The daily union., 1852-02-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. y ,. meHAE
OF MISSISSIPPI,
la The Senate, February 7, 1852.


la he Senate. February 7, 1859. !.
The Senate having resumed the consideration of the
sson,on submitted by MIR. FoorE, of Mississippi ana
amended on the motion OF MIR. BADGER, as follows
resolution declaring The measures of adjustment be
edniive settlement oi the questions growing Of do
Re 4 gopd That the series of measures embraced In
the acts entitled San act proposing the Texas
The establishment of her northern and boundaries
the REIMBURSEMENT by The said State of all territory claimed
by her exterior said boundaries. and OF all her claims
noon the United States and TO establish territorial gov
ensa. for New MsIs1 approved pre- September o 1850
the Unon," approved September D, 1850; An TO
6 sa 1880 et to amend ana Sep
entitled An act respecting iugitives from justice
and fess L. % hs ssyes o. s
1850; and An act suppress the slave trade in the Dis
1e,s are, in lU, he Judgment iadsmsn.
Of this body, settlement in principle and snbstance--a
which they embrace and ought to be adhered to by Com
press until time and experience shall demonstrate the ne
eessy of further legislation to guard against evasion
abuse
Mr. McRAE, in continuation OF the speech begun on
Yesterday, said
7 Mr. PRRsIDRsr When ! gave way 10 the motion to
truthful statement OF facts could do SO, the charge which
is most unfairly and unjustly made against the demo-
cratic Staierights party Of Missssippi OF being dsu-
noniss may say the charge made "against the dem
oca,ic party because those who opposed the
OF compromise consisted mainly of the old democratic
party, with comparatively small number of intelligent
OF the resolutions OF l79S and 799, opposition what
they considered to be usupatons of power by the fede
raj government and encroachmens upon the rights of the
States in the enactment of those measures may say.
further, "aganst the democratic party OF Mississippi"
for the that the democratic party is State
party According TO my understanding there has never re.
ally existed in this country but two great parties since
the foundation OF the government These parties have
been divided upon single great principle, and that prn
chile the construction of the constitution in the legis
alon of Congress- The difference between these par
ties arises from what call strict construction Of
the constitution and wide construction of the con-
siutonthe republican construction the federal con
srueon OF the constitution-the democratic construc-
ton or the whg construction of the constitution What
these parties may have heretofore assumed at
any time or may hereafter assume this is the great prn
cpe which they divided In reference TO other
differences between them they differences in regard
measures OF policy arising under this groat principle of
construction OF the constitution For instance the ques-
charter for bank far the constitutional
iyof il is concerned, is question which grows up on
one side under what said to be construction of the
constitution by implication, and is opposed the other
by what is called strict construction of the constitu-
noD So in reference to the tariff in reference TO
works OF internal improvement by the general govern
msnt, and in reference to the distribution of the proceeds
Of the sales OF the public lands among The States.
The democratic party, therefore, that party which is
IN favor OF strict construction of the constitutions and
that the party IN Mississippi which opposed what they
considered TO be the encroachmens of the federal gov.
eminent upon the rights of The States under what they
termed wide construction OF the constitution in the en-
aclment Of the measures OF compromise.
Ihas been charged against in connexion with these
measures Of compromise, that were dsunonists be-
cause we believed in the right OF secession This is
perhaps the important charge and the one which is
most dwe upon by our opponents by which they expect
to fix upon the fact that in favor of dssoIu
ton OF the Union account of the passage of these
Or 10 state il as those do who misrepresent
us, we secessonisis-beng in favor of secession
from the Union account OF these measures OF compro
mise II, sir, il is meant that the party in Mississippi
who opposed these measures believed, under a certain
condition OF circumstances, when the action of the fede
raj government becomes such 10 be oppressive
the States that II cannot be borne that in the last
State has right TO assume her original position and
sovereignty as she before she into the Union,
a means OF relief from this oppression-hen say,
this charge is applicable to believing in the right
of secession But II it is intended TO fix upon US, by
this charge, that in favor OF the exercise of that
rght-that we were in favor OF the act OF secession
account OF these measures-tben this charge not prop
ery made against us, and is wholly untrue
!, might be interesting for us 10 examine for few
moments, how this question OF secession first grew up in
connexion with the action Of Mississippi in reference
10 the legislation Of Congress on The slavery question:
and ascertain who the first suggest that such
course would be proper remedy Az this was ques-
nected with the disposition OF the territories and the ad
iument OF the slavery question throughout,
what attentive reader OF the debates which took place
IN the Senate oil the United States upon this subject And
by referring 10 the facts in connexion with this question:
be first suggestion which found pade by any one in
reference TO secession being proper remedy in connex
league Mr.. FooTEl in the Senate OF the United States
lind that the 2sth of January $780, he said in refer
elce 10 an amendment proposed by the senator from New
York MI SrwARDl TO the fugve-savc bill brought in
E the senator from Virginia, Mr. Mason j
ISL II does that who listened TO the
es. e Ssnied and July naSaal t sTgamsni Of the hon
huhced IN our hearing and who duly appreciated the
sound and staesmnniike views maintained by him,
even hear the amendment OF the honorable from
New York read without being satisfied that thi. amend
menl was designed cap the climax of southern wrongs
cause the cup Hour oppression 20 overflow, and
ce us Of the SOUTH whose lot is to be the Of
ve property, TO secede from the Union, remaining in
Ton oi all our constitutional rights, such fee people
nave sNet peen known patientiy 10 endure"
= ihat was the first sag geson which ever heard Of
ushI o. secession IN connexon with the legislation OF
congress on ibe slavery question and il uttered by
ylae colleague Mr. FooTrl on the floor OF this Senate
lhooklng over these debates furiberbecause have
sag, was an attentive reader at that time Of The pro-
eseongs OF Congress-l find that my late colleague tMr
roortl sad IN reference TO the admission OF California
az cary period OF the discussions in speech made by
MN here on The l4th OF February, 1850
!" have no hesitation in declaring il as my solemn
a'ps2nae conviction, that California Is dragged into
we Unon IN the mode now proposed, the southern States
me coniederacy will feel that all hope Of iraterna
Pomse has become extinct, and that such ntoerable
uY-nay to todemand-secession from the Union in order
| self" 49, "
ms IS the second suggestion which have ever found
~ e progress OF the debates connected with the subject
~ "Iune ne right oi secession-orginatng too, with my late
epsague Mr.. FooTE In looking these debates still
uAei, lind that in speech delivered by him on the
,s OF March, 1885, presenting the resolutions OF the
mississippi legislature in regard to the Nashville con-
ssapp had been taken on this question previous TO the
meeting OF that convention. late colleague TMr