The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03

This is his remark After makijg short re-
view of the measures of the pmpromise, BIZ
speaks Of the introduction of the resolution
now under consideration, and Ays that he Of
fercd IT as asserting the series of measures
embraced in the plan Of adjustment to be i,
final settlement in principle AMI substance Of
the distracting question .growiDgIout of the sys
TEN of domestic slavery"
Now there Is no such thing hs that in the
resolution in its present form. There was nc
such thing as that in it in its original form. II
did not assert, in its original foFm, that 1t was
"a settlement in principle and Substance" In
its present form, il does not assert that it is q
flnal settlement of the distratting questions
| growing out Of the system of domestic slavery
And j is one objection that inn urging to it
that 1t does not assert that fact.
do not wish to reply to tho arguments that
have been made on this subject by any senator
who has preceded me, nor do Iwish to involve
myself in a controversy on thi question with
any senator. But must be PRINTED to say
with reference to a speech madh by the honor.
able Senator from Alabama, Mi CLEMENS, that
do not agree with him in the opinion he ex.
pressed in his speech when R said-and his
speech was made upon this nsolution in its
| present form
wish IT always remembered that this reso.
luton proposes no approval Of e compromise"
When first took my seat here in the Senate,
found my late colleague engaged in the dis.
cussion Of this subject In tie opening of his
speech Of the second day, hesaid:
II must be obvious to all, that the merits OF
| this resolution, if merits it possess, depend en-
tlrely upon the character of the compromise
measures themselves"
Naxv In, ,l,,t.z
judgment, does require every one who sanctions
it by his vote, to say that he does agree to the
approval Of the measures of compromise. There
fore | say cannot concur with the Senator
from Alabama, in the remark which he made, that
it does not
The main objection which have TO the reso-
luton is, that it requires US to acquiesce in the
approval of the measures Of compromise; and
in giving orr acquiescence to these measures,
or in giving this expression of our opinions in
regard to them, it requires that we should assent
to the principles on which these measures were
passed. Now that the resolution is here and to
be voted upon, representing what believe to
be the viii ofthe people f Mississippi, all now
acquisScing in these measures, myself included,
though not in the principle involved in several
ofthem, | will say that if the resolution was az
II stood in its original form, and came to final
vote of the Senate, ] should feel myself bound
to cast My vote in its favor, however much Oh.
posed to the propriety Of its introduction. Bat,
altered as it now is, requiring me to give my
sanction to the principles involved in the COM
promise measures, could not conscientiously
do so; nor do believe that the resolution, in
its present form expressed the will and inten.
tion of the people of Mississippi--even of the
Union party-in acquescing in these measures.
II the resolution can be so amended, now that
il is here, as to be made to express fully, in nv
judgment, the will and intention of the.peopIe
OF Mississippi, in acquiescing in tile measures of
compromise, and can be relieved from the objec
ton of requiring me to sanction the principle
involved in the passage Of these measures, then,
upon the final vote upon it, if it shall ever come
to that, will still east my vote for it.
Mr.. President, The most serious objection
which ] have to this resolution is, that it says
this is a settlement of these measures on princi-
pie. Now, sir, have already said, that though
was willing to acquiesce in these measures,
and TO Vote for resolution, now that it Is be-
fore US, simply declaring my acquiescence in
them, could not conscentiously vote for a res.
olution requiring my assent 10 the principles in
volved in several of the measures and have
no hesitation IN saying here, that whoever votes
for this resolution, does thereby give his assent
TO the principles on which these measures were
passed. Now, it may be said that the resolu-
ton does not say that this is a settlement on a
good principle or on bad principle but, what.
ever may the case in that respect, 1.-The people
Of the country will say, that when a. senator
casts his vote for this resolution, he does SO on
a principle which meets with the assent Of his
judgment; and cannot vote for this resolution
declaring these measures TO be settlement on
principle, when that principle is not one which
meets the appreciation of my judgment. had
understood my late colleague Mr. FooTE,l at
one time to be opposed to some of these qnes.
tons on principle-opposed at least to the ad.
mission of California-because, on locking over
some Of bis speeches and writings which have
been able particularly TO examine, find by a
speech made by him on this floor, on January
9Th, 1850, on introducing bills TO provide terri
torial governments for California, Dsseret, &C..
and speaking Of another bill which he had previ.
ously drafted, TO divide Texas on certain condi.
tons, he says:
"This ] had resolved 10 offer rs a new scheme
Of compromise, which, with the establishment OF
a territorial government in New Mexico, in De-
seret, and California as a State, when freed from
her present unfortunats organization, hoped
might tend 70 settle the vexed question of the
Wilmot proviso forever"
If the objection Of my late colleague to the
admission Of California was, that her organiza-
piion was wrong, and that she ought to be freed
from that organization before she could be nd.
mitted asa State into the Union, then think
hat his objection was fundamental, and went 10
the principle on which California was organized
and admitted as State. have reason further
10 believe, that he was opposed TO the admission
Of California on principle, from the following
remark find in letter signed by him, with hi:
colleague at that time, Colonel Davis and the
delegation from Mississippi in the House, nd
dressed 70 the governor Of our State, January
81, 1850;
"We regard the proposition to admit Califor
MIA as State, under all the circumstances Of
her application, as nm attempt to adopt the VIII
mot proviso in another FORM"
Now, sir, have always understood the South
the whole South, or at all events with very few
exceptions, as asserting the want Of constitu
tional power, on the part Of Congress, to pas.
| what In called tho Wil,not nroviao. and Tho .,h