Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-12-20


this unjust insnuaton. Still the fact of their alb
sence had been seized upon at the South as an ev-
ldence of an unwingness on their part TO vote
for bill securing the rights of the South.
1t had also been said that in the measures there
was nothing to prevent the application of the Will
mot previso to the Territories, nor interference with
slavery in this District. He had fear that Ell
Their of such measures could pass Congress- but
he thought the passage of this resolution cacula-
ted to quiet all apprehensions on the subject
He hoped that when he would leave here, few
days hence he could carry home to the people
of his State this additional assurance of perma-
nent settlement of the question.
Mr.. Butler. Mr. President, l do not propose to
say much upon this subject at this time !; but
will say that when | heard of this resolution, |
heard of it with surprise. It'll mode of proceed
ing scarcely known, | believe, in deliberative
body that | ever heard Of To introduce at a sub
sequent session of the Legislature resolutions con-
frming what l suppose must be regarded as stat
utes upon the statute book, post factO mode
of reviewing the past. And for what purpose
If the legislation referred TO by the honorable Sen
ator from Mississippi be wicked, can he restore pu-
rity TO it by resolution of this kind If that
resolution be wise, is it not superrogatory and
unnecessary to Introduce such resolution For
what purpose, then is the resolution introduced
have right to arraign the genteman's motives,
nor do l. What may have been his object, have
no right to dispute, for he has avowed it; but as
what will be the effect of this resolution, have
no right to speak If the gentleman had been
Letting motions to introduce, he could not have
been more successful in introducing one to open
former discussions and to let loose upon this land
the waters of agitation. Iprotestaganst the mode
of proceeding unusual, unnecessary, and as
II will not say intended, because l shall not
any word of the kind-but the tendency of which
h, oh IJ-
to reach feelings that nigh perhaps have subsidized
under the influence of time or better understand
ing among ourselves. | understand the honora-
bic Senator from Mississippi to introduce the res
olujon with view TO give to the measures OF
compromise an authority which they do no pos
Sess by the act OF legislation conducted with all
the forms which the Constitution requires Can
he expect to do so? Can he give them any other
authority-any other influence by vote of this
Senate than they would have had without it >
Can he reconcile to these measures by his vote
or the vote OF his friends
Sir, he knows the opinion | entertain Of these
measures, and the manner in which they were in
troduced and passed in this body | then de-
nounced them. | Cenounce them because
| believe that they have made precedent in the
political history of this country, under the nt1u
ence of which this Union welded by despotic
majority, will survive the Constitution. believe
/
violation of the spirit of the guarantees calculated
to protect one section of this Union. Does the
gentleman suppose that the South is to have Sc
curity by an assurance such he proposes >
! Does he expect that |, who have heretofore de-
Inounced these measures, shall now consent to put
upon them the seal of appreciation, and to kiss the
rod of oppression, as l have regarded it -? Sir l
cannot, with Druidcal devotion, worship at the
foot of tree whose fruits to be bitterness and
destruction to my posterty.
If there is any one thing in the political history
of this country that will be developed by time, it
will be this that the Constitution of the United
States never can be amended. ! think it may be
proclaimed as a settled fact, that the Constitution
which has been In operation for more than sixty
years. never will be amended And why 4? Be
cause as soon as we meet with any difficulty from
the administration of the GOverIment-as soon as
any trying juncture of affairs IS presented-what
is the expedient? Do we apply that great princ-
pie provided for in the Constitution of the United
States, by which it can be amended No, sir
The resort is to compromise to charging by
construction, some of the provisions of the Con-
stitutiOn. Who is it that will dictate compromises
of this kind, md give the Constitution its char
acter under their operation? Will it be the minor
! ity VIII it be those whose interests have suffer
ed, and whose interests are in danger? No, sir.
Whenever constitutions have to be patched up by
depend upon it such propositions will never come
from minority. All expedents of that kind will
proceed from a majority-the majority who have
the temptation of interest to consult in giving
character to the institutions cf the country.
unwilling to go further into this debate at
this time, except to protest against this mode OF
attempting to influence the deliberations Of anoth-
er assembly in my own State. | was in hopes
that they would be allowed to deliberate the great
uup VIII cal he'd n
fairly, and under auspices favorable to the Proec-
ton of those whose rights have been violated, IN
my opinion, and whose political existence will be
doomed, if eXpedients of this kind to be sub
mtted to by hose who represent that section OF
he country. Will the honorable gentleman tell
me that Institutions not in danger, when
he tells US that the pillows of the free soil agita-
ton already beating upon the base of the Con
stitution When he tells me that our institutions
are in danger from agitation of this kind, does he
expect to give me security by having vote in ia
vor of measures which have heretofore denounc-
ed and made upon, and shall continue to de-
nOunce and make war upon, our fathers made
war on the Alien and Sedition Laws, as long as
believed they had been framed in a spirit unfavor-
able and unfriendly 20 the rights and institutions
, of those whom / represent
!, If this discussion had not been commenced, L dc
not think should have opened my mouth upon
this subject during this session of Congress, and
have uttered these few sentences to let the gentle
man know my position. and to let him know the
opinions entertained by more than myself. 1t may