The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04

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quarter, however respected
But, sir, so far as | am concerned-and,
think, so far as the South generally is con-
cerned-every assertion that we have OPP
posed the admission of California, because
of the prohibition Of slavery, is unfounded.
| am one Of those who have uniforml avow-
ed the doctrine that the people, in forming
State constitution, have right to determine
for themselves whether they will have slave
~ or not. am willing to follow that doc
trine to any conclusion to which it may lead.
But, sir, the doctrine, does not carry with it
the right of every band of wandering men
in any section of country, who may choose
to assemble together and adopt so-called
constitution, to bind US to recognise its validi-
ty and their sovereignty Such right is
not implied in the doctrine | avow. We
object, sir, mainly to this provision, because
it does not come from the permanent popu-
lation of the country, and because it was in
serted, as is too plainly apparent, to yield to
the ant-slavery dictation OF the American
Congress What would it advantage the
South, if we could insert in this constitution
Professionally clause to admit slavery, if it
be true that the people, the soil, the climate,
are all opposed to it, What couldit, under
such circumstances, advantage US, or what
could it injure your
If, under such condition, any man
should undertake to 60 to such country
with slaves, it would follow, of course, that
he would lose his property. And to those
who so ardently desire the emancipation OF
the slave, what better guaranty could they
ask than that they should be sent to coun-
try where the population, the soil, the eli
mate, the productions, are all opposed to
slavery Sir, there is a want of sincerity
somewhere Those who assert SO unquali-
fedly that slavery cannot exist there must, |
say, be wanting in sincerity when they so
fuliously oppose the idea Of leaving the de-
cison OF the question to time and the future
population. Men do not, from week to
week and from month to month, battle
against mere abstraction. No doubt some
southern men believe that slaves would not
be taken to that country, and yet contend
for it as constitutional right. That is
different question. A constitutional right is
substantial thing, because of its sacred
character, and the possible consequences of
permitting breach at even the least i'm
portant point. But the man who opposes it
as matter of policy, and at the same time
asserts that it could not exist, that no law
could introduce it and keep it there, must
have strange mode Of reasoning, or a
want of that sincerity which we have a right
to expect in discussion here. But suppose
that the constitution of California had con-
tanned clause permitting slavery: how
then would the case stand? Would those
who, at the last session Of Congress, opposed
the organization of territorial government
have voted for the admission Of State into
the Union with such constitution :
Would those who refused that the Consti-
tuition of the United States should be ex-
tended over the country, lest it should give
some advantage to Shareholders in the Terri
tories-would they, say, with such a pro-
vision in the Constitution as have sup
posed, have voted for the adm sion of Cali.
fornia? No, sir; their past conduct too
plainly shows the contrary. Yet these are
the sam who arraign southern men for
position assumed upon different ground, and
attribute to them the purpose to exclude
it because slavery is prohibited Now, as
sve maintain that we are merely con-
tending for our constitutional rights, when
we contend for even less than our constitu-
tional rights, and ask that that contract
under which we have existed for thirty years
shall be renewed That position, however,
is denounced as ultra. Ultra in what Is |
it beyond the faith heretofore pledged to US
beyond the compact made for the aavan-
tage Of one section to our disadvantage Is
it beyond the Constitution which secures
equal privileges to every citizen What is
it beyond What is it beyond' Will any
man tell me it is ultra to assert our consttu-
tional rights ultra to ask that compact
heretofore made shall be again extended p
ultra to claim that we are equals in the
Union, and should enjoy equal rights ? If
that is ultra, God forbid that should ever
be anything else And, in keeping with
this idle and unsubstantiated charge, we are
told that the extremes here meet.
1t is charged here and elsewhere that the
ultras of the North and the South have met,
and that this great and important measure
of settlement and compromise is to be de-
stroyed by that injunction. Well, sir,
upon what grounds have the extremes met
They meet upon the ground that it is proper
to say what they mean-to tell the country
plainly, honestly, what their purpose is, and
npon that ground men Of any opinion would
meet me at all times. And in such con-
junction, being an attempt to say what we
mean, to say nothing unintelligibly, and to
de:eat all ill1sory schemes, am willing to
be found, with men of any opinion,
however repulsive. Beyond this there
is no conjunction. Any insinuation
that there is any co-!ntelligence beyond
this, that there is any caucusng, to use a
phrase VIII understood here, between the
pro-slavcry men of the South, and anti
slavery men of tho North | pronounce,
so far as | am concerned, to be false. II
stand upon my own ground-that which |
have uniformly announced to the Senate.
Let those who choose t, vote with me do
so for whatever reasons satisfactory to