Democratic banner., 1850-02-04
FoOTEAND BENTON.

4 49, rrNF. E-@ <s&~ ~
Senator Foote, upon the Introduction Of
the bill in relation to Texas, by Col. Ben
ton, rose and brought forw ard his bill for the
Organization Of the Territories. A portion
of his speech made upon the occasion, is q
most scathing rebuke ofthe course of Col
Benton, from which we take the following
lf xiraci:
The Southl,as always voted for and kept
the compromises, and perhaps would have
done so still, had it not been for the course
pursue d BY one of her own representatives.
4 ha: one was a leader, or had been a lead
er among them; and he had, by his open aud
unqualified advocacy Of the doctrine that
Congress had the POWER to legislate upon
Ithe subject Of slavery in the Territories,
done more to tile agitation Of this subject
than any one else. He had not only held
this doctrine at the South, but lie had de-
lnouuced all those who differed from him
asEooks. This great and distinguished man,
vito thus pronounced the champions Of
Southern rights as fools, must have forgot
ten that the honorable gentleman from
South Carolina Mr.. Calhoun was pretty
!generaIly conceded to be a mau of ordinary
Intelligence at least: and he held the opin-
ion that Congress. had no power to regulate
slavery. The Senator from Michigan MIR.
Cass (l,pld similar views, and he was sup
posed 30 be a man of intellect. The dis
i,ineuisl,ed Senator from Georgia MIR. Rer-
Iri.n) had not only made speeches. but had
game so far as to undertake TO prove Con-
gress had no such power; and he, it was adj
United, was 8 mai Of no ordinary degree Of
lint. llect. Yet the distinguished gentleman,
who ~I.i,ices in the title of P0ter SeRdfus,
and who is distinguished for a thousand vir-
tues, pronouncps all these as j0Ok!! The
Senator from Texas. too, (Mr. Hnuston,)
tie I'D friend ofthe Senator frhm Missouri,
held the opinion that Congress had no such
power. Yet, notwithstanding all this, the
Senator had gone into q slave State-irtoa
State south of go .30>-and held the doe
Irime that Congress had tie power to legis-
late on this subject. His Ill timed and
tire ssonsble speeches had such Ell effect on
the slave population ofthat State, that they
started of in gangs of thirty aud forty, and
fed across the Mississippi, CMr. Benton at
this time had risen, taken his hat and cloak,
and was in the act of leaving the Senate,
even as the Senator himself is now flying
from this chamber. ,I:,a 90
Mr.. +. said he admired a courageous,
Seastnr, one who would stand up here aud
meet argument with. argument; and when
isttacatd would reply, and not rhn away.
from The Senate at the first agitation Of the.
question. X They had been, intheir absence,
STACKED by the Senator as fools, and LASH
I'd Numerically for their sentiments, yet he
row left the Senate when they proposed to-
defend themselves. He had attempted to
stuItify them; had attempted to stultify the
legislature whichShad instructed him, and
still vas afraid to stand up and meet the
question by an argument, T.. a. ..f II
There was some patriots at the north,
though a few little, very little deinagogues,
sometimes crept into the Senate. for a short
while. where they Huttered and shone like
butterflies, which the first breath of the
frost of argument killed forever. Were i'll
not for that accused journey to Missouri.
aud the trsitorous speeches delivered there
On this subject, the South would still have
been able, by the aid Of its patriotic friends
1T the North, to have maintained q position
which could quiet all apprehension as to
the safety, Of the Union. Blu, those speech.
|es, delivered on that unfortunate visit TO
Missouri, had been hailed by the fanatics
and ~demagogues at the North, and had
given their attacks holiness not before as
Isumed; and before this folly those gentle
men at the North, who would have stood up
to maintain equaljus.ice, have been obliged
10 yield. '
Col. BENToN's Texas BILL.-Col. Ben
ton has introduced into the Senats a bill on
this subject, with, the following features:
l. Texas shall agree 10 reduce her limits,
to the lOa degree of west longitude,
and. on the nOrthLta the south fork Of Red
river, between the lines of 100 and 1902
west longitude. '.f ---.s
g. When the ~nonulstion of that norton