Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-05-31
O ON g. Es "a IS s /.

10 That part OF MIR. Soule'S speech which
relates to the constitution of Vermont,
which Mr.. S. said tolerated sort of peo-
mage.
Mr.. Upham explained the operation of
the laws of Vermont.
Mr.. Soule replied, showing that the
provisions of the constitution of Vermont
established the same state Of things which
prevailed in Mexico. He did not wish to
say anything disrespectful to Vermont,
but to relieve poor Mcxico, by showing
that she was sustained by liberty loving
Vermont. The practice in Vermont
might not conform with Eer paramount
law, which could be at any time enforced
by law. Mr. .Soule, in reply to Mr. u
pham's remarks as to the constitution of
Louisiana, said that the original constitu-
ton of that State was silent as to slavery.
1t was :iyil institution. But the consti-
tuition which the Senator had read from
was not in existence. In lS45 a consti-
tuition was adopted, which distinctly toll
crates slavery.
Mr. Pratt moved an amendment, which
he SAID would meet with the appreciation
OF all, to the 18th section, so as to pro-
vide that the territorial legislature should
neither introduce nor exclude African
slavery; provided that nothing shall pre-
vent them from protecting the rights of
property OF any denomination which may
at any time be legally recognized.
Mr. Jefferson Davis expressed his con-
currcncc in the amendment and withdrew
his own, believing that this would accom-
pSh the same purpose. Mr. Davis vindi-
Gated himself. fom the distorted state.
menls made of his amendments. 1t hnd
been represented as opposing the right to
hold slaves in the territories, whereas he
has explicitly stated that he does not ad.
NIT the right of Congress to affirm or de-
ny the right to hold slaves there,
Mr. Downs addressed the Senate at
length. He expressed his regret that
the Wilmot Proviso had not been first
disposed Of. and that the details of the
bill would be considered lie referred to
the compromise of ls45 as acceptable TO
the South, which left the question of
slavery for the judicial tribunals. That
compromise was defeated BY Southern
votes, and deep execrations were hurled
Mt those who defeated it. BY the loss OF
that bill, we lost the application of it to
California. What reason had we to sup.
pose that, by delay, we would gain any
thing. He and other Southern Senators
were committed to that compromise, cal
led the Clayton bill, and of which this
bill was copy His honorable colleague
tMr Soule) was not here at that time.
He (Mr Downs) sought to prohibit the
territorial legislatures from inhibi,ing
slavery; and our Northern friends had an
equal rightto demand hat they should
not establish it He could see no objection
to tie in reduction of this provision. He
would vote for the amendmdnt of the
honorable member from MaryLnd-not
caring for the form of words, as tn ey re-
strain the Legislature from prohibiting sla-
very.
After Mr.. Downs concluded, the Sen
ate went into Executive session.
In the Senate, on Thursday, the 23d,
the compromise bill was again taken up,
and Mr. Sou!e took the floor and spoke in
iSpiO W Ihi. DOWnS.
He spoke of his duties and his determi-
nation to fuldl them He remarked upon
the manner of the Senator from Ken
tucky as being a little ovcrbcaring, but
he would not complain Of it. No one had
greater admiration than he had of the
eloquence and high character ofthat Sen
ator That Senator had asked him if he
was not satisfied with this compromise
to offer another that was better He
(Mr Soule) was in minority here, and
one of the humblest soldiers in that mi
nority, and not from him, but from those
who had the power in their hands, was an
offer of compromise to be expected. But
should lie offer a compromise it would be
one that would rot speak to the eye and
deceive the sense.
The south had been losing considerable
ground ever since the Honorable Senator
from Kentucky offered his compromise.
What has become of the hope that the
territories back of the Sierra Nevada were
one day to have access to the ocean?
What had become of the dclusive prom
ise of Suitable boundaries?" Was he to
be called disunionst because he would
not supporta plan that wrecked the last
hope of the South for redress? The
South, instead of progressing, was actu-
ally losing ground at ur,ry siep. What