The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-21

from Connecticut, followed Mr.. German, in an
earnest, direct, and straightforward speech, in
favor of the restriction of slavery, referring for
his arguments, not to party expediency, but to
Truth and Right.
The rest of the speeches in the House last
week on the Slavery Question were delivered by
Mr. Disney Of Ohio Mr. Hebard Of Vermont
and Mr. Morse of Louisiana.
Mr.. Disney is highly respectable gentleman
but as politician, he may be said to-be perpet,
ual amen 10 General Cass. His speech was an
argument in favor of the doctrines of the Nichol-
son Letter but we are informed that he avowed;
in concluding it, his intention to vote for the
Wilmot Provso Whether in so doing he would
misrepresent his own opinions we know not, but
he would certainly represent fairly the views and
wishes of his constituency. There can be no mis-
take as to the public opinions Of the citizens of all
parties of Hamilton county.
Mr. Morse, Democratic member from Louisl-
ana, is native, if we mistake not, Of New Eng
land. He is now one of the most ultra pro-slavery
men, His speech was as sombre as that OF Mr.
Calhoun He spoke of the alienation of the two
sections of the Union spriDging out Of the aggres
sions of the North.
"When before" he asked, "did the people OF
the two sections look upon each other with as
like? Formerly, the youth Of the South were
educated in the North. Now they do not 60
there because of the dislike of the North 10 the
South / will not 90 over the array of melancholy
facts showing that the sections are now essentially
alienated in feeling"
Insanity may reason logically, but 1t Is sure 10
make false assumptions. These Southern dis-
unionists manifest this characteristic OF mania.
They are forever mistaking f,ncies for facts.
Formerly the youth of the South, Mr.. Morse
says, were educated at the North now they do
not 20 there because of the dislike Of the North
to the South!
Just after we had read this remark, we picked
up the Richmond (va) Wing, in which occurred
the following paragraph
"The following young gentlemen from virginia
hove been graduated at the Jefferson Medical Col
Iege at Philadelphia Zebulon M. P. Anderson,
Henry o. Austin, Isaac T. Ballow, Nathaniel
Barksdale, James p. Bott" &c, &c.
1t goes on to enumerate sixty-three young
Virginia graduates this year of the Jefferson
College-and it must be remembered that this is
but one of the medical institutions of Philadelphia
and that the old Pennsylvania College has far
larger proportion of Virginia students.
Mr. Morse was quite as accurate in this state
ment as in the following, which he thinks fur
nshes another instance of the alien feeling of the
North.
when wrong is done abroad to the rights of
any American citizen, the South were ready to
draw the sword for his defence A few years
ago, this feeling existed at the North with refer
enoe to the slave property of the South. Mr..
Van Buren, had once obtained indemnity (Mr. M.
was understood to say) from England, on account
of her violation of those rights Since, American
slaves have been liberated by the English Gov
eminent; but no statesman will now venture to
risk his popularity by pressing claim for in
demnity on their account
The truth is, a series of claims was made
by our Government at successive periods, on Eng
land for indemnity for slaves wrecked or driven
by stress of weather on the coasts of the West
Indies, where they were liberated. The latest
negotiations On the subject were conducted by
Mr. Webster, under the administration of John
Tyler, and for his state papers, arguing the right
of property in slaves and the justice of indemnity,
he received the high appreciation Of John C. Cal
houn
Indemnity was conceded by Great Britain for
ton Of slavery in her colonies, but denied once
for all, in peremptory terms, for slaves liberated
in her ports after the act of emancipation. AS her
laws now know no slavery or right Of property in
man, within the whole circuit of her domnions,
her fixed rule is to regard and treat all human
beings within her jurisdiction, no matter how in
troduced there, as free persons, incapable Of sus-
tanning the relations of property or of being val
ued in dollars and cents. Hence, our Govern
ment has discontinued such claims as Mr.. Morse
refers TO- But were not the facts in relation to
Great Britain as we have stated them, with what
pretence of truth could M Morse blame the
North, when from the time Mr. Webster wrote
his letters to Lord Ashburton, the Government
has been administered by shareholders, and for
most of that time by Democratic slaveholdersl
Mr.. Morse contended, as nearly all the South
eru politicians have commended that on the aequi-
stion of territory from Mexico the Constitution
of the United States became at once operative
there, and as the Constitution guarantees the
rights of the stakeholder, it effectually set aside
whatever local laws of the territory might conflict
with it,
This is the prevailing doctrine in one half Of
the States of this Union, and yet Northern politi-
clans, anxious to please the South, and keep up
their party arrangements, or afraid Of the chiv
airy, and yet no less anxious to satisfy their
Northern constituents, decam against the Pro-
viso as unnecessary, a mere useless abstraction
because slavery is already excluded from the
Territories by their local laws!
MOVEMENTS IN THE HoUsE.--The proceedings
of the House are as yet without much interest
Members speak, not with any hope Of convincing
but to satisfy their constituents The debate on
the California question is evidently exhausted
and had the Northern members nerve and skill
or were the Southern members actuated by right
feelings, the question would be brought to close
by the admission of the new State.
The opposition against this measure rests upon
no ground of principle. The Richmond Va Wig
says
con principle, then, we cannot see how the adj
mission of California can be resisted rs 10 delay
ing is admission for the purpose Of coercag The saie-
nem ofthe whOie subject of slavery, that is different
queStiona
That is the secret Southern members, though
convinced that there is nothing in the action Of
the Chief Executive, nothing in the proceedings
of the People of California, that should prejudice
their claims to admission; that they stand fully
justified in the position they have taken that
they have all the requisites of State; and
though they can urge no valid reason against
their recognition still resist that they may coerce
a settlement "a il il called of the whole slave