The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-09
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, January s, 1850.
SENATE.
rRENcn spoLIArIoNs.


Petitions OF a private character presented by
Messrs. SEWARD, greene, Downs, MASON, Dick
iSsoS, ArcHIsoN, STURGEON, DAYTON, DoDGE OF
Iowa, and SMITH
Memorials now file were allowed to be with.
drawn, ON motions, by Messrs. BELL, CoRwrN, MA
SON, PEARcE, BENTON, BRIGHT, and DODGE of Iowa.
Mr., UPHAM presented resolutions passed by the
Legislature of the State of Vermont urging the es-
adjustment ola bureau on Agriculture Ordered To
be printed.
Also, the resolutions of the same Legislature upon
the subject OF slavery; which he moved be laid on
the table and printed.
Mr.. MANGUM moved to lay the motion to re-
ceive the resolutions on the table.
| MIR. HALE asked the ayes and noes.
MIR. KING said the practice of the Senate had
been to receive all communications, unless objec-
tons were made; and it had been the practice OF
the presiding officers, whenever any paper con-
tanning Objectionable matter introduced, to put
TO the Senate the question of its reception. But the
usage had also grown up to receive all communica-
tons addressed to the Senate by sovereign States,
and either refer them or lay them the table;
they were always, however, printed, that being a
courtesy TO the State.
Mr.. PHELPS considered that the Senator from
Alabama was right in his statement of the usage OF
Mr.. MANGUM, believing the Senator from Ala
bama to be correct in his statement, withdrew his
motion.
MIR. YULEE could not agree to the printing OF
these resolutions. They contained language OPP
Probrious and insulting to the South, and to the
people of Florida. The resolutions declared sIavery
| crime against humanity, and evil in the
body politic"-language as offensive, and more Of
fensive to the whole body of slaveholding States,
| than he ever knew 10 be contained in the many
resolutions OF the several States upon this subject
The only means, therefore, that he had to express
his Reproduction of such language as addressed to
the people he represented, was to withhold his vote
from the order print these resolutions.
/ The reading of the resolutions called for, and
| they were read. They urged upon the Senators
| and Representatives from that State to use every
prudent and just effort to the exclusion of slavery
from the District of Columbia and from the Terri
| tories
Mr.. BUTLER said he would vote for the printing
OF the resolutions. He willing to adhere to the
established usages of the Senate. He would vote
for the printing for another reason He wanted the
South to see and know the course of public senti-
ment at the North He wanted them to know what
they were to expect at the hands Of the northern
| States
Mr.. PHELPS had never voluntarily mixed in or
provoked discussion on this subject. For the ten
years which he had been in the Senate, ne had
avoided any controversy on the subject. But he
had several times been called upon to meet it, and
when he had met it, it was with feelings Of attach
ment TO the Union. This question was now the all
absorbing one of the day. The whole public mind
was engaged in its examination. Every man and
every State had a right to express the sentiments
entertained Why not the State of Vermont be al
lowed to express her opinion, well as the State of
| Florida! Has she not the same rights? There was
no use in Disgusting the fact; the people of the
North held but opinion the subject of slavery,
and that opinion was expressed in the resolutions
Of the State of Vermont. Those resolutions con-
tanned not only the sentiments of the people of Yer
mont, and of the whole North, but also the sent-
ments of the civilized world. There was no man
more opposed than he to an officious interference
with the institutions of the several States; but when
the question was presented to them, Shall the in
crease OF the institution of slavery be co-extensvc
with possessions? then VIC must answer ac-
cording to sentiments. The North was op-
posed TO any further extension of slavery, and
would oppose il.
Mr. BERRIEN, was disposed TO adhere to the
usage OF the Senate, far giving respect to the
resolutions Of sovereign State addressed to the
Senate. He was not now TO be drawn into any dis
cssion OF slavery by any thing that could be said
The time would come. He not even TO be
drawn into such a discussion by the strong ex-
preston OF the Senator from Vermont, that the
resolutions contained the sentiments of the civilized
world, and therefore the South where different
opinions were entertained-was beyond the pale of
civilization. He would not discuss the question ON
any collateral inquiry. He founded his objection
10 printing these resolutions the ground that
they were not addressed to the Senate and were
resolutions with which the Senate had nothing
whatever to do. They papers addressed 10
the Senators from Vermont and their associates in
the House, containing private instructions from
their State as to the course 70 be pursued by them
here. IL was nothing more than the presentation
OF resolutions addressed TO the Senators their
guide, and which contained no request that they
be laid before the Senate. The presentation OF
them here, then, was entirely work OF superero
cation.
Mr.. UPHAM contended that the resolutions were
in the same form IA those presented on the same
| subject few days ago by the Senator from Mis-
souri, and as those from the Legislature Of Mchi-
gan. If he mistook not, they were in tho same
form rs the resolutions of the State of Virginia and
which were presented here without objection, and
accompanied by elaborate speeches. Those reso-
lutions of Virginia printed, although they
threatened dissolution Of the Union. Vermont
was entitled TO the same privilege and respect
These resolutions had already been presented in
the House, and were printed there.
Mr.. MASON was Of the opinion that the resolu.
tons should be printed II was a courtesy always
his colleague over the way (Mr. BERRIES)-for he
considered him a collcaguc-sayored A little Of
special pleading. Parliamentary law was nothing
more than the law of intercourse between gentle.
men. And in body Of gentlemen who would OBJ
jet 10 any one making proposition, though you
might abbor and condemn IL, yet you must accord
the privilege OF presenting It. He wanted these
resolutions 20 be printed. They were a part of the
history Of the times. He wanted hereafter, IL any
thing resulted from the oppressive acts attempted
against the South, that these resolutions and others
o. kindred character might be pointed out as the
The Senator had said that the resolutions of vir-
ginia contained n threat Of dissolution Of the
Union. He disclsmed any threat Of such char
acter. They were the firm and determined re-
solve Of the people Of that State 10 protect and main
tain her honor. Virginia stood in position which
forbid her 10 threaten. To threaten was the prov.
ince Of braggart II the occasion shall arise, her
, be made good, even in her own words, " at every
hazard, and to the last extremity" Who would
pause a moment in deciding between dissolution
Of the Union on one hand and government Of un-
J limited power on the othcrl
Mr.. HALE said il was a remarkable coincidence
that, eleven years ago, the 9th Of January, 1899,
Mr. Prentiss, Of Vermont, presented the resolutions
OF the legislature Of that State against the annexation
Of Texas and the slave trade IN this District. Mr..
Foster moved that they be laid the table, and tho
, motion was carried. Mr. Lumpkin moved TO lay
the motion 70 print the table, and il was carried
by vote Of twenty nine against eight. Since then
the practice has been stated by the Senator from
Alabama; and resolutions Of the slavehodinR States
more Objectionable in language than any he had
seen from the free States, bad been presented and
printed without objection. He would say to his
friends that these resolutions were very harmless
things Both parties at the North, Wings and
Democrats, were endeayorng TO Guido each other
in denouncing slavery, thereby making favor with
the fanatics, who, in that region, had votes. The
resolutions we're intended entirely for home con-
sumption, 10 be used for election purposes n there
was any danger TO be apprchcnded from them,
there already had been enough 20 make winding.
! sheet for every slave and STAKEHOLDER in the