The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-01-20
! 2 IT &c g. ].
Speech OF 1dr. Eszl.;a..
OF soUTH.CARoLryA.

.s s.i# OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN Me' Senate, Dion1nY, Dee.
la, 1851, on tie -Nc$olHti9s1
,scHe1rd ty 4Nr. kvotr, rc.gW.ming
-sfhe Compromises Measures.
'&R+S1f (coNCLUpED.)
Now, let me ask the honorable
Senatorsa question, which l expect
him to answer -and hope he will
answer it without the least hesi,a ,ation:
Suppose proposition were to
come, up tomorrow to divide Gal,
ifornia, with the understanding that
nne portion should be slave State
or that both should be slave States.
would he vote for it?
AeNlr.s sFuotc, Of Mississippi. will
answer by citing past history, if tic
gentleman will allow me. | intro
sluccl two propositions Oh the sub
ject myself while this matter was
pending for neither Of Which. acc,,,l
'nSato my recollection, hal the
selitieman's support, or that Of lis
political associates III this body. On
the contrary, both Of those rro.
positions received the Fl rccst de-
nunciation from that quarter. When
the proposition to admit California
vas penIiny, | moved to amcal Tie
bill so that California should be
hereafter, with her consent so divided
as you Mr.. President, hal ,ravjoDsIy
proposed she should be. Upon
consultation with you, Mr.. King
lstook the line which is proposed
in the amendment, iul the reasons
you stated. [ did not Get the
support anticipated; anal will he
prepared to show hereafter, from Tie
printed debates, what reasons were
given by honorable gcnsemcn fprno, !
voting stor that very proposition. |
SsseeA ss5 y introduced :.nnthcs.pro. !
,iijsitlon, / 2ttat Ss.if6Tnia sh6uId'eh@:
with, her consent ,Iivi!etl b. tia;
line, and that a territorial gn,.
ern.ncnt should be established s,ulh
"fit. The objection, the ! Of crrtan
gentlemen who called themselves,
pM. erceltencc, State-ri :sh,s men,
was the supposition that they in
agincd my amendment to convey that
California, not yet admitted, III their
jud gnent, vali,lly into the Union,
should be treated with So much
respect as to have her consent to ihis
territorial curtailncnt asked. That
also was voted down. Whenever
any gentleman introduces pro
position here to divide California
with her consent, by the line Of So
30, or $50 30, treating her in
all these respects as il sovcrcisn
State, shall vote for it, and some 0!
those who will vote for it in con,
nection with me will vote in nan-
ner wholly repusnant to their former
feelings.
Nj. Butler. Then the Senator
admits that while lie wishes to make
the compromise mmu;ablc, lie is
perfectly willing to change it when
it suits him. This is inalty OF
a totality.'
Mr.. Foote. ] should vote for that
proposition to alter the boundary
lincs of any other State i'll the Union
mt Lertrequcst. l would not vote lor
that sooner than a proposition to
divide Texas or New York, if those
States desire a new State to be
formed within their limits. While
I hold the compromise to be a
de6nitive settlement, | do not hold it
to be above the Constitution, aud the
Constitution expressly gives Congress
the power Of admitting new States
Now, perhaps, tho gentleman is eli
fitted to the triumph which he
claims.
Mr.. Butler. 1 claim no triumph
Yhe gcntleman's own explanation
shows where he considers til,
itriumph is. While he insists o,
2these compromise laws being lk,
onnto the laws Of tho Nleles anc
Persians, so perfect as not to bC
changed, yet he admits there ar,
contingencies on which they may b,
changed. That is what | intended
10 say. It's SO wise now that h,
does no! choose to let anybod,
consult the progressive improvement
aand suggestions Of time; but h
wishes to stitch down and pin evory
body else to his propositions, upo1
tile gropua that the Procrnstea
bed, whether shorter or longer, is th
only true measure for the country
i shall put another proposition to til
gentleman, and shall expect him t
y lsssersthat too. ua
Footc. / will answer a
e:sSiay as the gentleman chooses t
ptt to me, if lie will only ALLOW IN
an opportunity Of answering thcr