The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-02

70 far have the power to do il. way the
other. This Troublesome question Slavery must be ad
United into hese Ierilocs. 20 lar legislative action
is concerned, il must be prohibited There IL pos
sble middle
On the occasion which have referred. it bad been
proposed in committee organize government
ing OF governor and Judges appointed by the President
The question al once whether government. thus
constituted by The appointment Of the President Of the
United States, should possess the power Of lesislang
upon this subject OF slavery. For one was not dis
posed u invest that government with the power WAS
moi disposed TO confer upon government thus consii
gisatelhc power this important subject and
therefore suggested that this Legislative board thus
ated and thus to be appointed should be restricted IN re-
But the bill now before presents the subject in
very different light We propose now to create egs'
sentng the wishes and feelings OF that people, and respon
sble TO that people for then legislative course Under
these circumstances Mr. President, the subject
IN my Judgment very different aspect 1t longer
question whether the appoinees OF the President to
be LETT to regulate this important subject but becomes
question whether the legislature OF the Territory elect
ed by the people OF that Territory shall have the control
over IT. This distinction in my judgment material
and therefore. il the proposition TO erect
ported in lS4S, would retain the position then
pied. But feel bound to say that cannot take
from Legislature elected BY the people of these Terri
tories, the control over their domestic relations 1t is
wrong in principle
1t happens that those of us at the North. who have
heretofore insisted upon the exercise OF the power OF
Congress this subject to exclude slavery from these
Territories, are now III position to permit the people OF
tue Territories to have their way and regulate the
subject as may suit themselves II is unnecessary Tor
to explain how this change Of position has been pro-
duced Ii is enough for me to say now. that regard
this subject OF The question Of the prohibition Of slavery
as fit subject OF local legislation, and not only lit
subject Tor local legislation, but which should be
given exclusively TO the local legislatures When il IS
proposed to-day 10 give the people IN these Territories or
their immediate representatives, elected BY themselves
the control over the subject, must say cannot sustain
the proposition.
Under other circumstances, should feel at liberty to
express more fully my views upon tbs whole subject
The Senate will bear witness that was placed upon
that committee against my will minated in most de.
cided terms that from the constitution OF me com
millee, The result to which they might and~probaoy
would come would most probably be Unsatisfactory 10
me and my constituents When the report was made
by the distinguished senator from Kentucky, contented
myself with expressing IN general terms my dsappoba-
ton OF the proposition OF the committee. then niiEa
ted that upon some future occasion, might and pfooa
bly, would esteem II my duty to express my views more
particularly relation to the topics embraced
that report But, SIR. after what has taken place, viii
!nc upon the Senate the exposition iaige of my
views. have listened and the Senate has listened,
Tor months 10 the opinions otner gentlemen who DIS
cassed this subject fully And may be permitted 10 say
that have sieDeu 10 thrice told a!e-tLe opn
ioa reiterated day alter day. until me patience oil the SEN
ate has been exhausted and feel bound, courtesy TO
the Senate, to withhold any particular exposition OF ny
opinions upon tine whole subject.
| But cannot refrain from making this remark From
the outset, have imagined that any arbitrary ad
lus'nen OF ours however ingenious II may be, would
and quoting the country In my Judgment, II Is not IN
our power is OF those great questions with respect
TO which our constituency will not only indulge tner
opinions bnt is OF those subjects upon which they
will insist that their representatives. here, shall
carry out their opinions. Now, under these clrcuiu
stances, not the arbltraors oil this matter II Is
not committed to with implicit reliance upon JUG
ment, but is submitted the representatives OF the
several States IN the Union, with mandate which we
cannot resist OF carrying out the opinions oil
eltuency. Having these views OF the subject, have
never Imagined that any conrivance OF ours was TO nd
pecaiIon that this bill will DO IT, II could be satisfied
that the bill under consideration would effect thai
object and tina, the country would 81; down queted
tented under II, God knows would give II my hery sup
port anything which would effect that object But
II is my decided opinion that the bill, instead of doing
this, must necessarily result IN renewed agitation.
glance at the position OF the great parties OF this
contest satisfies Of this How with the people of
the Tree Slates' Why, this opposition to the extern
sion OF slavery is principle very deeply founded IN the
moral sense and may add IN the religious sense OF that
people. They have contended for years galnst the
tension OF this institution Have they become prepared
to surrender tins great pncple9 Why this bill is re-
gaded that section OF the Union by the great OF
the people OF the free States, abandonment Of the
very principle tor which they have contended from the
outset. II II Were matter OF expedency o. interest SIM
as does that moral principle 10 which have alluded il
Is not and cannot be subject Tor any arbitration OF Con-
gless. Well how with friends al the South
With them il is question involving their constitutional
rights and not only their constitutional rights, bat IN their
Judgment II is question involving their honor. Now,
4
Is manifested al the South with VIVA, aquol part frac-
ton OF their constitutional rights they Will be satisfied
And with what fragment OF their mutated honor will they
SIT down satisfied The history OF compromises under
constitution the course of our legislation il not
very encouraging We had the Missouri Compromise
years ago. And what is the result OF that Why. ia
stead OF settling the controversy and quoting the
try, thus agitation upon the subject of slavery has gone
from day to day 10 the present me-inceasBg in vio-
lence magnying itself great political question, and
drawing about 1t dangers TO country and institutions
OF increased and still increasing magnitude.
am not Disposed this occasion to refer to some
other instances might aude the compromise OF 49,
in relation TO the tariff Before that compromise Iul
effect, 1t lett without any financial SYSTEM and we
had 10 commence That subject has been az
and IN all human probability will be agated for years
However strongly am in favor of adopting meas
which may extrcaie from the of
this subect--however strongly may desire 10 this
question settled, cannot conceive any means which. in
my Judgment will not do this, but leave the subec,
increasing agitation and increasing endorsements. /
have had this view from the first have been dis
posed to throw the sghest obstacle in the way OF the
friends OF the bill have permitted them maisre the
measure as they thought eSpedent, bu, have had
faith IN from the beginning The Senate will bear
witness, trust that have not treated this subject a
subject for agitation. believe my whole political life is
proof Of the assertion And may say now, in all the
sincerity OF my heart, would God this controversy
could be settled before the light OF this days
| TO shine upon us! would give my consent to any meas
urc that IN my judgmen, wonld do thai.
do know but it is necessary for me to ask pardon
for having addressed the Senate AT this time did not in
tend to express my opinion all but, after the auson
made BY the senator from Mississippi il became
necessary, because the referred to BY him,