Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-02-15

subject further; but, having said VIVA, Ibave
may perhaps be excused for looking little fnr
Their into the future. Sir, If, through the in
strumentaIity of separate Independent State &C.
tlon, The operations Of this Government are to
be suspended, it may be well to enquire what
then will be the position in which we sball
lind ourselves Sir, if there be secession
from this Union on the part Of the South-which
nope Will never be the case--but if there
should be, what then becomes Of this purpose
OF carrying the institution Of Slavery into the
territories? BY any such secession the terri.
tories will be left the property of the remaining
portion OF the Union The South by abandon.
ing the Union, will abandon their interest in
these territories and their control over them
Such upon ordinary principles, will be the re-.
suit. We'll, sir, what then becomes of the pro.
yet of extending slavery into the territories:
I!llS great object for which gentlemen seem will
ing 10 hazard so much Sir, there will be but
one ay-'here will be but one mode of carry
'"g 1t OUT ana that mode will be by Conquest
a conquest OF those territories from the power
OF these States which stil adhere 10 the Union.
Sir, it measures of this kind are resorted TO
for the purpose of extending the institution of
slavery, or if they are persisted in, know Of no
| possible result but civil war; in order to Obtain
the conquest of the territories from the free
States.
! Sir, VIII pursue this subject no further the
! suggestion that such may be the issue is enough
OF itself. II the possibility of such an issue is
not OF itself sufficient to excite reflection and
induce caution, all the powers of language can
not add one feathers weight to its force
Mr. resdent, have already detained the
Senate too long, but having been called upon to
meet the subject here, thought it my duty to
meet it boldly, and at the same time temperate.
~ deprecaie all exciting debate on the SUBJ
Ject | am disposed TO view it more coolIy as
The SUBJECT rises IN importance. Sir, would
sooner quarrel about trife than would Weld
to excitement in regard to a topic which, of all
others, seems most to endanger the harmony
and perhaps the stability Of this Union meet
II boldly, because the sentiments expressed in
the resolutions of my own State, however they
may ullier from the sentiments prevailing else
wnere' are those which nv constituency enter
tam, and which my own State. as member of
thIS Union, has perfect right to entertain and
to express. They are sentiments bearing Ii.
rectly on the action of this body, on the most
important subject before it, and perhaps upon
the most important topic that will ever come
before it, Upon such a question it is the right
OF any and every State of this Union to express
itself in language satisfactory to itself.
Slr. ! egret that Senators should have thought
it pro or, in reference TO my colleague (Mr. Tn.
/
essary exhibition of these sentiments. the un.
necessary and cnlpabe agitation of the subject
mere sir, the right of my State, and Of any
oldte IN TINS Union, to speak its sentiments in
tins manner, should not be-is not questioned
The only manner in which a State can speak
here is through her representatives on this floor.
VIII it be contended that if such expressions
should happen not to be palatabe to every gen.
! 'ieman on this floor, in regard to a topic
mus Importantt is the duty of the representative
to pocket the solemn resolutions of his constit-
uency, and suppress their opinions
Sir, in presenting these resolutions nv col.
league contormed to the uniform practice of the
senate, and | was not little surprised that ex.
ception should be taken to this course, after lis
teh'hg 10 the expressions Of gentlemen from 9TH
er quarters in relation to the determination of
the State they represent. Sir, it is the right it
Is Tie duty OF these gentlemen to express the
opinions OF the States they represent. take
no exception to the very decided tone in which
IN some instances, this has been done But
may be permitted to express my surprise that,
while gentlemen volunteer, upon their own res
possibility, not only to express the opinion of
thelr states, but to announce determinations
liXed ana unal!erable purposes which may lead
10 measures OF the last eXtremity-We should
be ccAsurcd for presenting the expression of
opinion cmanating from the Legislature, the rep
resentaiives Of the people Of our State.
MR. preSlden', repeat it, this subject is one
which, OF all others, would avoid, if could
avoid 1t consistently with my duty. But the
lime has come when ii cannot be avoided Nv
apology, II one be necessary for tres passing
upon the time OF the Senate, is 10 be found in
the tact That the opinions expressed by the
legislature OF my State have been commented
upon III tone and with severity which rem
uered 1t my duty, as the representative Of the