The southern press., 1851-12-09
VOL. III


with contempt at all the corrupt presses which had
assalled him, Whether they were located North or
South Of Mason and DIXon's line. What they
had said had been of no effect TO mi lure his stand
ing either as patriot or gentleman tie did moi
say this in any spirit Of eXultatlon, but 1t was
sustained by the facts. Good men must by this
time have discovered that the wicked men of the
land were his enemies, Knowing AS he did that
what he might say here would be distorted
and mSrepresented in the most bold and
unbushing manner by persons controlling
portion of the American press, he had taken
the trouble 10 draw up wiring what he now had
to say; it, therefore, he was reported falsely, the
report would be TO blame, and not his remarks.
| (Mr. F. here proceeded to read He would not
have belleN ed that these resolutions would nave
been dIsapproved here us they have been. The
| President OF the United States had twice repeated
| their substance and what WAS right Tor hum to do
was equally so for Congress. But It was evident
that the number OF opponents to the compromise
was not so much diminished as some sanguine
men have eret6fore thought. A'o"ed opposI-
ton TO one Of these measures had been made in
more than single instance. Sectional JeaIouSles
have not been 50 far asSuaged as all patriots must
desire Movements equal y depurable, too, have
! Teen made in the South, the tendency Of which
was to establish relations Of permanent hostility
! between the North aud South, lie (Mr. ~
trusted that these measures will receive Il tar
consideration both from North and South; the
people of both sections he relolCed 10 believe,
were daily becoming more and more friendly, and
it was to Le hoped that, by reciprocal explanation
and mutual action here, we can restore proper
feeling between them. He did not expect that
| the resolution would be unanimously adopted, as
gentlemen IN both branches committed
against 1t; but lie did expect that this, or
something like it, would be adj pied IN both
! branches with such unanlmity as to give aSsur-
ance to the whole country. He did not look alone
to party for such a lesut-lt was unsafe TO rely
! alone on party votes, and he did not recognize
either of the two great parties as entirely
reliable TO maintain the compromise. Free
sullsm in the North and secuonaISm IN the
SOuth--he did not use the terms by way of re-
proach- were both njurIng the old party organ-
cations, and arruyed against those measures. He
was Democrat, and trusted that every Democrat
was now prepared To repudlate all further con.
nectlon with faction, aud unanimously resolve to
hold no alliance with men pledged 10 Keep aiIN t
the agitation Of domestic slavery. For himself,
! he would have no connection with any one whose
| opinions dad not harmou!Ze with that noble Oudy
! " hum he represented. Mr.. +. here read r. Solu-
| lions passed BY convention IN MIss!s lppl tie
had come from home expecting To be Sustained IN
this matter. When the question came up at the
/ last session, many members were aUsent, and dad
not vote although they had agreed to support Lne
! UIl The fact that they were absent was urged
against the blIl and he wished that they might
Tow have an opportunity To record their votes.
| la regard To sUme of It's PROVISIONS, 1t had been
sad that the WIimot ProvIso would lie applied
Dut he had no such apprehension.
Mr.. BIZ TLER replied at some length. lie said
that he had heard Of THIS resolution with surprise.
| 70 hun It seemed a very unusual nude OF pro-
cedure to undertake thus To rc.uihtm a statute
( which has already been passed II such cOul Sc
/ Is wise, is II not 50 at least superugatory and
unnecessary; Why introduce 1t here: lie would
! not arrayn the motives OF the mnvrr-bGl what Is
| the effect OF the resolution The honoable senator
could NOT have taken COURSE Z. more citr-tualiY
reopen the slavery question, auI aSUlu let loose
the waters OF agitation. Nh. u then alluded to
his own course m regard t. / Compromise at
the iasl session. lie had then denounced these
! measures which would make the Union survive
the Constitution under the dIclum of deSpouc
| majority. DId the Senator expect HIM now 10
put has Mr. Il. - seal of appreciation on those
meaSureS-kISs the rod raised TO smlIe ham lie
could not worship with devotion at the foot of a
tree whose fruits were destructive to himself and
has posteuty. Resort to compromise seemed to
be the only remedy for all new Difficult les winch
| spring up, so long a majority could patch up
aud chtnge the Constitution. Ie (Mr. B.
! wished TO 20 no further now than 10 protest
az INST tins mode Of procedure. is tins reaulutIon
| "A security, when, as the senator himself admits,
FreesoIlIsm and opposition to the laws still exist
at the North II thus d scUsSlon tad not been
thus brought up, he (Mr B. would not have
! opened his mouth on thus subject. IL this course
is pursued, the South is doomed, and he could not
answer for the consequences # the people there
| were not more united.
Some remarks, not distinctly heard, here passed
between Messrs. Butler and FoOrE, m relation
to the latter making laws like Lycurgus-nct 10
be changed-whlch created considerable laughter
/ MIR FooTE subsequently reioIued, when
Mr.. RiETT took the floor, and moved an adj
| Journment, which was carried, and, al IL minutes
/ past , clock the Senate adjourned.