The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-06
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
TUESDAY. March S. 1850.
SENATE.

SENATE.
;, Private petitions were presented by Messrs
HALE, DouoLAs, BALDWIN, WALKER, Sour, and
PEARcE.
Memorials, praying reduction Of postage.
presented by Messrs. HALE, DovGLAs, and SEWARD.
FUGITIVE SLAVES
Mr.. HALE presented petition, signed by citi-
Icns of New Jersey, praying that fugitive slaves
may have the right OF trial BY jury.
SLAVERY.
Mr.. HALE presented a number Of memorials.
praying the abolition Of slavery In the District Of
Columbia, and elsewhere; and the motions 10
ceive such petitions were laid on the table
woopwonrH's PArEsT.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, presented the
memorial of FIVE hundred and seventy persons re-
monstrating against the further renewal Of the pa
tent originally granted 70 William w. Wood
worth for planning machine.
Mr.. DOWNS presented a similar remonstrance;
and after some remarks by Messrs. DAVIS, DAw-
son, and SEWARD, were referred 20 the Committee
on Patents.
MAILS TO VERA CRUZ.
Mr.. SOULE presented a memorial praying the
establishment of regular line Of mail packets be-
tween New Orleans and Vera Cruz.
PERSONAL ExPLAsArros.
Mr.. F0OTE gave notice that, on Thursday
next, after the speech promised by the Senator
from Massachusetts, (Mr. wEBsTEn) he would
call up his motion for the appointment Of a select
committee Of thirteen, and press the election then
of said committee. While up, he thought IL but
proper to say that he had listened with the greatest
interest TO the able speech. yesterday, made by the
Senator from South Carolina, (Mr. CALHouS.)
But while he cordially assentcd 10 nearly all that
had been said by that Senator, there was some
thing in that speech 10 which he desired TO express
his nom concurrence. II may be supposed that the
speech Of the Senator prepared after consulta-
ton with southern members, and that tho views
| expressed in that speech were the views Of the
whole South The portion of the speech Of the
Senator with which he did not accord, was contained
| in the following extract, which he read:
Having now shown what cannot save the Union,
| I return 10 the question with which commenced
How can the Union be saved!' There Is bot one
way by which IL can with any certainty, and that
is, by full and final settlement, on the principle
Of justice, Of all the questions at issue b, tween the
two sections. The South asks for justice simple
justice, and less she ought not 10 take. She has no
compromise to offer, but the Constitution; and no
concession surrender to make. She has already
surrendered much that she has little left To sur
render. Such a settlement would go 10 the root Of
| the evil, and remove all cause Of discomfort. BY
satisfying the South, she could remain honoraby
and safely in the Union, and thereby restore the
harmony and fraternal feelings between the sec
tons, which existed anterior TO the Missouri agita-
ton. Nothing else can, with any certainty, finally
and for settle the questions al ISSUE terminate
agitation, and save the Union
| "But can this be donc' Yes, easily; not by the
weaker party, for IL can Of itself do nothing not
North has only TO will IL 10 accomplish ito do
justice by conceding TO the South an equal right
in the acquired Territory, and To do her duty
4 by causing the stipuations relative 10 fugitive
slaves 10 be faithfully fulfllcdto the sgita-
ton Of the slave question, and 10 provide for the in
serfion Of precision IN the Consultation, by
sa>aansn tohich ,oi restore 10 The So, subsfancs
NE poioer shs possessed g protecting hsyseg. bJws
The equilibrium bei,cesn The sections destroyed by
The action Of this Government There will be no diff
hculty in devising such provision"
Such an amendment might be personally salts
factory to him; but he could not consider u ne
| necessary TO the settlement Of the difficulties now
existing. He considered such thing impossible
at this time; and he looked upon such PROPOSE.
ton postponing the settlement Of the difficulties
/ which be had AT all times declared and believed
should be settled at this session. The character of
the amendment bad not been explained, aud he
thought the Senator, or, he was absent some of
his friends for him should explain IL.
Another reason why he wished 10 take the ear.
liest opportunity Of expressing his dissent on this
point, was this The southern convention had
| originated in Mississippi and IL had already been
| charged that the object Of the convention was TO
produce disunion; II this declaration Of the Senator
from South Carolina should go abroad without the
expression by any southern Senator Of a difference
| Of opinion on this point Of an amendment Of the
| Constitution, the cry will be raised, and perhaps
with some pausibility, that the convention was
| called for the purpose OF cffecting an amendment
Of the Constitution, and, failing this dissolve the
| Union. The southern convention had no such OBJ
| jcct as this, 80 far he advised nor did ne
believe that any man had supposed such thing az
proposing amendment 20 the Constitution.
They were as much devoted TO the Union az any
other portion Of the people OF the Union.
On another remark Of the Senator from South
Carolina he desired 10 say few words The Sen
ator had charged the whole North with being op.
posed to the rights Of the South; that the rights of
the South were treated with contempt by the whole
North. He (Mr. FL had spoken frequently in re-
buke Of those at the North who waged war upon
the rights Of tho South, ht he had used such
language as this. He could use no such language,
because he knew the fact 20 be otherwise. There
was large portion Of the people at the North who