The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-09

Mr.. F0OTE said that he would come back again.
MIR. BUTLER. Lycurgus went away expecting
to die The Senator is above Lycurgus, for he Is
coming back when he rleases. Nothing but an
act Of God can keep him away.
MIR. FOOTE said that he meant that the Union
Legislature OF his State should send him back in a
year
MIR. BUTLER resumed, and repeated his ohjec-
tons to the resolution and his opposition to the
Compromise.
Mr.. FOOTE was surprised at the evidently pre-
pared attack upon tho resolution made by the Sen
ator from South Carolina. il was evident II was
the result of consultation and deliberation.
Mr.. BUTLER said he had Consulted with no one.
MIR. FOOTE could not understand the oPposi-
non. There was nothing in the resolution often
sive to any one, or 10 any State
But the Senator said that he could not worship
at the foot of tree whose branches produced pol
sonous fruits. This was at least as mystical il
refined. He, (Mr +, however, knew of no.
thing in the measures OF Adjustment to justify such
an allusion. If the gentleman meant any thing, it
was that the Adjustment referred TO was tree
bearing poisonous fruits IL II has borne poisonous
fruits, thank God, none have fallen IN Mississippi.
On the contrary, the fruit ID productive OF health
and national dignity.
California was admitted into the Union in the
true mode, and in the same way as every other
State admitted into the Union. Ii there
any thing unconstitutional in this, the Senator owed
1t to the country at the time to present legal AR
gument against it. Nothing of this kind was
heard.
California is in the Union. South Carolina hns
suffered nothing by her admission. Is California
suffering? Ia tue South suffering? Has not the
Senator Mr. GwIN) so demeaped himself as 10
command respect. however reluctantly accorded,
from every member from the southern States! How
it in the other House? How was il in Caliior-
mia? He was authorized to say that no such person
as an abolitionis is to be found in the California
Legislature. No abolition doctrines have found,
nor ever will find utterance in the California lie.
gislature. Have suffered with the Territorial
Government bills !? He thought not. They are
simply territorial bills, without the Wilmot pro-
viso; each providing in addition, that the State
or States into which the Territories shall hereafter
be formed, shall be allowed TO come into the Union
with without slavery, as the people may decide
in their constitution. Each furthermore provided
in the settlement of the question, (and about which
he had never entertained any serious doubts,) that
the Constitution of the United States and the laws
of the Union should be extended over each of the
| Territories.
The Legislature of Mississippi instructed him to
vote for territorial bills without the Wimot pro-
yiso; although he censured ON the false aCcu
saton thathe bad violated his instructions. The
sovereign People of that State, thank God, have de-
cided that he acted Ill strict conformity with those
instructions. He represented people as proud OF
their sovereignty any other people, firm and
earnest in maintenance OF il, and entitled to as
much respect, here elsewhere, any other State
| in the Union. Although his constituents did not
desire the whole of California TO be admitted
State, and although the District of Columbia bill
not exactly to their taste, yet, as an adjust:
ment, the plan was entitled 10 approval and sup
port, while they would abide by it. He was sim
ply acting large majority of the sovereign peo-
pie of Mississippi had decided and, for daring thus
to act and to declare, he accused by the Sena-
tor of aiming insult at sovereign State OF the
| Union.
! Mr. F. then alluded to occurrences previous TO
the passage of the Fugitive Slave bill, and said in
| this connexion that not of the measures of
Adjustment is repeaable, or subject TO modiica-
/ ton, except that bill. He pointed out that
no danger or injury to the South resulted
from the law aboshing the slave trade in
this District. II practically harmless. Did
the Senator want that law repealed. or did
he want the fugitive slave law amended?
He now remembered that when the Presidents
message relative to the outbreak in Boston was dis
cussed, some southern men-they who were ex-
cusively southern men-said that the President
had not the power to use the military force of the
Government to coerce the citizens of sovereign
State into observance of the laws. One object of
this resolution to the more faithful exe-
cuton of that law. Did the Senator desire its
repeal?
! The Senator regretted that the time for amend
ments to the Constitution had gone by He hoped
it had. He glad of it. He would not vote for
| its amendment. The Constitution of Washin gton
was good enough for him. He had heard some
years ago OF an amendment tn the Constitution
| which had recently made its way before the public
in a volume which he hoped now read by all
which provided for dual Executive, one to be
chosen by the North and one by the South, with
double veto power, and each to be commander
in-chief of army and navy-an amendment
which, if adopted would, as every rational man
knew, dissolve this Union in week. He could
not understand what these gentlemen wanted
when they talked OF constitutional amendments
and was inclined to the belief that they had not
very clear conceptions OF what they wanted them
selves.
i The South would go by the board unless united
said the Senator. He (Mr. F considered the
South at this time very united Even in South
Carolina, under the title of CO operation they had
practically decided that secession not the pro-
per remedy for the alleged grievances He had said
two years ago that the people of South Carolina
would, upon the issue of going mady out of this
Union, rise majestically and rebuke the dema
gogues who would lead them to ruin. The State
of South Carolina was redeemed and dsenhralled
from the chains which demagogues and traitors
had attempted to throw around her.
The Senator called for the union of the South.
He and those who acted with him were majority
of the South; and notwithstanding this, a few SEN
ators composing the minority were con tinually
crying out that unless united the South was DOOM
ed. II they desire union let them come over to the
majority Mr. F. further alluded to the delay in
bringing forward the Fugitive Slave law at tn,
session at which it passed.
Mr.. BUTLER replied, denying that the act had
been kept back by him
And then the Senate adjourned