The North-Carolina standard., 1850-04-24

upon some reasonable basis, and that shall gladly
unite in any Get of measures calculated to restore fra
ternal relations between different sections of the dis
acted country, and which should be consistent will
the oath have taken, and with my duty to my coun
try, cannot be driven, by any kind Of proceeding
to adopt course which believe will not be bene
fetal to the country, and will not tend to put stoI
to the distressing agitations which now destroy he
peace and quiet, but which will, on the contrary
tend to increase them. 1t is true si., that just
there is calm in certain quarter, but it is a calm
/ that precedes storm. Be assured, when you ac
upon this question-and it is presumed that, by using
an arbitrary majority to force an obnoxious meas
ure, you gain political purpose, OF for any othe
pnrposebe assured sir that there will be no divis
ion in that quarer-none, sir. Every man who feels
he should feel, that an insult and injury have
been thrown upon him and his section of the country
kwih stapd shoulder to shoulder in defence of wha
they honestly believe to be their constitutional rights
Are senators prepared to drive men who are already
pushed almost to desperation-but who cling to the
Union, despite of every provocation, SO far and SC
long tits possible, without degradation, to do sote
the absolute necessity of doing what the distinguish
ed senator from Michigan has SO eloquently depre'
| cated-to calculate the value of the Union!
Mr.. President, few men, perhaps, have been more
attached to the Union than myself Few men have
shown, on every occasion when an opportunity was
afforded, stronger desire to preserve every princi
pie of justice and cultivate the most kindly relations
to every section. Sir, never lent myself to any of
the wild schemes that were agitated many years ago.
considered them unnecessary, .and, in some degree
at least, injurious to the we-being of the nation,
and even of the section in which resided. ! went
against those whose motives suspected and whose
course l could not approve. l trust in God that
there will be patriotism, good sense and fraternal
feeling enough in this body to enable US to act upon
this great disturbing, distracting question, In such
manner will restore harmony and peace to the
country. feel that the destiny of this nation, in
the order of things, is to be of glory of gran
deur, and of magni6cence- we are to be the
greatest nation of the earth, if only preserve
what is SO important to preserve-peace at home.
Sir, We have nothing to fear from abroad: is our
internal dssensons internal chickering's and strife,
gotten up in some instances by unprincpled polti-
clans to advance their selfish purposes, carried on by
miserable fanatcism which is growing stronger and
stronger every day, until God only knows what will
be the result. l trust the good sense of the Con-
gress Of the United States will arrest the evil in
time to save this glorious Union, and enable Us to
fulfil our destiny, which l have no doubt is glori-
Gus one.
Mn. BENTON. The Senator from Alabama says
that California is not State, but Territory, and
should be .emanded back her territorial condition.
She is State by law, but she is State in fact
and think the honorable senator would find it about
as hard to make her a Territory to change man
back into boy. 1t will never do to make her Ter
ritory. But then, it is determined to make her pur-
chase her admission and freedom from slavery-to
make her pay for the privilege of excluding slavery
from her own limits.
Mr.. KING. (interposing.) Does the senator mean
to imply any indirection on my part!
Mn. BENTON. meant it in no offensive sense;
meant in a circuitous sense.
Mr.. KING. disclam, sir, any intention of acting
upon the subject of California, either in the admis-
sion the rejection, in consequence of slavery being
in or out of it. Idisclaim it for myself
MR. MANeuM, Tin his seat.) For every one.
Mr.. KING. I disclaim it for every one. The OBJ
ject which had in view to submit to the consid-
Grafton of the Senate certain difficulties that existed
order that the matter might 90 to the committee for
examination, and investigate how far We could get
over the difficulties, and arrange the matter to
bring in California without prejudice injury to the
other States. That is all. wished to offer her no
indigniy. had disposition to do anything further
than to protect ourselves. rose simply TO dsclaim
any Intention either by indirect or by direct MEANS
in any mode whatever, to operate against the ad-
mission of California, in consequence Of her action
upon the subject of slavery. As hold, and have
and again, if her territory is cir
within proper limits. and if her constitu
tion in accordance with the constitution of the Uni
ted Staes her it belongs to decide whether slavery
shall exist there not and have right to object
to her on that account.