that the African
slave trade would be favored approved by the people
of Virginia al this time, Or lar he knows, has
heard by single person among themi II he did,
tell him he spoke without warrant; and tell him fur
ther that has displayed more zeal and enthusiasm
in his efforts suppress this traffic, still carried by
northern men, than distinguished citizen Of Virginia,
Mr.. Wise, while representing the United States minis
ter at the court of Brazil.
The gentleman, too, spoke with great compacency Of
the superior enlightenment OF the free States Of the North
and West and took 10 make especial auson, in no
very complimentary terms, TO Virginia and North Caro-
lima. Would the gentleman be willing TO look to the
public councils OF the country for the OF this relative
intelligence' The gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.
MANN may perhaps be excusabe in indugng he has
done, such reflections as these. Ii | correctly in
formed his habits, he has been so actively employed
in heaping up stores OF knowledge for himself that he
has had little leisure for observing tie acquisitions OF
others. do not know that this is applicable TO
the gentleman from Ohio
But pass to other matters | have felt much
prise. MIR Chairman that since the reception OF The Pres
idens messages relating California the friends oil the
administration ON this floor have not perceived an exist
ing necessity for defence OF the and opinions
o the Executive. The honorable gentleman from Mas
sachusets, Mr.. WMTHRopl who has just taken his
seat, has done little than merely allude Them
Can il be that they suppose apology be necessary
they restrained by prudential considerations from
attempting vndcaton not likely to be successful IL
m ghi nj n
the clause in the constitution which relates to the power
OF Congress to dispose OF and make all needful rules
ey belonging 10 he United States Yes, the territory
or other property belonging 10 the United States. II II
was accdena il was, in the present state OF the coun.
should have declared in STATE paper ,ha, Congress has
power make all needfu rules and regulations respect
ing the 7ernores OF the United Stateshat this hum.
should be changed TO 7srr,to,es-honored with the in.
peria plural, and dignhed with capital nitial-that
this dependent territory classed with the other property
oef9ng,ng 20 tne unnfa Sases shonia oe converted
ton had reference TO those political communities which
have since been known by the designation Of Territories
Ii was still unfortunate that the President should
encourage opinion OF the power Of Congress TO pro-
hibn slavery IN Califonia-an opinion which would be
plausible, II his own language were really that OF the
constiiutonby saying that "as under the constitution
Congress has power make all nsedul rules and regu
laons respecting the Territories OF the United States
every acquisition OF territory has led 10 discussions
the question: whether the system OF involuntary ser
viude which prevails in many OF the States should
should be prohibited in that Terrtory"-as II he sup
posed that these discussions all natural and proper
and relating to subjects within the legitimate control OF
Congress- "as il has power TO make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the Territories OF the United
States"
[tiere the hour being late, Mr. MILLsos gave way 10
molon that the committee rise. On Tuesday, the goth
oil February he RESUMED, and concluded his speech as
lollows:l
Mr. CHAIRMAN; When | yielded, on Thursday, to a
motion that the committee rise was proceeding TO com
ment upon the Presidents misfecta OF that clause of the
constitution which relates to the power OF Congress TO
make all needu rules and regulations respecting the
territory other property belonging 10 the Uniied States
and upon his substitution OF other language, which seemed
10 imply his own belief thai Congress possess the power
to egslae Tor the prohibition oil slavery in the Terrific
ries.
But, sir. II the "unkindest cut OF ALL that the
President should have given the weight oil his official
station 10 doctrine that is utterly destructive OF the
hopes and subversve OF the rights OF the Souh-tne
doctrine that Merean taws sail govern ps iaha6aaats Of
California His language Is, that 'the people OF this
Territory still ENJOY the benefit and protection OF their
municipal laws, originally derived from Mexico" He
does mol show in what important sense this statement
IN erroneousin what unimporant sense II IL true
but vague, brosd unqualified, language Is used, from
which the inference is that, in the opinion Of the Pres
dent the institution OF slavery forbidden by the Mexican
laws, cannot without change OF those laws, be legal
ized in California.
But sir all these expressions Of erroneous and mis-.
nihcance when compared with the startling ACTS which
the President has encouraged, absied, and participated
in short time ago, he transmitted To this House
writing which he was pleased 10 call ''ihe constitution
of the State OF California" lie informed us il had been
received from Gen Riley. bat he did not tell whether