The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-10
VOL. ~.
CONGRESS-.
IllIRry-FIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSIOy.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1850.

SETS Butler Of South Carolina. Underwood Of
Kentucky, Sturgeon of Pennsy lyania, and Shields
of Illinois
Numerous memorials anl petitions we're pre-
sented, Of no general importance.
Mr. Atchson presented the resolutions Of tbo
Legislature OF Missouri on the subject of Slavery
threatening Disunion in the event Of the MASSAGE
Of nm act by Congress prohibiting Slavery in N.
Territories
Mr.. Benton. This is the proper time for ma -
say what believe to be the fact that these reso
lutions do not represent the sentiments of ,ba
people of Missouri. They are law-abidino and
a Union-loving people, and have no idea of e.,a,
ing into combinations to resist or intimid ate H.
legislation of Congress. The General Assemble
has mistaken the sentiment of the State in ndoni-
ing these resolutions; and many members who
voted for them and the Governor who signed
them, have since disavOwed and rerudated them
do not discuss these resolutions at this t;me
That discussion is no part of my present lro.
| speak of the pledge which they contain and
call il n mistake and say. that whatever may be
the wishes or the opinions of the people of Mis-.
souri, on the subject of the extension or non-ex
tension Of Slavery to the Territories they have
no idea Of resisting any vi Congress on the 7
subject. They abide the law, when it comes, be
ii what it may jet TO the decision of the bal
lot-box and the judiciary.
| concur with the people Of Missouri in this
view of their duty, and believe it to he the only
course consistent with he terms aud intention OF
our Constitution. and the only one which can
save this Union from the fate of all the confrde-
races Which have successfully appeared and dis
appeared in the history of nations. Anarchy
among the members, not tyranny in the head, has
been the rock on which all such confederaces
have split The authors of our present form of
Government knew the danger of this rock, and
they endeavored to provide against it. They
formed Union-not league Federal Legs.
lature to act upon persons, not upon States and
they provided peaceful remedies for all the ques.
tionS which could arise between the people and
the Government. They provided Federal Judi
ciary to execute the Federal laws when found to
be constitutional, and popular elections to repeal
them when found to be bad. They formed
Government in which the Ian and the popular
will, and not the sword, was to decide questions;
and they looked upon the first resort to the sword
for the decision OF such questions as the death of
the Union
The ~Otas Confederation Was e lcsg;:o %.tks
Legislature acting upon soveregnties, without
power to enforce its DEGREES, and without union
except at the will of the parties. IL power
less for government, and a rope of sand for union
Ii was to escape from that hel pless and tottering
government tndt present COnsttutlOn was
formed and no les. than ten numbers of the Fed.
eralist-from the tenth to the twentieth-were
devoted TO the defects of the old system, and the
necessity of the new one. will read some ex-
tracts from these numbers, the joint product Of
Hamilton and Madison, to show the difference
between the league which we abandoned and the
Union which we formed-the dangers Of the
former and the benefits of the latter-that it may
be seen that the resolutions Of the General AS
sembly of Missouri, if carried out to their con-
illusions carry back this Union to the league of
the ConfederatiOn-mak it rope of sand, and
the sword the arbiter between the Federal head
and its members.
After reading some extracts from the FsderolSt,
Mr. Benton proceeded:
1t was to get rid of the evils of the old Confed-
Grafton that the present Union was formed and,
having formed it, they who formed il undeftookto
make it perpetual, and for that purpose had re-
course to all the sanctions held sacred among men
commands prohibitions, oAths. The States were
forbid to form compacts or agreements with each
other the Constitution and the laws made in pur
suance of it, were declared to be the supreme law
of the land and all authorities, State and Fede-
raj legislative executive, and judicial, were to he
sworn TO support it. The resolutions which have
been resd contradict all this, and the General
Assembly mistook their own powers as much as
they mistook the sentiments Of the people of Mis-
souri, when they adopted them.
This is all that shall say at present. make
no objection TO the reception or printing Of these
resolutions My only object, Mt present, is to
make and save the two points FIRST, that the Gen
eral Assembly mistook the sentiments OF the
people of Missouri in adopting these resolutions;
ucoadly, that they misook their own powers in
doing go
Mr. Atchison As no objection has been taken
to the printing of the resolutions, have but one
word TO say and that is, merely TO express an
opinion that the people of the State of Missouri,
when the time arrives will prove to oil mankind 4
that every sentiment contained in these resou-
tons, from first to last, will be sustained by them
The question then being taken on the motion
to print, it was agreed to.
Various bills were introduced on leave, and no.
tees of bills were given, all of local character.
Mr. Phelps, from the Committee on Finance,
reported joint resolution, suspendiug for lin
tied time the limitation upon the expense of col.
Letting the revenue from customs aud it was or
dered that it be the order of the day for to-mor-
row.
Some conversation here took place about adj
journment, when Mr. Cass gave notice that to-
morrow he would ask for the consideration Of the
resolution to suspend diplomatic relations with
Austria.
Mr. FoOte gave notice that on Monday next
he would ask for the consideration Of his resolu-
ton affirming the expediency of providing Ter
ritorial Governments for California, Deseret and
New Mexico.
Mr.. Seward having moved the printing of both
resolutions, Mr.. Cass remarked that he did not
ask Tor THO favor his resolution was but line
and half, and he trusted it was impressed on
the hearts of all the Senators to which Mr..
Seward replied, that it was not on his
Mr. Foote | must be permitted to express
my Acknowledgements to the Senator from New
York for his extreme compaisance in moving to
print my resolution. am 50 much penetrated
with it. that I shalt embrace the earliest opporu
nifty to show the regard entertain for the favor
by treating him according to the hr tah0nis.
Mr Hale then moved to amend by adding the
following
Securing to the inhabitants of those Terrific
ries all the privileges and liberties secured to the
inhabitants OF the Northwest Territory by tue
ordinance Of July, H. 1857"
MIR Foote II it be not out of order beg
leave 90 remark that should certainly have III.
irolacei the phriscology of the amendment
the gentleman from New Hampshire into tue
origin.l resolution. IL had SUPPOSED that the w
n ,hiiAais Of those Territories would not have q"
TIA Iiiilrses and liberties secured to them uhus,
> - 81 the United States, thai cop'u
n. fnss.aiy. sreprsri bS sS,ssaag 70 the rsg,o"
which they occupy the ordnance or rIoE p"'
t-rrr II -h.lly different opinion from ,ne oea.
aioy FROM New HAMPSHIRE did not ihink
proper 10 introduce any such language in'o ~.
resolution AMI shall Of course vote agar ~,
amendment Of the gentleman because deem 4"
wholly unnecessary In addition, may DE ihu"-
Qed in A single remark If the Senator from Nes
Hampshire were a. well informed on this sup)r.
now as others are, who have had better opPo''sA.
n;ti.s for information or as he will assured'y DC