The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-03

minutes as seems 10 be convenient for the limits OF
State. With this understanding, would vote
for the amendment. With the understanding,
no viewer, that the senator's and representatives, OF
California should take their seats under this
amendment cannot, vote for IL, consistently with
my notion of the Constitution of the United
States. f
/ think it proper TO say here that am now de-
iberating under the obligations of the federal
compact; and will endeayor to discharge my du-
ties TO that Government. But must be permitted
so say, MIR. President, that my opinions of duty
vary very materially from those which have been
expressed by the honorable senator from Ken
lucky, (Mr. CLAr.) If, sir, the honorable senator
from Kentucky is anxious for the occasion to try
the strength of the Government, perhaps he may
bring about the occasion by measures Of injustice
and oppression 1t will never be brought about
in any other way. And will say further that if
the occasion shall for trying the strength
Of this Government against single State or a
number or States, who may disregard its authority
the senator and myself will be found in very diff
ferent attitudes. @s#
Sir, if | understood his proposition - and
it is not the first time he has made the re-
mark here---it is that under no circumstances
would he be found to resist the Federal Co
vernment, provided its measures should be adop-
ted by a mere majority, having the sanction
OF his judgment that they were constitutional. In
other words, the proposition is, that the States OF
this confederacy are to have their destinies and
rights subjected to the arbitrary decision Of an
uncontrolled, seli-sustaining and interested ma
jority. And he says that he will follow the stan
dard of such Government to blood, and that if
any State, or the people Of any State, should raise
the standard of resistance to such measures, he
would be found ready to advance in opposition to
that standard, and mingle in favor of the Govern
ment in civil war.
| The State of South Carolina, Mr. President,
has been too often alluded to, for of her rep
resentatives TO mistake the aim. do not knew
that South Carolina has ever gone further, yea,
| as far as can recollect she has not gone as far
as other Southern States in the Union. The SEN
| ator from Kentucky limited his remark to a sin
gle State, or the people Of a single State. My
friend from Virginia noticed that part OF his argl-
ment. shall not amplify upon it. But the SEN
ator has stated that the Wimot Provso, the abo-
lition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia,
| any measure that could be adopted connected with
this bill that he could regard as constitutional
and he regards them all as constitutional
| have his sanction, should have his support call
ing to his aid the bayonets of the army Of this
confederacy to put down sovereign State.
| Mr.. President, Virginia. believe, North Car
| olIna--certainly South Carolina-I speak for her
Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi speak con-
fdently of these States--have said in solemn le-
gisative resolves that if the Congress of the United
States shall enact the Wilmot Provso, or any
kindred measure, to insult and Cypress the States
whose rights would be thus threatened, they would
resist And will say to the honorable senator
or his endorser, that he will find it more difficult
than pleasing the galleries. to suppose the Govern
ment coming in conflict with such army of States
! Ibelieve the honorable senator from Kentucky is Q
Virgnan by birth. Sir, he has honored his
mother He has adorned the country with which
his name is identified, almost as Epaminondas did
that Of Thebes. award him all that history viii
award him. But will bring to him an example
illustrating how the child feels for the mother
even under the temptations Of civil war itself. Ii
is one Of the most touching incidents Of history
that while Bernadotte was combining with the al
| he'd Powers to make war on Bonaparte, while hi
| was willing to devise measures to put down Ma
poleon Bonaparte as an enemy to Europe and thu
nation of which he was the sovereign, when HI
approached the confines of France, he could ani
would not pass upon the land of his nativity
And yet hear the honorable senator fom Ken.
lucky say that if Virginia, true to her history
should undertake to demand her resolutions and to
| resist the Wimot Provso, and other acts of in.
justice and oppression which shall be brought
| about by the action of this Government, he would
be found mingling his blood upon the soil of his
birth to put her down. :a'eaH
Sir, have enumerated those who have been
spoken of as resisting. They are Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
| Mississippi. They all made the same declara-
tons. 1t is for history to say whether they will
make them good and it will be for history to say
how far their sons will be found ready cooperate
with the Federal Government in extinguishng an
honorable resistance by blood. There are officers
| in the army from Virginia, South Carolina, Ala
bame, and Mississippi, paid by the Federal Gov
eminent, and in part paid by Virginia, South Car
olina Alabama, and Mississippi. And should
like to see the recreant who could draw his sword
against his native State. have given the anec-
dote of Bernadotte an illustration of the feeling
which would entertain. ..s.a~
Now, shall not arraign the motive of the hon
| orable senator, nor shall undertake to dispute
his principles for he has openly said, that right
or wrong, if he believes any measure of MAORI
I ty of this Government constitutional, he would
maintain 1t to blood, under the obligations Of his
allegiance to the Union. My allegiance, as have
often said is to the State of my nativity, and her
voice is the voice that will always command my
services. The last thing that could think OF
would be that the night before we could speak to-
gether in social intercourse, drink from the same
| stream, and the next morning color that very
stream and the pathways to itwith blood. There
is nothing so shocking to me as this idea. | do
! not look with any degree of pleasure upon scenes
of this kind. Perhaps l have not the same de-
gree of courage to look upon them as others have
| would avert them by any honorable means.
Mr.. President, the State that represent, as far
| as can speak of it, and she has given evidence
of 1T, will be satisfied with mere point OF honor,
| so far as this matter is concerned. believe that
we have submitted to every compromise that has
been made here; we have made every sacrifice
But we are not exactly the worshippers of Jug
gernaut, toprostrate ourselves and let ourselves be
crushed by the wheels of the Union, when it
shall be welded by an unprincipled, am insolent
majority No sir, no Inever could go to South
Corolina, and cross her line against her, under
any banner, and especially could never do it un-
der the command Of an unjust Government, and
under the authority of measures, in my opinion,
brought about bya system of policy looking with
selfish regard to majority, in disregard of the
interests that were intended to have been secured
by our holy Constitution. When the time to
think and act in relation to these matters has
come, | shall feel at liberty to act for myself.
hope the catastrophe may have been averted.
The honorable senator supposes that it may
have been averted by his bill. That is an as
sumption, pure assumption. And is he to sup
pose that nothing can save this Union but COM
promises, made not entirely at his instance, but
such compromises as he shall regard as a sover-
egn remedy. must be permitted to say to the
senator, was said by my honororable friend
from Maryland, mir. PEARcE], that he ought to
allow other men something Of sefrespect in giving
utterance to their opinions A' ."E'2 s7l'i
I hone that fear ic no co,,pc alIor IF wilma