The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-24

inequality. But il is an institution which those
who commenced life under circumstances less for
tunate than himself regard the brightest spot in
our political armament, as Offering ample compen-
sation for any temporary, partial operation OF pub
lie measures, where such occur-and they must
sometimes occur in every goverpment-far great
than in the cases, even If they were all liable,
which they not, to this objection whose proofs
have been collected with so much industry and
spread before us with so much power, and doubt
not sincerely, but with so little conviction.
Such was the charge against the non -nercourse,
the embargo, the war, the tariff, and, to some ex-
tent the removal of the deposits, and the forebod
ngs of ruin happily rebuked by the results was
then as widespread as II can be again, and was
rendered still more powerful by that strange spirit
of Authorization to which the best and the wsest
are often subject during periods OF excitement
in this world of errors. And ] may well
speak with full heart upon the subject OF our
equality of condition, for this very condition,
Joined indeed TO the undeserved favor Of my
fellow citizens, has given me, whose early pros
poets in life shrouded in difficulties, and
who passed much of it in hard and harsh du-
ties in the forest il has given even 10 me this
opportunity, and glory in it, of bearing my
testimony OF gratitude to the priceless value Of the
Constitution here in this great depository OF its
power. And when, in Gods good time, shall
need its protection longer, may leave it, as
most precious legacy untouched and unscathed, to
those who are most dear to me, an object OF PRIDE
and affection for them, as il has been for me.
One word more. What strange spectacle does
the opposition TO the Compromise exhibit! As
sailed with equal violence, not TO say virolence,
North and South, its enemies unite In condemnlng
il with equal ZEAL but they unite IN nothing else.
Both parties char ge it with unconstitutonaty and
injustice, because it comedies all to one and moth
ing to the other, while each considers itself the in
jured party, andits rights and feelings sacrificed
by the arrangement. For myself, sir, believe IT
wise and patriotic disposition OF the eventful
questions which agtated and threatened US; and
think, if other evidence were wanting, it has been
supplied by the ordinations and recrlmnatlons
which yet sounding in our ears.
Mr.. CLEMENS said that, if the resolution had
been submitted TO him by its mover before its in
PRODUCTION, he would not have recommended 1t, not
from any conviction of his own that it was impro-
per, but from his Difference 20 the better Judgment OF
others. The resolution, however, was before them,
and they had to vote upon il, and, from the char
acter Of the debate which took place, it was iInper
alive upon them that il should be passed The scene
which the Senate presented during the delivery OF
the harangue of the Senator from South Carolina
(Mr. RHETT) was surprising TO no one here,
though it would doubtless be surprising to the
country The Senator was surrounded by the Sen
ator from Massachusetts, (Mr. SUMNER,) the SEN
ator from Ohio, (Mr. CHAsE,) and the Senator
from New Hampshire, (Mr. HALE,) while the
face of the Senator from New York, (Mr. SEwARD0
was radiant with satisfaction. southern Senator
declared himself disunionist and that majority
of the people he represented were disunonists, and
these four-as rabid abolitonists as the country
contained-sat near and applauded the sentiment
This was surprising to no one here There was
sympathy in treason. There was bond of sym
pathy between traitors as well as there was between
knaves
1t was said that there was no necessity for this
resolution. He thought there was great ne
cessty for it. Agitation was attempted by mer at
the North and at the South. Threats of disturbing
these measures of settlement have been made, and
something should be done TO assure the country
that the Compromise was not TO be disturbed by
the efforts of the traitors of both sections.
He was opposed TO the Compromise at the time
of its passage. He still opposed to of the
BILLS composing il, but the whole had been
adopted a settlement he was prepared to support
it. He would examine all the measures embraced
in it.
The act admitting California had been declared
an unmitigated wrong upon the South by the
North and upon every stump in the South it had
been denounced as robbery committed by the
North upon the South, who commended the subject
of the admission of California. James X. Polk, a
southern man and Democratic President, recon-
mended u bill providing for her admission.
Though that bill was much better than the one
which had passed, still it recognised and fixed the
principle that the people OF every territory had the
right 10 frame their form of government
Next cine General Taylor, another southern man
and Nhig President, who recommended the adj
mission of California in the manner in which she
was admitted. By whose votes was she admitted;net
alone by the North Eight out of fifteen southern
States furnished votes for her admission. Kentucky
furnished seven votes out OF ten; Tennessee fur
nished seven votes out of eleven for her admission.
Kentucky and Tennessee had furnished more than
their equal share of volunteer troops for the in
which California was acquired. The bones of her
whitened the fields OF Buena Vista and the
scenes of other struggles. These States, If any
, | roDDery nau Deen committed, mad assisted In IL,
They nearer the South they have the same in
terests and the institutions of the other south
ern States, and they have committed the wrong, If
any has been done. The South would have to deal
with these States before they could step over to In
diana and Illinois.
1t said that her admission was unconstitu
tional because she was Territory, and the Consti
tuition only declared that new States might be ad.
mtted II he had not heard this argument
pressed at home by ADLER than the Senator
from South Carolina, he would pronounce it pure
nonsense, but out of respect for them he would not
now characterized il.
Alabama a Territory when she admitted.
/ Every State which has been admitted into the
Union was Territory till her admission made her
a State, with the exception of Texas, Vermont, and
Tennessee
The Senator had complained of the Utah bill as
another wrong upon the South The South had
passed that bill; in voting for it he had voted along
| side the very pillars of the State Right church That
law did not exclude the South from going to that
Territory. The Senator had said with his charac-
teristic arrogance that no man of common honesty,
or with any honesty at all, could say that the
southern STAKEHOLDER could occupy one single acre
Of that Territory. He asserted the fact, and could
prove il. He did not know by what standard the
Senator measured himself, by what standard
he Judged by in the State of South Carolina;
but he would tell him that in that part Of the world
not included in that State, there was very Preva-
lent opinion that the Senator would not make any
very extraordinary sensation even in the kingdom
of Lilliput
Mr. G read from the act establishing territorial
4
stance with that OF New Mexico,) to show that
Congress had guaranteed that Utah should be adj
United with without slavery as the people should
determine-a guarantee never given before; that
part of relating to the Judiciary provided for
, trials between master and slave, and between ad
verse claimants for slave, and that the Fugitive
Slave law extended to the Territories, which
? had never been done before and from these ar
gued that Congress legslated upon the supposition
that slavery might exist there. and would exist
there.
!, II slavery did not go there, if it excluded
by the laws of nature, who could complaint All
: they had to do was to see that Congress did not
exclude it, Congress had not excluded it, and the
South had got all she claimed. The abolition en-
issares now in New Mexico were writing home
: that shareholders were coming in there with their
slaves, and that New Mexico would be admitted as
g q slave State
y The Senator lad also complained of the robbery
y committed by the Texes Boundary bill, by which
il the South had lost some territory. lie would tell
!, the Senator that the great champion Of States
y Rights Mr.. Calhoun had denied up to the hour OF
his death, that Texas had any title to the territory
70 in question.