Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-27

other fTm, OF that very principle. Sir, am profound
y geved at observing this utter abandonment oil the
great and fundamental principle which fought gal
antly, though unsuccessuly in lS4s am most seriously
mortified that this claim of protection, for great consu
oua right by of Congress emana,es from Senator from
my native State that Senator from Virginia that asks
Congress TO iegslate on the subject slavery in the Terrific
Sir is this standing upon the rock OF the constitution
Is this appeal 10 the great principles OF JUSTICE the con-
stltuon, and self government Is possible that the Sena-
tor from Virginia does not perceive the danger which turks
in such legislation be nyokes to our whole system OF
domestic slavery the South Does he not see that when
Congress shall have egsated this subject for the ben
eft of the South will be preventing the majority OF
its Members who always be hereafter from the
savehoding States from legslatng for the overthrow OF
slavery every where the Sates and in the District of
Coumbia, well in the Territories Let this Pandoras
box be once opened and God only knows what ruin is
come upon the South. Peculiarly ngorous will it be for her.
if falls by the AIKEN policy OF her chosen cham
pious upon this floor. ....
Sir the Senator from Virginia demands protection of Con-
gress for the constitutional rights Of his constituents The
Senatorial of sovereign State protection
from this Government Of limited powers for rights that existed
before the constitution itself formed and whose claim 10
continued existence recognised in the organic law of the
Republic Why sir, does he not discover that he is wang
mischievously upon State rights and State dignity
Indeed, fear that all the doctrines once so highly vene
rated of The State rights school of Virginia. about to fall
into contempt and oblivion Sir protection granted by the
strong the weak by the superior to the inferior and with
my notions of State dignity, and constitutional rights should
rights of property which guaranteed by the constitution it
self the honorable Senator from Virginia that the
OF public sentiment in the South much more elevated
this subject than he to regard il. But let
for the doctrines set forth in the farfamed
Southern address, of which Mr. CALHOUN is the known
thor. Now sir, my honorable friend from Virginia will al
low say that he and have peculiar responsibility in
connexon with that meeting of the Southern Senators and
Representatives this chamber in which the Southern ad
dress originated for truth he got up that meet
ing, having summoned together all who afterwards assembled
for the purpose of devsng suitable of defending the
South from threatened aggressions, and rescung the Union
from overthrow. read from the address, the subject OF
nou intervention, as follows
"What propose in this connexion is, make few
marks what the North alleges erroneou to be the issue
betv cen us and them. ...m.@.. ..
IS So far from maintaining the doctrine whchthe issue inn
plies hold that the Federal Government has right to
extend restrict slavery than establish abolish
has any right whatever to distinguish between the
domestic institutions of State section and another
order favor the and discourage the other As the ede
Of each and all the Sate is bound deal
within the sphere OF its equal and exact justice
and ALL To otherwise undertake discrmi
between the domestic institutions Of and another
would he in total subveron OF the end for which it
estahedto be the common protector and guardian OF all
Entertaining these opinions ask not the North alleges
do for the extepson of slavery. That would make dis
elimination favor and unconstitutional the
discrimination they ask against us in their favor 1t is not for
them tor the Federal to determine whether
domestic institution is good or bad whether should
be repressed 1t belongs and only to
decide such questions. What them do insist is,
extend slavery but that shall be prohibited from emf
grating, with property into the territories of the United
States, because shareholders other words that
shall that account be disranchised of privilege
possessed by all Others citizens and foreigners without dis
elimination character profession color ALL whether
barbarian civilized, freely enter and remain,
W only being excluded"
Now, sir, propose ecite short but pertinent
doe connected with that portion of the address jus, read
When the whole address had been reported the meeting
by Mr. Calhoun chairman of the committee upon whom
had devoved the task Of preparing it, certain Southern
gentlemen objected the part just cted because asserted
this non-inervention door Those gentlemen in
sisted that should, in mode oher either in the
address, by resolution otherwise declare desire OBJ
tain special protection for holding rights in the Terrific
ries nasmuch they conceived that the Mexican law
aboishng slavery still in force herin and would operate
obstruction to the establishment and maintenance of
slavery in the Territories, unless provided specially for
the annulment of that law by the action of Congress
These gentlemen certainly sufficiently consistent with
themselves this subject But what the pur
sued by those OF US who then maintained the
doctrine and who afterwards under Mr.. Cahouns lead
subscribed and sent forth the Southern Address Why sir
we insisted that the Mexican law abolhing slavery
already nuy and avowed the opinion that all that the
South could honcrab ask receive be let alone and
not nerfered with by the action of Congress ALL relying as
we did, in Mr.. Cahouns memorable Language, upon s'he
graf principles of justice the constitution and segovern-
ment And this doctrine of the nully of the Mexican law
has been constantly maintained here by distinguished Southern
genlenen including the honorable from Georgia.
(Mr BERRIEN) my colleague, and large number of
OILERS, who to apprehend that this may
have been mbued by mysterious process other with
vitality. .... 49,.
One exrac, Only shall present in explanation of the
views entertained by Mr. Calhoun upon this momenous SUBJ
ec shall bring the notice the Senate his famous
resolution o lS47, with portion of bis comments there
upon. Here is the resolution 'n.
.Rcsoived That fundamental prncnle in our noIca
creed that people, forming constitution have the ncon-
dtona right TO form and adopt the which they
may think best calculated their liberty prospery
aud happiness and that in conformity thereto other con-
dtlon is imposed by the Federal constitution on State in
order TO be admitted into this Unon except that its conu-
ton shall be republican and that the imposition OF any other
BY Congress would only be violation the constitution
but IN direct conflict with the principle which our political
system rests" '...
The following Mr. Cahouns language in support Of his
resolution:
"Mr President only is that proposition grossly ncon-
sen with the constitution, but the other which undertakes
to that no State shall be admitted this Union which
shall not prohibit by its constitution the existence of slaves
equally great outrage against the constitution of the United
States. SIR hold be fundamental prncipe ot our
political sysem that the people have right establish what
they think proper themselves that
State about to become member of this Union has right to
form its government peases that in order to
be admitted there is but qualification and that is that the
government shall be republican, Thece express prov
sion TO that effect but it results rem that important section
which guarantees State in the Unon republican form
of government Now sir what is proposed 1t is proposed
from vague indefinite, erroneous, and dangerous con-
cepon OF private individual liberty overrule this great
liberty which the people have of framing their own
constitutions Sir the right of self government the part
OF individuals is not easily established any
OF reasoning the right of community State
goverIment And yet sir there such delicate
feeling the subject Of lbertymen Who possibly
bear what they call slavery section OF the country
though not so much slavery institution indispensable for
the good OF both rscesen queamsh this point that
they realty to strike down the higher right commuu-
~ govern themselves in order maintain the absolute
right individuals every possible condition to gov rn them
selves ~