The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, April 81
Mr., MOORE, Of Pennsylvania, said, that as the
House would soon have TO vote upon the home
stead bill, he would move that II resolve itself
into Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union for the purpose OF considering that subject
Mr.. HOUSTON hoped the morning hour would
be devoted 10 receiving reports from committees.
The question was then taken on the motion OF
Mr.. MooRE, and il was agreed TO.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
And tbereupon the House went into committee,
(Mr. HpBARp, Of New Hampshire in the chair,l
and resumed the consideration Of the homestead
bill.
L Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, addressed the
House, and in relation to the bill before the com
inittee, said that at present, without any Defined
policy, he was inclined to think this question had
better be postponed until they should see what
policy shall be adopted.
The gentleman from Maine, mir. SuART, y
commenced his remarks the other day by saying
that he rose to defend the North. He (Mr.
6TrpHrss) did not rise 10 respond 10 that speech,
but he rose to defend the Constitution Of his coun-
Try apd our common country, North and South
We present to-doya spectacle which this eoun-
try never did before. II was said that in all re-
pnblics there must be parties. He would 60 fur
Their, and say that in all free countries, where a
representative government was known, and adj
hered To- there must be parties. But he laid aovn
the position that there could oe no party without
principle He maintained that in this country we
presented the strong and anomalous fact that there
were nominslly ten parties, when really, accord
isg 10 The principles and doctrines OF both parties
they did not in fact exist.
The great leading and controlling question which
was likely to enter into the political contest Of
this country and the administration oft govern
ment, was the constitutional right Of one section
Of the country 10 reclaim their fugitive slaves
This was one Of the paramount questions Of the
day. Nov, il was said that there must be dis
agreement between Northern men and southern
men upon this question--that is that upon this
great constitutional question, men must disagree
lf this was to be adopted, either by the Demo
cratic party or the Wing party, II was time that
the country should know Il /; for there was a ma
iority Of the people Of the United States who
were in favor Of fulfilling every constitutional obi
Cation, and the majority bad been evinced by the
votes Of this House. lfthis we're not so, he would
not indulge in those fond hopes Of the future with
which he was inspired. lf he believed that there
was 10 be disagreement between the North and
South upon a fundamental principle Of govern
ment. the future indeed would be robed in dark
ness. Now whit did he ask, as an Amsricsnl
What did he ask Of gentlemen Of the North He
did not speak to them az Wings or Democrats
but he addressed them M Americans, rs represen-
tatives Of the American people, in whose hands
were the destinies Of the republics and with y the
destinies Of mankind were interviewer. Were
they To deny principle maintained by our fore
fathers, and by them inserted IN the Constitution,
and say that they must disagree upon this great
question: lie would not believe it until he should
see the question tried.
Mr. s. then referred to the assertion Of Mr..
RaNroUI, that Northern men must eat Southern
dirt before they could become natiouslsts. lie
mir. 81 asked not this, but merely asked them to
DO no more than TO fulfil the obligations Of the
Constitution, and TO recognise the right ~ the
South, and pledge themselves that that right
should be enforced.
II there was a majority ofNorthern people who
were unwilling TO see the fugitive slave law en-
forced he would like to know II; and II thepeople
Of the South would submit to be governed by any
class Of men who would not recognise this right,
he would scorn them. III the North would not
s,and up TO the Constitution Of their forefsthers,
thew would become the party which would break
the compact; and he would repeat what he as
serted in former Congress, that If the people Of
IN. North intended to disregard the constitutional
comp,ct Of our fsthers--if they intended TO make
this Government hostile TO the rights OF the South