The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-13
DEFERRED DEBATE.



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 ques
tons growing out of the system of domesti
slavery.
BE IL resoloed, That the series Of measure,
embraced in the acts entitled An act props slni
to the State of Texas the establishment of he
northern and western boundaries, the relInquish
ment by the said State of all territory claimed
by her exterior 10 said Boundaries and OF al
her claims upon the United States, and to estab
lish "A territorial government in New Mexico,
? approved September 9, 1850; :" An act for tn,
admission of the State of California into tn,
Union" approved September o 1850; An ac
to establish territorial government for Uttb,
approved September 9, $50; San act to amend
and supplementary TO the act entitled An ac
respecting fngitivcs from justice, and persons
escaping from the service OF their mlsters,'
approved February II, 1899 approved Sep
tember 49, 1850; and An act to suppress Til,
slave trade in the District Of Columbia" ap
proved September 30, lS50-commonly known
rs the Compromise Acts ARE, in the judy
ment of this body, entitled To be recognised as
a definite adjustment and settlement of the dis
tracing questions growing ont of the system OF
@luNtTy anu us SucIl
should be acquiesced in and respected by al
good citizens
Mr.. FOOTE, 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 phrascology in
which it is couched is neither mysterious non
equivoca 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 houses 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 recop
Missed as constituting the plan of adjustment
$ as final settlement, in principle and substance,
| of the dangerous and exciting subjects which
| they embraced" will do their part in securing
an early restoration of the friendly and fraterna
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
a dangerous and unseemy agitation, the former
progress Of which undoubtedly placed the insti-
tutons of the country in extreme peril, and in.
voved the republic itself in more or less dis
and undertaking to address the Senate very
briefly at the present time, my object is simply
to prevent any misunderstanding touching nv
own motives, and counteracting certain misre.
presentations in regard thereto, which discover
already to have been made
Mr. President, cannot believe that there are
many individuals in this body who are prepared
to declare their dsapproval of the conduct of
the President in twice deliberately and formally
arraying all the influence of eminent station and
nigh character in favor of scheme of pacifica
ton and settlement which had previously received
the approval of the two houses of Congress,
and to which he had also impaired his Official
sanction, but to which he was at the time aware
that opposition of serious and imposing char
acter had been presented in different forms, and
in opposite sections of the republic. What was
right in itself and worthy of appreciation ia the
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
legitimately to influence the mind of the executive
The legislation OF Congress upon the questions
involved in the series of measures referred TO in
the resolution, was unfortunately in its progress
surrounded by circumstances of nature calcu
lated to awaken more or less of donbt in regard
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 rs TO the intention of those who were
originally opposed to the measures of compro
mise to defeat, at least seriously obstruct the
faithful execution Of the same now and hereafter
The number of those thus opposed to these
measures it must be acknowledged, was in the |
beginning by no means contemplate, and that /
number, | fear, has not so much diminished of |
late as many over-sangulne persons imagine 1t |
is undeniable that armed opposition to a certain
portion of these measures has occurred in more
than one instance in particular yicinages, easy
to be mentioned and it is equally certain that |
substantial resistance to other portions of this |
plan of settlement has been quite as extensively |
CONTEMPLATED elsewhere. Sectional ealousies,
which have existed now for many years past,
are not as yet fully assuaged, all true patriots
desire they should be. Factious politicians have
been industriousy at work in various States of
the confedcracy to inlime the popular mind Of
the country, and to give perpetuty TO that unfor-
tunate misunderstanding which has 80 long con |
tinued between good men north and south of
certain geographical line Great and persever |
ing efforts have been made in the free States Of
lne NOrtO, Oy ceIldlO clhSs OF pOllllcal aglta |
tors, to array public feeling against he act for
the restoration of fugitives from service, and
scenes have occurred under such deplorabe in |
stigntion 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 n considerable extent to es-
tabsh relations Of permanent hostility between
the people Of the North and of the South Be-
longing to that class Of politicians who have
uniformly looked'to the measures of adjustment
as constituting unitedly an equitable scheme of
settlement have entertained n 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.
licians who have been so ardenty struggled to
delude them, are every day growing better and
better satisfied with these measures. Still there
is something for Congress to do, in order TO re
concile moro thoroughly the sectional feelings
which long course of Industrious agitation has
o,,o,Jorad