The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-06
sPEEcH or

SPEECH OF
Hon. ISAAC z. MORSE. of louisiana,
On The Presidents Message. in relation % California:
IN the House Of Representatives, March IA, 1850.
In Committee of the Whole on the state OF
the Union, on the Presidents Message
/ transmitting the Constitution Of California:
Mr. MORSE said:
question under consideration will be the only
apology ! shall offer for asking share Of
the attention Of the committee.
The debate which has been going on for
some time in this body and the Senate, has
left little for those who follow, but the CLEAN
lngs OF field once as rich as the mines of that
California whose admission into our Union
is the sabject Of the Executive message
now lying upon our table, May our ac-
QUESTIONS in that quarter not prove like the
tabled fruit Of the East, beautiful to the eye,
but ashes to the taste.
The whole history Of this California ques-
ton has more the appearances Of q romance
than of truth, and it is only from fable or fc-
ton that we can draw any parallel. Where,
but in the NEUROLOGICAL story of Minerva,
springing armed from the head Of Jove
himself, do we find anything to illustrate her
present position?--asoyereign State as large
as the old fhirteen,n with nine hundred
miles Of seacost, her two Senators, and two
Representatives to this branch, with their
constitution in their hands, stepping from
the brain Of a brigadier-general Of the
United States army, into this Union Of con-
federated sovereignties.
Had you but provided her with the de-
cent veil Of a snort territorial government
at theiast session of Congress, Isee nothing
that would have prevented her from being
admitted under the operation of your 6 pre-
uious question:" but when it has been SO Of
ten, and so solemnly announced upon this
floor, and by the resolutions oil a large NUM-
Der Of State Legislatures, as the settled and
ayowed policy, that henceforth and forever,
from now to eternity, NO other slave terrific
ny shall. be Incorporated into this Union, the
question assumes an air Of grave Importance,
and it becomes every statesman to look mar
rowly and carefully into it, and to see whe-
ther, if that be the settled policy, as avowed
by sore gentlemen, boldly, manfully, and
honestly, and entertained by nearly every
Representative from the States north Of. N a.
son and Dixon's line, it does not become the
duty Of the people of the South to see how
far their interests are endangered and their
principles compounded, under this modern
reckless and majority interpretation Of the
Constitution am not Of that cass-of men
who desire to put off until tomorrow the
business of to-day. propose, then, sir,
briefly to examine the 6 signs of The tunes"
what is the present feeling North and South;
and whether the South are guilty of aggres-
sion upon the rights Of the North, or whe-
Their the North has or has not encroached
upon the South-to look upon the remedy
proposed by the couthern States--to examine
coolly and dispassionately the relative advan-
tages Of the Union. am not to be seduced
from the even tenor of my wayby the siren
songs of hosannas to, the Union, nor am to
be deferred by the yelpings and howlings Of
| those who choose to call me agitator or dis
unionist.
| When our forefathers framed this Con-
stitution, they declared, that, esWe, the
people Of the United States, in order to form
a more perfect Urion, establish justice, In
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general wei
fare, and secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and posterity, do ordain,n &C., Sc
[ Each and all Of that posterity have. not
only the right, but their duty to those who
come after them requires that they should see
whether this compact is faithfully kept; and
man who cannot speak is fool, who will
not speak is bigot, and who is afraid to
speak is slave. 81, ST.. s.., -.
snail come, however, to that portion Of
my argument (if my time allows) last,
Before / begin, desire to disembarras
this question from all extraneous matter--to
set some gentlemen right upon the subject,
by denying, once for all, that slavery is on
evil, and that any body has any right to RENEE
dy it as. such. This most mischevous error
has grown up from the sentiments Of Mr..
Jefferson, and many other Southern states
men, hastily and imprudently expressed at
an early period Of our country; also, from
the objections made to slavery by some Of
the Southern States Whatever might have
been tie sentiment Of the people Of the
South then, it has undergone great change.
We have seen our country flourish under this
system----a tropical climate and soil (where
the white man cannot cultivate the earth,
without mourning more or less risk Of health
or life) converted into. terrestrial paradise.
We have seen grow up with this institu-
ton noble, chivalrous, and intelligent peo-
pie, who have always exercised, and with
out meaning to be at all ofensiye) will con-
tinue to exercise, in the affairs Of the world
and of this country, an influence fully equal
to our numerical strength.
F Without intending to disparage, in the
least degree, our .brethren.ot any portion Of
this great domain, do not hesitate to say,
that in the peaceful walks of civil life--in
the stirring events of war--in everything
that can adorn and elevate a man, the people
of the South are fully your equals, and be-
ing completely satisfied with all our institu-
tons, we do not desire or intend to allow,
any change in any one Of them,
ask vou Mr. Chairman ia n not frue