The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-06-17

judge of this for themselves, we publish be-
low short extract from his speech in the
Senate in 1888, On resolution presented by
Mr.. Calhoun, to prohibit the reception OF
Abolition petitions III favor Of abohshing sla-
very i'll the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. Calhoun's resolution:
Charleston Standard.
"ReSolUed, That the intermedllng of any
State or States, or their citizens, to abolish
slavery III TINS District, or any Of the Terri
tories, ON the ground, or under the pretext,
/ that it is immoral or sinful, or the passage
Of any act or measure OF Congress with tnat
view, would lie direct aud dangerous at
tack on the institutions of all the slavehold-
ing States"
On tIiS resolution, Mr.. Fierce, of New
Hampshire, said, the Senate had come at
length to the ground on which this contest
was to be determined. The District of Co
:, lunbia was now alphabetically the battlefield
Of the AbolitiomstS, and tue resolution im-
mediately under consideration, with, per-
hIp>, sumc modihcatiunIu phrascUlugy, would
present tue true issue here and to the cuLn-
try-an Issue which would raise, not mere
question ct eXpeureucy, but one Vt much
higher character, III which the public faith
is directly involved.
That my position, said Mr.. Pierce, may
be distinctly understood, some explanation
is perhaps due to the State which have the
honor, in part, to represent, especially as
there is manifest disposition, III certain
quarters, to peryent our votes and misrere-
sent our motives
have given to the resolutions all the con
sideration which am capable Of bestOwing
and have listened to the debate which they
elected with interest and profound atten
!, ton.
If the grave objections suggested on tho
o other side were sustained by an examination
of the resolutions themselves, or a course O
\ sound augmentation, they would insure my
opposition. What are they? The first tina
= reached my ear was, that they contain laten
notification. have waited to hear the par
ticular resolution, sentence, or phrase point
ed out in which this heresy is supposed II
T be concealed, and have waited in vain
d Having, then, assertion on one side, and wha
5 appears to me to be the plain reading of tn
4 resolutions and the frank and unqualfe,
IT declaration of the mover on the other, mus
i be excused if do not take the alarm.
'F We have eloquent disquisitions upon th
e liberty of speech and the freedom eff til
j, press To every sentiment uttered upo
"a these subjects yield my cordial assent; bu
Is why introduced ON this particular occasion
'e l have been at a loss to determine. Woul
p any man here abridge the liberty of speech
a. assail the freedom of the press? / take
"a not. Is there any thing in the resolution t
III saction the invasion of either? Not sylla
ble That these are privileges most dear t
"a every American is freely admitted by ALL
he Why such a variety of changes have bee
n rung upon them in this debate, others ma
ty determine. 1t is not my province to judg
al of motives, and would take occasion onl
a to remark, that no man shall make up an il
he sue upon subject for me, oppose the ABB
NJ litionists, for the very reason that ente
'es tain sacred regard for those in commo
oh with all other ights secured by the COnst
70 tuition.
IL But it is further urged against the resolu
to tions, (said Mr.. Pierce, that they arc mel
distractions. Sir, it is quite unnatural VIII
'ty name you apply to them; sufhcientis it tn
~ they meet the case, they encounter the Alb
la litiOnist upon sound and tenable ground, al
OIL furnish conclusive answer to his Emporium
ties. To say that the petitions refer only
ID this District, and that the principles assert,
he in the preceding resolutions arc consequer
IN ly without application is perfectly idle.
The is impossible to read a single number of t
The leading abolition periodicals, without p,
re- ceiving that their object reaches far beynl
District, and stops at no point short of ema
scd cipUt.On in tue States. And yet, sir, st
led pact tnat you would find few intelligent All
der litienists, who would assert that Congrt
'ut- has the constitutional power to interfere wi
us- slavery III the States; but admitting the wa
an OF power here, they bold it their duty,
the individuals, to persevere in the cause.
ntil Regarding the institutions of slavery
ned morally wrong, or sinful, if you please. til
can consider themselves, as citizens of the Unit
PM responsible for its continuance, whever
ties, may exist within our borders This fceli
IN has its origin, to some extent, in a mis-
prehension Of the structure of our governmc
lrty and this error the preceding resolutions
rlh- calculated to correct. They assert, in effe
sir- that the citizens of New Hampshire is
port more responsible, morally or politically,
lure the existence and continuance of this
Us mestic institution in Virginia or Maryla
8 Of than he would be for the existence Of
lrry similar institution in France or Persia
I'M Whyg Because these are matters 0
which the States, respectively, when d
400, eating portion of thor powers to be es
the eised 81 she general government, retail
saTy Che whole and exclusive control, and
lean which they are alone responsible.
the Nov, let these doctrines Be univers,
nor understood and admitted. and Won fnka