Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-02-15
SPEECH OF MIR. PHELPS,
OF VERMONT,
ON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY, sc.
In THE U. S. SENATE, JANUARY %. 1850.

IN THE u. ). SENATE, JANUARY % 1850.
The Senate having resumed the consideration
OF the motion to print the resolutions Of the
General Assembly OF the State Of Vermont on
the Subject OF Slavery, which were some time
since presented by Mr.. UPHAM-
Mr.. PHELPS. After the few remarks which |
made the other day. | entertained the hope that
should not find myself under the necessity at
present Of participating any further in the debate
on this question But, sir. after what has fall
len from the oher side of this chamber, I feel
it due to myself, and due to the State which
in part represent, to Offer some further remarks
in 'indication of my course and their course.
Sir, i have been called upon to face the
music" have no disposition, Mr. President,
to avoid the facing" Of any Emusic )" but
must be allowed to say, sir, that | think we have
some very bad music on this floor. | have
been called upon sir, to meet the issue. make
no issue here which | am not prepared t. meet.
and trust my con. .ttuents will make no issue
here which am not prepared to meet. Nay,
sir, am prepared to meet the approaching is
sue, pregnant as it is with consequences to this
country.
Sir, it has been said BY gentlemen on the
ether side of this chamber that this great issue
was forced upon them. 1t has not, however.
been forced upon them by the officiousness of
has forced itself upon US, an issue which has
come here unnvited and unwecome. It pre-
sent, itself as one Of that train of Consequences
which many OF rs forasaw and resisted. II
comes here as the consequunce-the necessary
consequence---of train of measures which !
for one have resisted from the outset 1t is one
OF the fruits of that spirit Of aggrandi1ement.
and conquest, and military acquisition, which
seems to have infected and infatuated every
republican Government. Sir, it is one of the
fruits Of our Mexican Waffle fruits Of that
policy which originated in the disposition to ex-
tend the area of our power, but which carries
in its train the element which may in the end
dissolve this republic. Sir, am not surprised
at this issue. 1t is what have long an'cipa-
ted it is an issue which we cannot avoid and
here, sir, lies its difficulty and lis dlngert is
question to be settled but hC,U settled no man
on this floor now can anticipate
Sir, in approaching this question, | am not
forgetful of the pledge which gave the Senate
on a former occasion, that | should approach it
coolly, deliberately, and with feelings Of concil-
ialon; that should approach it with an ardent
attachment to the cohs -ilution and to the Union.
Sir, shall not be diverted from this determina
ton, whatever may be the tenor or the temper
Of the debate. 1t is true that there are many
considerations, some of them Of great agntude,
pressing upon me not to depart in the least from
what consider a cool, and disp ssionate, and
rational consideration of this question.
Sir, we are all attached to the Union we al,
value the harmony and stability of that Union
and no topic which tends to endanger either,
should, in my judgment, be discussed here in
anger.
Sir, these professions may be- doubted. Ny
professions the other day seemed not to have
carried with them the most implicit confidence
on the part of some gentlemen. Sir, if proof
were wanting OF the sincerity OF my profess
ions on this subject, it is to be found in the his
tory of my public life. There are passages
Mr.. President in that life here which Senators
ought not to have forgotten. It is but few
months since, in the situation where | now
stand, advocated the measure alluded to by the
honorable Senator from South Carolina. al
Iude to the territorial bill reported by the Sc
lect committee, commonly called le Clayton
compromise. The honorable Senator from
South Carolina the other day pronounced tha'
bill satisfactory to the South. His expression
was that it was - framed to save the honor OF
the South 1 sustained that bill and under
what circumstances Sir, | knew from the
outset the position | was about to take in Goa
Senng to be member of that committee. ]
knew that it was no envabe but pcriIous po-
sltlon. knew well the difficulty OF recon.
cling the excited feelings of different sections
OF this country: ! was not ignorant OF the dan
yer OF any concession with view to comprom-
lSe ! knew, sir, the temper of the people Of
different sections Of this Union, and that every
concession on either side, however small, woulr
be viewed with extreme jealousy. Sir, OH
have avoided this position; mieft have gone
| further, and when the bill was reported might
have consulted my own popularity bv going
with my friends of the \Orth and in following
the crowd in denouncing the creature of our
/ own creation Sir, it was not un1ntici paled
that in consequence of my course upon thai
! bill, nv name should be associated with term.
OF reproach that opprobrun, personality, and
sir, may add, personal insult should be cast
upon me. BIT, sir, | trust that was intluenc
ed by higher and better motives than the mere
| love of popularity. had duty to perform
here; desired to SEQ this troublesome and dan
gerous question settled aud, in the discharge
OF that duty came boldly to the vindicaton OF
| that bill, while it was denounced by the almost
unanimous voice of the y rth, and may add
| by the almost unanimous voice of nv own con.
stituency. stood alone of all the people OF the
! North followed the dictates Of my own judi.
ment and ! can say in all sincerity that judg-
ment is now what it was then.
Sir. regret that the bill did not pass, and
believe the country will yet regret it. was
willing, if necessary, to make myself sacri-
flee in order to attain the great object of harmO
nzng this Union and of putting an end forever
to the question which now agitates and alarms
us. II that object could have been attained by
the sacrifice of my public pretensions would
have considered the object very cheapy pur'
chased. Sir, when gentlemen from other sec
tons of this UnIon when gentlemen from the
South, will place themselves in the gap between
the excited feelings of their constituents and
the harmony of this Union-when they, disIe-
garding the excitement of the moment, will
breast themselves to the storm of popu ar pre-
jndce, hazlrding their popularity and their good
name with an excited constituency, promise
those gentlemen will never do them th injus-
tce to doubt the sincerity of their professions
will pursue this subject no further. My ob
ject is to satisfy the Senate, that in what have
said in relation to the cultivation of a htrmnnl'
ous spirit, whatever professions have made OF
a disposition to harmonic the dlferuut sections
of this Union, and settle forever this trouble
some question, my sincerity is proved oY the
course | have heretofore taken in ny action on
n