The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-03-02
VERMONT yINDlCATED,
SPEECH OF MR. PHELPS
.LNDGFE.NCE OFTILE TERuO.NT
RESOLUTIONS
~ SENATE, JANuAur, %, 1850.
( fConc'uitd from last irctk.l

With respect 20 the sentiment however,
that deep, abiding, permanent sentiment of
the North, that slavery ought not 20 loo eN.
tended to 'hcso rT-1rlrT -r-rr---s very dit.
irreut thing 81 Is more enduring principle
Sir, on that subject oGg opinions have been
expressed firmly, calmly hndp boldly cN-
pressed, without cquivocatou; and hll tiIul
we propose ls 10 carry out our own opinions,
ms lar ns we have the power, 10y regular, OF
dinnry, constitutional action. lfii turns out
that we hHVC no constitutional power over
thG matter, we must yield; hut, II We have u
constitutional power over IL, then, sir, wo
propose 90 use u. All we ask H.. thnt the
legi.!ailnn orCouErcss upnu the muttcr,wiyh-
in its constitutional Jurisdiction, shall be
guided b., the sound judgement Of Congress.
Aud, sir, let me protest here, let me protest
again, against the idea, or the suggestion, ,thut
thus subject Is pressed upon as hy tho North.
sir. we oil see and feel that It IL one Of the
lruss of this war Of conquest; that II presents
itself here IN a commanding attitude; the
question is not 20 he cyndcd Sir, regret
as much ns any man To see The countenHucC
of this uuWclcomc guest here. would hnvc
closed the door ugaissf hinG would have
closed il 10y rejecting every tling like uequi-
sitlon Of territory, 10 hc made the subject Of
dissCutluus such as are going on now; To hc
tuadc the arena upon which this issue is 10
be tricd--this disgusting controversy about
stTvUry rHrrt-ti-ssss,- sir, IL is possible
that we may bc relieved, after MI. lfit can
be made out, Tint Nesbayo no ~Snirol over
these territories; tllatWp HFe mere proprictors
ul the land there, aud have no control, no
Legislative power with respect TO thcm; then
SIR, do not sre hut we can bow this uHwel.
come vistcr out ofthe chnmhcr.
Bul, sir, | am disposed 10 hesitate before
] reject the construction of the Constitution
rtuUtrJ ny Trtrtrr, urttrr, 'r--t trtt-t t4ttt+
am. Slr II we possess no power 10 icgis'
lut,, over these territories, tAnt must hG very
mich la the situation in which the huuorn-
hlr Srnntor from Georgia lNlr BcrrIcu,) con.
siders his constituents placed 10y my remark
tito other day about the civilized world: ifW
have no control over these territories, they
are ont of the civilized world, aud like ia,
/ ill-bred Yankee hoy, instead of being IN q
fcondittun OF pupriuge, ms Senators have eN'
pressed II, they must come up aioot
Sir, let me very couescly express my owi
view in relation to this matter. by. trcaty
witt France, Louisiana was ceded TO thi,
country; byrenty with Span, Florida wa:
ceded by treaty with Mexico, New Mexie,
aud California have been coded. Now, sir
what is il Tint wns cedcd? Is it the mer,
I land? why, sir, Ihnve yet TO learn that they
have uny public domain; there mny he, o
J there may not. What, then, WAS codcd t,
us The sovereignty OF the country. Tim
/ Is tlte- great object of all cesson lithe Uni
led SHtcs had merely purchased title tC
/ land within the jurisdiction ofn State, nn nc
of ccssioa would be necessary 10 give juris
diction; Inn IL the territory he conquered nnt
in consequence OF such conquest cedcd ",
I Mexico, the sovereignty is ceded, .nud ih,
prbltc domain follows, not az che principa
ohirct of ccssinu, hut as "a mere incident 1,
the transfer ursovcrciguty. Now, sir, car
we t4l,r the ccsSiun? Have we the constitu
Liioual power 10 accept it? This question
was once agitnted. IL was once proposed {,
amend tGe Constitution of the United Statrs
in otdor 10 remove doubts as 10 the cuustitu
-liunnliIy OF the purchasa of Lousinua hu
the gAnd seusr nfthe american people seem
ed to.upprove Jhe measure, aud the pr"teC
of amending the Constitution WIS abandon,
ed. Sir, we will suppUsp that va have go
oyer that difficulty -(geuilemen vay gst o.
e,it IL ~ thry plol.cl 80 wiz rFu", thl