The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-03
ing power to which the Athenians had dedicated no

| Why, sir, the honorable gentleman might as
| well have imputed TO the pure Paganism Of the
| Greeks the Perpetuity OF that stst+, and have as
cribed the honor to Jupiter Olympus who with
his court, occupied the summit Of the neighhoring
mountain, or have given credit TO the goddess
who gave her name to the city and the State. Com
merce, the arts, and philosophy, preserved Athens;
but slavery-white slavery--not SO injurious to
manners black slavery, but far more deleterious
to morals-whte slavery, sir, that placed the blan
dishments OF beauty against the weak barriers OF
philosophy-undermned that virtue without which
a State cannot endure II the consequence Of
that institution that the home virtues persisted in
Athens and Pc cles, the glory of the Slate sacri-
feed the duties and comforts Of the domestic hearth
to the meretrcious charms that weakened the vir-
tue Of the purest philo .opher, and destroyed the
peace of the loftiest orator.
Sir, Athens has persisted; her glories departed;
her temples crumbed to run her affairs lost her
means Of commerce wasted; her Pyreus e choked
with her unthroned gods and all that constituted
her beauty and her Boast has departed nothing il
| the human frame, which seems for time to give
tone to the systern, though it finally eats il away,
| and remains itself alone, solitary monument Of
| its own power TO destroy.
Sir, il IL dangerous to appeal to antiquity to sus.
tain modern errors; and my honorable friend,
when he turned to Athens for support. was like the
| trembling and falling Saul, summoning the spirit
| of the departed Samuel. The awful spparition de-
nouces the present full of wrong, and points it
to futurity full of consequent evils.
The honorable gentleman from Mississippi, (Mr.
j
eral Taylor had, in the last Presidential canvass,
been advocated at the South friend of slavery,
| and at the North az its decided opponent; and my
| honorable friend from Ohio, (Mr. DissEy,l re-
peated the same charge, with some additional en-
phasis and circumstance. These gentlemen may
have had in mind "the life of General Cass," with
the memorable shifting pages, which worked praise
for him the South as a friend to southern nstitu
tons, and at the North presented him lend Of
freedom. Sir, had a considerable share in the last
canvass, and heard nothing Of the kind in Penn
| sylvana--no votes asked for upon the statement
that General Taylor was an anti-slavery man
| General Taylor voted for by the WMgs az q
| sound Wing. He was voted for by many opponents
| of slavery, with knowledge that he was a slave
holder, but with belief that in all questions of
tonal policy and constitutional right, he would SUBJ
NIT TO the votes of majority. He voted for by
many "Frienos," witha full knowledge that he was
a warrior in commando general--but with full
knowledge that he was a lover OF peace, and per-
haps with the consciousness that whoever might be
elected, the successful man would be captain
general and commander in chief. This last class
of persons do not much follow the suggestions of
| party men party presses. They have learned to
/ do or to forbeGr-
| What conscience dictates to be done.
| Or warns them not to do.
Among the evils involved in the discussion in which
this committee now il engaged, may be noted some
| remarkable distractions, of which will men,
ton II is asserted in the other end of the Capitol
and argued here that the clause of the Constitution
which gives to Congress the power of admitting
terms, allow of none bot Sfatss to be admitted, or
perhaps organized Territories. This il another Of
those curiosities that, by proving too much, prove
nothing. Why, sir, the order TO enlist soldiers for
| the army would, with such q strict construction,
allow but soldiers TO be enlisted; OF officers;
| 30 of members of Congress-we should always be
here, until our body became exhausted. Nay, sir,
/ what do we do with the injunction man ssto take
| to himself wife !" You remember the anecdote
of the youngster of your own portion of the Union,
who received monition from his father that it was
time to be steady, make some money. and take
| wife, "Why, sir said he, al like the money
making, but whose wife shall take" He was a
strict constructionst sir; the girls of the South,
a. my honorable friend Mr.. STAsLy) calls the la
dies of North Carolina, would fare badly the girls
of the North, sir, not being such Close construc-
tonists, might do better. Sir, you create monop-
oily. and widows would be at a premium.
! I am aware, sir, that all this is no argument;
but some distractions, like rome men
Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne
Are touched and moved by ridicue alone.
The honorable gentleman from MARYLAND (Mr
McLAsE) took occasion, in his zeal for the party to
say that the which lies the foundation of
| all the trouble which IneetinR-viz .
the admission OF Texas-was Democratic. and
not a southern, movement; and suppose, if we ex-
anime the proceedings Of Congress on that qu~s-
ton, shall find the names Of northern Demo
Gratis recorded in its favor. The gentleman allu-
ded 10 the Baltimore convention for proof; but that
convention only shows that the willy South con-
trived TO defeat two northern candidates, and NOM
mate a southern man. 1.-The South could not have
tnumphed," il Is said, "because Mr. Calhoun had
no part in the exertion." Ass, sir, recent events
show that that distinguished statesman is no longer
the South. He has, indeed, long since, appre-
hend ceased 10 have aspirs Tor the Presidency;
he has learned that the distinction which IL agree
able him is likely 10 be attained by promi-
nent opposition than by quiet, temporary Office.
Like Arius. he prefers the rank. the influence, and
the lasting fame OF heresiarch, 10 the quiet and
temporary honors OF the tiari
Mr. Chairman. there was not a chestnut in the
Texan fire that the South did put into the roast
| The hand Of the North was undoubtedly employed
| 10 bring the treasures out.
Mr.. Chairman, gentlemen may treat the ques-
ton before this House they please but the fact
that il 10 before the House, and before the Senate
and before the naion-nay, sir, that IL IL before all
other business, and delays all other busines.-is
sufficient proof Of its overshsdowing importance.
IL is the Question OF the session and believ, that
its importance BIS served TO invest its solution in
mystery. Few, sir, are willing to conceive that
question, involving the interests OF such ter
ritory-the peace, and perhaps the physical integ-
rity, Of the nation-can be settled by a reference
10 a simple principle, which lies at the foundation
of our national Goyernment-at the foundation Of
every State government In the Union--I mean sir.
the inslensbie, the ndspusble right Of the States
20 make their own municipal laws. The rule
which was the basis Of the Declaration Of Iudcpend
ence, and whch is the soul Of the National Consti-
tuition has only TO be sppcaled TO, and IL setes the
vexed question upJn the grounds which all admit,
and which has been tiumphantly cited by each
olNlsfon OF tnc Onons III term DIVISION II adj
missibie in regard TO nation. Let Us see. air
how this is to apply 10 the question before the com
mittee. The war, or rather the peace, with Mexico
secured to thsse United States the possession of
vast territory, which brought with il the laws of
the sovereignty for which Il had been received
Laws which must, by the customs Of nations and
the decisions Of the United States Court, continue
TO be operative until new laws and ordinances shall
be extended over them.
Mr.. Chairman, the people OF the United States
who Hooked 10 California with the first intimation
OF the discovery Of gold. were not men 10 approve
OF the laws Of Mexico and indeed there were very
few TO make known those laws there, and fewer 20
enforce them. Yet these people, emigrants from
the various States, were imbueJ with reverence
tor laws, and had full knowledge Of the propriety
Of some machinery Of government, by which laws
could be enacted, at least respectfully admins
tered. AZ in the newly settled portion OF California
the Mexican laws were little known, they sought 20
take measures secure for themselves the proper
operation Of the laws OF the United States Hut
while they delbcrsted, the Congress of the Union
discussed, debated, hesitsted, and then failed 10
give them what they needed, and left them TO ask