The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-03

out And this, Mr. President. is fair example Of that
spirit OF encroachmen upon the rights OF the South
which has marked the history OF this country for the last
thirty years. II shows that aggression is moving with
accelerated velocity and that Il descends along the
decline OF constitutional right, its fight is increased, and
its bounds become longer Here, the progress Of single
upon this question Of vital importance, senators
OF southern States esteem IL and at the close o the de-
bate appes! in opposition to the very thing they ngrafted
upon it, What has produced this revolution in opinion
here, or rather this change of position
Mr. President, have several times had exhibited to
us the policy which seems TO control the voesa policy
which think will not heighten the reputation OF the
Senate. or exat the character Of its legislation That
policy 10 TO vote for against amendment in
dmnshes the prospects OF the final passage Of
the bill not whether il s right wrong not whether it
makes the bill bstieror worse, but whether gains
loses votesa barter with ones conscience bar
Ter with the delegated powers OF legislation in the Senate
q ths ne United i; States use mild Language SIR when y
This new policy Of controlling the votes of members
% S0 hs S sna :.
and conciiaon to give peace and harmony to the dis
tracted country which was to give satisfaction to those
who complain OF wrong and aggression, and yet 70 be
shaped not to meet their complaints but 30 as TO COM
maud the largest number OF votes in bodies where the
interests uodden on are known to be in the minority
What. sir is government anywhere established fors
To protect the rights of the weak against the ag
gressons OF the strong; and that man who fails so
to shape his own course member OF this govern
men not only violates the purpose OF the government,
but strikes fatal blow at It's existence, BY destroying
that spirit OF harmony and fraternal confidence from
which this government sprung, and upon which i has
been nourshed, and by which alone il exist What
sir the future prospects OF the rights OF the minority
in this early stage OF republic, legislation is to be
wholly controlled by the will Of the majority II that
which was intended 70 be bar to the ac
ton of the legsaturef those checks in the compact
between the States, without which they never would
have united in common government- they are to be
swept away at the will OF unbrdled majority ask
you sir how long will the minority have their rights
respected ?and how long will that minority, descended
from sres that under fearful circumstances severed
their connexion with the mother country and announced
the world the determination 10 maintain their rights at
whatever hazard and at any c0s--how long will that
minority remain in this Union II is not by the denun-
siaon Of walters popular favor that these sentiments
be are9ed or silenced This government formed for
high and holy purposes and those most denounced have
contributed most heartily 10 maintain il in its purity
They have been the balance OF this government and have
long held it in its course But let gentlemen mistake
the signs Of the times Let them not suppose because
men have been true to principle OF the constitution in
legitimate sphere are willing still to adhere TO it 10 the
last that they tame submssionss to surrender the
rights they inherited and to abandon the principles for
which their fathers bled.
When we look around us we nd not in the government
alone but in the ecclesiastical and social condition OF the
country msch to increase rather than to aay apprehen
sion Where 90 we see ,nai sni q coac,,aoI ha ana
and with what opinions, have succeeded Franklin and
Hancock, and Sherman and Hamilton, and the elder
Adams, and many ooers-the men who herolcally rose
against the naughty who suyg led TO MAN.
an the weak against the strong and saked all upon the
The last of these patriots Of the revolution has de-
parted from public employment and their are ober-
ated and their places have been or less filled by rep
resentayes Of fanacism and schemes for power, whose
policy is at open with the practice and principles oil
the constitution they formed and OF which we now claim
In keeping with such changes, not to say downward
tendency OF political principle, we frd day by among
public men an increased readiness 70 10 destroy
TO crush the instrument which their fathers created
Now when ask that those rights secured BY the con.
sttuton shall be protected by legislation we are told
that abandon great principles principle upon which
the whole country stands-meanng thereby, suppose
the principle that power gives right that the majority
shall construe the constitution a will and that the legis
laon Of the country is to stand powerless before the will
When Mr President. in the progress Of the admins
traton OF this at former period we reached
great sectional controversy. was not then. as now
in the enjoyment OF their property; but il was then, as
partly now sectional controversy for political power
When the controversy upon the Missouri question arose.
right 10 introduce his slaves into the territory, bat
whether new States holding slaves should be admitted
into the Union Il to prevent an accession OF pollt
made 10 The admission Of Missouri That step was.
in itself insulting enough. And them ii the South had
been true to herselff she had then stood firmly by all
her CONSTITUTIONAL fiEns, we SnOuu now
other Compromise to preserve that balance OF power
which essential 10 the OF the confederation
itself The South would have held all the territory ac-
aured By the purchase OF louisiana stretching TO the
i9h parallel OF latitude, covering by its position all we
possess the Pacific and thus we should have held
now that attitude OF commanding strength which belonged
to the southern States under the old Under
Pacific country would probably have been through all
time that OF the saveholdng States. But, SIR, the South
her generosity them she had done upon former oc
caslon, gave away that which was her own And what
has her concession brought Has brought peace and
hamonyi Has it brought spirit OF concllianon Has
IL brought corresponding disposition TO yield anything
upon the other side No, sir but with an increase oil
power has brought increased arrogance and aggression
Now asked TO make still further surender-that
OF equal particlpadonsy, o any share in the territory
acquired from Mexico and this, too, when that surrea
der has for its end such disturbance OF the political bal
ance between the sections Of this Union, that he must
shut his eyes who does not n IL, consequence,
against sectional oppression.
AT still remote period the southern States yield
ed that vast territory the northwest OF the Ohio river,
TO diminish the power OF individual Saes and 10 pro-
duce that very equilibrium which contend is
tal now as Il was then That equilibrium then pro-
tuon which was framed as check upon legsation Is
now dsregarded; and II the South does not take her
stand and il she 10 not met IN spint oi fraternity
and concession let gentlemen remember, when the evil
day shall come that II not from seeds scattered py
those who claim the equal rights OF southern Sa'es Du'
by those who surrender them, and those who trample
upon them.
From that stage OF public feeling we have been rapidly
progressing until now among those very measures which
il is claimed calculated to give satisfaction TO me
whole country is included one that is 10 prohibit the
STAKEHOLDER from bringing his property into ths Disct