Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05
CON GEEss.
. THURSDAY, JAs,bARv 8, 1850.
IN SENATE.


IN SENATE.
An unusually large number Of memorials and petitions,
coming from every quarter Of the Unop were presented and
'''"'' x,sso,rpr RrseruT1oNs on SLAVERY.
NJ ATcHIsON presented resolctsns passed by the Ge-
neral Assembly az the Of Missouri the subject OF
slavery and he asked that they be esd and printed They
p.o,d h, he General assembly Of The .Stae Of alsss1i,
Isl, That the Federal Constitution the result OF com
promise between the e % aaad aeH
delegation of Congress to gsae on the OF
excepting special hass a IN ysw few tine
recovery Of fugitive slaves. Any attempt therefore, on the
part of Congress- egate the subject so as to affect the
institution OF slavery the States in the District OF Coam-
bia or in Territories the least asoation Oft
principle upon which that instrument was fouaded
Cd That the Territories acquired by the blood and treasure
Of the whole nation ought governed for the
net of all the States and organization Of
the Territorial Governments excluding the citizens Of al
part fthe Union from removing such Territories with hesr
property would be exercise OF power b
with the spirit upon which our federal was
based insulting the sovereignty and dignity OF the states
thus affected calculated to ALLEVIATE portion OF the Union
from another, and tending ultimately TO disunioa. =
3d. That this General Assembly regard the eonduct Oh inc
Northern States on the subject slavery releasing the
savehodng States from all further adherence 70 she basis OF
1 .sa On y ,ns se did obligation
upon the savehodng States and authorizes them 70 on
their rights under the constitutions but LOT the e o. mar
will still sanction the application OF the principle OF the MIS-
soureompromse to the recent territorial acquisitions by
such concession future aggression upon the OF e
States may be arrested and the spirit ct anti-savery ana
cism be extDguished
4 The right to prohibit slavery any Territory belongs
exclusively the people thereof and only be exercised BY
them informing their constitution for State Government or
in their sosereen capacity as an independent State
5h That the Of the passage Of act conHeting
with the principles herein expressed VIII DC ioona
hearty cooperation with the slaSehoidng states ssch
be deemed for our mutual protec-
ton against the encroachmens of Norhern anaticism
9th That Senators Congress be instructed and our
Representatives, be requested 70 act IN conformity 10 inc
Resolved byle House Of REPRESENTATIVES The Senate con-
the resolutions passed at this session OF the
General Assembly the subject OF slavery to the Executive
same be laid before each Of respective Legislatures and
also copy to each OF our Senators ana III
Congress. Approved March 10th, lS49.
The resolution hsuing been read by the Secretary
Mr. BENTON. This is the proper time for me 10 say,
what believe be the fact that these resolutions do not
represent the sentiments Of the people of Missouri. They
aw-abidng and Unon-lovng people, and have no
idea of entering into combinations resist inmdae the
legislation of Congress- The General Assembly has mis-
taken the sentiment of The State adopting these resoluons
and many members who voted for them, and the Governor
who signed them have since dsavowed and repudaed them
do discuss these resolutions at this time That dis
cuson no part my present object speak the pledge
which they contain, and call it mistake; and say, that
whatever may be the wishes the opinions of the people Of
Missouri the subject of the extension non-exenson Of
slavery to the territories they have idea OF resisting any
act of Congress the subject They abide the law, when
it comes be what it may subject to the decision OF the
ballot box and the judiciary
concur with the people of Missouri in this view OF their
duty and believe to be the only consistent with the
tems and intention of constitution, and the only one
which can this Union from the fate Of all the cenede
races which have successfully appeared and disappeared IN
the history of nations Anarchy among the members and
not tyranny in the head has been the rock which all such
conedeacie have split The authors of our present form Of
Government knew the danger Of this rock, and they endea
vored to provide against it. They formed Unon-not
leaguea Federal Legislature upon persons not upon
States and they provided peaceful remedies for all the ques
tons which could arise between the people and the Govern
uen They provided federal judiciary to execute the fede
ra laws when found to be CONSTITUTIONAL and popular cleo
tons repeal them when found 10 be bad They formed
Government in which the law and the popular will and not
the sword TO decide questions and they looked upon
the first to the sword for the decision of such ques
lions the death Of the Union
The old Confederation league, with Legislature act
ing upon soveegntes without power to enforce It's decees
and without union except at the will Of the parties It was
povyeress for government and rope Of sand for union.
was escape from that helpless and lettering government
that the present constitution formed and less than
ten numbers the Fedeasom the tenth to the twentieth
devoted ohe defects of the old system, and the
cessity of the will read extracts from these
numbers the Joint product of Hamilton and Madison, to
show the difference between the league which abandoned
and the Union which formed-the dangers of the former
and the benefits of the atterha may be that the
resolutions Of the General Assembly of Missouri if carried
to their conclusions carry back this Union to the league Of
the conedeaton-make it rope Of sand, and the sword the
arbiter between the federal head and Its members
Mr.. B. then read as follows t .s..
The great and radical vice. the structure of the exist
ing confederation is in the principle of legislation Tor States
Governments in their corporate collective capacities
and contradstnguhed from the individuals of which they
consist Though this principle does not through all the
delegated to the Union yet pervades and governs
those which the efficacy of the rest depends The conse-
quece of this is that though theory constituonay bind
ing the members of the Union, yet in practice they
mere which the States observe disregard
at their option. Government implies the power of making
laws It is essential the idea of law that be attended
for dsobedence This penalty whatever be- only
be inflicted waysby the agency of the courts and min
justice by military force by the coercion of the
nagstracy by the coercion OF arms The first kind
be employed against bodies polite, communities States
1t evident there is of court by which their pb
the laws the last resort be enforced Son.
be denounced against them for violations of their
duty these only be carried execution by
sword. In association where the general authority
confined the collective bodies of the communities that
breach OF the laws involve state of
and military execution become the only instrument OF
civil obedience Such state of things certainly de-
the of government would prudent
choose commit his happiness to it,"
Of the certain destruction of the Union when the sword is
once drawn the members of Union and their head
they speak thus
When the sword is drawn, the passions of men OBJ
bounds of moderation. The suggestions of wounded
pride the nsgations of rtaed resentment would be
carry the States against which the of the Union
exeted necessary avenge the aront
avoid the disgrace OF submission. The first of this kind
would probably terminate in dissolution ofthc Union"
OF the advantage and facility Of the working of the federal
svsem and its peaceful efficient and harmonious operation
If the federal laws made cooperate upon citizens and not
UPON Siates-they speak in these terms
Bu, if the execution of the laws of the National Govern