The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-14

SOUTH he has almost rendered himself the
u southern opinions when IN the name OF that section
would have presented insurmouniable obstacles 10 the
.mcable adjustment OF these difficulties the senator from
MssssPpi came forward to dlsayow the sentiments thus
upon the troubled lie deserves the gratitude OF the
country for this noble effort must confess my own
Impressions agreed with the impressions OF the honorable
senator from Mississippi thought the speech Of the
senator from South Carolina calculated TO produce
most unfavorabe results.
| listened, Mr.. President with great regret 10 the
speech OF The distinguished senator from South Carolina
{ Mr.. CALHOUN | am not going TO crticse IL. My
great respect for that gentleman will prevent me from
doing it, will merely say that there was strange coll
lection OF facts as well strange coocaton Of them
and that these followed by strange conclusions
think, Mr.. President may say, and | imagine this
feeling general in the Senate, that s0mbre hue per-
vaded this whole Speech in consequence OF its being
prepared in the recesses OF sick chamber Had he
been able TO walk abroad in the light OF heaven and felt
the breezes blowing upon him, am sure his remarks
would not have been gloomy, nor the results as de-
spending We have all felt this, sir and know how TO
sympathze with II.
the honorable senator; but there was one expression
remember, which grated harshly upon my ear
He denominated Washington the ltstrious soaihernsr
Not the renowned warror-not the eminent statesman
not the distinguished citzennot the great American
not the beloved Virgnanbut the lustrous souiherner
Our Washngion-the Washington Of our whole coun,
try-receves in this Senate the ephet OF soalhener"
if the glory OF his and fame could be divided or
assigned TO single section Of his beloved country as
that great man. whose distinguished CnaTactersuc WAS
his attachment his country and his whole country who
well known and who more than any one, depre-
Gated all sectional feeling and all sectional action loved
Georgia better than he loved New Hampshire, because
he happened be born the southern bank OF the POI
tomac repeat sir, that heard with great pain that
expression from the distinguished senator from South
Carolina.
heard the disavowal OF the honorable senator from
Mississippi MIR FooTEl with the more qualification,
because i was followed by an explanation irom Inc as
which, though i did not remove my apprehensions,
certainly diminished them II the impression which J,
well as many others received respecting the nature
already upon the wall sGod hath numbered thy kingdom
and finished it" He announced with more certainty
e snS en- g BSy Lon woSa q bos
propositions, if the continuance OF our Union de
pended upon their adoption. have announced that
'sGod hath numbered our republic. and finished It
listened to Them asI believe many others did, with great
pleasure is certain that nothing could be more grail
flying for, if understood the distinguished senator
tons contained in one portion of his speech might be
called ultimatum--the handwriting upon the wall
/" God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished IT." To-
what new Modes and Persians should have been de-
lvered is known only unto Him who holds In HIS hand
the fate OF nations.
We have been three months here. and what have
we done Nothing. We have not passed any single
law of the least national Importance. We have occu-
pied the whole time by the discussion Of this question:
and no practical result has a; been "a, attained and
suit is near. But, though have done nothing, we
have ascertained that things cannot be done. We
have asceriained U think may say with certainty that
no Wilmot Proviso can be passed through this Congress
That measure is dead II is the latest and hope II is
the last attempt that will be made to interfere with the
right OF sell. government within the limits OF this
republic think we may also say that no Missouri
compromise line pass and that no one expects or de-
sires that il should pass.
MIR. President what was the compromise line! Allow
me TO read the law which established il:
.sEc lad Dc further enacted That in all ,ha, terri.
tory coded by France the United States under the
Louisiana,
thirty minutes north latitude not included within the limits
ary serviiude otherwise than in punishment of crimes
whereof the parties shall have been duty convicted, shall
Now sir, what is that provisioni II is Intervention
north OF the line of SO deg 80 mn and intervention
south OF that line Why SIR there i not one southern -
other House, indeed southern man who understands
the subject who would accept that line as proper settle
Mr. FOOTE, lin his seat) would not
MIR. CASS. Why, sir, the whole doctrine OF equal
rights and Of Intervention is taken away BY al
objections q such an arrangement il gives the South
nothing, while il prohibits the people north OF SO deg 80
min from exercising their own will upon the subject
question the people, and does not divide their right OF
decision BY parallel Of latitude II they choose TO have
slavery north 4 Of A., that line, they can have It.
Mi. CALHOUN, Tin his seat) Weare very competent
to Judge OF that matter ourselves
Mr.. CASS. Is there's senator on this floor who would
accept Of proposition to apply the principle Of nom
OF the other portion to do as they pease No. sir there
is southern senator here who would vote for il.
will tell you what would be voted for has already been
announccd-a law declaratory, mandatory, permits
sory for the establishment OF slavery south OF the line OF
80 deg. 80 min. The distinguished senator from South
Carolina might be willing to accept declaration that
slavery does now exist or that il shall exist may
isl south OF certain line; but take il for granted that
senator from the South would be willing TO abandon
the ground OF non.iniervenon without some provision
like that.
Mr. FO0TE Permit me freely TO say that | would
no sooner vote for southern Wilmot Proyiso than
would for northern one. | rely, and content 10
rely upon the constitution not convinced by the
argument OF the senator from South Carolina OF the ne
cessy espediency OF going further than that rely
with entire confidence upon rights under the
acquired. | ask for no legislation upon the subject.
but simply that the whole matter be let alone | ask
nothing else but the doctrine OF non Intervention
Mr. CASS. Mr.. President, will not argue this point
about TO say that what the law is is question for
the decision OF the judiciary. But what the law shall
be, IL belongs TO the legislative department 10 declare
II we have power TO pass law declaring the existence
OF slavery, which IS 10 be attended with any practical
suit, necessarily possess jurisdiction the whole
iatory law, commanding the existence Of slavery, as
one, recognising its existence And will
appeal 10 every senator northern or southern eastern or
western II there is any Probabity-l may say possbil
y--of such law passing this Congress No asks II
expects IT, The Missouri COMPROMISE line H. there
fore, much out OF the question the Wilmot Pro-
viso. The fact is, Mr. President II Is not any way APP
plicabe 10 the existing state Of things though il was
applicable 10 the country when II established, be-
cause slavery was then an existing institution and u
left n force south OF SO degrees 80 minutes. In
10