Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-08

CldlWdut. N tStuiCt dxdtuot tiic luxtttC,
on such proof, would be satisfactory to the
whole country, and the master would return
with his slave l am utterly OPP
posed to the bill upon the subject reported
by the honorable Senator from Virginia. If
it should become law, it would be Of no
------~- srrus
would attend its execution would render il
valueless 1. would sleep dead letter on
the statute book. And sir, the bill report
ed by the Committee OF Thirteen is, in my
judgment, equally objectionable. la trial
by jury is 10 be allowed at all, it should be
had in the State where the claim of owner
ship is made. The claimant should prove
his right to the man before taking possess
ion of him for any purpose whatever. The
bill introduced by the distinguished Sena-
tor from Massachusetts Mr.. Webster) ought
to be satisfactory to the South. 1t secures
to the alleged fugitive trial by jury in the
state v here he resides when claimed as
slave. And what reasonable objection, l
ask, can be urged against such trial 7 1t
will be attended with no great expense and
if no good cause can be shown for delay, a
jury will be Immediately empannelled for the
trial Of the case. The controversy will be
promptly settled, and in my judgment, in
a manner satisfactory to the parties in inter-
est. The oath required of the alleged fi-
gitive should, think, be stricken out of the
bill. am opposed to the multiplication of
oaths. We require great number now,
and l had much rather decrease than in
crease THIN. If the person claimed as a
slave desires trial by jury, he should have
it Internationally. He should not be re-
quired to make oath that he is not fugi-
tive from labor, in order TO secure it, He
should have. it as matter of right
l have but a word to say at this time in
regard to the creation and admission into
the Union Of new states out OF Texan Ter
ritory. The mode of annexation was, in my
Judgment, an open, palpable violation of the
constitution, and was SO considered at the
time by the ablest southern Senators on this
floor. Texas, however, is in the Union,
and, as far as she is concerned, the question
is settled. The contract of annexation,
though void between the parties, has been
executed by them, and il cannot now be an
uulled But the admission Of new states, to
be formed out of the territory of Texas, is an
unsettled question. " New States" says
the joint resolution, '"of convenient size,
not exceeding four in number, in addition
to said state of Texas, and having sufficient
may hereafter, by the consent
of said state, be formed out of the territory
thereof, which shall be entitled to admission
under the provisions Of the Federal consti-
tntion." First, no new state can be form
ed without the consent of Texas-and in
the second place, when the consent of Tex
as is obtained and the new state formed, it
must come into the Union "under the pro-
visions of the Federal Constiton." The
constitution does not make it imperative
upon Congress to admit new states. "New
states may be admitted by Congress into
this Union" is its language. The expedien-
cy or inexpediency of the measure is 10 be
passed upon, and the new states admitted
or excluded, as Congress may think proper.
There is nothing, l insist, in the joint reso-
luton annexing Texas to the United States, |
binding Congress to admit new states, i'll
their admission should be deemed inexpe-
dent The whole subject is open to Con-
gressiona discretion. The language of
the joint resolution is, that the new state or |
new states formed out of Texas shall be en-
titled to admission undcr the provisions of
the Federal constitution That is, they shall |
be admitted if Congress shall think expedi-
ent to admit them, and notwithout. There
is, in my judgment, no public faith pledged
on the subject. Congress is as free to adj
nit or exclude a state from Texas as fromI
any iother section of the Union. BIT, Mr..
President, i'll am mistaken in the construc-
lion have put upon the joint resolution,
he fraudulent manner in which it was for
,ed through the Senate absolves me from
all Obligations to vote for the admission of
new slave states formed out of Texan terri-l
ory. All contracts, all bargains and a.
yreements tainted with fraud are null and /
soid, and will do no act or thing to up
lold or sustain them. eibHse Dis' sel
Now, Mr.. President. ask again, why con-
nect the admission of California with ali these
exciting and embarrassing questions What
has she done to deserve such treatment? The
Senator from Kentucky (Mr CAR !
said in his speech the other day that one year
go California, New Mexico, and Utah stood on
be same ground -all Territories Of the United I
States; and that Calfornia had made runaway
match, taken most of the patrimeny, and now
stands upon her dignity and turns up her nose
o her sisters, New Mexico and Utah. .sq
Mr.. President, California has made no runa-
way match; we forced her TO our embrace At
he point Of the bayonei, and now an attempt Is L
made to force her to another embrace for which
The has no taste. Yes, sir, she must aid 10 car
wing the enslaved negroes of the South into
New Mexico aud Utah. and provide for her own
support and protection. But it is said the ques-
ion of slavery in the Territories must be SET /,
led, and California can be used to bring about
, compromise upon the subject. Well, sir, what
# she can Pts it just is It fair is it honorable
o use herfor such purpose She has excluded
slavery from her own borders, and has no desire
% force it upon her sisters, New Mexico and u
An. Strong appeals have been made to the Il
North to Come forward in an amicable spirit and
agree upon some plan Of compromise, that will /.
quet the leafs and spprehensions Of lie South. /.
Ind restore peace and tranquiity to the country.
SiE, the many sacrifices If sopiaion ana feeling
already made by the North to the peculisr inter-
.ss Of the slave States, ought 70 satisfy them
hat we harbof no unfiiendly feelinas towsrdsl
nss them. We desire their prosperity, and will
10 all We can without sacrifice u principle, TO-
Idvance their interes,a sThe unity Of govern 1,
nent constitutes rs one people" is Is dear to ne
Is il 70 10 them. We regard il g ihey Dc, ~ai
= II; ,hn .,Si6re srf nusr rcd ndeopusi