The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18
Mr.. MARSHALL said: Under the reg

Mr.. MARSHALL said: Under the reg
dlations Of representation provided by the
Constitution, not merely power, but respon-
sibihty, tesides with the members from the
Free States--I mean the responsibility Of
efecting or defeating a suitable and proper
adjustment Of the controversy which now
distracts this country. All eyes are turned
upon US. have arisen to say, that hope
we will proceed to the vote--the most impor-
tant vote of the session.
For two days we have heard speeches on
on this amendment, and nearly every re-
mark that has been made, has fallen from
members from the slaveholding States. The
representation from the free States is silent,
still, ready for action. Why appeal again
and again' Why craye as a boon that which
may he demanded as right' Look at the
proposition under consideration 1t merely
asserts that should the line SO degrees 80
minutes be adopted as the southern boundary
Of California, no objection will exist to the
ad mission Of the territory south Of that line,
should slavery be recognized by the people
Of said territory in the formation Of that con-
stitution. Who gainsays such propositions
1t does not involve the question Of boundary.
1t does not declare that California shall be
divided. 1t does not establish through CALI
fornia the line of the Missouri compromise.
No. 1t is an amendment or addition which
merely presents another isolated question,
thus: If California is divided, the people
South may admit slavery If they choose,
and, should it be admitted, that shall con-
stitute no just ground for the rejection Of the
new State. hope the argument will cease;
for ] cannot fancy the North will reject this
principle. a, Ia
A VoIcE. We will show by the vote
what we will do.
Mr.. M continued. 1t is said the vote
Improve opinions. The slaveholding coun-
try will scarcely realize the adoption Of any
principle so adverse to their interests and to
justice, to say nothing Of constitutional right,
as the adoption Of the views declared Just
now. What! Make practical, legisla-
tive assertion that the recognition OF sla-
very in State constitution shall hence
forth be bar to admission into the Union!
cannot believe it. cannot realize the
fact that sentiment at the North has de-
| scended to such gross fanatcHm. 1t pre-
sents a question which, under our form Of
government, with our Constitution and our
elements Of republican sovereignty, ought
not to be debated in council of freemen
and equals. The practical assertion of any
such dogma will not be tolerated. | am
temperate, calm, and, hope, considerable in
the contest which is going on. My chief
aim is to reach a result which shall preserve
harmony and union. But call the atten-
ton OF this committee to my declaration, thai
if the North has in fact concluded to assert
in this Hall, in the form Of. law, the pro-
position that no State shall hencelorth be ad.
mitted which adopts constitution recogniz-
ing slavery, the States in which slavery il
now recognized will not, cannot, and ough1
4 not TO submit to it. But at all events / hope
we, the Representatives Of the people, viii
stop these appeals, and terminate this spec.
tGcle, especially as the members from the
Free States lend US unwilling ears and seer
to be anxious to make legislative declara.
ton Of their intentions. move we proceed
to the vote.
Calls for the question.
i Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee asked
for tellers
i Mr.. ,CROWELL called for the read.
ing Of the amendment; which was read a
( follows: ..
&..prpstdsd, however, That it shall be no obsta
j Gle to the admission into the Union of any Stat
which may hereafter be formed out of the terrific
ry lying south Of the parallel Of latitude Of 36 deg
| 80 min, that the constitution of said State maj
authorize or establish African slavery therein. "
| Tellers were ordered, and Messrs. MASON
and CALVIN were appointed.
The question was taken, and the tellers
reported, ayes IS, nays 80.
So the amendment was rejected
Mr.. Seldom proposed as an amend
ment, after the word twenty" in the 10th
line, to insert, "and, at the time of its adop-
ton, intended and understood as partition
for the future, between the slaveholdne
and non-slaveholding States, of the territory
OF the United States, to the uttermost extern
of its western limits, and as such was en-
acted mainly by the votes Of Representa-.
tives from the non-slaveholding States
| Mr.. S. said, the amendment Mr.. Chair
man, recalls a fact of great moment, in con-
sidering tine obligation of the Missouri Com
promise line. That fact history has recorded
and attested. 1t is, that at the time Of its adop-
ton, and when understood as partition to the
extreme ofour western limits OF the territory Of
the United States between the North and the
South, its enactment was effected mainly
by the representatives of the non-slavehold-
ing States. The majority of the Southern
REPRESENTATIVES were earnestly and deci-
sively opposed to it, and their resistance to
its passage was ardent and protracted. Sir,
it was forced upon the South, in despite of
opposition and remonstrance. With great
reluctance the South received and acquiesced
in it. And why, sir Her power was then
relatively much greater than now The
mere retirement of her members would have
left no sufficient body for legislation, and
would have abrogated the Government.
d. -. a b.