Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-01-26

TO introduce bill in favor Of reducing those
boundaries; her retaining portion of the
territory into a State, II was well known
that this proposition was his property. He
was not in the habit Of stealing from others,
and as he did no, himself steal, he did not
desire to be stolen from. Turning towards
Mr.. Benton,) He made no charges; he was
the last man in the world 10 do that but,
under all circumstances he must be allowed
10 deal in an innocent inuendo. He could not
and had not, introduced proposition similar
in all its details 10 that which had just been
presented to the Senate, although his bill ac-
compish, in far more jus: and satisfactorily
manner. In consequence of the incendiary
movements in the North, and the noendiary
message OF the Governor of Massachusetts
and other States north of Mason & Dixon's
line, nothing could be more diabolical, ac-
cursed and traiorous, than for a Southern
man to present any such proposition as was
contained in the bill 10 reduce the bounda-
ries of Texas, and so forth. The South had
been forced 10 draw the line, and she had
drawn it. She had asserted her constitution
al right and could offer no more compromises
of these rights.
He had desired to see this question settled
in such manner as not TO compromise the
feeling of any man, from any section, and
that time had passed by. Il would not have
gone by, however, if it had not been for
Southern men pretending to represent South
ern sentiments and feelings. The South
would not, probably, have assumed TO her
present position, if it had not been for the
course of Southern man, (Mr. Benton) liv-
ing in Southern State, slave holder, repre-
senting shareholders, who had undertaken 10
call all those who differed from him upon the
agitating question fools.
| That individuals had declared 'that no
man Of sense now questioned the right Of
Congress 10 legislate on the question Of sla-
very" When he made that declaration, he
knew that the distinguished Senator from
South Carolina. (Mr Calhoun,) who was gen.
orally allowed 10 possess at least an ordinary
share of intelligence, and the Senator from
Michigan, Mr. Cass,) who possessed, certain
ly as much judgment and common sense
as the gentleman who had thus inferred his
lack Of understanding had both Of them, de-
cared specifically that they could find no
clause in the Constitution comforting any such
right of Legislation by Congress. He knew,
also, that large number of gentlemen as
sembled in this capitol, last winter, had de-
] al Il al,
right pertained TO Congress.
Notwithstanding all this, the Pater Senatus
long known for his wisdom, experience, and
thousand virtue besides, took it upon him
self to declare that all the gentlemen were
fools, and similar acts had created the neces-
sty, upon the part of the South, for action
asserting their rights, and expressing their
convictions of the power of Congress, and
the position which their representatives should
assume upon this great question
Mr.. Foote repeated his statement, "Fools!o
/ (the remarks made by the Senator, Mr., Ben
tou) and said that the effect of such senti-
ments, avowed in Southern State, Missouri,
by stakeholder himself, had the effect of
inducing slaves 10 run off by the fif,ies across
the Mississippi river into the free States.
MIR. Benton here arose, put on his hat, and
throwing his cloak on his arm, proceeded to
leave the chamber. As he was leaving,
Mr.. Foote proceeded: Yes, sir, they fled
across the river. The same sort of flight as
the Senator is now himself making from the
Senate chamber. | like to see a heroic Sena-
| tor one who dares TO stand up like man
and answer for his course, whatever il may
be. The Senator from Missouri has, time
! after time, when three thousand miles of,
slandered and vilifed his fellow Senators,
and the portion Of the Union which they re-
presented, and threatened TO chastse those
who differed with him upon that subject,
Yet, now he dared not meet those he had
slandered face TO face that as soon as the
subject was hined at here, where he had
proposed 10 administer the chastisemeni, he
had fled the Senate, as those negroes had
| fled across the river.