Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-28

dDlc scndtoi iIoH hthtuChy, ~ CoutH var
DINA If call the facts to my recollec-
ton Alright, they are these: We are the
owners of much shipping; we employ ma
ny sailors; among them we employ free
people of color, who are acknowledged in
Massachusetts to be citizens of the United
States, citizens of the Commonwealth, en-
titled to the rights of citizens. These citi-
zens were taken from our vessels when they
arrived in South Carolina, and held in Gus
tody until the vessels sailed again. This
our citizens complained of, whether justly
or unjustly; they felt that it was an infringe
ment, in the first place, of the rights of the
citizens, and, in the next place, it was a
great inconvenience TO men engaged in this
trade. If remember correctly, and think
| do, the people of Massachusetts author
lzed their government to propose, at the ex-
pense of the State, to some proper person,
citizen of the State of South Carolina, to
contest the right ofthat State to hold these
citizens in custody in this way, in the
courts in the State or the United States If
l remember, that was declined by one or
more citizens of South Carolina and the
mission to which the honorable senator re-
ton of it believe he has correctly stated
And | wish it to be understood that Mass
had no aggressive purpose whatever, but
simply desired the Judicial tribunals to SET
tie the question. They wanted nothing
more-they asked nothing more.
MIR. Clay. hear with great pleasure,
Mr.. President, this explanation; but | have
been informed by an eminent citizen of
Massachusetts, whose name 1t is not neces-
sary 10 mentIOn-not a member Cf th,s body
that the motive of repeal of those laws of
Restoration, or the passage of those laws of
obstructIon--thlt one Of the motives was,
the treatment of Mr.. Hoar in Chlreston.-
| am glad to hear that it proceeded from
another cause-irom what conceive to be
i misconceptIon of the decision Of the SUI
preme court of the United States. When
the true exposition of the opinion comes to
be known ia Massachusetts, | trust that she
Will restore all those laws for the recovery of
those fugitive slaves that she repealed from
d misconception of that decision.
/ MIR. PaesIdent, | have great deal more
TO say; bat | shall pass from that resolution
with the observation that parity made be-
fore, that the most stringent provisions upon
this subject that can be devised will meet
with my hearty concurrence and co-opera-
ton in the passage of the bill under consid-
Grafton.
/ The last resolution declares
That Congress has no power to pro-
hibit or obstruct the trade in slaves be-
tween the slavehaldlng states; but that the
admission or exclusion of slaves brought
from one INTO another of them depends ex-
cluslyelg upon their own particular laws"
| This Is a coucessIon-not admit, of any
real constitutional provision, bat conces-
sion OF what Is understood | believe. by
great number at the North to be consti-
tutIonai provIsion--from the North to the
south, II the resolutions be adopted. Take
away the decision of The supreme court of
the United States on that subject, and
know there is great deal that might be
said ON both sides of the subject of The right
OF Congress to regulate the trade between
the states. But | believe the decision of
the supreme court has been founded upon
correct principles; and hope it will forever
put an end TO the question whether Con-
gress has or has not the power to regulate
the slave trade between the different states
Such, Mr. President, is the series of res
olutIons which, with an earnest and anxious
desire to present the olvebranch to both
parts OF this distracted and, at this mo-
ment, unhappy country, thought II my duty
to offer. OF all men upon earth. sir, am
the least attached to any production of my
own mind. No man upon earth is more
ready than | am to surrender anything which /
have proposed, and to accept, in lieu of it.
anything which Is better. Blu: put it to
the candor OF honorable senators on the 9TH
er side, and upon all sides OF the chamber, |
whether their duty will lie performed bv |
simply limiting themselves To any one or two |
OF the series of resolutions which have of /
tered. If my plan Of peace, and accommo-
ddtInn, and harmony, is not right present
US your plan. Let us see a Contra project
Let us see how all the questions that have
arisen out Of this unhappy subject of slave
ny can be better settled, more fairly aud JUST
ly settled, to all quarters ofthe Union, than
Is proposed in the resolutions which | have
offered. Present me such scheme, ana
haIl 1t with pleasure. and will accept 1t with
out the slightest feeling of regret that my
own is abandoned.
SIR, while ] was engaged in anxious
consideration upon this subject, the idea
of the Missouri compromise, as 1t has
been termed, came under my review, was
considered by uie, and finally rejected, as in
my Judgment less worthy otJhe Common ac-
ceptance of both parties of this Union, than
the project which offer to your consider
alton.
MIR. President, before enter into par
tcular examination, however of that Mis-
souri, compromise, beg to be allowed to
correct great error, not merely in the SEN
ate, but throughout the country, in respect
to my agency III regard to the Missouri COM
promise, or rather the line of 81 deg. 30
nIn., established by the agency of Congress-
| do not know, Mr.. President, whether any,
thing has excited more surprise IN my mind
as to the rapldily with which important his
torical transactions are obliterated and pass
out OF the memory, tnan has the knowledge
OF the fact that was everywhere considered
the author Of the line of 81 deg. 30 min,
which was established upon the occasion of
the admission of Missouri into ihe Union.
MIR. President, 1t would take up too much