Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-06-21
Mere Consistency Exposed.

IAVAC SVuNStNANJ AApVSNNs
Senator Foose refused to vote for the repeal of the
Mexican laws he spoke against Col Davis pr posi-
ton and voted against it. But let remark that he
had month OF thereabout previously voted for the very
proposition that he spoke and voted against subse
ouenty This is consistent But let US apply anoth-
er &c l.
In ls4s in extending territorial government to O.
RECON the question of slavery arose in Congress The
inhabitants had erected provisional government for
themselves, with clause excluding slavery. 1t was
contended that the slave prohibition would remain In
force and to avoid any doubt about its repeal Senator
Foote proposed the following amendment Alter the
word inhabitants insert "hut shall not be subject to the
restriction expressed in the 9Th article of the compact
contained in the ordinance OF 1887 for the government
Of the territory of the T. States Northwest of the river
Ohio" This 10 nullify, as he said, the odous
features ofthe bill Fea|ng that perhaps this not
explicit enough, b. withdrew it 10 admit amend
ment By Senator Davis in these words provided
that nothing contained in this act shall be constru
ed as to authorize the prohibition of domestic slavery
said territory whilst it remains in the condition of
Territory ofthe T. States" Senator Foote sustained
this amendment with zeal in I848, but his patriotism
was too weak in 1850 to sustain proposition repeal
ing the Mexican law excluding slavery from new
territories He assigned for not voting for Col Davis
proposition the following potent reason:
81 SHALL therefore, vote against the amendment be-
cause believe it to be in opposition to the principle of
non-interventon."
The non-intervention doctrine preached by the
Senator and his MASTER Cass prevents Congress from
doing anything, either abolish admit protect sla
very where it exists. But this not the Senator's
opinion before he sold himself for National reputa-
ton. When the Clayton compromise was before the
Senate, Mr. Foote in impressive terms declared him.
self in favor of the Missouri compromise with Under
woods amendment. That amendment was to be ad-
ded to the Missouri compromise amendment, and was
as follows
"And provided tina. citizens of the U. States south
of said parallel shall be protected in their property in
their slaves long the territory to which they
igrate continues under territorial government"
The Senator said: "That slavery could not exis,
without legislative protection. If man should take
hundred slaves into of these foreign territories
and they should be disposed to rebel against him. what
law is there to which he appeal And suppose
comes to steal his slaves to carry them to the Pa
cifc and the threatens to appeal to the law he
will be answered, you do nothing, there is no law
in the case! There many in his section of coun
try disposed emigrate to California but there is nc
one who would be such dolt carry slaves there
because he could not hold them in consequence of
hands of the local authorities being tied up, tha
they could not interfere the subject of slavery"
Was there ever man changeable as Foote--ht
has boxed the compass frequently that it is difficult
to fix on the strongest case against him. He has salt
: that the
"Citzens Of all the States have right to remov,
within the limits of the territories with any propert,
they possess and which is recognized by the constitu
ton the Union either generally specially and de
mand recognition and protection oft such from th
territorial government shall have been
tablshed."
We shall illustrate these points at length anon an
show where Foote would place the rights of the Sout
by his present position