The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-02
speech Of Hon. mr. mcRae, of Mississippi,
ON THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.

speech Of Hon. Mr. Mciiae, Of Mississippi,
ON THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.
IN SENATE, January 80.
The S mate resumed the consideration of the
following resolution
A Resolution declaring the Measures OF Adjust
ment TO be defntive settlement OF the ques-
TORS growing out Of domestic slavery.
BE IL resolved, That the series of measures en-
braced in the acts entitled can 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 9, 1850 can act for the admission Of
the State Of California into the Union, approved
September 9, 1859 An act to establish a terri
torial government for Utah, approved September
., 1850 :" An act to amend ard supplementary
to an act entitled Anact respecting fugitives from
justice, and persons escaping from the service of
their masters approved February Il, 1893, !"
| approved September Is, 1850 and Z" Act to sup
press the slave trade In the District of Columbia, /"
approved September 90, 1850, commonly known
as the Compromise Acts" are, in the judgment
Of this body, settlement in principle and sub
stance-a final settlement of the dangerou and ex-
citing subjects which they embrace and ought to
| be adhered to by Congress until time and expert
ence shall demonstrate the necessity of further
legislation to guard against evasion or abuse
Mr.. McRAE. Mr.. President it is with very
great fidence that would rise to address the
Senate upon any question. 1t is with much
greater dilldence that rise to speak upon the
resolution under consideration, and the ques-
ti)ns 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 inteIlects of the land. | would not
| H.. Ill 4
cur most fully in the remark which was made
yesterday by the honorable Senator from North
Carolina, Mr.. MAkGUM,] that the discussion of
this resolution here is Improbable; not only
Improbable to the Senate but imp ofable 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 hope 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 disappont them.
| Sir, the State of Mississippi has occupied q
| 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, Mr.. FooTE,l 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 proprety of the introduction of the resolu-
ton, well as to It's 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
embraces. Here | will say that whatever may
have been the opposition of the people of Mis-
|
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 Missis-
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 acquescence in these measures, for
the reason that believed they were wrong in
! themselves; that they were uniu 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.
! inc in favor of dissolution of the Union on
| account of them That was not our position.
This question was submitted to the people OF
Mississippi, TO be determined by direct vote oil
the people, as to the position which the State
should occupy in her relations with the federal
gt vernment in reference to acquiescence in these
measures and Il majority Of the people decided
in favor of acquiescerce. | 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 ma GRITTY, felt it
20 be my duty, and the duty of the party with
which acted, to yield acquiescence to the deci
- j, a. "a, Il, Il -.
change my judgment, nor the judgment of the
PARTY with which acted, with reference to the
merits of these measures; but il changed our
action 1t became our duty a great question
of this kinda great State question, in which
| two parties had been arrayed against each other
when the majority had decided to acquesce in
this decision The main object which we had
! in view, in evoking 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 acquiescence We're in the
maiority---that then we might go TO that posi-
| ton: and that The entire Wills understand
inc of the State should be concentrated in thai
action. This was also a main reason which in.
duced us to evoke this expression OF the popular
will on this question.
AS have said, am now for acquiescence 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 the pro-
prieiy of the introduction of this resolution, OF
! as to its merits, and the merits of the measures
of compromise, | hope it will not be charged
upon me that am therefore disunionisti 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 fret
as to the propriety of its introduction here; sec
ondy, as 10 its objects; thirdly, ms to its merits
and lastly, as to the merits Of the measures which
il embraces