The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-12

and hence he argued that the assimilation of the
purposes of the union of the States with nature
of joints stock association was unfounded in law
and fact,
institution, holding il to be wrong and unjust,
and that il was the duty and within the power OF
Congress to resist il now; and that, hereafter, Con-
gress, in all cases, upon the admission OF new
States, should require as an absolute prerequisite,
that the new State should be free one. In regard
TO the territories he considered the power to exclude
slavery vested in Congress, not only by the
Constitution, but by the treaty making power Inc
question was, should that power be exercised!
He was told that nature forbade slavery In the new
territories and that the Mexican laws prohibiting
slavery were in force there. Admitting both pro-
positions, he still thought il wise and proper TO
carry the laws of the American Union into force
there, even if it was To re-enact the law OF God.
II had been declared that the diffusion OF slavery
weakened its influence and power. In answer TO
this he confined himself to the simple inquiry,
whether it weakened by the admission Of sla-
very into Missouri and Texas!
He next adverted To the proclaimed dangers to
the Union. II had been declared by one Senator
that the Union already dissolved Another
had expressed an opinion that it would be dissolved
in a certain number of days.
Mr.. FOOTE said that he desired to say few
words in explanation of this remark. He had been
denounced by many papers at the North, not only
with prophesying the dissolution of the Union, but
with endeavoring to promote il. What he meantby
that warning was this: resolution had been sub
mtted in the House of Representatives forcing the
admission of California. 1t was to come up again
on the Monday after the day he had made those
marks. II was stated to him en- good authority
that the majority of the House intended to force
that resolution through, by forcing the Speak
er out of his chair and voting another person into
it. This he believed could not be accomplished
without bloodshed and strife This why he
considered that, unless there was something done
shortly, nothing could be done. The resolution in
the mean time was withdrawn, and the crisis did
t,nfn Mr. do nIne adj lrpn mar ka
condemnatory of the ruffianly pursued to-
wards him by some writers to the northern press,
particularly the New York Courier and Enquirer.
Mr.. SEWARD resumed his remarks, stating that
he accorded to the Senator from Mississippi the
warmest devotion to the Union. He could not agree
with Senators in the apprehension of dangers to the
Union. 1t had existed sixty years, and treason
was obsolete.
The question for the consideration of statesmen
was, whether slavery should be peacefully, gradual
ly and lawfully abolished by the States who have
the control il, whether this Union shall be
dissolved, revolution ensue and slavery be extir-
| pated by the sword?
| He said he regarded the fate and dominion of
slavery to be fixed. Nothing could restore it; and
| he hoped that no man would shrink from the per-
| formance of his duty by fear of endangering the
| Union by exercising the powers of government
| conhded TO Congress. He regarded it as thing
| impossible TO dissolve this Union
! Mr.. HALE desired TO ask the Senator from Mas
sachusetts question. That Senator had said this
Government, by the terms OF the resolutions of an
| nexaton, were bound by solemn compact TO admit
new States to be formed out of Texas. What he
desired to know was, whether the Senator, as a
lawyer would say that the resolutions of annexa-
ton, in themselves, not unconstitutional, and
| therefore not binding any one,
| Mr.. WEBSTER said the resolutions not
unconstitutional. The power to Texas
was given by that clause which says, "New States
may be admitted &c. This clause inserted
in the Constitution with special reference TO Can
| ada.
Mr.. BERRIEN replied to that portion of Mr.. Sc
| wards remarks relative to the want of precedent
in treaties for the extradition of slaves.
The subject was then postponed till Wednesday,
Mr.. DOUGLAS having the floor
Mr.. FOOTE then gave notice that on tomorrow
he would call up his motion to go into the election
Of select committee of thirteen.
And then the Senate adjourned.