The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March

OF the Senate, the chamber ltselt. and every
avenue leading TO il. were thronged before
twelve o'clock. Ladies and many dislin>
guishrh persons were on the floor OF the
Senate. Among the persons within the
bar, ! noticed General Hamilton. of South
Carolina, Governor Marcy, r. J. Walker,
and Sir Henry Buwer Before Twelve
o'clock, ii was found eypedien' 10 close the
doors against further ingress. Hundreds
fpersons-among whom were many had
come from Boston. New York, Richmond. -.
and the country around, expressly to hear
Mr.. Webs,er-dId not get admission. Mr.
Webster spoke about three hours and a
half and. a. he said, with no purpose Of
ambitious display. He came here. he said ,
to speak for the Union. His exordum was
simple and impressive, and his peroTalion
grand.
con6ne myself merely 10 statement Of
his own views and purposes as to the ques
tons before the Senate. TO render Them
distinct and plain, | may stale them as
foliows:-
LIST. That the character of the whole ter
ri'ory belonging to the United States, as
respects the existence of slavery in II, is
already fixed by unallerah!e laws.
81. That the faith of the United States is
pledged to the execution of the contract
between the United States and Texas, TO
admit new States, not more than four in
number. i-om her territory, when they shall
have sufficient population; and that. as
slavery existed m Texas at the time of an
nexalion, those were TO be slavehoIding
States.
81. Tha, California and New. Mexico
should be subject to no law respecting
slavery except the law of nature and pbysi.
cal geography, Sc, which utterly excluded
African slavery.
4h. lie was content with the law of
nature, and would put no Uilmot in it,
lie denied the right of the Legislature Of
Massachusetts to instruct hlm to vote
aganS, he dictates Of common sense, and
he would not vote for the Proviso, i, offered.
9th. New Mexico. il ever settled. would
necessarily be free from African slavery,
or any lhing of the sort, excep, peonase or
predial service.
Oh, He dwelt upon and strongly enfor.
ced the moral and constitutional obligations
of the North TO carry into effect the s,pula-
ton for the surrender Of fugitive slaves -
On ,sis point he was very strong, as indeed,
upon every other. He argued that the
Constitution was addressed to States. and
bound them RS well as individuals, and the
States were bound 10 carry this clause OF
the Constitution into effect. He would
cheerIully support the Bill on this subject
now before the Senate.
7lh. He deprecated all the agitation of
abotionlSts, IN whatever lorm it was kept
up, and especially tina, of legislative resoIu-
licns and instructions.
Slh. He was willing that the South
should he aided in removing free negroes
from their territories by the General Gov-
ernmnnr, and in sending them TO Liberia
proprialon for this objec, to the extent o.
the whole sum which the Treasury had
received from the public lands, if the South
desired il.
9th. He would discuss the question Of
the boundaries of California, territorial gov.
ernmen,s, &C.. when the subject came
properly before The Senate.
These are the general views OF Mr.. Web
sier bearing on the veXed question. The
majority of the Senate and the auditors
were highly erarified at their character.
They are considered as bringing US nearer
than we ever were before TO an adjustment.
In regard 10 the Wimo. Proviso, Mr..
Webster treated it with utter contempt and
disdan. There is nothing in satire and
irony that he does not employ agains, IT.
lie had to fights battle against Northern
prejudices. and every instrument which
logic and the whole armory Of sarcasm
could furnish he employed. When he
brought up his heavy artillery, and enforced
the moral obligations Of compac,s. he was
mighty. lie was overpowering in reflec-
lions on the coaduc, of Northern democra-
cy, in regard to some OF these things.
1t is a question how far the North will
Immediately support Mr.. Webster's posi-
tions; but i, Is believed he will prevail
The conservatives in the North will rally
in his support. The South and West will
back him.
WASHINGTON, March 9.
Mr.. Webster's speech has poured oil on
the troubled waters. His speech has given
us a confidence in the speedy restoration
of harmony to Congress and the country,
which was unfelt before. 1t is remarsa-