The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-27
spEEoH OF ma. PHELPS,
OF vERMoN1


OF yERMoNr,
On tho subject Of Slavery, &c., deliUersd in the Senate of
tie United STATES, January %, 1850.
The Senate having resumed the consideration OF the
Of the State Of Vermont on the subject Of slavery which
were some time since ppsented by MIR. UPHAM-
Mr. PHELPS said;
Mr.. PREsIDENT: After the few remarks which made
the other day, entertained the hope that should not
find myself under the necessity at present OF participating
any further in the debate this question But sir after
what has fallen from the other side OF this chamber,
feel il due to myself and due to the State which in part
represent offer some further remarks in yndication of
my course and their course ltt
Sir, have been called upon to STAGE the music" 1
OF any Emusic !" but must be allowed to say sir, that
think we have some very bad Emusic" on this floor
have been called upon, sir to meet the issue. make
trust my constituents will make no issue here which
am not prepared to meet Nay, sir, am prepared to
meet tho approaching issue, pregnant is with
Sir It has been said by gentlemen on the other side OF
this chamber that this great issue forced upon them
u has not however. been forced upon them BY the Off
c0usness OF any portion o this country, il is an issue
which has forced itself upon usan issue which has come
here unlnvted and unwelcome presents itself as one
OF ha train OF consequences which many OF foesaw
and resisted. II comes here the consequence
necessary consequence-of train OF measures which
for one have resisted from the outset Ii one Of the
fruits OF that spirit OF aggandzement and conquest and
military acquisition, which seems to have infected and
infatuated every republican government Sir is one Of
the fruits OF our Mexican warthe fruits oil that policy
which ORIGINATED IN the disposition to extend the Of
which may in the end dissolve this republic Sir am
not surprised at this issue 1t is what have long anti
cpated it is an issue which cannot avoid; and here,
sir lie its difficulty and its dangert question to be
settled; but hoU settled this floor now can an
ticipate f
Sir, in approaching this question: am moi forgetful Of
that should approach it cooy, deliberately, and with
feelings OF conciliaon; that should approach it with
ardent attachment TO the constitution and to the Union
Sir shall not be diverted from thss determination what
ever may be the tenor the temper of the debate 1t is
true that there are many considerations some of them of
great masnllule pressing upon me not to depart in the
rational consideration of this question.
Sir we are all attached to the Union we all value the
harmony and stability OF that Union and topic which
tends to endanger either should in nv Judgment be dis
cussed here in anger.
Sir these professions may be doubted. MY profes.
slons the other day. seem not to have carried with them
men Sir, proof were wanting Of the sincerity Of my
professions on this subject is to be found in the history
OF my public life There are passages, Mr. President
IN that lie here which senator's ought not to have for
gotten. lis but few months since, in the situation
where now stand advocated the measure alluded
to by the honorable senator from South Carolina al.
Tee. commonly called the Clayton Compromise The
honorable senator from South Carolina the other day,
pronounced that bill satisfactory to the South His
preston was, that was framed TO the honor of
the Souih." sustained that bill; and under what cir
cums,ancesl Sir. Iknew from the outset the position
was about to take in consentng to be member of that
perllous position. knew well the difficulty of
Cling the excited feelings Of different seconsof this
country was notgnorant OF the danger OF any
sion with view to compromise knew, sir, the tenn
per OF the people OF different sections of this Unon and
that every concession either side, however small
would be viewed with extreme jealousy. Sir. might
nave avoided Tins position; might have gone further,
and when the bill was reported might have consulted
NY own popularity by going with my friends OF the
North. and in following the crowd in denouncing the
creature OF our own creation. Sir il not unantci-
pated that IN consequence OF my course upon that BILL
my name should be associated with terms OF reproach
that opprobrium, personality, and, sir, may add, per-
was influenced by higher and better motives than the
mere love OF popularity. had duty to perform here :;
desired to see tins troublesome and dangerous question
settled and, IN the discharge of that duty, came boldly
TO the vlndcaion OF that BILL while it was denounced
by the almost unanimous voice Of the North, and may
add BY the almost unanimous voice Of my own constt.
aency stood alone OF all the people OF the North
followed the dictates OF my own judgment; and can
say 10 all sincerity that Judgment is now what il
Sir regret that the bill did not pass, and believe the
country will yet regret it, was willing, if necessary to
make myself sacrifice in order 10 attain the great object
OF hamonizng the Union, and Of putting end forever
10 the question which now agitates and alarms us Ii
mat object could have been attained BY the sacrifice Of my
ohcpetensons would have considered the object very
eheapy purchased Sir, when gentlemen from other
place themselves in the gap between the excited feelings
oil their constituents and the harmony of this Union
when they disregarding the excitement of the moment
VIII breast themselves TO the storm OF popular prejudice
hazardng their popularity and their good name with an
excited constituency, promise those gentlemen will
never DO them the injustice to doubt the sincerity Of their
professions sn t fH M m
will pursue this subject no further My object is to
satisfy the Senate, that in what have said in relation to
lhe cultivation OF harmonious spirit whatever profess
SONS have made OF disposition 10 harmonic the diff
ieen sections of this Unon and settle forever this trou
oesome question, my sincerity proved by the course
nave heretofore taken in my action on this floor
Su one object have in addressing the Senate on the
present OCCASION is TO vindcate the resolutions present
ed here from the State which in part represent Those
resolutions have been the object OF very concatory
comment Almost every epithe in the whole category OF
opproorium has been bestowed on them Sir, believe
can vindicate those resolutions before the Senate and
before the world. They have been, sir, msconceyed
here and most grossly msrepresented elsewhere They
nave been pronounced this floor offensive, violent
opproouous yltupeative, UNJUST insulting reasonable
anu untrue Sr, II there is anything left in the category
OF opprobnum not bestowed upon Them il NAV well be
regarded as surpussge.
Let me revert to the resolutions themselves have
o tnat tney nave been msconstruad Sir IL they have
no' Deen most egregousy msconceived, have not the
capacity 70 Judge They are drawn not, perhaps skill
y =, ney ought to be- The language is, perhaps, not
precisely what others would have employed to express
,ne same sentiments. will read them The first reso.
luton asserts sII 81 aa
hat slavery Is crims against humanity, and sore
eyn N he body polite, that excused by the framers
" ne 'ede raj constitution crime enailed upon the
.y ~ their predecessors, and tolerated thing of
"eIoraoie necessity" M l
Inc other day took the liberty OF remarking that the
senumen here expressed the general sentiment OF
In, ~. n lin