The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-19

private end-the release Of fugitive slave from
hs master--would be construed TO amount TO
mere riot and would not be held TO be treason
And said too, that if a Judge would award pro-
per punishment, the governor OF the State
would remit it.
Mr.. BRODHEAD. Not in Pennsylvania
Mr.. BUTLER. have a right to appeal to
the Senate upon another subject in connection
with this. The Senator from Mississippi vehe-
mently urges the necessity Of having statutory
or Legislative enactments for the ratification OF
this compromise. He may take either one of
the horns Of the dilemma. The gentleman was
either opposed TO some OF the points Of the
compromise when they were under consideration,
or he was in favor of them do not care which
he takes. III he says he was oppoaed to some
one of the propositions involved in the compro-
mise, he mast allow me TO take his authority /;
and If, on that occasion, he denounced and was
opposed to it, have right ut least to expect
from him some indulgence toward those who
agreed with him on that occasion. II, on the
contrary, the gentleman was in favor of the
compromises, he surely will not take the position
that he was rowing one way aud looking
another'-that he gave us his voice by simple
monosyllable ofaye or no, when he gave his heart
aud hand TO those who were forcing the meas
ures on. lie must take one or the other. He
cannot escape il. He was either opposed to the
admission OF California, and opposed to the abo-
lition of the slave trade in the District of Co
lumbia, or he WAS In favor Of those two meas
ures For, as regards the fugitive slave law,
of which so much has been said. it was not a
part of the original compromise. take it that
the record must speak upon this subject. Here
are his votes and how does the gentleman stand
in the parliamentary mirror? He stands OPP
posed to the admission of California, upon the
ground that it was precedent not to be found
in the political history of this country. If re-
member right, at one time he denounced Execu
tive interference for the procurement Of the ad
mission of California | need not 60 through
all the gentleman's speeches in support of this
view, because they are too various; but wish
TO 60 through this fairly. The gent eman said
that California had been admitted under circum-
stances under which no other State ad been
admitted--in violation of all precedent; and in
the next breath he says, why do the enemies of
the compromise denounce this measure! He
undertakes to vndcate California. and say that
she came into the Union just like any other
State. AT another time he admitted that she
came in in violation Of all precedent; and at the
next moment he SAYS she was admitted in the
same manner as any other State was admitted
into the Union
Allow me to say, that although California has
been admitte against my judgment, and in OPP
position to my will and vote, | have met her
representatives here with all respect and kind
ness and entertain for them entire friendship.
urged the constitutional objection well as
could in the speeches made at the time, with
great respect and Difference to those who differed
from me- | do not intend to repeat them.
Whatever may have been the operation of that
measure and think it may operate differently
from the intenton-the doctrine was proclaimed
before her admission, and some OF those who
voted for it, assumed to do so on the gro und that
not another slave State should be admitted into
the Union Mr.. Webster. with all his annota-
tons and commentaries, has put it forth in that
form. The doctrine avowed and intended
to be established by the precedent that no other
slave State should pollute the political associa-
ton of this confederacy; and the doctrine, if not
avowed, was practically maintained, that the
slave Stat of this Union were not, in politi.
cal point of view, equal to the non-slaveholding
States believe the honorable senator has ex-
hbted many evidences of mind sensitive 10
the honor Of his State. Will he tell me that
when these doctrines were announced and pro-
claimed, was to submit to system by which
war was to be made upon the institutions of
resent! opposed it on this ground, and be
leve the honorable senator did the same. Sub
NIT to inequality. Submit that my posterity
shall not be equal in political eligibility with the
sons of the honorable senator from New York
fMr. SEWARD Would consent to the polit.
zeal disfranchisement of my own children? Yet
such were the doctrines avowed, and such was
the belief entertained as to the operation of that
measure. ! believe that gentlemen who enter
tain views Of this kind, will be signally dsap
pointed | hope so. at least. For believe the
institution will continue to 90 South and West,
and California will take it as peculiarly suited TO
her condition.
Now, let me ask the honorable senator a
question, which expect him TO ans wer--and
hope he will answer il without the least hesita-
ton Suppose a proposition were to come up
tomorrow TO divide California with the under.
standing that one portion should be slaveState,
or that both should be slave States, would he
vote for IL
Mr. FOOTE, of Mississippi | will answer
by citing past history, if the gentleman will al
low me- introduced two propositions on the
subject myself while this matter was pending,
for neither Of which, according TO my recollec-
lion. had the gen;leman's support or that Of
his political associates in this body. On the con-
trary, botn OF tnOse propositions receNed Tue
fiercest denunciation from that quarter When
the proposition to admit California was pend
ing. moved to amend the bill so that Califor
mia should be hereafter, with her consent, so di
yided az you, Mr. President, had previously pro-
posed she should be. Upon consultation with
YOU, Mr. KING, ] took the line which is pro-
posed in the amendment, for the reasons you
stated did not get the support anticipated
and | will be prepared to show hereafter, from
the printed debates, what reasons were given by
honorable gentlemen for not voting for that
very proposition | subsequently introduced
another proposition, that California should be,
with her consent divided by that line, and that
a territorial government should be established
south Of it, The objection, then, Of certain gen.
tlemen who called themselves, par ercellence,
State-rights men, was the superstition that they
imagined my amendment to convey that Cali
fornia, not yet admitted, in their judgment, val
idly into the Union, should be treated with so
much respect as to have her consent to this ter
ritortal currailment asked That also was voted
down. Whenever any gentleman introduces a
proposition here to divide California with her