The southern press., 1851-12-13
DEFERRED DEBATE.
SENATE .-MoNDAY, December 8, 1875

special order of the day, being the resolution
submitted by Mr.. FooTE, of Mississippi, in re-
lation to the compromise measures
A resolution declaring the measures of adjust
ment to be definite settlement of the qnes
tons growing out of the system OF domestic
slavery. .:.... ...
Be IL resolued That the series Of measures
embraced in the acts en- tiled An act proposing
to the State of Texas the establishment OF her
northern and western boundaries the renquish.
ment by The said State of all territory claimed
by her exterior to said boundaries, and or all
her claims upon the United States, and to rstab
lish territorial govern cent 10 New Mexico,
approved September 8, 1890 An Faes for the
.a.u:.s:.s..r-r ~, 8 z, cc C..,.Syte, TO the
Union" approved September 9,'lS50 !" An act
to establish territorial government for Utah,
approved September 8, 1850; " An act to amend
and supplementary to the act entitled An act
respecting fugitves from justice, and persons
escaping from the service of their masters,,
approved February r. 1889 approved Sep,
TENDER 10, 1850; and " An act to suppress the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia" ap.
proved September 20, lS50-commonly known
as the " Compromise Acts"-are, in the judy
ment of this body, entitled to be recognised as
definite adjustment and settlement of the dis
tracing questions growing out of the system of
Y,
should be acquesced in and respected by all
good citizens.
b. Mr. FOOFE, of Mississippi. When made
up my mind to introduce the resolution now
under consideration did not expect to say any
thing in explanation of it. The phraseology in
which it is coucled is neither mysterious nor
equivocal, and therefore ! had cherished the hope
that its immediate adoption by this body would
take place, without any exte ded discussion
upon the delicate questions involved therein.
trust still, most confidently, that no excited or
angry debate will arise on this resolution, either
here or elsewhere, and that the two h uses OF
Congress, by uniting promptly and cordially in
the solemn declaration which has now been twice
made by the President of the United States
that he considers the series of measures recog.
missed as constituting the plan of adjustment
"as final settlement, in principle and substance,
of the dangerous and exciting subjects which
they embraced"-wil do their part in securing
an early restoration of the friendly and fraternal
relations formerly existing between the different
sections of this confederacy, and thus aid, as far
as in their power to do so, in the suppression OF
dangerous and unseemly agitation, the former
progress of which undoubtedly placed the inSti.
tutions Of the country in extreme peril, and in
yolved the republic itself in more or less dis
credit. In departing from my original intention,
and undertaking to address the Senate very
briefly at the present time, my object is simply
to prevent any misunderstanding touching my
own motives, and counteracting certain msre
presentations in regard thereto which Gtgcover
already TO have been made.
Mr.. President, cannot believe that there are
many individuals, in this body who are prepared
to declare their disapproval of the conduct OF
the President in twice deliberately and formally
arraying all the influence of eminent station anC
high character in favor of a scheme Of pacif:i
ton and settlement which had preyi Duslv received
the approval Of the two houses Of Congress.
and to which he had also impaired his oliieia
sanction, but to which he was at the tine aware
that opposition Of a serious and imposing char
acter had been presented ia different forms, and
in opposite sections of the republic. What wa,
right in itself and worthy Of appreciation in III,
President will be equally proper on the part Of
Congress; and am prepared to show that still
stronger reasons exist for such action as is pro
posed by this resolution than could be supposed
iegitimately To Influence the mind ofthe executive
The legislation Of Congress upon the questions
involved in the series of measures referred 10 H.
the resolution, was unfortunately in lis progress
surrounded by circumstances Of n Eatuse cacu
lated 10 awaken more or less Of doubt in regard
60 the real intentions and feelings Of those who
participated therein and movements have sub.
sequently occurred, not necessary here to be spe
Gifted, which have called into existence in the
minds Of the friends Of the Union grave appre
tensions as 10 the intention Of those who were
originally opposed TO the measures Of compro
mice TO defeat or at least seriously obsiruct. the
faithful execution Of the same now and hereafter
The number Of those thus opposed 10 these
measures, il must be ncknoRled ged, was in the
beginning by no means contemplate, and that
number, fear, has not 30 much diminished o.
late as many over sanCuine persons ina zine. Il
il undeniable that armed opposition 20 a certain
portion Of these measures has occurred in more
than one instance in partc llar vicinages, cas-,
10 be mentioned; and IL is equally certain tina
substantial rcsis ance 10 other portions Of thi.
plan Of settlement has been qnite as extensively
CONTEMPLATED elsewhere. Sectional jedlOusie.
which have exi.ted now for many years past
are not "a yet fully a<suaged ~ all true patriots
desire they should be- Fictiuus politicians have
been industriously at work in various States Of
the confederacy TO inf lme the popular mind {
the country and TO give perpCtnty to that uufor
tunate misunderstanding which has 20 long con!
tinued between good men north and south Of n
certain geographical line. Great and persever
inc efforts have been made in the free States OF
the North, by certain class Of political agitl
tors, to array public feeling against the act for
the restoration Of fagitives from service, and
scenes have occurred under such deplorable in
stipation of too ferocious and bloody character
TO be more than alluded TO on such an occasion
as the present. Movements equally deplorable.
in my judgment, have occurred in several of the
Southern States Of the Union, the tendency Of
which has been, TO a considerable extent to es-
tablish relations Of perman Mt hostility between
the people Of the North and Of the South. Be-
longing to that class Of politicians who have
uniformly looked 10 the measures Of adjustment
as constituting unitedly an equitable scheme OF
settlement, have entertained confident hope
that they would ultimately receive fair appre-
citation as such at the hands Of my cOuntrymen,
whether resident north or south of Mason and
Dixon's line; and rejoice in believing that the
people Of the Union, apart from the selfish poll.
ticians who have, been so ardently struggled to
delude them, are every day growing better and
better satisfied with these measures. Still there
is something for Congress to do, 10 order to re