Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-01-23
Webb and Lanes Vote.

sen,aiives, Webb and Lane, on the motion [
to lay Clark's resolutions upon the subject ,
of slavery, on the table, until the first Of S
February next. Without knowing any Of {
the circumstances that surrounded them,
or the reasons that Influenced the vote
they gave upon these resolutions, he jumps
to the hasty conclusion, that that vote IL
an evidence Of their Freesoi opinions.
He cannot give them credit for desire
to get through the more important and
pressing business of the session. such, for
instance, AS election Of Senator and Bank
officers action upon the Pacific and Han.
niba and 81. Joseph Railroad bills, and a
thousand other things, OF pressing impor-
lance 10 the interests of the State at large,
before going into an angry, exciting and
Improbable debate uron unnecessary rcso.
lutionS, that mus; consume several weeks
of the session whenever they are taken up.
| The fact that member of the Leg,la
,urc votes to lay Il certain set oi resolu-
tons upon the table [un,il definite ,ime]
that assert, for instance, mere truisms,
which some member may choose to offer,
perhaps because he is anxious to see his
name in the journals, as often as possible,
is no evidence Of what such members opin.
ions may be upon the principles embodied
| in the resoi,, lions. We do no, know what
reasons Influenced cur Reprcscn aiises, in
the vote they felt called np2n TO give upon
this subject--donb,lcss ,heyhad sc.me good
reason for this inac,ion.
We think the vote was right, if tor no
time in discussing distractions, which,
whatever nigh, have heen the motive for
introducing them, could do no good.
We know number of Wing, in the
Legislature voted differently upon the sub
jecl--they are the proper judges OF what
is best Tor them to do under such circum-
stances.
, We na,,er ourselves that the Wings OF
T. Marion are not quite verdant' enough to
5 suffer the Courier or its CORE pondents
c from Jefferson TO ge, up Il division ani"ngs,
+ themselves upon any such immaierin' issue
Our neghbor sees his own party rent asnn.
h der and shorn Of its strength by Internal
i discussions, and he is exceedingly anxious
C to get the Wing party into the same very
l. uncnviablc prcdicanent; but he need Ia!
n no such "ila,tering JUNCTION TO his soul"
C The Wings, after having been deprived
$. of all influence in the management of pub
lie affairs, or any share in the honors 81
2, emoluments of the Offices of the State 10
= twenty years, are not such consummai'
fools, We trust now that fair prospec
: jus, begins 20 dawn upon them OF exerlin.
y their Jus, influence in public affairs, as t.
s. dash all their bright hopes to the ground
'e by applying to their members any sue
T. unnecessary tests as is here sought 10 b
'c th'uS, upon them
u For our part, we consider any Legislation
'e upon the subject of slavery in the terrific
>" ries by Congress as highly incSpedicnt, an
- the power to ieg,latc an extremely doubt
= iul implied power, that should never be al
=! tempted to be exercised. But at the sam
IL time, the power Of Congress 10 legislat
upon that subject is Il grave constitution;
question, upon which the wsest, the able.
DIS and hest constitutional lawyers in the Ian
''- differ.
Oh We are not willing TO prescribe an
H. Wing, whose ideas Of the power of Cor
- gress upon that subject happen not to @,
10 actly square with our own. In truth
~ looks n it'll absurd to see men consiit'
d, Tina themselves sunrcmc cour,s of the I'm
III ted States, as il were, and dogmaiically e!
IL pressing opinions upon knotty constitution
al questions, and prescribing Others who'
opportunities Of knowing are equal to the
on own, because they do not happen TO thin
h. exactly alike upon n question which al mos
is at present Il mere abstraction. We tru
the Wing party will hereafter, as it h;
heretofore done, have the good sense
a. keep clear of all such folly.
nd Our neighbor says--"Ihc Wings Of III
g. county wW approve anything, crra a rate d
yccily condcmaiag The Euguipc S'apc Lac,
'"' Mc hadcrs say all right. The truth j., "
''' believe such a vote would truly represel
:" the feeling of considerable portion
" them"