The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-03
ply Of bis own State, but of all die sIayehoIding

only of his own State, but of all the slavehoIding
Mr.. MASON. am sure the honorable senator
VIII indulge me for moment If there is any
thing IN the world that am less addicted to than
another, IL is to speak by authority. did not
assume TO speak here altogether upon authority
for my own State, far less for any other spoke
of what understood from the current history OF
the day, from the register of the opinions of those
States i84.sf 4e
Mr.. CLAY. There is language too often en-
lployed by senator's speaking for the South, s'the
South, the whole South Sir, think it would
be very fortunate II senator's were always conf
dent that they were truly representing the senti-
ments of their own State, without undertaking to
speak the sentiments Of States exterior to their
own. Now speak in unlsind spirit towards
the senator from Virginia, when | say, that
believe that II the people of Virginia had been
! here, four-iflhs of them would have voted for
that compromise measure which the senator has
felt 1t a conscientious duty to oppose and vote
against.
| Sir, know that the opportunities of the gentle
man from Virginia to obtain information are much
greater than my own, But | profess TO know
something about the sentiment of the State which
gave me birth And believe that tomorrow, If
the people Of Virginia were poed, three -fourths
or four-ff,hs Of them would be found to be in
| favor OF this measure. Now, does the senate,
| from Virginia or the senator from South Carolina
imagine, when they have returned home to their
consttuents-with the opposite opinions prevail
ing upon the subject of this compromse--with
this olive branch held out to the whole Union--do
they expect to be able to have the sword drawn
against the Unioni There never was such a con-
lict of opinion as will arise in the slaveholdng
States upon the very ground Of the rejection of
this compromise.
| Mr.. President, l have said want to know
whether we are bound together by a rope of sand
ALL Ia
enforce the powers vested in it by the Constitution
Of the United States. And what is the doctrine Of
nullihcaton-set up again, revived, resuscitated,
mot enlarged, nor improved, nor extended i'm this
new edition oft Why, that single State shall
undertake to say that law passed by the twenty
nine other States is unconstitutional and void, and
that she can raise the standard of resistance and
defy the authority of the twenty-nine. Sir,
denied the doctrine twenty years ago !; deny it
now; will die IN denying il. There is no such
principle. III State choosesto assume the attitude
OF defiance to the general authority, and TO set up
Its separate opinion against the twenty-nne other
States, It takes the consequences upon ITSELF and
the question is reduced to this Shall the twenty
nine yield to one, or shall we command the one !,
Call her by what name you pease--a State, a cor
poration, a sovereiynty-if State puts herself up
against the authority of the Union, it must submit
to the consequences of revolt, us any other revolt
ting community must.
| Now, sir, need gentlemen lay to their souls the
| fsterng JUNCTION that the army is composed of
officers from Kentucky, Virginia, South Caro-
lima, and other States, who will not draw the
sword to put down disnnon and notification.
| What, sir! The army of the United States; UNI
der the command of the Chief Magistrate of the
Union, or under the command Of the gallant Off
Ger who led in the conquest Of Mexico not do
their duty! Gentlemen will find themselves very
much mistaken, if they think such Il state of
things viii arise. And may say, did not put
the case OF Virginia. l respect her; | ven
crate her: She is my parent, and l have feelings
towards her which are inspired in the filial bosom
towards it's parent. did not put the case of Vir-
ginia by name. | put the case of no State by
name. The honorable Senator from South Caro-
lima put his words into my mouth, when he made
me refer to his State. 1 respect every State But
if any State chooses to array itself In opposition
to the authority Of the United States, and order
It's citizens to array themselves i'm hostile atti-
tude towards the Union, the Union is gone, or
tina. resistance must cease. 41t
The honorable senator from South Carolina tells
| us of the situation of Bernadotte, who, when he
came to the confines Of France, was unwilling
to invade his native country. Let me remind the
senator of case much more analogous to true
republican doctrines than the case of the king Of
Sweden. | admire more that Roman father, who
for the sake of Rome, condemned and caused to
be executed his own son. That is more in accor.
dance with my notion Of republican liberty.
The honorable senator speaks of Virginia being
my country. No, sir, this Union is my country
The thirty States are my country. Kentucky is
4 my country. Virginia is no more my country
than any other of the States Of the Union. She
has created on my part, obligations and feelings
and duties towards her, in my private character,
which nothing on earth would induce me to forfeit
or violate. But | will put the case of my own
State. If my own State, contrary to her duty,
should raise the standard of disunion against the
residue of the Union, should go against her
even against Kentucky. 2a#F p
| Mr.. BUTLER. Mr.. President the honorable
senator from Kentucky spoke in certain tone.
have no disposition to reply but in the same
tone. When spoke of Virginia, spoke Of it
as an illustration. | did not put words in the
senator's mouth merely used them for an H.
lustration. Nor did say one word about multi
hcation. Perhaps the senator, having been doc
| tor for that before, knows how to treat it, The
senator does not seem to know that there is anoth
erremedy besides nullifcation--peacefus secession
The honorable senator chooses to put words in
my mouth in regard to. this matter. ara
! Mr.. CLAY. alluded more particularly to the
senator from Virginia 5.s'}
Mr.. BUTLER. Then beg pardon for speak
ing so. *. #u...tg..
| The debate was continued until clock by
Messrs FOOTE, BUTLER, HALE, and DICK
lNSON of which report will appear hereafter.
| On motion of Mr.. DOUGLAS, the further con-
sideration of the subject was postponed until to-
morrow, at ~ clock. ~ 'a.f
| sa# als.j For The Southern Press.
}t BIZ MRS e. W. FooTE cHEvEs. ..,s.. g.