The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-09

expect to find upon review of the history OF
the country, that the agitation, so to call it, be-
gun at some time subsequent to the election Of
the present Chief Magistrate, and has been car
RED on by the Democratic party ever since.
Do gentlemen forget, or do they imagine that
the country has forgotten! Had we no COM
promise committee in the Senate of the last
Congress-, raised on the solemn motion Of the
gentleman who now fills the first place in the
gift of the present Executive? Did he not, as
chairman Of that committee, make report,
which gave rise to most interesting discus
sion, and to long and anxious sittings in the
Senate, one Of which at least lasted throughout
| the watches of the night? Did we have here
no scenes of excitement, or, as gentlemen would
call ii, agitations Surely we all know that we
did
But coming down to the present session of
Congress, who have made the strongest and the
boldest speeches on this floor in defence Of
Southern rights and against Northern aggres-
sion! Certainly among them have been the
distinguished gentlemen from Georgia. Mr.
! TooMBsl and from North Carolina, Mr.. CLING
MAN, and my gallant friend from Florida, Mr..
| CABEIL.] And have they all united in Dem
ocratic agitation with view to weaken and en-
barrass this Administration? While | would
gladly welcome them into the Democratic ranks,
and predict for them there, with their talents
exerted in a good cause, higher distinction
than they can otherwise gain, yet, sir, j respect
them too much to intimate any belief that party
considerations have in this case influenced them.
Even this Nashville Convention itself, the adj
vanced post in this Southern movement, whence
had that its origin? Ii am not greatly mista-
IL, r. 20
Mississippi, composed of wings and Demo-
Gratis alike, over which a distinguished Wing
| Judge presided. And have all these united in
Democratic agitation with view to weaken and
embarrass this Administration? And is this the
Administration whose advent was to be as when
one proclaimeth glad tidings? which was to give
repose and quiet to the country? under whose
uplifted flag all sections, all classes, and all par
ties were, like the waters of Avoca, to mingle
in place? Is this the mighty Neptune, whose
trident was to be uplifted, and 10 the waves of
popular commotion were to sink to rest? eff
this be he, alas how fallen!"
But, sir, the history of the country will in
fact show, that this excitement commenced
when the notorious gentleman from Pennslyva-
MIA Mr.. WLMoT] introduced into this House
his famous Cor, if not supplementary, l might
say, his infamous) Proviso as an amendment to
the three million bill. Since then, as that pro-
viso and other kindred measures have been con-
stantly pressed, the excitement has increased,
until it has become all-prevading It is true,
that some Southern Wings have shown them
selves disposed not to take sides with their own
section but rather against it in this controversy,
and thus have entitled themselves to be called,
by those who like the word q detest it) South
ern doughfaces! believe that this term has
xoa< &c
Northern gentlemen for the purpose of lettering
them from pursuing liberal course lest it might
inure to the benefit of the party to which they
belong But admit that a Northern doughface
is all that his enemies charge, then Southern
doughface is as much worse than a Northern one,
rs it is worse to abandon a week section, to
which we owe duty, for the strong one, than to
quit strong section for weak one. But enough
gallant patriots have been found among the
Wings ready to stand by the cause Of the in
jured South to redeem that party from any
sweeping or general condemnation, and the
cause from the charge of being Democratic
agitation! am surprised that charge so I'M
sustained should have been made. My surprise
could only be increased by the assurance that
one man beyond those who make it, put faith
in it. To investigate fully whether the excite
ment which prevails is well or i'll founded, would
require me to consume all my time upon the
question, whether the course of the North to-
wards the South has been one Of aggression or
not. AS that field has been already occupied
far better than could hope to do it, and as there
are other topics connected with this subject
which wish to present, will only SO far touch
upon this branch of the subject as to subserve
another purpose, that is, to show how far the
North has observed the compromises which she
has made with the South. The differences which
arose in the Federal Convention on the subject
of slavery were adjusted by compromise. The
result Of this compromise was, that three
clauses were inserted in the Constitution on the
subject of slavery. One provided that the slave
trade should not be abolished prior to the year
1908. This met the views and promoted the
interests, rs they thought, Of the extreme
North as well as of the extreme South. Vir-
ginia and the middle States opposed it. The
right of capturing slaves on the coast Of Afri-
ca, or purchasing them up and bringing them
to this country, was enjoyed to their hearts
content by the New England adventures under
this clause. The States that had opposed it Of
fered no impediments, because it was a consti-
tutional guarantee. ..' ."' d"
Another clause in the Constitution stipulated
that persons held to service or labor in one
State, escaping into another, shall be delipsred
Hp his was exclusively LOT Tie DeileHJ OI
the slaveholding States; and what, ask, has be-
come oft? Nearly all candid men admit that it
has become in effect nullity-and some North
ern gentlemen tell me, it must remain so. Yes,
sir, a right solemnly guaranteed to the South,
and "without which the Union would never
have been formed" is to be practically enjoyed
by us no longer the Constitution to this extent
is to be nullifed, and slaves escaping to our sis
ter States are to be withheld, instead of being
delivered up.
In addition to the two clauses about slavery
already mentioned, one other was inserted in
the Federal Constitution. It is the well-known
provision about taxation and representation,
containing in itself a compromise, which, though
still carried out is an eyesore to the North,
which she has appeared long anxious to get rid
Of How bitterly they talk Of slave representa-
ton! .r
Besides these, nothing else was said in the
Constitution on the subject; and think myself
authorized to infer, not from the proceedings of
the Convention alone, but from the action Of the
Government for years after the Constitution went
into operation, that here it was supposed by all,