The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-18

sion OF CALIFORNIA, ana TO give up farly asserted
it is now almost certain that if State is TO come
right of Texas apart of her territory, to be con-
verified into non-saveholding territory, because
in from that portion of Texas known as New
Mexico, she will present her self with consttu-
ton adapted to the feelings of the majority her,
Otherwise, presume, it would be idle for them to
come here. tmight, or mightnot. Ishall not make
the assertion too broad. But depend upon it, no
other slave State will come into this Union that is
let under the operation of the policy known as the
Executive policy, known as that which recognizes
the right oiself governmental people themselves
nor, In my opinion, will ny-come i'm under the
policy recognized in this bill, or on the principle
Of readopting state of things which originally
they would not have recognized or instituted. l
say it boldly, that slave State will come in UNI
der any such policy for, if it is left to the Exc
cutive scheme, or to the spontaneous sovereignty
OF the people, who will form their constitution in
obedience to the actual views Of the majority, it
will always be formed 10 propiate the power that
can admit them.s That is the only certain result.
Gentlemen may be blind toit, if they choose not
TO see 1t, but 1t is as certain as that am now
speaking.
Before approach the discussion of my objec-
tons to this bill,--and they are mainly applica-
BILE TO the policy in relation to the formation of
States as illustrated by California and New Mexi-
col must state what line of policy it has been
indicated will satisfy the North. speak with re-
from Massachusetts the other day, (Mr Davis. }
am not in the habit Of making comparisons
1t Is not IN my nature to make such as will be
Notifying to the pride of freeman, or any people
having sectional prejudces and "reminiscences, and
such as have local attachments and associations
But that Senator took occasion to lay down this
broad proposition ; that whilst he admitted that
under the Mexican laws, slavery was excluded
from the territories acquired from Mexico, and
that such would be the decision of the federal
court, whilst he admitted there We're causes enough
to exclude from these territories he said that he
would be satisfied with none of these causes, GER
tain as they were. He said there was broad
doctrine which was involved in it, and 1t was the
duty of all who thought with him to carry it
through, and inculcate it upon the statute book !;
and that was the doctrine established by the ord-
nance Of 1857, or, in other words, the Wimot
Proviso, by which slavery should be excluded by
actual legislation. He wished to confirm and en-
force principle Of legislation What was the
reason he gave for this? He said the cotton po-
pulahon was an aggressive, restless, ambitious
population, that the great cotton interest, being
strong, It was calculated to engender dangerous
designs for ITS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and extension In
illustration of these views he referred to the eXpe
dition against Cuba. He alluded with censure to
other acts and characterized them as lawless, vo-
lent, and acquisitive. He said that the only way
to keep population of that kind in order was to
moral character and social disposition were to
ameliorate these qualities, suppose, and would
be guard against this restless ambitious popula-
ton, who were arrogatng to themselves more
honors and unjust gains than belonged to them
lie used this language.
Sir, what remedy have we for this, If annex
alton is to be continued by war and invasion !!
How shall we stay this restlessness, which leads
to the adoption of unlawful means! How shall
we stop this unusti6able desire of acquisition by
force' say, sir, as l said here two years ago,
that there is but remedy, and that is to plant
the frontier with a free population. That is the
remedy, and there is no other which can be eff
fectual, because it will put end to acquisitions
by force. Those acquisitions which come by
voluntary compact stand on quite different foot
ing"
Mr.. President, as the senator thought proper
to give the population among which live, the
appellation of a cotton population, perhaps he
will allow me to say that we should regard it as
somewhat strange if we should require Goldfish
aristocracy to keep us in order. "a laugh.] |
suppose he would have Goldfish sentineis placed
over the cotton gentry. Laughter
Well, sir, 1t is said-though am no great meta
physician-that there are but two great laws in
the universe; love and war; Now, sir it seems
to me that this Goldfish population, sent to guard
our morality, might be in danger from both OF
these laws. will not say in how much danger
they would stand from war on the part of this
cotton gentry, for that might look like belcose
threat and would go to confirm her opinion of
us. will only say, it might be something like
a dangerous experiment to undertake to force and
control such people in the way indicated say
there might be some danger; will not say how
much. hope may refer to the danger of the
other law. Obnoxious slavery is, there is
such thing as Loves willing letters; and, like
others, this Goldfish gentry might have susceptible
heartsas well as pliable consclences. Would they
be entirely proof against the charms Of fair pro-
prietress Of wide cotton fields, cultivated by few
hundred slaves / know there might be some
conflict between the conquered heart and yield
ing conscience, but think there would be com
promise; unless the lady should give away the
land and negroes, to make herself the more inter-
esting, and then there could be no difficulty in
the way of an alliance The tone of the gentle
mans remarks was well calculated to mortify the
pride and lacerate the sensbity of any people.
To give that a reason why this "cotton pop,i-
lation" ought to be controlled, was something
more than merely saying that slavery was ain in
stltuton which ought not to be extended But,
sir, he went further to say that the Presidents
and other functionaries of this Government have,
IN an overwhelming proportion, been taken from
this cotton population. Sir, i thought at the
time that this statement was unfair. Our Presl-
dents from Virginia were not cotton planters, nor
were they selected under the influence of cot
ton interest. They were men whom no climate
could claim, and no interest appropriate. Their
moral qualities and wise conduct were honorable
commentaries on the institutions under which
they were bred. And will extend the same re-
mark to President from his own State. john
ADAMS had the soul of n man that would do honor
to the institutions of any country
Mr.. DAVIS. Will the Senator from South
Carolina allow me to interrupt him for a moment,
that | may correct himi The Senator is not
using my language. | said expressly, the "cotton
interest.
Mr.. BUTLER. We'll, then, the cotton in
terest. This was interest which sprung up
long after these Presidents were dead, and as one
Of many interests has only had its legitimate con-
troll.
Mr.. President, it is my wish not to touch such
topics with rudeness and intrusion on my part.
have noticed the remarks of others. have not
wished to make comparisons, because j think
history would rebuke any man who would make
comparisons between these great men. have
avoided doing so, for very obvious reasons, and
yet it is one which, has been frequently made.
But, with regard TO the territory, | think have a
right to speak in answer to the Senator from
Massachusetts, for he says that Texas and Florida
and Louisiana have all come into the Union, and