The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-06

N>onSlNullon Is sovereign, anu cNtcHuS tHStHiNty
over all territory acquired IN any manner what
ever. and annuls and abrogates all laws repug-
nant TO it. An established religion is part of Tire
law of Mexico. Is there such q thing IN these
territories nowi There are fifty articles, contra
! and by the Mexican law, now going IN free.
siave you ever extended even your revenue laws
over these people How are oil these things
.iones Because our Constitution extends there,
and provides for all the legislation therein con
iained either the positive or the prohibitve- en-
actments. presume there ppy be laws formerly
il force, that have a bmdyng operation now,
where they do NOT conrasenes ohr g Constitutions,
ar, il may be, our nets Of Congress. 49, sfsa
While on the subject of this proyiso, I must
here say, that If any doubt had ever rested upon
my mind, the able argument Of the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr, DlsNEy,l has placed that ques-
ZION beyond controversy, 1t was even more
satisfactory than that Of the distinguished states
man from Michigan and when your memorable
hammer fell, was both sorry and glad ---sorryto
have so able an argument interrupted and glad
not to hear the gentleman show how this thing
could be done in another way. il he would
bring TO bear half the research he has shown
upon the Wimot proviso, i know that he would
he satisfied that this notion of the Mexican LAW
doing what the Congress of the United States
cannot, and win not do, is equally erroneous, UNI
just, and forty times more offensive than the
Others a fs'-s ts "a. ~. Ri
Mr.. Chairman, is il necessary 10 say anything
slavery in the territories--of the right Of Goa
gress to exclude any portion of the American
people from carrying their property to all parts
of the United States--or the last position, that
there is no right of property recognised in slaves
ARE all of very recent origin' Only a few years
ago, Mr.. Van Buren,, the present head of the
.Free-Soil party, while representing our Govern
ynent at the court of ST. James, made an able ar
,.iment, and succeeded in obtaining indemnity for
slaves liberated by the English authorities at Mas
sau; and the only real difficulty was, where their
value was to be estimated. p.. u. .4..-.
Has it come to this, that we will threaten, with
The power of our country, a foreigner who inter-
feres with the slave of our fellowcitizen; but
unable to make our own citizens respect the rights
of property of each other, or obey the clear, UNI
disputed acquisitions Of the Constitution Then
it was true, that the flag of country protected,
all hercitizens alillei II the person or property
of the humblest Of our felloW-citizens from the
North is moested by the most powerful nation of
the earth, pulse beats quicker at the recital of
the injury, and thousands Of swords are ready to
leap from their scabbards bright the wrong; but
when it has relation to slave property, not only
will you not demand and obtain redress, but you
aid, abet, and shield the perpetrators Of such
wrong among our brethren. +'E.~s-s- l..A
Since the period when Mr. Van, Buren, obtained
compensation for the slaves liberated at Nassau,
one or two other vessels have been Obliged to
ftop there, under precisely the same circulnstan-
ces, and the slaves have been liberated, and the
injury has remained unredressed. Are The laws
20 equally and impartially, administered, and the
benefits and protection SO justly melted out, that
unless we ready 10 declare that we arc for the
Union, now, and forever, and under.all cireum-
stances, we are to be denounced as factonsts'
solemnly declare that there is no man more
devoted to the Union Of these States than myself,
and know that great injuries, Inconvenience,
and unfortunate consequences will necessarily fol-
low to all sectlous from a separation. ! say more
that do not think there is a man in my State i'll
favor of disunion, as abstract idea but there
are things even more to be avoided than disunion,
and that any attempt to destroy the institution of
slavery in the States directly, or by circumscrib-
ing out of ell territory south Of 36o go, will
surely as day succeeds night, bring about that
catastrophe and upon the heads of those who
are guilty OF such aggression will the sin remain.
When invoke your aid, under the Constitu-
ton, for the protection and return Of my slave
property, am not answered, when you tell me
that il is local law that constitutes slavery. A.
distinguished perhaps the most dis
tnguished statesman of New England, who
for more than fifty yenrs, filed the highest places
in her councils, Mr.. ADAMS said, thatthe Con.
stitution was pro-slavery instrument, and that i
contained some two or three clauses inserted FOL
hear And i the Rs s2ppe Ct The S S8Rl
beyond and aboveit, they may well feel alarmed
and insecure and think about disunion. 10 ... =.
And this brings me to the remedy proposed
One would have supposed, from the manner the
convention proposed to be held at Nashville has
been denounced, that such thing had never taken
place before. If single interest belonging TO
portion of this Union, is supposed to be
iniuriousy affected or threatened, forthwith con-
venuons are held, resolutions passed, and for
weeks and months our tables are flooded with
pamphlets, upon the subject OF coal, iron, or manu-
features, as the case may be. There have been
more meetings, and preachings, and resolutions
passed and propositions offered, TO secede from
the Union, and money spent to get rid of the sin
and the property, which is ours, than we shall be
able to equal in the next ten years, if we do
nothing but agtate this question. E-,' ID z%E#s 3
When this convention meets at Nashville, do
not suppose it can, or will even attempt to, dis
solve the Union. 1t cannot be done in d day or
month, or a year; but, as we have already been
told by the great statesman from Carolina, already
a number of the cords have been sundered, and
the last one may be easily broken TWAS the last
feather that crushed the camel, and the last drop
that made the cup run over; and if you will not
look at the truth now, the work may be done
before you are aware oft. There will be assem-
bled the delegates from large majority Of the
Southern States, with every disposition to be
calm and conservative; they will have to delibe-
rate and talk about the wrongs and aggressions of
which they complain.
1t matters little whether these aggressions ex-
list in truth or in Imagination. If only imagi-
nary, like the disease Of the hypechondriac
minister TO mind diseased 20 Is it to be sup
posed, MIR. Chairman, that the meeting of this
convention, under these circumstances, will be
calculated to allay the irritation under which the
Southern mind is laboring | apprehend not
What remains then TO be done' Take away all
cause for the coDventon-show some OF the pat
riotism which belonged to the earlier and better
days efthe Republic--make us feel that we are
the descendants Of those who shed their blood in
a common cause, and for a common benefit Let
the palladium of American citizen be at least as
sure protection as it was in the palmest days of
the Roman Republic. Let the time come. and
always be, when the stars and stripes will pro-
tect every American, and his property of every
description whatever, upon every foot OF soil
won by common blood and treasure, so long as
you shall bold il in trust for him. In short, give
us at least the guarantees which your fathers gave
to mine, when they Were equals a strong but
generous majority would givemore, and save the
Union weak but jealous minority could MOI
take less, and preserve their honor ~. ~
'Since the above remarks Were made, the con-
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