Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-07-31
UOLU MB U S /:
wednesday Morning, July IS, 1852.
Remarks by Gen. Pierce, Oh CalhOun'S ReSO-
lutianS,


luti0HS.
Mr. Pierce Of New Hampshire, rose and said !:
The Senate had come at length to the ground on
which this contest was to be determined The
District of Columbia was now emphatically the
battlefield of the Abolitionists, and the resolution
Immediately under consideration, with, perhaps
some modification in phraseoogy, would pre-
sent the true issue here and to the country-an is
sue which would raise, not mere question of ex
pediency, but one of much higher character, in
which the public faith is directly involved.
That my position, said Mr.. Pierce, may be dis
tinctly understood, some explanation is perhaps
due to the State which | have the honor, in part
to represent, especially there is a manifest dis
position in certain quarters, to pervert our votes
and misrepresent our motives.
have given to the resolutions all the consider
alton which | am capable of bestowing, and have
listened to the debate which they have elected
with interest and profound attention,
if the grave objections suggested on the other
side sustained by examination of the res
olutions themselves or a course of sound argumen-
tation, they would ensure ny opposition. What
are they ? The first that reached my ear was,
that they contain latent notification. I have wait
ed to hear the particular resolution, sentence or
phrase pointed out in which this heresy is suppos-
ed to be concealed, and I have waited in vain
Having then, assertion one side, and what ap
pears to me to be plain reading of the resolutions
and the frank and unqualified declaration of the
mover on the other, | must be excused if do not
take the alarm.
We have next eloquent disquisitions upon The
liberty of speech and the freedom of the press. To
every sentiment uttered upon these subjects yield
my cordial assent but why introduced ont this par
ticular occasion, 1 have been at loss to determine
Would any man here abridge the liberty of speech,
or assail the liberty of the press l take it not
Is there anything in the resolution to sanction the
invasion of either? Not a syllable That these
are privileges most dear tc every American is free
ly admitted by all. Why such a variety of chan
ges have been rang upon them in this debate, 9th
ers may determine. 1t is not my province to Judge
of motives, and would take occasion only to re
mark, that no man shall make up an issue upon a
subject for me. oppose the Aboltionists, for the
very reason that l entertain sacred regarl for
these in common with all other rights secured by
the Constitution.
But it is further urged against the resolutions,
(said Mr.. Pierce, that they distractions.
Sir it is quite immaterial what name you apply to
them sufficient is it that they meet the case, that
they encounter the Abolitionists upon sound and
tenabe ground, and furnish conclusive answer
to his opportunities. To say that the petitions
fer only to this District, and that the principle
serted in the preceding resolutions consequent
ly without application, IS Perfectly idle 1t is i'm
possible to read single number of the leading alb
ject reaches far beyond this District and stops at
no point short Of emancipation in the States. And
yet, sir, | suspect that you would find few mteill-
gent Abolltionsts who would assert that Congress
has the constitutional power to interfere with sa-
terg in the States but admitting the want of pow
er, here, they hold it their duty as individuals, to
perseyere in the cause. Regarding the institution
ofslavery morally wrong, sinful ifyou please,
they consider themselves as citizens OF the Union,
for VIII ma
exist within our borders This feeling has its orr
gin, to some extent, in a misapprehension of the
structure of our government, and this error the
preceding resolutions calculated to correct
They assert, in effect, that the citizen of New
Hampshire is more responsible, morally or poll
tcaly for the existence and continuance of this do
tnestic institution in Virginia or Maryland than be
would be for the existence of any similar institution
in France or Persia. Why? Because these are
matters over which the States, respectively, wheI
delegating portion of their powers, to be exer
cised by the general government, retained The
whole and exclusive control, and for which they
are alone responsible:
Now, let these doctrines be universally under
stood and admitted, and you take one ofeat ste,
towards satisfying the conscience of honest bu
misguided people, in one section of the country
and quoting the irritation, for which there ha
been too much cause In the other. This we bay,
attempted to do. We are bound to 90 further
and frankly declare to these petitioners that SO Ions
as slavery shall continue in Virginia and MARYLAND
it is in vain for them to expect its abolition here
that we are forbidden to legslate upon this subject
under existing circumstances, by obligations hard
ly inferior to the Constitution ITSELF that Congress
cannot abolish slavery in this District against tn
wishes of the inhabitants, without gross breac
of public faith, and an outrageous lnfractlon OF pr
vate rights.