The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-03
Vol. 4.

/ ne mas ptouduty pOSobc icSS CohiiucH'
of his own, and, acknowledging this dif-
ference OF opinion to justify reasonable
doubt, he consents to end dispute by posi-
tive legislation. This is the only hypothe-
sis upon which his present course upon the
Texan boundary question can be accounted
for. Certainly he would not agree that sove-
reignity coull be proper subject of traffic
| between the United States Government and
State OF the Union. He is, Of course,
then, acting upon the assumption that il is a
subject in respect to which reasonable
doubt may exist, and that he should, there
fore legslate with reference to. that fact.
| But the senator has himself, at this very
session, voted in favor of an amendment
substantially the same as this now under con-
sideration His collegu. offered, at pre-
vous stage of this bill, an amendment simi-
lar to this, and the senator voted for it. He
could not have done SO unless he acknow-
lodged our power to enact it; and If we
have the power, see no reason why our
section Of the Union should not have the
benefit of the provision.
may as well say now, once for all, that
| consider the adoption of provision cover
ing, in substance, the purpose of this amend
ment-namey, the removal Of all doubt as
to the right of Southern emigrants to
carry their slave property into the Territories
IAN indispensable condition in any adjust
ment OF this question. So far as my vote is
concerned, this is a sine qua non-an uiti-
matum.
The senator from Kentucky CHR. Clay)
declared just now that this amendment was
violative Of the principle Of non-intervention
upon which we professed to rely. The sem
ator from Mississippi has again, to-day, rs
he has on three or four occasions heretofore,
repeated the charge that amendments Of the
class to which this belongs are inconsistent
with the Southern Address-with the OPT
| Mons Of Mr. Calhoun entertained and de-
clared in his lifetime--with all the previous
professions of Southern men, and with the
recognized creed of the Democratic party.
If this is so, the fair and inevitable inference
must be, that those Of US who press amend
ments of this description manifest very
mischievious and factious temper, and indi-
cate an unwillingress to meet the opposition
upon fair ground of settlement The re-
newed appeal.o the non-intervention doctrine
by these two friends ofthe billwho have attac-
ked this amendment to-day, and the warmth
and indefatigable industry and skiful effort
with which the senator from Mississippi con-
tinues to enforce his construction Of non-inter-
vention, make it advisable to give more deli
berat. consideration to this new creed than
it has received thus far. | am quite persuaded
that the principle is entirely misapplied and
misconstrued by those who have presented
themselves upon this floor as its par ercel-
lence champions. | feel quite convinced that
the use sought to be made of it by the SEN
ators from Kentucky and Mississippi, and
other gentlemen who have concurred with
them, is not legitimate.
In the first place, do not agree that the
Southern Address contemplated or justi6es
any such construction of the non-int ervention
principle as is alleged, but that, on the con-
trary, its meaning is altogether the reverse.
1t distinctly claims for the South the right to
settle with their slave property in the Ter
ritories, and SO far from precluding, necessa-
rily includes the idea of protection. | will
quote the whole paragraph upon which the
senator from Mississippi relies. He has
read it to the Senate three or four times, in
proof that the Southern Address disclaimed
the demands we now make. ask him to
follow the argument of the paragraph to its
conclusion, md | think it will be plain that
he has misconceived its spirit:
We do not deem it necessary, looking to the
object of this address, to examine the question
fully discussed at the last session, whether Con-
gress has the right to exclude the citizens Of the
South from mmigrating with their property into
territories belonging to the confederated States
Of the Union. What we propose in this con-
nexion is, to make few remarks on what the
North alleges, enormously, to the issue between
us and them.
So far from maintaining the doctrine which
the issue implies, we hold that the Federal Gov
eminent has right to extend or restrict slavery,
no more than to establish or abolish it, nor has
il any right whatever to distinguish between the
domestic institutions Of one State or section and
another, in order to favor the one and discourage
the other As the federal representative of each
and all the States it is bound to deal out, within
the sphere of its powers, equal and exact justice
and favor to all. To act otherwise, to undertake
TO discriminate between the domestic institutions
of one and another, would be to act in total sub
version Of the end for which it was established
To be the common protector and guardian Of all.
entertaining tneSe OpfnIonS, we ASK HoL, as Tue
North alleges we do for the extension of slavery.
That would make discrimination in our favor,
as unjust and unconstitutional as the discrmina-
ton they ask against in their favor. 1t is not
for them nor for the Federal Government to de-
termine whether our domestic institution is good
or bad, or whether it should be repressed or pre-
served It belongs to us, and us only, to decide
such questions What, then, We do insist on IS,
not to extend slavery, but that shall not be pro
hibiied from, immigrafng ,rih property into the
Territories Of the United States because siace-
holders: or, in other words, that we shall not on
that account be dianchised of privilege possessed
by all others, citizens, and foreigners, without
di elimination to character, profession, or color
All, whether savage, barbarian, or civilized, may
freely enter and remain, We only being excluded.
The legitimate view Of the argument Of
the paragraph is, that Shareholders have
equal rights in the Territories with all others;
that slave property stands upon equal footing
with other property; that :" the endfor which
the Federal government was established
was ito be the common protector and guar