The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-08-03

MED the charge, and said that all we sked was
to be let alone.
Mr.. Berrien. Does the Senator from Misss-
sippi wish to show that concuTed with Mr..
Calhoun at that time in respect to the Missouri
compromise line?
Mr.. Foote. Not in regard TO the Missouri
compromise, bnt in refereneer to to the princi-
pie Of non-interventiOn. My object lie not 10
assai the senator from Georgia, but to estab-
lish the fact that his views were the same on
the subject Of nOn-inteFventiUn, as those which
now entertain.
| shall not undertake to discuss the question
of CalfoFnia admission ut length. Ii is we'll
known here that no member Of this body is
more opposed than am to the admission OfI
California as separate measure. Upon this
point have SO often and SO explicitly declared
my views that shall not now repeat them
My objections, though, arise chiefly from the
t manner in which the State organization of Cal.
iloEnia has been set on foot. No Southern
man has ever YET objected 10 the admission Of
| new State on the ground that she has thought
proper to exclude slavery from her constitution.
/, This principle originated in tue North; and
a has heretofore confined itself exclusively to
q that section of the Union. When the question
v was under consideration in this body whether
!, Florida should be permitted to enter the Union,
highly excited and instructive debate OC-
+, CURED, in which certain distinguished South
h ern Senators, including, the Senator from
Georgia, (Mr. Berrien) participated, and the
true doctrine upon the subject was asserted
" and maintaied. have always thought that
the principle embodied in the resolution intro.
duced here by Mr.. Calhoun in l847, was the
only true and constitutional one. That reso4
luton is as follows:
- " Resoleed, That It is fundamental princi-
Is pls in our political creed, that a peOnle, in
to forming constitution, have the unconditional
ii right TO form and adopt the government which
- they may think best calculated to secure theil
- liberty, prosperity, and happiness, and that in
e' conformity thereto, no other condition IS I'M
d, posed by the Federal Constitution on a State,
nt 10 order to he admitted into this Union, except
that its constituti IN shall be republican; anC
that the imposition Of any other by Congress
b. would not only be in violation Of the constltu
ly ,ior, but in direct conflict with the principle
~. on which our political system rests"
.re Upon this resolution Mr.. Calhoun OiIere
Mt. some hiehly striking remarks, portion o
ma which will now read:
nv "Mr. President, not only is that proposition
grossly inconsistent with the constitution, bu
pc ihe other. which undertakes to say that n
~ oJn,;ttod int thio TIninn hi c
us- shall not prohibit by its constitution the exis
-. lence oI slaves, is equally great outrag
''' against the Constitution of the United States
tie Sir, hold il to be fundamental principle O
he our political system that the people have
right to establish what government they ma
think proper for themselves; that every Stat
ws about TO become o member of this Union ha
to a right to form its own Government as it pleas
;oL es; and that, in order TO be admitted, there
but one qualification, and that is, that the gov
Ut" ernment shall be republican. There iss n
la provision to that effect in the constitution, br
Bile il results from that important section whic
rad guarantees to every State IN this Union repu'
lican form Of government. Now, sir, what
al proposedl ltls proposed, rom vague, ,indel
ow mite, erroneous, and most dangerous conceI
ZEN ton, Of private individual liberty, to Overru
i. this great common liberty which the PeoP
~" have Of framing their own constitution! 81
the the right Of sell sel-government on the part OF II
10 dividualsis not near 50 easily to be esiabsht
of by any course OF reasoning as the right oil
community or State to self-gnvernment. Al
ave vet, slr there are men Of such delicate feelr
en> on the subject of liberty-men who cam
low possibly bear what they call slavery in oI
,er- section Of the country--athough not so nut
slavery as an institution indispensable for Il
'"0 good Of both races-men so squeamlsh on II
ltly point that they are ready to strike down 1
law higher right Of community to govern theI
.,L selves, in order to MAINTAIN the absolute rig
y" Of individuals, in every possible condition,
an- govern themselves!"
SO much for non-intervention, now and TO
as msrlyj and think that may claim to hat
ion fully vindicated it by authority, if not by arg
;ns aIent.
us Whilst occupy the floor, will proceed
les- notice for moment, d certain letter which
Vef appeared in the New York Herald, for the p'
70. pose Of refuting a calumny which has gainet
Of very extended circulation Of late. In the let
The to which am alluding, it is stated that !
IN course here is condemned by my own const
,oIs uents, and various circumstances are allud
8 SO to as proving that fact. Well, sir, If this
y as the case, have yet TO find it out. know We
w, well. that certain worthy editors in my O'
ees. Sta'e, have Of late censured my support OF
,uld plan of adjustment and that they seem to
who of the opinion that public sentiment in Miss
sns n sppi, is in condition altogether unIavoral
ain to me. With the evidence of a contrary sti
nee If ,hinVs in nv possession. / cannot conc
le' with these gentlemen until shall once me
,ws % reach my own home, and will have enjoyed
era opportunity Of once more seeing my respect
/. we constituents face to face, and explaining
en- i.i them all the circumstances which surround
xist, here. and Of laying before them statement
o US all the motives by which my conduct in re
Of lion to this measure has been Influenced. II
w., my hope that certain managing politicians
han natl