The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-22

the fair aud honest purpose OF those officers TO
execute the laws, ia two States at least it has
been effectually resisted. refer to the eases in
lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and Syracuse,
New York. What was there done is now the
subject OF Judicial investigation; and | am con-
tent TO wait the result of that investigation, be-
fore | form an opinion whether il is or is not the
intention Of those STATES to have the law en-
forced.
So far the law has done good Ii has awak-
ened public attention TO the necessity of having
its provisions carried fully into execution. IL has
attracted around II the patriotic feeling OF a
large and intelligent portion of the people in
those States. The subject is yet pending, and
! am not prepared 10 pronounce Judgment upon
the result | trust that am not hoping against
hope when | say that believe, in time, and in
good time, the sentiment Of the people OF those
States will be regenerdte on this subject They
will find that it carries with il portion of their
constitutional duty and they ALL find, also,
that it carries With it the safety of the Union.
IL has been pl. eed upon that distinct issue by
almost all OF the Southern States, and, among
others, by the State OF Virginia and ! do not
despair of that law yet doing its office efiectually
Then as TO this resolution further had UNI
derstood from gentlemen who voted for those
measures as u compromise. that they were To be
received by the country as the great tranquilizing
measure Of peace--to end the discord and i'll
feeling which always attend the agitation of the
subject of slavery in our deliberations | object
to this resolution, because il is not the usual and
proper mode of Legislative action. Our functions
are to express the Legislative will of the country
through the forms OF law and under the sanctions
of law. The resolution on the table has no
sanction--none whatever. 1t is otlicous. and,
for whatever end introduced, its effect must be
rather TO renew agitation than to quiet it.
We are all aware that while these questions
were pending, the safety of this Union was most
seriously endangered but, in the language of
Mr.. Jefferson, had hoped and believed that the
biIlOw which threatened US had passed under
the ship. The public mind has become, to some
extent, iranquilizcd. The people of the South
ern States who felt themselves aggrieved by it,
if not reconced are disposed to acquiesce; and
in such condition of things, submit, to what
useful end should the subject be further agitated
here Sir, did not sympathize in the slightest
degree with what fell from the honorable Sena-
tor from South Carolina, Mr.. RHETT who adj
dressed US yesterday and the day before, when
he declared himself for Gisunion. There is no
State which made greater sacrifices to obtain
this Union, than the State which have the hon
or in part to represent. She has made another
great sacrifice to preserve it, by her acquescence
in the measures which are referred to in this
resolution. The transactions of the past Con-
gress, so far as they may affect the institution of
slavery, are v it'll her matters done with and end
ed. For what has passed, Virginia does not
seek disunion. None can look with greater hor-
ror than do her people, upon disunion for dis
unions sake. But the Union which they cher
ish must continue Union under the Constlu-
ton. A Union by force, or Union in which
the forms of the compact are alone regarded,
whilst the rights or the minority are violated
her past history shows she will be the first to
repndiate and IN disown