The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-19
ing that institution upon an unwilling people,

z
and forever, if it may be, this long and
distracting controversy--in the spirit Of con-
cession and compromise, if that concession
is to be reasonable, and that spirit mutual
am willing to abate somewhat Of my own
preferences, Of my own wishes am not
willing, as am not at liberty, to sacrifice
the interests of my people, to disregard
their expressed wishes, nor to prove untrue
by enlisting under the banner Of either cx-
IRENE, to the great interests Of patriotism,
unanimity Of our glorious Union and our
common country.
| Mr.. STANLY renewed the amendment
to say single word. He did not wish to
discuss the amendment Of the gentleman
from Alabama, at all, but merely to call
attention to particular part Of that amend
ment, viz: the words, Sin pursuance Of
constitutional authority The gentleman
had very shrewdly drawn his amendment,
so as that the committee, if they sustained
it, would in effect declare that California
was doing wrong in asking to be admitted
at this time. If they voted in the gentle
mans amendment, they voted California out
He did not wish to say anything more. He
withdrew the amendment.
He said, the proposition submitted by the
gentleman from Alabama Mr.. IMGE as
serts substantially, that States hereafter pre-
senting themselves for admission into the
Union ought not to be refused such admis-
sion, on the ground that their constitutions
prohibit slavery on the one hand, or on the
other permit it.
shall vote for that proposition. ! shall
vote for it because, in my Judgment, it de-
clares correct principle. 1t is principle,
sir, upon which have always stood, and
from which have no idea Of departing
principle maintained and cherished by my
constituents, and one which they will be
slow to surrender. | shall vote for it, sir,
for the further reason, that ] desire to correct,
as far as may be done here, an erroneous
and injurious inference deducibe from yes
terday's vote on the proposition introduced
by the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr..
STANTON, and which was in substance like
the one now under consideration. cannot
hut regard the vote by which that PROPOSE
ton was defeated, as most unfortunate
one; and as such, regret it profoundly.
Not that its necessary practical results are
so much to be deprecated, for they, indeed,
are just nothing at all, but because the true
explanation OF that vote will never be known
by one in hundred Of those who will learn
with alarm the simple fact that such pro-
position was voted down by northern mem
bers on this floor.
The proposition yesterday voted on wa,
lin substance this: that no State ought TO be
denfed admission into the Union (when
otherwise entitled to come in) on the ground
that the constitution that she may have adopt
ed for herself, permits slavery. This propo-
sition was, in my judgment, most unwisely
voted down.
Now; looking at the naked vote on this
question, it appears like a solemn declaration
by the northern members OF this branch Of
Congress, that no more slave States are ever
to be admitted into the Union--that such is
the fixed, irrevocably settled determination OIL
the people Of the North. 1t is in that as
pect, sir, that that vote will be too gener-
ally regarded, especially in the South. Thou
sands there who learn the result Of the vote,
will regard it as declaration by the North
that only States with constitutions prohibits
ing slavery are henceforth to be admitted
into the Union. Some will honestly sup
pose, and others will assert, without caring
to inquire whether it be correct or rot, that
such is the legitimate and fair Interpretation
Of that vote. You and /, Mr.. Chairman,
and Others who witnessed the proceedings
here, know better. We know that no such
inference is fairly deducible from that vote.
We know that many did not vote upon
the proposition at all, regarding it as mere
declaration of an abstract principle, out OF
place and out Of time, and really calling for
no vote either for or against it. And large
number Of those who voted against it, did so,
as we know, from desire to see the Cali
fornia bill kept unembarrassed by this or
any other amendment. These are the con-
siderations, as we, who are here, know, which
induced that vote But will the explanation
travel into all places side by side with the
announcement of the vote? Know you not,
sir, that before yesterdays sun went down,
our telegraphs had conveyed with lightning
speed the result of that vote into every quar-
ter Of our Union, and especially into the
South, And think you that the facts neces-
sary to its correct understanding went with
it' VIII not hundreds learn the result of that
vote, and be startled at it, who will never
know its true explanation at all?
Look for moment at the inevitable effect
of this in the South 1t has been declared
here, by one or two, or perhaps three North
ern members, that it is the fixed determine
ton Of the people Of the North to admit no
more slaveholding States into the Union;
and althoughithas been deniedagain and again
that any such determination exists there, yet
we know that these declarations have been
extensively circulated at the South, as indie
alive of the policy which the North intends
to pursue towards that section Of the Union.
trust that few men, even in the South,
have placed any confidence in, or attached
any consequence to, these declarations. But,
sir, with yesterdays vote, in'seeming confr-