The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-02
Speech Of Hon. mir. McRae, Of Mississippi,
ON THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.

Gratis.
speech Of Hon. mr.. McRae, Of Mississippi,
ON THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.
In SENATE, January 80.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
following resolution:
A Resolution declaring the Measures Of Adjust
ment to be defnitivs settlement Of the ques-
TORS growing out Of domestic slavery.
Be IL resolved, That the series of measures en-
braced in the acts entitled "An act proposing to
the State of Texas the establishment of her north
ern and western boundaries the REIMBURSEMENT,
by the said State, Of all territory claimed by her
exterior to said boundaries, and of all her claims
upon the United States, and to establish terri
torial government for New Mexito," approved
September 3, 1850; can act for the admission Of
the State Of California into the Union, approved
September 9, 1850 An act to establish terri
toral government for Utah, approved September
9, 1850 +" An act to amend ard supplementary
to an act entitled An act respecting fugitves from
justice, and persons escaping from the service of
their masters approved February IL, 1884,
approved September IS, 1850 and !" Act to sup
press the slave trade in the District Of Columbia )"
approved September 20, 1850, commonly known
as tie 'Compromise Acts" are, in the iudgn. ent
OF this body, settlement in principle and sub
stance-a final settlement of the dangerous and ex-
citing subjects which they embrace, and ought to
De duHtEeu " Wy COHSVeSS uDtII time anu cXperl-
ence shall demonstrate the necessity Of further
legislation to guard against evasion or abuse
/ MIR. MCRAE. Mr.. President it is with very
great d.fidence that would rise to address the
Senate upon any question. 1t is with much
| greater difiidence that rise to speak upon the
resolution under consideration, and the ques-
tons which it embraces, which know have
been so often and so ably discussed heretofore,
in this Chamber of the Great, by the brightest
and tallest intellects Of the land | would not
speak at all upon this question. because con
cur most fully in the remark which was made
yesterday by the honorable Senator from North
Carolina, Mr. MAkauM,] that the discussion of
this resolution here is Improbable; not only
Improbable to the Senate, but unp ofitable to
the coantry--I would therefore, not trespass at
all upon the attention of the Senate upon this
question, were it not that the necessity of my
, position seems to require it, And hoJe that
nobody has formed any high expectations of any
poor things which may have to say because.
if they have, to my embarrassment will be added
my modification to disappoint them.
, Sir, the State of Mississippi has occupied n
peculiar position in relation to the measures OF
compromise and as this resolution, in its origin
al form, was introduced by Senator from Mis-.
sissippi, MIR. FooTE, my late colleague, who
was about taking his departure from the Senate
when took my seat here, and it was approved
by him in its present form, and as am now the
only Senator here from Mississippi, and as en-
terrain views different from his with regard to
the propriety of the introduction of the resou-
ton, well as to its present form, have felt it
to be my duty to express the views which en-.
terrain upon it, as well as the views which en-
terrain in reference to the questions which it
r embraces. Here will say, that whatever may
have been the opposition of the people of Mis-
sissippi 10 the measures of compromise when
they were originally before the Congress of the
United States, and before they were passed into
laws--and that opposition was at one time gen
eral and whatever may have been the opposi
ton of large portion of the people of Misss-
sippi, amounting to near one half their whole
number, after these measures were passed into
laws, yet now all of all parties in Mississippi
have determined to acqniesce in them. belong
to that party in Mississippi which was opposed
to silent acquiescence in these measures, for
the reason that believed they were wrong in
themselves; that they were unjust to the South
But was not opposed, nor was the party with
which acted, opposed to them to the extent
which has been falsely charged upon us. of be.
j ing in favor of dissolution of the Union on
4 account of them. That was not our position.
This question was submitted to the people OF
Mississippi, to be determined by direct vote of
the people, as to the position which the State
should occupy in her relations with the federal
&C vernment in reference to acqniescence in these
measures; and majority Of the people decided
in favor of acquescerce. | was Of that party
which had been mainly instrumental in evoking
that expression of the popular will. And after
this decision was made by the majority, felt it
TO be my duty, and the duty of the party with
which acted, to yield acquiesccnce to the deci-
sion made by the people. That decision did not
change my judgment, nor tho judgment of the
party with which acted, with reference to the
/; merits of these measures, but it changed our
action. /! became our duty a great question
of this kinda great State question, in which
two parties had been arrsyed against each other,
when the majority had decided to acQuiesce il,
this decision The main object which we had
in view, in evokng this expression of the popu-
lar will, was, that the position which we desired
the State to take should be maintained Ano.
Their was, that if different position was taken
if those in favor of acquiescencc were in the
msjority--that then we might go TO that posi-.
ton and that The entire will and understand
ing of the State should be concentrated in that
action. This was also main reason which in
duced us to evoke this expression Of the popular
will on this question.
As have said am now for acquescence In
these measures; and the party in my own State,
whose sentiments represent here, are also in
favor of acquiescence. IT, in the course of my
argument or in the remarks which shall make
/ should happen to differ with other honorable
senators in the views which take as to tho pro-
prety of the introduction of this resolution, or
as to its merits, and tho merits of the measures
! of compromise, ! hope it will not be charged
upon me that am therefore disunionst; and
that am therefore now in favor Of disturbing
the measures of compromise.
| | shall address myself first to tho merits Of
the resolution upon its face. ! shall speak first
as to the propriety of its introduction here; Sec
ondly, as to its objects thirdly, as to its merits
and lastly, as to the merits of the measures which
| il embraces.