The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-20

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before, Virginia and other States had made cesso.
of that great territory to the United States; and
most magnificent act it was. never reflect upon
without disposition to do honor and justice-ant
justice would be the highest honorto Virginia 70
that act of ccssion of the Northwestern Territory.
will say sir that it is one of her airest claims to h
respect and gratitude of the United States and tha
perhaps is only second to that other claim which
attaches to her; which is, that from her counsels
from the intelligence and patriotism of her leading
statesmen, proceeded the first idea put in practice 70
the formation of a general constitution for the Uniee
| States.
This ordinance Of 1887 applying thus to the whole
territory over which the Congress of the United
States had any jurisdiction, adopted nearly three
years before the constitution of the United States
went into operation because the ordinance took eff
feet Immediately upon its passage, willie the cons
tuition, after having been framed, was to be sent te
States, to be debated in their conventions and
be adopted BY them, and then the government was tc
be organized under it. This ordinance, therefore
in full operation and force when the constitution
was adopted and this government put in motion in
March or April, 1889.
MIR. President, three things quite clear his
torical truths: One is, that there was an expecta-
ton that upon the ceasng of the importation of slaves
from Africa, slavery would begin to run out. That
was hoped and expected. Another is, that far as
there was any power Congress prevent the spread
of Slavery in the United States, that power ex-
ecuted in the absolute manner and to the fullest
extent. An honorable gentleman, whose health does
not allow him to be here to-day, Mr.. Calhoun said
| the other day in a speech to the Senate
SENATOR. He is here.
Mr.. WEBSTER. l am very happy he is here. May
he long be here in health, and in the enjoyment of
strength to serve his country! The honorable men,
Der said that he considered this the first in series
of measures calculated to eneebe the South, and to
deprive them of their just participation in the bene-
fits and privileges Of the government. He says very
properly, that was done under the old confederation,
and before this constitution went into effect. NV
present purpose is only say that it done with
the entire and unanimous concurrence of the whole
South. There it stands. The vote of every State
in the Union was unanimous in favor of that ord-
nance, with the exception of single individual who
was northern member-while to that ordinance, pro-
hbiting slavery northwest of the Ohio, are the hand
and seal of every southern member in Congress- This
was the state of things and this the of opinion
under which these two very important matters were
arranged, and these two important things done that
is, the establishment of the constitution and the
cognton Of slavery as it existed in the States and
the establishment of the ordinance prohibiting, to the
full extent of all territory owned by the United States,
the Introduction or existence of slavery.
And here, sir, we may pause. We may reflect for
moment upon that entire coincidence and concur
renee of sentiment between the North and the South
upon this question at the period of the adoption of
the constitution. But opinion has changed-greatIy
changed-changed North and changed South. Slav-
cry is not regarded in the South as it was them
! see before me an honorable member of this body,
Mr. Mason, paying me the honor to listen to my
marks, who brings to freshly and vivdy the sem
tments OF his great ancestor-so much distinguished
in his day and generation worthy to be succeeded
by SO worthy grandson-wth all the strength and
earnesness of the sentiments which he expressed in
the convention in Philadelphia.
Here We may pause. There was unanimity of
sentiment it not general concurrence of sentiment
running through the whole community, but especially
entertained by the eminent men of all portions of the
county, in regard to this subject But change
began North and South. A change began, and a sew
erence of opinion soon showed itself-he North grow
ing much more strong and warm against slavery, and
the South growing much more strong and warm in
its favor. There is no generation of mankind whose
opinions not subject to be Influenced by what ap-
pears to be their present and emefgent interest.
impute to the South particularly interested view in
her, certainly, dshonorable views. All that has
happened has been natural. 1t has followed causes
which always influence the human mind and operate
upon it.
What, then, has been the cause which has created
warm cling in favor of slavery at the South!-
which has changed the whole nomenclature of the
South in relation to this subject $50 that instead of
being referred to as evil, blight, curse, slavery
has now come to be an institution to be cherished
not scourge and misfortune 10 be deprecated, but
great political, social and moral blessing, think
have heard it lately described. Well, suppose
that this is owing to the sudden, surprising, and ra-
pd growth of the cotton planting interest in the South
SO far as any motive but honor, and justice, and the
general judgment has acted in forming their pre-
sent opinions, this interest has doubtless ac-
ted. 1t was this which gave the South new desire
to promote slavery, to spread it and to this spe-
cles OF labor. again say that this produced by
causes which we must always expect to produce like
effects. Mems interests become more deeply in
volved in it. If We look back to the history OF the
commerce of this country at the time of its COM
niencement, what were our exports! Cotton was
hardly raised at ALL The tables will show that the
expectation of cotton in the years 1880 and 1871 was
hardly more than forty or fifty thousand dollars a
year. 1t has gone on increasing rapidly, till it
amounts, in year of large product and high prices,
to more than one hundred millions of dollars Then
there more of flax, of indigo, more of rice,
more of almost any thing else exported from the
South than of cotton. think l have heard it said
with Great Britain, he did not know that any cot
ton was raised in this country; and that when,
under that treaty, which gave the United States the
right to carry their own products in their ships
to British ports, shipment of cotton was sent to
England, the British cusom-house refused to admit
it under the treaty. the ground that there
of that article raised in America Laughter.1 Welt
all know that this cotton age has become gold
age for southern brethren. 1t gratifed their
desire for Improvement and for extending their opera
tions. That desire grew with what it fed upon, and
there soon came to be greediness for other territory
Ia area, areas, for the cultivation of the
cotton crop; and measures were brought about, one
after another, under the lead of southern gentlemen
at the head of the government. (they having ma
jortY concurrng in both branches Of the egisature)
to accomplish these ends.
The honorable senator from South Carolina obser-
we'd in his speech the other day that the North have
fixed majority in every department Of the govern.
ment. If that be true. the North have acted very
literally and kindly. else very weakly for they
have never exerted the power which that majority
gives them five times in the WHOLE history Of the gov