The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-13


nents Congress was further admonshed OF the danger
OF delay and earnestly invoked for the sake OF the
Union ito adjust a Is grestat session this the only dan
gerous question which lies in our path"
These recommendations too plain 70 be mistaken
or misrepresented and are, IN effect disclaimer the
part OF the Executive Of legislative power, and refer
OF the subject 10 Congress for lis Adjustment they
are condemnation shy antc patton OF the proceedings
Of Riley and King. and an ansserabe REPUTATION Of
the views OF the present cabinet; The whole Pol'-
cy OF President Polk may be summed up IN lew words
The inlmedafe adjustment Of ts question by Congress
wtthout the Wiaot Prouiso This was announced in
his rst message after the acquisition OF those Teroes
succeeding with earnesness OF feeling and force
OF argument which increased with the mmlnence OF the
danger occurrences 70 the action OF the late Execu-
tive gratifying to his friends he did not look Tor the
rules Of his conduct TO selfish expediency, but to the I'M
changing principles Of the constitution He did not rely
upon conceament OF his opinions for the success oil ms
administration, but upon thorough understanding oil
hmse his motives, and his principles. by the great mass
OF his counrymen. II was his characteristic to meet
danger with herosm. and TO grapple with the passions
and preudices hostile 10 the constitution and the Union,
and overpower them by the irresistible force OF truth
In vivid and sublime contrast with his successors, he
sought safety neither concealmen ofoPnon Or post
ponement OF action. ! am happy TO believe that his
countrymen, forgeiu OF past party divisions, now
paying to his memory the tribute OF their admiration and
graitade that his poshumous fame is undarkened by
the msls which surrounded its morning beams.
An administration which shuns responsibility, prac.
ises conceament and resorts 10 the cunning devices Of
political expectancy. cannot long survive the public con
tempt The present not old wears the aspect
OF eete and imbece seny In the hour OF It's conception
the seeds OF death planted in the heart OF the embryo,
and the throes and agones OF its parurton unms
takeable evidences that they had germnated and would
speedily frucify into harvest OF death. The living
principle OF popular support no longer gives sustenance
to its ottering decrepude. Its Recommendation Of in
action reference the question which OF all others de-
mands immediate action springs from consciousness OF
weakness and Is the wall Of the sick old man. who begs
closing around him But the hiss OF human passions by
this querulons appeal cannot be hushed Events roll on
casting their lenghenng shadows before them, threaten
ing in their unchecked course, the destruction OF the con-
trust that the remarks have felt constrained by
sense OF duty to make. touching the proposed policy OF
tsan opposition My object is to discuss this question Of
the rights OF the South in the Territories Of California
and New Mexico, its present asped-to show that
ecutive recommendation, which the South may and
will defeat, il they meet it with firm united, and deter
mined resistance Regarding this practical question,
tua usufruc OF the South this common property; and
acknowledge no party obligations which can restrain
me in demanding both No dangers which threaten the
dissolution Of parties the Union are terrible enough
to justify further sacrifice part appeal TO the
constitution and demand for my section the right TO car
ny negro slaves upon the land OF which they are lont
tenants Tothoss who disposed to resist my VIEWS
commend more attentive reading OF that instrument
They will find that it not only guarantees slavery where
it exists, but provides for its extension In the States
where slaves existed they made the basis OF appor
tonmeni and taxation thereby contn bung two OF the
great elements necessary to republican government viz
representation to express its voice. and money tor ITS
support
To extend the institution indefinitely, prohibited the
passage of any law to stop the importation OF slaves
from Africa, and elsewhere prior to the year 1905 An
other clause, with view TO Its perpetuaon forever pro-
ves for the recaptuIe OF fugtves who escape TO nom
sayeholding States Notwithstanding these plain stipu
a.ions between the slavehodlng and non-saveholsdng
constitution, without which all admit the confederation
could not have been formed we are cantngy told that
SIM and as North Is e rs eSs
than the sages and heroes purified by the trials OF the
revolution and covered with its glories who assembled
in the old hall OF the confederation in 1851" have
reply to make to these pharsaical preiensons they are
beneath contempt, am content with the religion OF the
Bible and the Constitution OF fathers uncorruped by
the comments OF the pseudo morasts and statesmen who
now shed their coruscations upon shall certainly
not to reply to the pulling soPhlsy upon this
subject, so often heard here Were disposed TO argue
the question Of slavery without reference TO the consttu
ton. in all its relations religious. moral, social and
POLITICAL no fear OF its successful vindicahon would
restrain me- II would seem TO be PROCLAMATION TO call
institution OF society irreligous or immoral, which
expressly and repeatedly sanctioned the word Of God
which existed in the tents of the patrachs, and IN the
households OF His own chosen people; and a peryer-
as social political evil, which existed in all the free
States Of antiquity and is inseparaby connected with
the arts and arms The science and literature the painting
and staiuary OF Greece and Rome-upon which was
erected civilization which Ii, up the ancient world, and
illumines own But in our country we have the
most striking and brilliant illustrations OF the benefits OF
slavery, in the vast areas redeemed from the wilder
ness, where malaria forbade the emigration OF whites
and which now TEEN with the productions of southern
staples in the large amount OF valuable exports, the
product of slave labor, which freight the keels of CON-
TO every harbor of the world and bring return
imports OF corresponding value IN the individual pros
perty and happiness OF people, without example in
any other social organization in our political stability
where armed police necessary for the suppression OF
mobs and the OF the civil magistrate is omnipoent
But cannot pursue these general reflections, which
out OF place when uttered here Our right on each
side grew out of the constitution, and am willing to abide
by its spuatons and compromises without reopening for
controversy questions which defntvey settled by
its adoption Slavery being recognised by the constitu
ton, and provision made for lis perpetuaton and exen
sion in the clauses referred to- consider all the parties
strucon stopped BY The record from assailng by
The people Of the North could with much more pro-
prety assa any other species of property held under
the municipal laws Of the several States for, with two
exceptons-yz the right OF property in negro slaves,
and the exclusive hight OF authors and inventors ito
their respective writings and discoveries" the consiu
stpulae Tor their protection but leaves them they
sted under the municipal laws II results that we have
double protection the municipal laws OF the several
States, and the express stpuatons OF the constitution
Slaves regarded kind OF property entitled to
special and peculiar favor and therefore singled
by the constitution from the Of other propertyin
vested with higher dignity and guarded with greater
the constitution has thrown lis own protecting egis
around IT,
Upon all these points, however, northern representa-
tves pretend to differ with us, and insist upon the right
to exclude the South from the property Ii re-
mains to be seen whether the South will meet the Cali