The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-12
THE REPU BLIC.
WASHIN GTON:
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 10. 1850
Congress.

Congress.
In the Senate, yesterday, the motion to
refer the Presidents message, submitting
a copy of the California constitution, was
debated by Messrs. SEWARD, WEBSTER,
FooTE, and BERRIEN.
In the House Of Representatives., the
California question was again debated in
Committee of the Whole.
MIR. Calhoun and the Southern Convention.
Whatever may have been the opinions
hitherto entertained upon the subject,
there is no longer room to doubt that
portion of the gentlemen who have ad-
vised the convention at Nashville con-
template measures for the dissolution of
the Union. Since Mr.. CALHOUN addressed
the Senate in his "great Speech" it is
admitted that he regards this dissolution
as probable-as almost inevitable-as in
all respects desirable for the South. Men
who go to the convention, therefore, will go
with the knowledge that portion of their
number look forward to this catastrophe
as the result of their deliberations, not
merely without alarm, but with a degree
Of satisfaction.
Mr.. CALHOUN lays down certain condi-
tons precedent for the salvation of the
Union. The first is the concession to the
South of an equal right to the acquired
territory. This is vague proposition.
Taken in connexion with the remainder of
his speech, the evident meaning of it is,
that California shall not be admitted into
the Union at the present session. We be-
lieve it to be the desire and design of
Congress to admit California with her
present constitution. We believe that Cali
fornia would have been admitted if she
had established slavery by her constitu-
ton. We are sure that, in view of the
policy of the two great parties on this
question, she ought to have been admitted.
The next point made by Mr.. CALHOUN
is, that the North must do her duty by
causing the stipulations relative to fugitive
slaves to be faithfully fulfilled We sup
pose that all men regardful of consttu-
tional obligations desire to take all the
measures of legislation necessary and
proper to carry out in good faith the con-
stitutional provisions on this subject 1t
is right and just that they should be car
ried out, and no honest man can in our
judgment properly object TO it.
Again, Mr.. CALHOUN says that the
North must ''cease the agitation of the
slave question:" This, again, is very indie
finite. The same Constitution which pro-
: vides for the surrender Of fugitive slaves
provides also for freedom Of speech and the
liberty of the press. The latter provisions
, are equally binding and equally sacred with
the former-and no more so. 1t is impossi-
BILE, iii were desirable, 10 prevent free dis
!, cussion on any subject. 1t cannot be pre-
vented (constitutionally) in South Caro-
lima. 1t cannot be prevented (consttu-
tionally) in the District of Columbia. Still
less can il be prevented in Ohio or New
York. Men must continue 10 discuss
these subjects if they see fit; and if dis
cussion should excite agitation, it is an
evil within the Constitution, which the
destruction of the Constitution would not
cure.
Again, according to Mr.. CALHOUN,
there must be an amendment of the Con.
, stitution, to restore to the South certain
powers of self-protection which she is as
sumed to have possessed at some former
time. This is impracticable. The idea
of amending the Constitution at this time
! as condition precedent to the salvation
Of the Union, indicates predetermination
that the Union shall not be saved. Such
is the view taken Of this suggestion by
many of our Southern friends. In this
, connexion we desire to do tardy act of
; justice to Mr.. FooTE. His prompt dis
avowal Of any acquiescence in this senti-
ment of Mr.. CALHOUN entities him to the
( commentator Of all true friends of the
Constitution. We are glad that Mr.. FoorE
has entered into no such compact as is
contemplated by Mr.. CALHOUN; and if
such matters are TO be mooted al the
!, Nashville convention, we hope that the
{ Senator from Mississippi will wash his
, hands of il.
Notwithstanding the frequently repeated
assertion made by the friends of Disunion,
that their representatives are behind the
people of the Southern States in their views
and feelings on this subject, il is evident
enough that Mr.. CALHOUN has gone far
ahead Of the people. Mr.. FooTE AYERS
that he never heard IN his life of an amend
ment TO the Constitution being condition
precedent 10 the settlement Of this question.
He disavowed the idea, and condemned
it as entirely inconsistent with the uniform
noeition of Sout bern stafpsmpn-thaf here