The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-03


BURN, Of Name, in The House Of Representa-
tiUes May a. 1852.
Mr.. Chairman, object to the introduction
of this Compromise article into our creed
for these reasons, among others:
l. Its effect will be, if it has that which is
desired and expected, to place one law of Con-
gress-passed as other laws are, and in no way
differing from them in whatever gives vigor
and force to law-apart from all other enact
ments, and TO give to it more than the stability
and sacredneSs of even constitutional prOyis-
ions for. so far, any number of people have
been permitted to ask for, and agitate for, such
change i'm the Constitution as they desired to
see made but here is "A simple law of Congress
which is not only not to be altered but its
alteration is not To be- spoken of as thing de
sirable, without sublectng men to the loss OF
political standing IL imposes a restriction nm
future legislation which is wrong in principle
and will be of most dangerous example. Mr..
Webster. in a speech ON the tariff compromise
act of 1898, said, Il quote fTSm the Annual
Register)
There are principleSin it to which | cannot
at present conceive how can ever concur If
| understand the Dan, the result of it will be
q well understood surrender of the power Of
discriminatonIOr stipulation not to use that
power in the laying duties on imports, after the
eght-or nine years have expired This appears
- 90 me to be matter of great moment hest
tate to be party to any such stipulation. The
honorable member admits that though there l0W
be no positive surrender Of the POwer there WiH
be stipulation not 10 exercise Il : a treaty Of
peace and anify, as he says, mhieh no american
statesman can stand up 10 violate For one, SIR,
/ am not ready 10 enter INTO the treaty / pro
pose, so far as It depends on me, 10 Leave all our
successors IN Congress as free 10 act as zoe are
ourselves"
Mr. Webster thought such treaty for the
restriction of legislation would be unauthorized
by, and subversive Of the Constitution. In a
later speech on the same bill he remarked
that
" He believed his constituents would excuse
him for surrendering their interests BUT THEY
WOULD NOT FORGIVE HIM FOR a VIOLATION or
THE CONSTITUTION
And sir, this was in a case where there was
no attempt to make the Compromise a party
test and give to it the sanction of party rcso-
lutions. The fnality of the tariff compromise
was never intruded upon our National COnyen-
tions
2. oppose it as being inconsistent with one
of the best considered and most firmly estab-
lished principles of the Wing party. If there
be any Wing principle that may be considered
other, it is that which has relation 10 the exer-
else of the veto power In the days Of jackson
and of Tyler it was affirmed again and again.
1t has been recognised by national, State, and
county conventions, in repeated instances. Mr..
Webster has argued it, Mr.. Clay included it in
his celebrated platform resolutions; and in
many speeches. in Congress and out, has laid it
down us one of the main timbers of the Wing
platform General Taylor 80 understood it in
his Allison letter, and he entire Wing party
of the country have AIthertO stood up to it.
Indeed Mr.. Clay at one time was DESTROYS that
it should be made constitutional provision
Now we are asked to do that which will Ope-
rate an unqualified repeal of this article Of
faith, and incorporate in its place not merely
the ordinary veto doctrine, which is bad
enough, but the principle of Executive and
party vetocs in advance of the action Of Con
gress Sir it is the worst doctrine that ever
was preached by any school of politicians.
Hitherto the Democrats, az party, have not
gone so far as this and but one Democratic
President Mr. Van Buren, in reference to the
abolition OF slavery in this District Gentle
men have not forgotten with what effect this
indiscreton, to call it by the mdest name was
used against Mr. Van Buren, ut the succeeding |
election, when he was defeated
What is meant by Compromise resolution |
at Baltimore is test which will commit the |
party to the doctrines it may contain, and |
which lOW bind the nominee of the Contention |
If elected 10 retO GHy iGW of Congress inconsist-
ent ruth such doctrines No friend Of the Com |
promise will deny that this is his understand
ing Of the effect of such "a resolution ! ask if
this be not So If there be one gentleman who
would not SO regard it, let me hear from him.
In the sense in which it is intended and in the
light in which it would be viewed such a resO-
luton of the National Convention ~ is de-
manded would infer pledge to veto any mOdi-
fcation of the Fugitive Slave Law. 1t would
be, in effect veto in advance This new doe
trine takes the conservative power of the veto
from the President and gives it to the party
caucus. Instead of being power to be used
but seldom, ~ in cases of palpable nfractiOu
of the Constitution, or encr0achmcnt upon the
Executive, its exercise would be of common oc-
currence under the rules prescribed by the
party in power
Mr.. Chairman, this doctrine introduced and
carried out would revOutionze the Govern
ment, and place the conventions in the same
relation to Congress that the clubs of Paris in
the time Of the revolution held to the National
Assembly. Ii would require change of the
Presidents inaugural OATH So that it would
read, :" do sOlemnly swear that will faith
fully execute the office of President Of the Uni
ted States and will. to the best of my ability
preserve, protect and defend, the Constitution
of the United States, interpreted by the Bdii-
more Convention"
3. There is no mutually in the resolution,
for, after ALL the North only are to be bound
by it. IL is not understood that the South may
not demand change in any of these meas
ures whenever it pleascs. That is the Southern
compromise doctrine An honorable gentle
man from Tennessee, MIR Polk, in Il speech
delivered in the House of Representatives few
weeks ago, used tho following remarkable Ian
guage
:" feel authorized to pledge any nominee of
the next Democratic Convention for the Pres-
dcncy, to give like pledge as to repeal or
modification of the Fugitive Law unless IN
deed such modification mot at all hkely 10 hap
Penl should proUe necessary 10 rs more Cfectadi
execution, AND BIZ GENERALLY DEMANDED BY
THE SoUTH ITSELF. In short any Democratic
nominee will unhesitatingy pledge himself to
discountenancc, aud, If necessary, UctO any at
tempt TO modify the Fugitive Slave Law in ac-
cordance with the views and demand of those
tcho are aiming 10 effect that end"
1t would seem from this not only that the
right to disturb the Compromise is reserved to
the South but that the Democratic party is
about TO adopt the doctrine of prospective We
toes am not sure upon reflection, hut that
doctrine was recognised by President Polk
Sir, it is manifest that the peculiar friends of
the Compromise in the South do not intend 10
respect any part of it that does not make in
their favor. Among the Compromise acts was
that which provided for the admission of Cali.
fornia But if California should permit new
State to be carved out of her territory, and
that State should establish slavery, she is by