Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-05-29

Z
as individuals, to stand loot and 10 leave the
\ stakeholder to the instrumeu,aluy Of the Govern
mcut of the United States, and 10 this alone. Il
recorer his fugitive slave. Sir, protest agains
his doctrine. protest against this usupation
on the part Of Congress"
! | addition he says;
~ prutest against this gssrpatioa on the part
Of ongress. II is fatal to the rights Of the
South. | maintain that, by the Constitution, we
have the Faith Of The States a. sovereigns TO a
compact with US; and that ny The cumpacl the
government Of every free State. every man ia
every free State, is bond, morally aud constiiu.
tionally, to aid in the recovery and restoration
Of our fugitive slaves"
Again, speaking Of the decisions Of The Su,
prcme Court of the United States, on the ques.
tons Of slavery, he says:
"And wba do they amount TO Flat asset-
tions--naked dogmalsm--and manifest as
sumption; from beginning to end, Of The thing to
be proved If senators have been able 10 sec
in them any thing to satisfy their minds Of the
authority of Congress to acl at all upon this sub.
iect, much less 10 act exclusively they have
been more fortunate than have been.
"You may pass your laws but handful Of
people-it does not require "a maorily--can
battle your authority IN every tawn in the Uni
ted States, and thas nullly your law, erIde your
proclamation, and put your army and navy at
defiance"
"You promulgp the doctrines here which vir.
iually make the Constitution a nothing it,
limitations mere breath. Aud now, when ahol.
ton rears is head aud stares consolidation in
the face, you wish to lrown ii down 1t will
laugh you to scofa."
Mr.. Rhett, in the controversy Of last winter
upon the resolution brought forward by me-
showed most clearly that his opposition 10 the
various measures of the plan Of adjustment, had
not in the least degree diminished since the pc.
riod Of their enactment. Several senators from
the free States Of the North came forward To do
battle in co-opefaiion with him. Their efforts
were chiefly devoted to counieaIctiog and bring
ing into contempt the fugitive slave law | oh.
serve. with deep modification, that since LEFT
Washington, small number of petitions have
been presented in Congress for repeal Of this
wiae and salutary enactment and IN the House
Of Representative, several strong and violent
speeches have been made by overhested advo~
Gates Of the dangerous dognan Of secession, in
one Of which speeches, find II urged lhat the
National Democratic Convention, which is et
ppced to assemble in Baltimore next June, shall
inrerpoaie lhi. odouq aud absurd principle upou
what is known as the Baltimore platform.
attach no very great Importance to the proceed
ing; being well satisfied that The public mind of
the country severy day becoming sounder upon
the slavery question, and that mere pr'de 81
opinion is at present the chief obstlce 10 uni
yersal acqiiesce in the plan OF adjustment. ] do
not at all doubt, that the aps0lution introduced
by me in the Senate, has been 10 some extent.
retarded in its progress by certain movements ol
Presidential aspiranis,casy 20 be named, who
hope if the test of this resolution can lie efli,c.
ually ayOw-d. 10 be able 10 smuggle themselves
INTO the Presidency by combination Of free
,oil and secession votes. ! hat the resolutions
will ultimately pass the Seuate by an overwbelm>
ing 1aiority Of the votes o( that body, no intel,
gent observer Of Congressional proceedings
,an at all doubt Whether its friends of the
Senate shall deem il exprdien,, under all the
,ircurr stances now existing 10 press It TO n
inal decision Immediately, or TO keep il under |
consideration for a few months longer, with |
, view Of the ultimate and complete purgaiion |
II bo'h the old nationa parties from ibr faint
# free soii,m on the one hand. and secession
N the other. ] am not prepared 10 decide. i Is
eran though as think. that IFS Introduction
nd the foil discussion which il has Undergone,
ave, together, had the most sauary effect in
prpjudices entertained IN regard 10 the
els Of the Compromise and in more fully vindi
aiing the supremacy Of the laws. Indeed, the
osiliiy now manifested towards the various
measures Of compromise, is Of so trivial char
cler. that il has become far less important to
ass il Than il was or seemed 10 be three months
20. II il nearly as well known, in Consequence
{ explanations which have been made by DIFF
,reni members Of the Senate, that not more
ran from eight 10 ten senatorial votes can he
ossible cast against it as il will be after The
ssouiion shall have been actually adopted.
In our own State ! am confident that there
re not nj the present time. one ibOusand per-
pms among those who live remote from scenes
polllicaEslrife. who are not desirOus that the :
Ieasures of compromise should be universally 2
'cognised az a defnhe settlement, in principle b
I'd substance. oi al the questions embraced
erein; aud / hope that ibe two Houses Of the a
legislature will concur with me in regard 10 the
ejiency Of adopting. AT some early period.
solutions on Ibis suijsci, which will put our
airiolic and beloved State in perfect harmon, 4
h hrr sister States IN the co.ledemcy. "a
trust that have said nothing ia this mes ~
ce al all calcnlaisd 10 wound The sensibiliiies =
any member of the senate or House Of Rep !,
senia'ives. such Is not at all my vigecl OF wish. ii
IN desirous. if pos side. of 81 ing, TO some eH- 4,
y. 10 restoring a friendly and lraiernal under q
nding among ibose who are citizens Of the !,
me STATE, and co-suppouers oilhe same noble r
tiluiions Of civil and religious freedom. ! A
( far no resolution approaching the course Of r,
2 set Of the public servants Of the Sisie. and
nsuring oilers. Do not urge even the adop-
n Of resolutions. in terms approving The CON
,mise. or any measure ibsreol only recon- y
nd acguiesoenoe in the Legislative enacimenis a
" in force. and a return To our amicabie and p
IDLY relations. Cor the sake of our oWn haPPl- y
- and ihe well-being and glory Of our CON d