Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-07
SENATORS BENTON AND ATCHIsoN.


Mr.. Atchison. on Thursday, presented in the
Senate, the resolutions of the Missouri Legislature
which have been the bone of contention in the late
and in fact not yet ended, controversy between Sc
nator Benton and large portion of his party in
that State. The resolutions are very similar to
those of the Virginia Legislature, except thatthe
declaration of resistance is less emphatically ex-
pressed. equote the last two
5th. That in the event OF the passage OF any
ctng with the principles herein expressed, Missouri
will be found in hearty corporation with the savehod-
ing States in such measures may be deemed necessary
for mutual protection against the encroachments OF
Northern fanaticism.
9th That our Senator's in Congress be instructed and
our Representatives be requested to act in conformity
to the foregoing resolutions.
The resolutions having been read blythe Secretary
Mr. BENTON This is the proper time for me to say,
what believe to be the fact that these resolutions do
not represent the sentiments OF the people OF Missouri
They are law abiding and Union-loving people, and
have idea of entering into combinations to resist
intmidate the legislation OF Congress. The General
Assembly has mistaken the sentiment Of the State in
adopting these resolutions; and many members who
voted for them, and the Governor who signed them,
have since disavowed and repudated them.
l do not discuss these resolutions at this time. That
discussion is no part OF my present object l speak
OF the pledge which they contain, and callit mis-
take; and say, that whatever may be the wishes or
the opinions OF the people OF Missouri the subject Of
the extension or non extension OF slavery to the terri
tories they have idea OF resisting any act OF Congress
on the subject They abide the law when it cemes be
it what .may, subject to the decision OF the ballot box
and the judiciary.
their duty, and believe be the only conss
tent with the terms and intention OF our Constitution,
and the only which this Union from the fate
of all the conederaces which have successfully appear
ed and disappeared in the history of nations Anarchy
among the members, and not tyranny in the head has
been the rock which all such conederaces have split
The authors of present form OF Government knew
the danger OF this rock and they endeavored provide
against it. They formed UnIon-not league-a Fe-
deral Legislature to act upon persons not upon Staes
and they provided peaceful remedies for all the ques
tons which could between the people and the 60
vernment They provided federal Judiciary to execute
the federal laws when found to be constitutional and po
pular elections to repeal them when found to be bad
They formed government IN which the law and the
popular will and not the sword was to decide questions
and they looked upon the first resort to the sword for the
decisions OF such questions as the death OF the Union
The old Confederation was a league, with legsla
tue acting upon soveregntes without power to enforce
its decees and without union except at the will OF the
parties. 1t was poweress for government and rope
of sand for union. 1t to escape from that helpless
and toering government that the present constitution
formed; and less than ten numbers Of the Fede
raisrom the tenth to the tWenteth-were devoted TO
the detects OF the old system, and the necessity OF the
| will read some extracts from these
bers, the Joint product OF Hamilton and Madison, to
show the difference between the league which aban
doned ard the Union which we torIned-the dangers
the former and the benefits of the laterhat it may be
that the resolutions OF the General Assembly OF
Missouri if carried their conclusions, carry back
this Union tothe league of the confederation it
rope of sand, and II sword the arbtes bowen the fed
eral head and its members.
After reading these extracts, Mr.. B. said 1t was to
get rid Of the evils of the old Confederation that the pre-
Union formed and having formed it, they who
formed undertook make it perpetual and for that
purpose had to all the sanctions held sacred
among men-commands, prohibitions, oahs The
States forbid totorm colnpaets agreements with
each other tine constitution and the laws made in pur
OF declared to be the supreme law of the
land and all authorities, State and Federal legislative
executive, and judicial, to be support it.
The resolutions which have been read contradict all
this, and the General Assembly mistook their pow
es as much as they mstook the sentiments OF the peo
pie OF Missouri when they adopted them.
This is all that shall say at present make OBJ
lection to the reception printing OF these resolutions.
My only object at present. Is to make and save the two
points frst that the General Assembly mistook the
ments of the people of Missouri in adopting these
solutions; secondly, that they mistook their powers
in doing so.
Mr.. ATcHIsoN. As objection has been taken to
the printing Of the resolutions have but word
say; and that is merely to express opinion that the
people of the State Of Missouri when the time arrives
will prove to all mankind that every sentiment contain
ed in these resolutions from first last will be sustained
| by them
| The question then being taken upon the motion to
| print, it was agreed to.