The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-08-09
NO. so.


uents that on a certain measure expected to
come before the Chambers he would vote as
they required. They required him to vote so
and so, and he said he would do il. Well, he
was chosen, and he came to the chamber to take
his seat. But alb, it was said, not so fast! OBJ
lection was made; it was said that he did not
come there as fair man; he did not come there
as an impartial man, to Judge Of the great inte-
rests OF great country in the questions before
hlm-he came there pledged and trammelled
down; he had given up his rights and pledged
his vote; he did not stand there on an equality,
with the other members, who came there inde-
pendent and untrammelled, and bound to exer-
else their individual Judgment And they ex-
PEELED him on that very ground, or rather reiec-
ted him. And whoever wishes to see one of the
| most beautiful disqusitioas on political morals,
and the duty of those who represent the people.
that know Of, since the time of Burke's speech
| at Bristol, will be gratified by reading Guizot's
speech on that occasion. At any rate, coming
there under pledges to give his vote for them,
though against the majority, they held him not
to be worthy to be representative OF France,
and to act on questions in which the whole king
dom was concerned. For my part, know how
easily we glide into this habit of following in
s:ructons; | know that members of Congress
intend to act conscientiousIy always; believe
they wish themselves, very frequently, free from
these trammeIs-in short, sir, have sometimes
thought when considering on this subject of the
Wimot Provso, that Congress itself needs the
"Witmot"- have thought that if the genius Of
American liberty, or some angel from higher
sphere. could fly over the country with scroll
bearing the words, and with power to give effect
fr, o,11 81, Il fS D.
it ordained, that neither in the Senate nor in the
House OF Representatives in Congress assem-
bled, there shall be slavery nor inyo!entary ser-
Titude, except for crime'-it would be giori-
GUS and consoling honor and mercy TO the con-
stitutlon OF the country. Spirit of Nathan Dane,
how could thou take so much pains 10 set mems
limbs and motives free in the Territories, and
never deign 10 add even provlso for the free
dom of conscience and opinion in the halls of
Congress! Applause.
Now think, sir. that every public considera,
ton connected with the interests Of the State,
one OF whose representatives, and the most hum
Bile OF them all, am, shows the absolute neces-
sty OF settling these questions at once, upon fair
and reasonable terms--the necessity Of judging
things according to their real importance, and
not being carried away by ''georgeons, hydras,
chimeras dire" TO the disregard of what is sub
stantial and important. and essential in the ad-
ministration of the Government Why, Massa-
chusetts, sir, one of the smallest States of the
Union, circumscribed within the limits of 5000
square miles Of very barren, rocky, and sterile
territory, possesses within its limits at this mo-
ment million of people. With the same de-
gree of population New York would have nearly
100000, and Virginia would have more than
100000. Well, what are their occupations
and pursuits2@nA very small portion of them
live by the I 8ge Of the land. They are en-
gagged in those pursuits exactly which fall under
the control and care, the preservation and the
protection of the laws of the Government.
Commerce, the fisheries, navigation, manufac-
tures-every one of these is under the influence
of the laws OF this Government. At the very
day, and on none Of these subjects, does Con-
gress over pass law that does not materially
affect the habits and prosperity Of Massachu-
sets, and of Rhode Island also. Then, sir, is
| it not Of great importance to all these States
that the Government should be carried on reg
ularly-that it should have the power of action
motion, and legislation? Is it not the greatest
calamity that it should be all paralyzed, hung
up, pendant on one idea, as if there was no OBJ
lect in Government, no use in Government, no
desirable protection from Government, no de.
srabIe legislation by Government except what
relates to one idea. Sir, cannot conceive that
these great interests will be readily surrendered
by the business men, the community, the labor
ing community, of the Northern States, upon
abstraction, or upon naked possibilities that evil
may ensue if particular measure may not be
adopted Men must liye-to live they must
work-to work they must be protected in their
empoyment--and how are they to live and work
and educate their children, if in this way the
business Of society is stopped Every thing fails
into state Of stagnation, and no man knows
when he may expect the hour OF redemption to
draw nigh. Depend upon it-depend upon it,
:he people of the North wish to see an end put
to this state Of things. They desire to see
measure of peace and conoiliaton adopted; they
desire to see harmony restored; they desire
again to be in the enjoyment of good Govern
ment, under the operation and sanction Of gooG,
laws, and that their daily labor, their daily en-
ployment, their daily means of living and of ed
ucating their families may continue undisturbed,
And there has not been, in my acquaintance
with the peope of the country, moment in
which so much alarm has been felt, add SO much
sickening felt at the state of public affairs, in
time of peace, as is now FELT, at least through
those portions of the country with whose sent-
ments am acqueinted. leave others to judge
for themselves. who may be more conversant
with public opinion and possess more means Of
ascertainng it; but believe it is the opinion OF
fve-sixths of the whole community at the North
that questions such as have occupied lis here,
shound not be allowed any longer to embarrass
the Government, and defeat the just hopes of
those who maintain the Government and expect
to live under its protection.
Sir, have alluded to the argument of my
friend from Connecticut because it is the ablest
one on this subject that have read, and have
alluded to the vote he intends to give as vote
illustrative of what consider the evils Of in
structing men before the case arises as to
what shall be their course of conduct here.
The member from Connecticut is as indepen-
dent as any other man, and of course will not
understand that meant any thing personal in
what have said. take his case merely as
an illustration of the impropriety of instruc-
ticns.
Well, then, sir, have stated what it appears
to me the North gain and what they lose. And
how is it with the South? Why, think the
South, the slaveholding States, if all these
measures pass, will gain an acceptable and sat-
isfactory mode for the reclamation of slaves.
As to the territorial acquisitions, am bound
in candor to say, that. taking Maryland, for ex-
ample, as one Of the South, Maryland will gain
exactly what Massachusetts loses-that is,