The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-17


tanned. II cannot be shown in the proceedings
of the convention The convention has been
called reasonable body. Some of those who
originated it, and at first approved its action, now
say that every act of it was miserab Bile blunder
aud failure. recolect that an eminent Sena-
tor, but | do not alude TO him in the above re-
marks, who was here at a former session oil
4 Congress, when these compromise measures
were first under discussion, but who is now a
member Of another department of the govern
ment, said in reference to the meeting of the
Nashville convention, that he recollected, when
the treaty was concluded between England and
France, at the Peace of Amiens, a stern old
Englishman and an orator, who regarded the
treaty as omnous to England said, in the house
of commons, that if King William could know
the terms OF the treaty, he would turn in his
coffin; and he commended that saying, in all its
fulness, to any persons who should meet IN
Nashville to concert measures for the overthrow
Of the Union, over the bones of Andrew Jack
son. Well, sir, this was very good saying.
i was a member of the Nashville convention,
elected by the Legislature of my State--I went
+ there to represent the sentiment Of my State,
which was at that time generally in opposition
to what was considered would be the legislation
of Congress in the enactment Of these compro-
mise measures. Our purpose was not the disso-
luton of the Union; it was to preserve the
Union by the preservation, in its purity, Of the
Constitution. That was the object of the Nash.
Vile convention. That was the object with
4 which went to IT, | had the honor to draw up
and present to the convention the series of res
olutons--with the exception of one, relating to
non intercourse between the States--which were
offered on the part Of Mississippi. They were
approved by the delegation from Mississippi.
The first one commenced by saying that the oh.
jects Of the convention were conciatory that
its end and aim was tho preservation Of the
i Union. by the preservation in its purity, Of the
Constitution. There was not single sentiment
in all of them which breathed spirit Of disunon,
+ nor was there in the resolutions adopted by the
convention. So conscious was that no such
spirit existed in my own mind, nor in the minds
of those with whom | co-operated, that on
Sabbath day intervening the proceedings of the
]. convention, / visited with other delegates from
i, other States, the Hermltage-aye, sir, visited
, the grave of Andrew Jackson. | stood upon
the granite slab which covered it. felt no shock
{ The bones Of the old hero reposed as quietly as
the dust beneath which they slept, and thought
heard his spirit voice whispering in my ear
;. Preserve the Union, but preserve 10Th il, he
Constitution.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN. With the consent of the
Senator from Mississippi, Twill move an adjourn.
ment.
Mr.. McRAE. believe shall not be able to
conclude to-day; and lift is the pleasure of the
Senate, am willing to give way to an adjourn.
ment
Mr., SEBASTIAN. move, then, that the
Senate do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to, and Senate ad-
J journed.
February g.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: When | gave way to the
motion to adjourn on Thursday last, was
wiping out, as far as truthful statement of facts
could do SO, the charge which is most unfairly
and unjustly made against the Democratic State
Rights party of Mississippi Of being disunion-
/ lists. | may say the charge made against the
Democratic party" because those who opposed
the measures of compromise consisted mainly
+ of the old Democratic party, with comparatively
T a small number of intelligent State Rights
Wings, united with them upon the principle OF
the resolutions of 1898 and 1899, in opposition
i to what they considered to be usurpations of
, power by the federal government, and encroach
I ments upon the rights of the States in the en-.
actment of those measures. ] may say further,
against the Democratic party of Mississippi
4 for the reason that the Democratic party il a
a State Rights party. According to nv under.
standing, there has never really existed in this
country but two great parties, since the founda
= ton Of the government These parties have
q been divided upon single great principle, and
that principle il, the construction of the Consti.
tuition Ia the legislation Of Congress. The dif.
ference between these parties arises from what
we call strict construction Of the Cons tuition,
and a wide construction Of the Constitution ;
the republican construction or the federal con
struction Of the Constitution; the Democratic
, construction or the Wing construction of the
Constitution. Whatever name these parties
may have heretofore assumed, at any time or
n may hereafter assume, this is the great
! principle on which they are divided In sefer.
cnce 10 other differences between them, they
are differences in regard 10 measures Of policy
arising under this great principle Of construction
Of the Constitution. For instance, the aucs.
4 ton OF a charter FOR bank, SO far as the con.
stitutionality' Of II is concerned is a question
which grows up, on one side. under what il said
10 be construction Of the Constitution by i'm.
plicaton; and Is opposed on the other, by what
IL called strict construction Of the Consttu.
ton. So in reference 10 the tariff; no in refer.
ence 10 works Of internal Improvement by the
general government and in reference 10 the
distribution Of the proceeds Of the sales Of the
/. public lands among the States.
The Democratic party, therefore, Is that party
which is in favor Of n strict construction Of The
Constitution; and that is the party in Missis
sippi which opposed what they considered 10 be
the enoroachments Of the federal government
upon the rights Of the States, under what they
termed n wide construction OF The Constitution.
IN the enactment Of the measures Of compro.
mise.
IL has been charged AGAINST us, In connection
with these measures Of compromise, that we
were disunionists, because we believed in the
right Of secession. This is, perhaps, the most
important charge, and the one which is most
dwelt upon by our opponents, by which they
expect to FIX upon us the fact, that We are IN
favor Of a dissolution Of the Union, on account
Of the passage OF these measures. Or, 10 state
il as those do who misrepresent us, we were
seeessionists being in favor Of secession from
the Union on account Of these measures ofcom.
promise. ", sir, IL is meant, that the party in
Mississippi who opposed these measures be.
-.