The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-03-06

1Ao'i'"et"''o', h't Souia any hicEe uI-
rangement of committees materially af
feet now the action on the slave ques-
ton.
Those, Mr.. Chairman who have Oh.
served my course heretofore, know
we'll that | have not sought to produce
agitation on this subject. Six years
ago, when first took seat on this
floor, believing that the famous twenty
first rule had been gotten up merely as
q fancy matter, which was productive
only ofill feeling anil irritation between
different sections, I both voted and
spoke against it, and was then regarded
as responsible to great extent for its
defeat. | then stated, during the dis.
cussion, that if without cause we kent
up state Of hostility between the No,th
and the South, until a practical ques-
ton arose like that presented when Mis-.
souri, was admitted, (for l then saw the
Texas annexation in tho futurc,) the
greatest possible mischief might ensuc.'
| went OIL also, in the course Of nv ar
sument: to say that slavery could not
be abolished in this District without
dissolution Of the Union. Two years
since, when it had become certain that
we were at the close of tho then exist
ing war to obtain territory, | endeavor.
ed to place the question on grounds
where the North might meet us; con-
ccding, for the sake Of argument, that
the Government had complete iuris!c.
ton over the territory. / cndravorcd
to show, that while it might be justified
in di0ta'ng the territory, it could not
exclude us from the whole without a
palpablc violation of tho Constitution.
am sorry to say, however, that my
effort, though we'll meant, did not pro
lnce the slightest eIiec. upon the action
ofany one gentleman of my own party
from the North. On this side of the
House, they regularly voted that the
North SHOULD haye'the whole Of the tor
ritpry, and went against .uny5cenpro-
e .,a'se %. slal II,
that instead Of shooing 'hcasclves in
any respect conservative. as | used to
consider them, the northern Whiy mem.
bers proved themselves, on this. the
great question, cminently destructive.
| 10 those gentlemen fro,u tic North.
"h" aided US IN an attempt to settle the
question IN some manner not dis ,raccful
or destructive to us ! tender III thanks.
In standing by the rights Of H.. South.
they have shown themselves friends Of
the Constitution and of the Uai1n,
Sir. the force and extent of the rrc-
sent ai'tl'slavcry movement Of the North
Is not understood by the South. Until
within Che last few months, had sup.
posed that even if California and New
Mexico should come in as free States.
the agitation would subsidc 80 "a to
produce no further action. A few
months travel in the interior of the
North has changed my opinion. Such
is now the condition Of public sentiment
there, that the making Of the Mexican
territory all free, in any mode, would
be regarded as an anlislavery triumph,
and would accelerate the general move
ment against us. 1t is not difficult to
perceive how that state of prLlc scnti-
ment has been produced lhcrc. The
old abolition societies have done n rood
deal to poison the popular mind. By
circulating an immense number of in.
iiammatory pamphlets, filed with all
manner of talschood anN cahrny
against the South, its institutions, and
ITS men, because there was no contra.
d'ctlon in that quarter, they hal crra-
tea high degree Of prejudice against
us. AS soon as it became probable
that there would be an acquisition of
territory, the question at once became
a great practical one, and the politi-
c'ans immediately took the matter in
hand. With view at once of fstrcnrtll.
cmng their position, they seized upon
all this matter which the abolition so.
clcties (whosc all both parties courtcd
in the struggle) had furnished from
time to time, and diffuscd and strength
encd it as much as possible, and there.
by created an immense amount of hos.
tllity to southern institutions Every
thing there contributes to this move.
ment; candidates arc brought out by the
caucus system, and if they fail to take
that sectional ground which is deemed
strongest there, they are at once dis.
carded. The mode Of nominating can.
lldatcs, rs well as of conducting the
canvass, is destructive Of anything like
independence in the representative.
They do not, as gentlemen often do in
the South and West, take ground
against the popular camor, and sustain
themselves by direct appeals to the in
telligcnce and reason of their consttu-
ents. Almost the whole of the north.
ern press co.opcratcd in tho movement,
with the exception Of the New York
ii Il IL