The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-09

Resolued That as people in the Territories have
the same inherent rights Of elfgoyernment as the
people in the States that it, in the exercise of such
inherent right, the people in the newly acquired
territories, by the annexation Of Texas and the ac-
QUESTION of California and New Mexico south OF
the parallel of 800 80 Of north latitude, extending
10 the Pacific ocean, shall establish negro slavery
or prohibit it, such establishment or prohibition in
the formation of these State governments shall be
deemed objection TO their admission as State or
States Of tAjs Union, in accordance with the Con
Mr.. FOOTE moved, and the motion was adopted,
that the Hobbies be opened for the accommodation
Of the ladies'
Mr.. HOUSTON said that the resolution submit
ted by HIM was induced by desire to present some
fair and equitable ground for an union of the con
iicting opinions and passions of the people in the
different sections of the country He believed in
the language Of the resolution, that Congress had
no power TO legisate on the subject of negro sa-
very in the States Territories Of the United States
He believed, also, that the people ofhose Territories
should be suffered TO say for themselves whether
they desired slavery or its exclusion This the
same doctrine contained in the resolution of the
Senator from South Carona-now unfortunately
prevented from attending the Senate by illness
presented TO the Senate in February, lS47 This
was the let-alone policy. II was the same policy
adopted In the resolutions admitting Texas into the
Union
Congress had no power to legislate on the subject
Of slavery, and he believed that the alarming dan
gers now threatening the country could only be
compromised and settled in one way. That way
was, by the withholding all measures inter-
fering with the institutions Of the SOUTH and with
the equal rights of the people Of the South and by
letting the people inhabtng the Territories settle
this subject for themselves. When the people of
the Territories, in their conventions should settle
this subject Tor themselves and were admitted into
the Unon then the whole of the difficulty is at an
end and cause OF danger and apprehension is at
an end.
The South asked no concession from the North
pnr ayna he Nnrth
rifcc. Would it be any sacrifice for them to sus-
pend the unrghteous crusade now waged on the
South! Would il be any sacrifice for the North to
disregard the agitation of the few fanatics there
1t was not the North, not the people of the North
not the descendants of the glorious sires who had
struggled TO secure the liberties and found this
Union, who were engaged in this warfare. II was
waged by the bastards and the traitors to their
fathers principles.
He was opposed to the system pursued of manu-
featuring public sentiment here, and sending it
forth to all sections of the Union, come back as
the voice of the people. 1t was done for the pur-
pose OF increasing the agitation, and to expedite
the race for Fictitious popularity. He was opposed
to the wholesale denunciatons Of the North by per-
sons coming from the South. Let gentlemen speak
of the fanatics of the North, but do not denounce
the people of the North. BY their indiscriminate
attacks they fill with oil the lamps of the fanatics
which, were it not for southern agitation would go
out from neglect. By this course they kept alive
the agitation at the North, and all those who might
be disposed to succor and defend the South in the
maintenance of its constitutional rights.
To say that Congress had the sole power of legis-
atng for the Territories denial of one of the
principal features of our form Of government-that
of an inherent right in the people to govern them
selves. The article of the Constitution conferring
power to make all needful rules and regulations
over the territories and other property was the
power to regulate the land which was the property
of the Government. He was rejoiced to hear the
Senator from kentucky declare his willingness to
q the farthest N he pfepap Of tba
article of the Constitution relative TO fupitiye
slaves. The influence Of that Senator would go
far, he thought, to induce the people of the free
States to their unjust and unconstitutional
Legislation this subject
He was surprised to hear the Senator from Ala
bama, (Mr CLEMENs,) in abiding TO the conduct OF
the North, declare he spoke the sentiments of the
whole South when he made his remarks on the con-
duct of the people of the North.
Mr.. CLEMENS said that in his speech, which
was printed, the words imputed" speak for the
whole South"-were not TO be found.
Mr.. HOUSTON said that the remark had struck
his ear when made, and he had made memoran-
DUN of the words. The memorandum was not be
fore him then, but he was sure other Senators had
the same recollection.
Mr.. CLEMENS said that when the Senator had
the printed speech before him he ought to RELY on
that, and not on his memory.
Mr.. HOUSTON said he would pass the subject
by, but his recollection distinct The Senator
however, had made another remark which he was
| already dissolved. The Union is not only not dis.
solved, but he (Mr. H. dcficd the power of any
| man In the country TO sever the bonds which still
| bound the States together. Nor would the Union
be dissolved as easily as it was supposed. 1t is MOI
| the politicians nor the newspapers that have only
TO be operated on to do it. The farmers, the solid
substantial husbandry, to be first aroused
They arc The men who will say whether all that il
glorious and great shall be destroyed forever.
Before you dissolve this Union, you must tell the
honest, upright husbandry that il is to be done thai
for a mere question Of comparative unimportance
there Is TO be war; not OF races not Of religions but
Of brothers, and a war the most sanguinary ever
known to the world. You must tell him of the war
| Of Hungary and AUSTRIA war between people OF
one country-and depict the scenes of violence
brutality, and carnage; where man fought against
his brother; where boys of nine years were taken
under consumption and forced to bear arms; where
| women and children were driven like cattle TO the
prison and guarded by bayonets; where mothers
were taken from their babes; where infants were
| pinioned to the doorways by bayonets and spikes
all such scenes these arc 70 follow disunion and
before that disunion you must ask the people, are
they willing that this should come? In the per.
spectivc OF disunon, all this stands conspcuously
| forth
| II disunion is to come, where will Penns ylyania
stand Where will the gallant West be found
What will the North do
lie invoked the North as well as the South TO the
| exercise Of patcrnal feeling-to adopt, as their
guide, that admirable lesson sIf thou hast n eff
1
hast aught against thy brother, lay thy gift at the
foot OF the altar, and go and be reconciled with
| thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift"
| MIR. ii. then explained his vote upon the Oregon
bill and upon the bills for the admission Of Wis.
consin and Iowa. They were all north Of $50 80
and nc had not objected to the exclusion of slavery
| there.
| He had, however, been denounced az a traitor
| to the South. He was always in favor Of the line
Of 360 3V and, standing astrdc Of that line, would
battle for it. He had refused TO sign the southern
address, because il calculated To produce sec
tional feeling; and for that refusal he had beer
denounced by all the newspapers Of the South
by all the little dogs-Tray, Blanche, and sweet.
| heart and all.
The South had proposed, if certain measures
were adopted, TO hold southern convention. To
this he was opposed The thing, however, was not
new. In 1885 South Carolina had proposed IL; but
this occasion the gallant little State Of Missis
| sippi had taken the lead.
Mr. FOOTE explained, that the Senator from
| Texas could not mean that Mississippi was wrong
| in what she had done.
| Mr.. BUTLER inquired whether the Senator
meant to say that there any state Of things ex
isting in South Carolina which prevented her NOV.
| ing in this natter
Mr.. HOUSTON said that South Carolina hac