The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-28

nottheh majority yled lis usurpauoa OF powers The
ume IS not far dstant--if not already herein which
what John Randolph said will be true: il will be Of
order TO quote the constitution OF the United Sates The
constitution can never be brought back 10 lis original
principles by The action OF the central government here
II the majority here which carries the aggressive policy
and measures into action; and how can there be two
thirds IN both houses willing TO amend the conslitu
ton as to deprive themselves OF this very power and
paalyze and restrain their action There is pos
slbe way TO get an amendment OF the constitution, dis
nct guarantees enforcing IT, except by checking the
tona power through the States. Then alone finding
mat their aggressive policy cannot prevail they may be
expected 10 consent 10 alterations OF the constitution de-
ciaIalory oil It's true meaning. Therefore have never
looked for any guarantees IN the constitution of the
United States in any other way than by the action oil the
Sales-the minority States asserting their sovereignty,
and aresng the usnrpations OF the majority, This
alone induce them 10 give up their power and yield the
limitations OF the constitution
Another reason assigned by the senator for assaing
Mr. Calhoun was, that MIR. Benton about TO assail
hum therefore, by way Of keeping Mr. Benton from
sailing him, he assailed him himself
the senator from Missouri (Mr Bentonl would attack
the whole OF disunonists on very plausible ground
Therefore i was that sought sage and patriotic eoun-
houn and all his political associates from attack
Mr. RHETT. We'll, MI President, the senator from
near that column, that the gentleman from Mississippi
had thrust Mr. Calhoun into his grave. These his
words: Sir" said he. " would soon have thought
Of striking dead corpse as to have laid my hands upon
the senator from Mississippi has alluded Mr.. Benion
as intending to assa Mr.. Calhoun.
Mr. RHETT. He condemned what the senator from
Mississippi did with Indignation only say this in
culpation OF Mr. Benton, because he is not here
But the senator says ought not to be the to speak
IN defence OF Mr. Calhoun because was very desirous
to suppant him in The Senate and therefore stood in the
position of political rival. not al all sure if the
premises were true, that the conclusion follows. am
not but that being his political rival in his lifetime
not be very proper Tor me. after having succeeded
tn hio Via Iofo
But the premises are not ue and the senator from Mis-
sssippi shall himself reute the charge The charge
arose. presume because differed from MIR Calhoun on
various measures. differed from him in regard TO the
Mexican war; and the support of Presiden, Polk's admin
lslralion. The senator from Mississippi agreed with me
in my course presume that is no ground lhen 10 i'm
pugn any mans integrity or motives differed from Mr.
Calhoun also upon the presidential election, in supporting
the senator from Michigan, MIR. CAss But the SEN
both of these points differed from Mr. Calhoun and in
both OF them the senator from Mississippi agreed with
me as 10 my political course. Was the Mexican war, or
the support of the senator from Michigan to the pres
dency, so outrageous, malignant, and corrupt thing
that one man was not ONLY cuplbe but could not
with another in that support without having his motives
impugnsd think not, sir. | did not, in differing
with Mr. Calhoun 10 these public matters, Justly render
myself amenabe 10 The lmpu'aon that senator has
brought before the Senate. thought was right then
think was right now, and that the impulation is
wholly undeserved. will say that the impu,ation
is vile and calumnlous but will say that the senator
who has acted with me when | thus differed from Mr.
stead OF joining in deamng me. Al the sane time
must say that am that there any hostility
between Mr. Calhoun and myself ! was appointed to
OF South Carolina, and performed that duty well
able aud endeavored 10 do full justice 10 his
ory. And certainly in his lifetime defended his po
cal course in the newspapers and periodicals small
extent. | spent more ink in defending him, personally
and politically, than any man living. Still was only
doing what thought to be my duty supporting great
man who was serving the country in the cause with
which | was identified. Sir, | do not know how any
escape the tender charities of the senator from
Mississippi. Ii you against him he denounces you
and if you go with him he mputes unworthy motives to
you. Go with him against him, it seems you
equally liable TO have impua,ions cas-, upon your
course
But the gentleman says all behaved in a very out.
rageous manner in supporting the Missouri Compromise
Of SO deg. 80 min. Ii was abolition project, teeming
with abolition consequences and abomlna,ions Well
sir happens that the senator himself supported, mol
only by his but by his counsel proposition made
by YOURSELF Mr. President. to take IS deg 80 min or
be concession TO aboilonlsm, what must 35 deg 80
min. be- Will the senator work out the sun Sir,
do not blame you, blame him, for that vote might
perhaps have done the same thing myself. When we
voted Tor the Missouri Compromise OF SO deg 80 min
knew that got very little, and that that
worth tcrn!orialy still less What we OF the South OBJ.
tanned by that Compromise was a southern border-he
power OF expansion II was the policy OF the North that
we should be hemmed in by hostile free population
Extension is necessary 10 the existence OF our ns,lu
uons and therefore went for the proposition which
gave us opportunity to extend We were thus sub.
serving the interests Of the South by preventing the
North from hemming in. We said Give us the lib.
cry expand. and will yield the matter OF the guam
uy OF territory. Do not attempt, as fanatic IN the
other branch OF Congress expressed it, 10 surround by
fre OF liberty which will melt the chains OF the slave.
stated that the mode by which slavery was excluded
from Utah and New Mexico was this J: that majority
of the Judges OF those Territories understood TO be
in favor o enforcing The Mexican laws, whereby slavery
would be excluded IRON those Territories. never said
that Mr. Baker, any other OF the Judges were Wilmot
poviso men. listened very carefully yesterday 10 the
reading of Judge Bakers letter He did not say that in
bis opinion the Mexican laws excluding slavery were not
in force
MI FOOTE. The senator has done unn,enlonsl in.
Justice to Judge Baker The senator will find that the
letter states distinctly that his whole course as member
OF the Mississippi legislature, and otherwise IN connex-
ion with this question, had been such as TO relieve him
from all unjust suspicious with regard TO that matter
The letter gives the clearest implication, and IS entirely
in accordance with my knowledge. that he Is one OF
the sounest in Cbrsiendon, IN The extreme south
ern sense of the term, all questions connected with
Wilmot provisoism There a slander oil this kind
circulated against him State, but Judge Baker has
vindca,ed himself etectuay. can assure the gentle
man that he has been misniormed by some one in refer
ence to this matter.
Mr. RHETT On yesterday representative in the
other branch OF Congress bee 10 my seat and said
that he was informed that Mr. Baker, on the hustngs IN
Mississippi had argued that the Mexican avs prohb,
ng slavery in those Territories were OF force and dd
exclude slavery.
Mr. RHETT | know that one of the judges appoint.
ed told me that il was understood that OF them
OF opinion that the Mexican laws were IN force IN thai
Territory and If this is not then the President OF the
United States did not do his duty as Mr.. Polk was pre-
pared 10 do it, He know, appointed those, and those
only, who, Judges in the Teuiopes would have de-
cided tina, the Mexican laws did not exclude slavery in
ho.o Tcr,itores bui were subordinate the consu-