The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-08

OI,
and their legislatures to give up these slaves Eve
ry member of State legislature was bound by his
oath TO support the Constitution, and had no right
10 consider any excuse for not carrying all that
Constitution into effect. There was bill now be-
fore the Senate carry into effect this provision of
the Constitution, and he would vote for it. The
South was right in its complaint OF injury on this
point, and the North wrong in being unmind-
full of what the Constitution peremptoriy required
of them.
Another subject of complaint the resolutions
sent here for instructions 20 members of Congress,
some about slavery in this District or elsewhere.
He thought that these resolutions by State Legis-
latures were become OF too common occurrence.
He agreed with some sentiments uttered few
days ago in the Massachusetts Legislature by
young member, who said he would vote for no reso-
buttons To be sent to the members OF Congress. lie
saw no propriety in one set OF public servants IN
structing another set they were all public SER
wants. and alike responsible 10 their constituents.
He would be no more willing to listen to instruc-
tions from Massachusetts, on point where she was
only much interested any other State, than he
would if appointed an arbitrator in question of
private right listen to the instructions OF the man
who appointed him.
The Abolition societies at the North was another
subject Of complaint He had sympathes with
these societies They had had the effect of prevent
ing any favorable schemes at the South in behalf
of emancipation Within the last twenty years
he had no doubt that money enough had been con-
ributed TO Abolition presses and societies to pur-
chase the freedom Of every slave in Maryland and
send them TO Liberia. He had yet to learn that
Abolition phianthrophy had taken that turn.
The South complained that the press of the North
was directed against the institutions OF the South
II was true that, in the northern papers, such
charges and accusations were made, but in the
South it was equally as bad Indeed, some of the
speeches and debates in Congress were but little
improved and better than the tone Of the press
Every sentiment uttered by the southern press, or
by southern men, high or low, which reflected upon
the North, was copied into the northern papers,
and sent forth to reading people, and produced a
bad feeling. II was the same at the South. He
saw no remedy in the power OF Congress for this
grievance. There were remarks in the speech of
the Senator from Louisiana, MIR. DowNs,) where
he contrasted the laborers of the North with the
slaves of the South. The northern laborers were
the North. They owned four fifths of the property
at the North. They educated class, and
any comparison such as that made by the Senator
would go much to feed the excitement
He would rather hear Senators all declare the
mpossibty of dissolving this Union, than that any
one should say it could be DONE He had heard of
secession-peaceable secession! 1t was impossible.
You might as well attempt to disturb the ocean to
its depths without ruffing the surface. He was
surprised to hear any one foolish enough to sup
pose there could be secession dissolution with
out violence. Did Senators suppose this Union
was like snow under vernal sun, to be melted
gently away? That these States 10 part
peacefully-make concurrent agreement to sepa-
rate-with alimony on both sides? He wanted to
know where the flag was to go, where the eagle
was to stand, or was he to cover and fall to the
ground?
How each State to protect itself? He had
heard that southern confederacy was to be formed.
He did not charge any with thinking of it. 1t
was talked about He sorry it talked
about, he was sorry it was dreamed about. IL was
impossible to form line between the slave and the
free States. line could not be drawn that would
be satisfactory to five men in the Union. He had
disgust for this subject. He would rather hear of
blight, mildew, scourge-would rather hear OF
war, pestlence, and famine, than secession. There
would be no disunion, no secession; but the Union
would last, he hoped, forever.
He had heard of the Nashville convention. He
supposed, from what had been said, that it would
be convention to recommend conciliatory mea-
sures to the South and to the North. If not, and
Union and the Constitution, then they were singu-
arly inappropriate in their selection OF place OF
meeting. After the treaty of Amiens, member
of the British House of Commons, commenting up
on it, said, that if King William could know what
the treaty was he would turn in his coffin If this
convention was to meet to take measures against
this Union, the same emphatic remark might be
made to them, that they not in the proper
place, when they held such counses over the soil
where repose the remains of Andrew jackson.
He thought that if Texas would agree TO cede to
the United States all her territory north of the thr
ty-fourth parallel, for a money consideration, the
proposition should be considered.
He would say to the gentlemen of the South that
IF they would propose a scheme for colonzing the
free blacks of the South, on large scale, he would
vote for it. He would vote to return to Virginia
all the money received from the lands which she
ceded to the United States, to be applied to that
purpose Eiohty millions of dollars had already
been received, and if the residue be sold il would
produce two hundred millions of dollars he would
be willing TO vote all this to ameorate the condi-
ton of the free blacks.
Mr. w. then concluded in some general remarks
upon the times, and the necessity for their showing
themselves true to their duties-he hoped there
4 L. A.
and in some remarks upon the boundless prosperity
of the country and its hopes for the future
Mr.. CALHOUN said that he rose for the purpose
of correcting error OF the Senator in supposing
that the purchase of Florida and Louisiana and the
annexation of Texas, TO promote the interests
of the cotton growers.
The purchase of Florida resulted from the Indian
wars, and the continual source of annoyance it
would be on that account, if left in foreign hands.
Louisiana was purchased in consequence of the re-
fusal Of the right of deposte at New Orleans. A
member of the old Federal party had recommended
resort TO arms, but Mr.. Jefferson prudently pur-
chased it. The British government had received
overtures from American Aboitionists, and was
urging Mexico TO recognise the independence of
Texas, the provision of an abolition of slavery
there If this we're done, il would leave all the
southern frontier open TO encroachments on slave
property. For this reason he had advocated its
annexation. He always held that annexation
unconstitutional and absurd.
The ordinance of 1887 was adopted by the South
because 1t contained provision about the delivery
of fugitive slaves, similar TO the i'm the Const
tuition, but, like that, had become dead letter.
He was glad 10 hear the Senator say he would not
vote for the Wilmot proviso; but was willing to
leave IL 10 nature. That all the South wanted.
He was surprised TO hear of the consummatc folly,
that the Mexican laws abolishing slavery were in
force in the Territories.
He was in favor Of the Union. His public acts for
forty years testified his devotion TO the Constitution
He differed with the Senator about the power TO
break this Union. Would the Senator say that no
degree Of oppression would justify dissolution Of
the Unionl The Union could only be preserved by
adhering TO justice and good faith, and rigid adj
herence To the Constitution.
Mr.. WEBSTER said he knew the Union could be
broken, but not by peaceful secession. He knew,
also, that il oppression was extreme, resistance
might be ustifable, but that would be the power Of
revolution, and not secession. He took occasion TO
return his thanks to the Senator's from Kentucky
(Mr Clay and from Tennessee Mr.. BELL,) for
having brought forward their propositions, and for
the light they had afforded him. Hereafter he would
take opportunity of speaking on the subject Of
California and her boundaries.
Mr.. CALHOUN briefly reioncd.
And then, by vote Of forty two yeas TO six nays,
the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE