The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-13
RGmAaKs or ma. cLEmEns,

REMARKS OF NM. cLEmEns,
OF ALABAMA,
Oa The Vermont resolutions relating 10 sauery dsiuered
~ the Senate, january TO- 1850.
Mr.. PREsrDEsr voted the olher day against the
motion to lay the question OF printing these resolutions
Ippon the table, not from any respect for the body who
adopted them any desire 10 extend courtesy 10 those
Who could 80 isr forget what was due e .ns people q
cothe such sentiments in such language But agree
with the senator from South Carolina, Mr. BUTLEaI
ss 'ns dsss ess
another reason. wish TO show nay constituents mat
The declaration, often and 90 earnestly made that the
North does intend 10 interfere with slavery where
exists s entirely false, and intended only deceive This
game has been played with success heretofore, and
should consider myself very calpabe i did not now
that all interference cah sauery IN the STATES is
foreign to their purposes but is ing too much OF our
ersaay to expect q 10 % bssve suoa statements M Wnea
directly contTadctng their assertions These resolutions
DO not stop at the same point with the senator from Ohio,
Ken They assert that the SO called compromises OF the
constitution restrict interference with slavery only in the
States in which Il existed al the time OF he adoption OF
avowed, Congress has the power to abolish slavery in
Alabama in any other State admitted since the adop-
lion of the constitution Another and bolder step has
has been removed and another deformity revealed.
am ready, therefore, to vote Tor the printing OF any num-
Der of these resolutions. for the purpose Of distributing
destood this question. and knew what shall be called
upon to resist So far my action goes that knowledge
shall not be withheld
We have never asked anything at your hands beyond
strict adherence to the constitution. We have never
roposed any interference with your domestic relations
We have % not assumed censorship over your morals.
but n-ntervenon with the rights secured to by the
constitution, and for tine maintenance OF which your
fathers solemnly and deliberately pledged their faith
Surely these are not hard conditions Nothing but the
most determined spirit OF ermeddlng-nohing but the
most reckless disregard Of consequences the most
found contempt for all the warnings have gvencoud
induce the northern people TO persist in the mad
they have been running for The last fifteen years When
the future historian records the events of that period in
believe ,se oy viii those Who are 10
after believe it possible that whole people, from
spirit OF aggression, without motive apart from
the pleasure which the tyrant always feels in the inc-
on Of wrong. have madly torn to pieces the most glo-
rious fabric ever erected BY human hands' The mise
rabe plea that aetaaied BY desire to improve the
morals Of the South, and equally miserable aectaon
Of special devotion 10 the cause OF humanity. will soon
be fogoten remembered only as an evidence Of the
81 and ms = bo
viewed by tribunal which cannot fail to pronounce
them something worse than insane When the fountain
first bubbled into day lis waters were supplied by folly
but the stream has gathered in its course so much OF
hypocrisy and wickedness that constrained to de-
test what al first we only desI,sed.
The value of the slave property in the southern States
exceeds nine hundred millions Of dollars No people
ever existed or will exist. who would consent TO
the destruction of this vast wealth without long and
desperate struggle and il be possible that you dream
OF e6ecting its destruction BY peaceful means, when you
have to deal with race constutionay brave. to
rashness and as prone TO as he sparks 70
is in your power TO compel submission II either OF
these fances have taken possession OF the northern
mind take my advice and Be in some haste to expe i
derer by night into deadly Quagmire is harmless when
compared with such guide
Suppose had motive to resist abolition agitation
eava fho nnao of ~ unud
you the picture were reversed, hesitate one moment
about the adoption OF the extreme measures Would
have SGSs Ss yaa Ss has
flooded this hall with petitions to burn down your
factories II. year after year. we nsulted you with
resolutions, passed by State Legislatures, declaring
that the system of white slavery, which undenably
exists in your manufactures and elsewhere. is Often
siye to the moral sense OF the South and one from
which il became Christian people to divorce themselves
Suppose reminded you Of the paupersm and crime in
your great cities; OF the bands of uveple vagrants
perng whenever opportunity offers, end begging when
oh, the sons to commit clonies and the daughters to
prostitution All these things we might urge with far
more justice than belongs 10 any Of your complaints
such petitions. or listen with patience to such resolutions
II you did, you would belle the character which the world
has given 10 the Yankee States
The senator from Ohio says that he is not TO be deferred
by menaces OF disunon from pursuing the he has
marked out for himself have no wish to deter him.
want him and other northern to come up boldly
and do what they tell their constituencies have de-
manded make menaces, but insist that the sena.
tors from Vermont obey the instructions OF their egsa.
ture and introduce the bills they there required
troduce borrow the language of member 10 the other
end OF the Capitol and tell them 10 come up and face the
music" Do not dodge the question DO not attempt TO
get rid OF IL by ndrecton, but stand up the represent
atves OF reemen ought to do and look II in the face II
you right, believe yourselves SO, persevere. Ii
you are wrong. but yet believe you can commit that
store for you which may be severe. but will certainly be
useful
The South, Mr. President, discaims the language Of
menace but il is nevertheless due TO all parties that her
deliberate purposes should be plainly announced We do
not intend TO stand still and have hroats cut, be-
the butcher chooses to soohe under the opera
tion with honeyed words You deceive longer
by the catchwords, "conciation and harmony" Nor
our voices be sed by the fear OF ncurng the
peat that the time for prudential action has gone BY
II IL this prudence OF which we have heard much,
that has brought to the situation in which we now
II 10 this constant talking about prudential action
which has induced the people Of the North 10 believe
that we do not intend TO resist
There is point at which prudence changes from vir-
tue TO vice, and il often happens that is used only as
another name for cowardce II is not 10 be wondered at
il our good brethren OF the North have mistaken the one
crusade which promised to be unattended with danger
know not il hey will thank me for pndeceiyng Them
but il is my habit 10 deal plainly with all men, and now
proclaim that you have reached the utmost limit 10 which
you go There is a line beyond which you must
not pass You have marched up TO IT, and now cross il
III you dare. do not say this TO inmldaie. do
net believe il will have that effect On the contrary
] believe with the senator from South Carolina Mr.
CALHousl that this movement wM run ITS course, and
a4 - ~ L.. IL =. lt1~Ia a,I