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

i
thoughts which, growing out Of former associ-
atoms, ut that moment filed his mind, shutting
out from him the light and the scenes which sur.
rounded him concludes his s'anza most beauti.
fully by saying, in reference to these thoughts,
What business had they there at such time. u
Well, after seven months of the time of the
last Congress being spent in the agitation of the
questions of slavery, connected with those acts
of compromise--afte The deepest agitation, and
most intense excitement, not only ia Congress,
but throughout the whole country, in reference
to these measures and since all the Southern
States have determined to acquiesce in them
for co. operation in South Carolina is nothing
more than acquiescence and since there is no
proposition in any other quarter OF the Union
to disturb these measures by the future action
OF Congress; and when we find this resolution
here creating agitation and discussion, shutting
Us out, as it were, from the light OF reconcilia-
ton which is beginning TO beam in on us from
all quarters, shutting US out from the business
of practical and useful legislation demanded by
the great interests of the country, may not well
say in reference to it, il not beautifully, at least
appropriately,
A." What business has it here at such time"
Mr.. President, in my Judgment the introduce
ton OF this resolution here--the discussion upon
it, the agitation Of the slavery question in the
Senate Of the United States renewed on account
OF its introduction, was wholly unexpected to
The country. | believe may say with certain
ty, that it was unexpected to the people of Mis-
sissippi. ! was somewhat actively and extern
sively engaged in the canvass of the State of
Mississippi preceding what was termed the
convention election in which the question of ac-
qulescence or resistance to these measures was
submitted to direct vote of the people in the
choice OF representatives to decide upon that
question. | addressed numerous public meet
lngs--perhaps fiity-some of them large meet
ings composed ofequal numbers of both parties;
met my late colleague Mr.. FooTB at three
different points in the discussion of there ques-
TONS was present at one point where discus
sion was refused to me, upon the ground, as his
friends said, that they wished him to occupy the
whole time, that he might go over the whole
ueiits OF the questions of compromise, and the
position which tho States should take in refer.
enca 10 them; and will say here, on the floor
OF the Senate, that never heard at any time nor
in any place, the slightest intiination that this
agitation was again to be renewed in the Con-
gress of the United States. On the contrary, it
was great argument and had great influence
wth the people, urged by the acquiscence party,
kept up; il theirs succeeded, it would be at an
end, and quiet would every where be restored to
the country.
Let me go further: This convention, which
was elected to determine the position which the
State of Mississippi should take in reference to
these questions, expressed an opinion in refer
ence to what they considered to be the proper
policy of the country on this subject, and es-
peeially as to what should be the policy of the
State of Mississippi | will read one OF the
resolutions adopted by what was called the
Union OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the Union party
was succesfu in the contest which was waged
in orr State. The seventh of series Of reso-
lutions adopted by that convention was in these
words:
"That as the people of the State of MISSISSIPPI
pi, in the opinion of this convention, desire all
further agitation of the slavery question to
cease, and have acted upon and decided all the
foregoing questions, thereby making it the duty
Of this convention to pass no acts wi hin the pur-
view and spirit Of the law under which it was call
ed this convention deems it unnecessary to refer
to the people, for their approval or disapproval
at the ballot-box, its action in the premises"
So averse to agitation was the Union party
in Mississippi, who trinmphed in the State, that
in the expression of their opinion in convention,
they said that in order to arrest all further ag-
taton of the slavery question, they would not
even refer the action Of the convention to the
people of the State for their ratification, as was
required by the law under which the convention
was called Now if they did not expect the
question to be agitated again in the State of
mississippi; if the Union party itself took that
position, with what propriety can it be said that
the State of Mississippi expected the agitation
IN hn upd hv uah Mir in Ia
involving the whole merits of the measures of
COMPROMISED!
come next, Mr.. President, to the object OF
the resolution. 1t is really difficult for me to
decide what the object of this resolution is.
The resolution itself merely proposes an enun
citation of the opinion of the Senate in reference
to these questions If adopted unanimously by
this body, it cannot have the force and vitality
of the law. 1t can give no additional sanction
to the laws OF the Congress of the United
States which have already been passed, and are
binding on the country, and which the govern
ment, in all its departments, is bound TO see
faithfully executed Whether the object of the
resolution is to quiet or produce agitation, ] am
unable to say; know, however, what the eff
fects of the resolution are. Its effects are to
produce agitation and excitement and are to ex-
tend that agitation and excitement throughout
the country. These are The effects of it. Why,
what said the AboIilionists even in the com
Tmencement of their agitation OF the slavery
question at the North? have here pamphlet.
in which find an expression of opinion made
by them with reference to the best mode of car
rying ont their policy--published as early as
1885, in n tract issued by the New England
nti.Slavery Society. In reference to the de-
bates which took place in Congress on the sub
ject, they say:
Everything the Southern members said, only
confirmed Us in the persuasion that we must
persist until ace get The subject Of Slavery fully
before Congress No measure will be more
eflccua to diifuse information and kindle
thought and Fl cling throughout the land. Con-
gross is as the central sun. 1t sends light and
warmth to the eytremties of the system which
revolves about it,"
Here will say, that from the beginning the
policy of the Anti Slavery party was to get the
subject of slavery agitated in the Congress of
the United States ; and great complain. which
arises in the South as to the action of Congress
is on account of the anti-slavery agitation here
" hat do the Abolitionsts saw further in an nd