The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-26

N
The Senate having under consideration the compromise
submitted some time since BY Mr. CLAY
Mr.. HALE sad
Mr. PsEsIDEsr; 4 seems to have been admitted BY
almost every who has addressed the Senate on the
subject which has for time past engaged the aen
hon OF this body, that the Senate and the country at
large are divided into two classesl will not say two
great classes, but large and very small one that
the great body OF the Senate and OF the country pa
ioc that they earnestly and anxiousy desire that the
isracng questions which divide and harass the coun-
missing grounds while, on the other hand. there are
few designated as extremists, arais who do not de-
sire any such end that eected who DESIRE in other
words TO promote agation who anxious for nothing
but trouble and disturbance whose sole purpose and sole
desire are to increase the irritation that already exists in
the community. 10 keep the public mind Sore the pub
lie pulse throbbiDg rregularly with feverish heat
Nothing, il is said, strange as the physical and
moral organization of these few gentlemen; agitation is
the aliment upon which they feed, and by which they
live Take away that, and their life, their occupation.
all which furnishes them with motive for living, is
gone.
Now | have not word TO say personally against this
I am glad sir, that these ulfrGis, il they do nothing
more at least accomplish this much good that they afford
this wholesome safey-vaye to those extra exhibitions Of
patriotism the part Of those who are in the habit OF
addressing the Senate Hardly any TO suppose
that he has discharged the duty which he owes to the
country, or done what he ought to do TO satisfy his con-
stituents unless he mingleS with the suggestions which
he makes wholesale denuncaons against those Mrass.
those agitators and even the calm and judicial mind
of the senator from North Carolina, who has just coa
cluded his remarks, is SO infected with the prevailing
mania, that he, educated he has been upon the
bench where he learned to sanction line of safe prece
DENTS could not sit down satisfied that he had discharged
his duty, until he had relieved his conscience OF due
proportion OF vuperaton against those miserable ia
natics and agitators.
think, them it must be granted that the agitaors do
some good, at least by afordng safe and wholesome
channel through which this extra exhibition of patriotic
Indignation may find vent do hope that, il it be not
conceded that they do any other good least credit will
be accorded to them for this much. have not word
say reference to the good taste or the truth and can
dor which prompt such course. make no appeal to
gentlemen, who feel consciousness in their own breasts
that they governed BY high pure and elevated mo-
tves to consider how with proper self
respect be continually employed depreciatng and at
lacking the motives OF others.
When obtained the foor sir, some time since, after
the address that delivered by the distinguished
tor from South Carolina, who is not now in bis seat
suggested that according to my reading oil history, the
account which he had undertaken to give OF these agita
tons sounded to my mind more like the than the
truth OF history, and that designed, upon suitable
occasion, when it suited the convenience of the Senate,
to set history right some particulars alluded TO by him
and that is of the objects propose to myself to-day
SHALL sir be compelled to call the attention OF the SEN
ate to the speech Of the senator from South Carolina
somewhat in detail; and in devoting some few moments
to preparation upon this subject, endeavored to make
something of analysis Of this Speech and before had
proceeded very far in my examination found assumed
the form OF regular neutrality-suspicious. and answers
being given. In the first place, il commenced with a
concession OF the fact that The Union in great dan
ger; then il asks:
II. How the Union be preserved
"AasDer-To give satisfactory answer to this mighty
question: IL is Indispensable to have an accurate and
thorough knowledge of The nature and character Of the
cause BY which the Union is endangered
-. What has endangered the Unlonl
Anscer To this question there be but one answer
tina. the immediate is the almost universal discomfort
which pervades all the States composing the southern SEQ
ton Of the Union
49, What IS the cause Of this disconlenta
ARr-It will be found in the belief OF the people OF
tbs southern States as prevalent as the discomfort itself
that they cannot remain as things now are, consistently
hrnnr and lutS In he In
~. What has caused this beliefl
AmsWr One of,he causes is undoubtedly, to be traced
to the agitation OF the slave question ON the
part of the North, and the many aggessons which they
have made the rights of the South during the time
will them present, as II will be done here
after in It's proper place There is anoheriyng back it,
with which this is intimately connected, that be
ded the great and primary cause That Is 10 be found
in fact that the equilibrium between the two sections In
the as il stood when the constitution was ra-
fled and the government put In action, has been de-
stroyed"
Now, sir the FIRST act of this government in the series
of these which has broken up this equilibrium
and caused this universal discomfort the honorable
tor says is the ordinance OF 1851 shall not undertake
to particularly into the history Of that ordnance be-
is familiar 10 the Senate and the country and has
ready addressed the Senate on this subject This. mark
yon is the first in the series OF northern aggrsssions BY
which this equilibrium which once existed has been
Mr. BUTLER The word aggression" does no,
occur in his speech, in that connexion, at all
Mr.. HALE. do not know exactly whether the sena.
tor used the word aggression OF hot perhaps ne ud
not #tt
Mr. BUTLER, Tin his seat. } know he did not.
Mr. HALE At any rate, II is one OF the acts which
have destroyed the equilibrium That's IT, The equili-
brum Is spoken OF by the senator several times, and the
ordinance OF 1857 one OF the first OF this series oil
events, which, he claims. destroyed this equilibrium
And, sir il is curious that this first act OF northern ag
gression-the ordinance of l7S7-was adopted in the
convention OF 1851 with but single dissenting vote,
and that was northern vote. Yes, sir the only vote
in the convention OF 1887 against this ordinance, which
is said 10 have broken up the equilibrium oil the States,
which originally existed and which was 10 be perpetu-
ated between the northern and southern States,
vote from northern State-ihe State oil New York. Tor
the delegates from every other State voted unanimously
for 1.-THE delegates from South Carolina among the
number.
Well, sir, what followedl propose TO show now if
the Senate will give their attention. thai this famous
ordinance OF 1857, which has got TO be the Wimot
Provso and which is deemed 10 be so insulting TO the
southern States OF the confedeacy II il is retained IN
than the constitution, re-enaced by the first Con-
gress which assembled under that constitutions and IN the
preamble 10 the act which recognised the ordnance II s
expressly rected that il is done in order that Us proys
ions shall be made confomable 10 the constitution c the
United States The act was approved the 18th August,
$780, and is 10 be found in chapter sh OF The laws OF the
United States. The preamble will read. u is as fol-
lows:
"Whereas. in oder that the ordinance OF the United
States Congress assembled Tor the the
Territory northwest Of the Ohio may continue have
tu effect u requisite that certain provisions should be
made, adapt the the present constitution Of
the United States"
That, sir, the position Of the first Congress that
assembled under the federal constitution it reenacted
and established the provisions OF that act Now
we have been told to-day, well previous occa-
sions, that II this principle s insisted on, il is an insult,
a a. t.