The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-24

these movements he had nothing 10 do. There
were at the North, as well there were in every
section, men Of folly and infatuation- There We're
to tSe Constitution to ali law % pl social rules and
regulations; and any attempt by Legislation to con-
troll their sentiments, orto give them wisdom, must
be fruitiess The North was not responsible Tor the
acts OF such men. NM
Another alleged encroachIncnt upon the rights OF
the South was, that the States of the North would
not secure the slave owners their slaves escaping
into the free States. The Supreme Court had de-
cided that. in the Constitution, there was nothing
which required the free States TO enact laws 70 aid
in the capture Of fugitive slaves. And he did not
conceive that they were called upon to volunteer
Legislation upon subjects with which they had no
The doctrine advanced within the past few days
that Congress had power the territories ex-
cept to the title to the land, and not over the
people inhabiting the land, was examined and
urged to be untenable. Congress had by treaty
attached the land TO the Union and also the sove-
reignty Of the land; and il rather ridiculous to
say that Congress could not exercise that sove-
regnty further than to sell the land by quarter sec
tons. 1sfa
The clamor about the dissolution of the Union
was unwise and premature. The time for seccs.
sion in consequence of the action OF Congress- had
not arrived. Congress had not yet passed the Will
mot proviso, and II was time enough to talk Of re-
sistance when it was passed. Nor when Congress
should have passed the proviso would the time have
arrived for resistance. II would still be open for
shed BY the Constitution for the settlement of such
subjects. And when that tribunal shall have de-
cded upon the question, and II is attempted TO put
that decision into force, then it would be early
enough to talk of resisting tiff any one would
think of resisting the decision of the supreme tr
bunal N N
BY the decision he would always stand, and
would have no objection to seek the opinion OF the
Supreme Court in advance upon the subject.
Mr.. YULEE asked the Senator whether the North
was prepared to abide the decision of the Supreme
Court upon this subject, and ready to hold all laws
touching upon il in allowance till that decision
could be obtained? 80, the South was prepared
to do So and abide that decision, confident as she
was in her deep constitutional rights. ,ite
Mr.. BUTLER said, before the Senator from Yer
mont went on, he wished to say that when MIR.
Claytoh's bill before the Senate year ago, he
was in favor of 1t, at that time the South would
have had an equal opportunity in the settlement OF
the territories. But now when the South had been
virtually excluded from any participation in the
settlement Of the territories he not prepared to
say he willing to let the matter rest upon the
decision Of the Supreme Court at this time.
Mr.. FOOTE asked permission to read an extract
from the works of Mr.. Madison, in relation to the
propriety of the Legislative branch seeking in ad
vance the opinion of the Judiciary.
Mr.. PHELPS did not see the bearing of the ex-
tract just read, upon the point he discussing.
He expressed his confidence in the Supreme Court,
and felt satisfied that all conflicting opinions might
safely be referred to them for settlement After
INDUCING in the hope that the Senate would not
deny to Vermont the courtesy extended to the reso-
buttons of all other States, he thanked the Senate
for the attention paid him.
Mr.. BUTLER moved, and the motion to print
the resolutions laid the table for the present
Mr. b. also moved to take up the bill making
further provision for the execution of the clause in
the Constitution relative to fugitive slaves and the
bill was taken up.
And then, on motion OF Mr.. WEBSTER,
The Senate adjourned t.Hf