The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-09-25

shall toie against TIE amendment which
has non been proposed By The honorable |
Senator from New York. (Mr. Sewsrd.l
n viii nol be bersase regard II ss pro
rosiiiun 10 Dissolve this Onion. ] do not
know whst might be the effect OF that |
amendment. il il we're adopted. But il /
really srems 10 me that the idea that the
liberation OF two thousand, or a. most
twenty five hundred siares-
Mr.. B.IpwIs. Not twenty Eve hun
dred. There are only Sin hundred slaves
here.
Mr.. WISrHRoP. I think the Senator
must he mistaken; bnl il 10 he 50. then ]
say. with all the more emphasis, that The
idea that the liberation &c sir hundred
slaves. on little piece Of territory now
reduced 10 about SIX miles square. is about
TO dissolve this Union. altogether surpas-
ses my belief. ham not quite creduious
enough Cor that
Dir. FooTE. Will The honorable Sena-
TOR bear with me 10 allow me TO explain
on ono poinli
MI. WINTHROP. Ocftdiuils
Mr.. foofE. Mr.. President. il ID not The
number Of lire slaves; il 10 moi the imme-
date consequences; il 10 The hideoas yio-
iation OF the political compact of our
fathers. n is the prinriple-lhe most nn-
pardonable injustice towards the South
which must inHame The public mind. and
must inevitably awaken apprehension that
this il but the entering wedge 10 other and
more aggressive measures, which are a.
forwards 10 follow. That is my view Of
the matter.
Mr.. WINTHROP. believe understood
the honorable member from Mississippi
before. The facts Of The case were GER
tsinly as I stated Them. His suggestion
was, that the passage Of bill 10 emanci-
pale six or seven hundred negroes on this
lille patch Of territory. which you may
almos, cover with your pocket handker-
chief. was about 10 be The entering wedge
which was To rive The union asunder. Sir.
il mus, indeed be the operation OF some
awful and mysterious principle. aud mol
the operation Of the ari itself. which ~
about 10 produce this tremendous result.
And that leads me to say, in The second
place, thai if ! should vote agains. This
amendment, IL will not he on the ground
that d, not believe Congress have the
power 10 abolish slavery in This District,
nor upon the ground thai am not willing
TO exercise that power on the proper oe-
easion and in proper manner. That !
understand to be the prlneipss which Is
about 10 dissolve The Bnion. The asser.
tion and exercise Of this power is so hid
eous violation Of the political compact,
and so objectionable an injustice towards
the South. that the dissolution Of The
Union is inevitable! Sir. hold 10 no
sucI, doctrine; and desire. If by chance
mr. name should be recorded against this
amendment, TO protest 10 advance against
being understood 10 acqnesce in any such
nlea. No one can go further than myself
m denying the powered Congress TO in
ferfere with slavery in the States; but
within the limits of this District, | main.
tain that its authority is complete, over
slavery and over every thing else. And
I happen 10 have before me some little
memoranda of The opinions Of our fathers
and of oul predecessors upon this subject;
which will serve, think, 10 justify this
opinion. better Than any argument OF my
own. bfought them into The Senate
some days ago, with no expectation Of
being called upon TO nse them in This
connection, if al all; and certainly with not
the slightest idea thai the Senator from
New York as about 10 do, let me say,
90 unadvised and SD unreasonable thing
as To- OFFER suell an amendment 10 the bill
now befure us.
Mr.. Winthrop he proceeds 10 quote a
number Of authorities and opinions, MAIN
tanning the complete power Of Congress
over The sabjeci in the District. He then
continues
Sir. for myself, therefore. ] say, with
snrh weight Of authority before Us, that
If vote against This amendment, it will
NOT be either because regard il as pro-
positiom to dissolve the Union, or be.
cause hold lhat Congress have not full
authority and power 10 do the very thing
which II is now proposed 10 do. Bat ]
will add al Inc sanre lime that do most
sincerely regret that the honorable Sena-
for from New York should have seen fl
80 spring upon US sisch proposition with
oui previous notice, and in this immediate
connexion. most de. ply regret that lie
should have thought proper to embarrass
che action OF the Senate, and embarrass
the action Of individuals upon question
so interesting to US all as that under con-
eideraiion, by proposition Of so crude
end hasiv character.
What Is The proposition! II hegins by
a proclamation of Immediate emancipation
TO every slave in the District of Columbia.
But what follows! | had almost said that
II holds out false promise on lis face. Il
saws slavery shall Instantly cease IN the
Distrie, of Columbia But does il cease
vp,, n,Yttor ,I,o tormsnf The amendment