The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-02


speaks of the introduction of the resolution
now under consideration and says that he Of
fered it as asserting the series of measures
embraced in the plan Of adjustment to be =
final settlement in principle and substance o
the distractiDg question growing out of the sys
tern of domestic slavery"
Now there is no such thing that in tn,
resolution in its present FORM There was NJ
such thing as that in il in its original FORM
did not assert. in its original form, that it wal
81 settlement in principle and substance" II
its present form, it does mol assert that it ia g,
final settlement of the distraciing question,
growing out of the system of domestic slavery
And il is one objection that am urging to il
that il does not assert that fact.
do not wish TO reply to the arguments tina
have been made on this subject by any senator
who has preceded me, nor do wish to involve
myself in a controversy on this question with
any senator. But must be permitted to say
with reference to speech made by the honor
able Senator from Alabama, Mr. CLEMENS, thai
do not agree with him in the opinion he ex
pressed in his speech when he said--and his
speech WAS made upon this resolution in it,
present form
{" wish il always remembered that this reso
luton proposes no approval of e Compromise.
When first took my seat here in the Senate
found my late colleague engaged in the dis
cussion of this subject. In the opening of his
speech of the second day, he said:
1t must be obvious to all. that the merits OF
this resolution, if merits it possess, depend en-
trely upon the character of tho compromise
measures themselves"
Now the resolution in its present form, in my
Judgment, does require every one who sanctions
it 10y his vote, to say that he does agree to the
approval Of the measures of compromise. There
fore | say cannot concur with the Senator
from Alabama, in the remark which he made, that
it does not.
The main objection which have to tho reso-
luton is, that it requires Us to acquesce in the
approval Of the measures of compromise and
in giving orr acquiescence to these measures,
or in giving this expression of our opinions in
regard to them, it requires that we should assent
to the principles on which these measures we're
passed. Now that the resolution is here and to
be voted upon, representing what believe to
be the will of the people If Mississippi, all now
acquiescing in these measures, myself included,
Though not in the principle Involved in several
ofthem, will say that if the resolution was as
it stood in it's original FORM and came to final
vote of the Senate, should feel myself bound
to cast my vote in its favor, however much OPP
posed to The propriety of its Introduction. Bat,
altered az 1T now Is, requiring me to give my
sanction to the principles involved in the com.
promise measures, could not conscientously
do SO; nor do believe that the resolution, in
Its present form expresses the will and inten-
ton of the people of Mississippi-even of the
Union party-in acquescing in these measures.
1T the resolution can be SO amended, now that
it is here as to be made to express fully in my
judgment, the will and intention of the people
OF Mississippi, in acqniescing in the measures of
compromise, and can be relieved from the ohec.
ton of requiring me to sanction the principle
involved in the passage of these measures, then,
upon the final vote upon it, if it shall ever come
to that, will still cast my vote for it.
Mr.. President, the most serious objection
which have to this resolution is, that it SAYS
this is n settlement of these measures on princi-
pie Now, sir, have already said, that though
was willing to acquiesce in these measures,
and TO vote for a resolution, now that it is be.
fore us, simply declaring my acquisscence in
them, could not cOnscientiousy vote for res.
olution requiring my assent to the principles in
volved in several of the measures; and have
no hesitation in saying here, that whoever votes
for this resolution, does thereby give his assent
to the principles on which these measures were
passed Now, it may be said that the resou.
ton does not say that this is settlement on
good principle or on bad principle; but, what
ever may be the case in that respect the people
of the country will say, that when a senator
casts his vote for this resolution, he does so on
q principle which meets with the assent of his
Judgment; and cannot vote for this resolution
these measures to be settlement on
principle, when that principle is not one which
40 no nnn nhufio ,pf, II T l.
my late colleague Mr.. FooTE,l at
one time to be opposed to some of these ques.
tons on prnciple-opposed at least to the ad-
mission of California-becauae, on looking over
some Of his speeches and writings which have
been able particularly to examine, | find by
speech made by him on this hoor, on January
9th, 1850, on introducing bills to provide terri
torial governments for California, Deseret, &c.
and speaking of another bill which he had previ.
onsly drafted, to divide Texas on certain condi-
tons, ne says:
"This had resolved to offer as new scheme
OF compromise, which, with the establishment of
a territorial government in New Mexico, in De.
seret, and California as State, when freed from
her present unfortunate organizations hoped
might tend to settle the vexed question of the
Wilmot provso forever"
ii the ooJectloH Oi my late c0lleapue TO the
of California was that her organiza-
ton was wrong, and that she ought to be freed
from that organization before she could be ad.
mitted az II State into the Union, then think
hat his objection was fundamental, and went to
the principle on which California was organized
and admitted as State | have reason further
TO believe, that he was opposed to tho admission
of California on principle, from the following
remark find in letter signed by him, with his
colleague at that time, Colonel Davis, and the
delegation from Mississippi in the House, ad-
dressed TO the governor of our State, January
81, 1850;
"We regard the proposition to admit Califor
MIA as State, under all the circumstances of
her application, an attempt to adopt the Viii
mot proviso in another FORM"
Now, sir, have always understood the South,
the whole South, or at all events with very few
exceptions, as asserting the want of constitu-
tional power, on the part of Congress, to pass
what is called the Wilmot proviso; and the OBJ
lection, therefore, to be on principle, If the at.
tempt to admit California was an attempt to in.
troduce the Wilmot proviso in another form, the
objection to 1t was fundamental, and must have