Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-25
CoNGREss--IsT SESSION
THURSDAY, JANUARY II, 1850.
sen ATE

THURSDAY, JANUARY II, 1850.
SENATE
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr. Clemens calling
for information as 10 all proceedings Instructions &c. OF the
President, &c, in relation California was taken up
After remarks from Messrs Clemens Footc. Clay Doug
Mr. DICKINSON said have taken no par, in this de-
bate Mr. President and regret that has arisen and cspe
ciay that il has passed beyond boundaries In the
hour which is usually appropriated 10 morning business
engaged in attending 10 my coespcndence which isny
ter But some things have fallen honorable Senators
during this debate and especially from the Junior Senator
from Alabama, (lr Cenens) which require not only 10 be
noticed but be noticed here and Sir that Senator
when he undertakes 10 characterize The sentiments oil who
communities and the opinions of entire bodies OF men, COM
psng large majority Of the people Of this Union enters
upon the execution Of work which might well have been
left older if better soldiers In regard 10 this mat
ter Mr. President though have done than Others
think say without the fear Of contradiction, or OF
being charged with unnecessary egotsn that have stood
up to il upon all occasions. long since that il was
question raught with perious consequences. saw tina,
there evil spirit OF sectionasn rising both III the
North and in the South having for s object agitation
for sectional advantages and have condemned II
secretly and openy--in thought, word and deed.
never have lent myself 10 such unholy and wicked
designs, and if God gives me that strength which
has thus far in mercy extended here declare again
where should bc declared that never WILL but that VIII
lend St energies crush and destroy it, have stood
here under ne s"HGon OF an official oath and the requSl
,ion which has unfortunately say the least agated
the country Tor the last hw Years ana here will stand
even though immolaon be r. others too
INV Northern Democratic bretmc. have shown no less cyo
ton TO the Constitution they have ,"rn To support have
stood up not for South bu' for 4e rights of ALL as
Guaranteed bv the Constitution have di>p,rrd peTson
al consequences and have scorned 10 count u chances
ephemera popularity and place have peni''e1 eproacl
and obloouy TO discharge their exhaustess quS of
nosoned arrows that might the right and when
hear myself and those with whom have acted in rolling
back the black and bitter waters OF sectional s,t aenounu
ed as unworthy of reliance all in one grand mass eSconnu
nca,ed from, communion and fellowship with the Democrat
c church. in single and told oo that We are less 10
be tolerated than political opponents, iee inclined 10
in Dolned and emphatic phrase, ucnuIcldtlOn
wholesale and unjust.
MI CLEMENS | call the honorable gentleman atlen-
ton 10 the resolutions of the eth OF January ISL The oih
of January ISIS, and 10 like resolutions oil i7i' oil us "
State Legislature. .,
import OF the resolutions They We're doubtless Of an
slavery character and similar 10 those passed ny
o,her Legislatures, North Ii is well know that az
fered with those who passed them, upon the 6ss "
Of dsnqf,"7 Of he qM@iio have right 10 call me to
account, and with those who have not. The Legsa-
lures which passed them have been sometimes considerably
divided ,icin-clvcs Sometimes they have passed
with great and sometimes with less unanimy The North
sentiments upon the subject of slavery is in many
poets entirely dssimar those of the South but when
told that there must be sectional issue raised because
Of this let the voice which declares from the North
from the South stand here iepuiae it, The people
o the North regard The question OF slavery as const
tona guaranty precisely do the people of the South and
such ready respect it, IL is the political agatois
in both sections who have made all the mischief Sir take
small number o men of the Northern and also out oil
the Southern sections Of this Union and this accrsed ag
taon could be settled in less than single week have
stood up on this question for particular purpose other
than do duty and stand by aud sustain the cons
tuition AM for maintaining the Union in spirit well as
in form; and deprecated the assaults which have
made upon the constitution occasionally in tho
ing States i'm the refusal 10 deliver iugyes from service ac
cordnp 10 solemn prov Of that srineni; this sir
look upon which must be reformed home il
will be sound and healthy public opinion whcni, shall
Just estimate Gpon the interference oi political agators
and condemn morality that purer than the fundamental
law. desire preserve in all it's vgor the glorious inhc
ance which fathers gave the South secure in
the full possession and enjoyment oil er constitutional
rights. have stood up for them when thought them right
regardless of peril and will now aid in shielding them from
and improper aggrcSslons upon their institutions In
this struggle numerically they the weaker party and
when have the South unus assaulted and ass'ilcd
sympathies have been with thc and have exposed
and denounced only the sectional agtator but have
warned those against excitement whose views and attentions
are ust but have been provoked by just such wholesale
sectional assaults hcaped upon the North by the
Senator from Alabama Sir elimination begets rccriinina-
ton; and although men put the garb OF philosophy
for OCCASION they too often u be betrayed by
impulse and cxcement; and when they hear distinguished
Southern day after day making sectional appeals,
grouping all together and condemnng all in gross without
stint or exception they in their will make other decla
raons and thus the work goes on One sectional agitaor
begets anohea blow given brings blow in return and
thus sectional agitation makes the meat feeds on have
already said regretted that this subject has been ntroduc
ed Allow say that do not regret that it Is abont
reach its eliminating point. not how soon this
NAV be the believe that the great of the people
the South honest and generous and that all they
desire the possession Of their rights
believe that the of the people OF the North are
equally Ius and equally generous 10 the constitution,
and that they desire nothing more than what they deem
best calculated advance the honor of the conederacy and
the interest and happiness of mankind. When reviled
viii not revile again. | will by repudiate the
Southern democracy They have often proved themselves
worthy the they bear Nor upon the question of
this Union much and radically differ with them upon other
questions will repudate the patriotic among opponents
This question shoots deep and stretches high be
measured BY political parties, and when the day of trial
comes if il does every patriotic man will breast him
self for and sectional agltaors will be oed The
constitution throws its broad IgiS this mighty Repub
lie and It's people worship lis shrine with than an
Eastern Devotion They have contemplated the priceless
ue the Union They have thought of the blood and tears
by which purchased They the proud vessel bear
ing majescaly onward and they proudly in the Ian
guage OF the poet;
"Thou too, sail on, . ship of State
Sail o., Q Union strong and great
Humanity with all s fears
With all the hope oi future years,
Is hanging GREATNESS thy fate;
We know what master laid thy keel,
What workmen wrought thy ribs OF stoel;
Who made each mast, and SAIL and rope;
What anvils rang what hammers beat,
In what forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope
They will cheer this noble ship they will stand by this
constitution they will adhere this Union; and although
the Northern people opposed the institution of slavery
the great OF them have intention disposition 10
trench improperly upon the constitutional rights of the South
and this they will prove should occasion arise,
thouph hcv should sell their lives in her defence Sir if il
should come 10 the worst WILL firmly the
Northern people devoted 10 the constitution, if armed ncen
should push her mad crusade against the South and
she he paccd in peril declare that and
so believe would every patriotic OF the free States
who had sword draw draw IL in the defence OF their
Southern brethren and of the rights guaranteed 10 them by
common compact and stand by them TO the DEATH Ap
nlase But, sir they will only stand by her when she is
rent and so long she is So swords will be called into
reoiston except against foreign and common foe Inc
vev heat natural and artificial TO which sectional agitation