Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04


amendment related to an article in the Constitution
of Arkansas on the subject of slavery. He knew
the committee had dragged out long, weary
| snight, and were worn down with their protracted
labors yet such was the magnitude of the subject
he felt himself impeled by an imperious sense of
duty to submit few remarks for Reconsideration
of the committee"
"The gentleman from Virginia, (Alr. WIsE,) who
preceded him, had said that the amendment offered
by his colleague substantially revival of the
Missouri question He differed from the gentle
man upon this point entirely. The proposition
embraced in this amendment was altogether unlike
that which raised tempest in this Capitol, and
shook this Union to its centre, the discussion of
the Missouri question. He should regret to see
the i'll blood and fearful agitation of that day again
produced There is nothing in this amendment
calculated to lead to such a result In that con-
troversy there was direct proposition to impose
upon the State of Missouri, as condition of her
admission into the Union, positive restriction
against the right and power to hold slaves within
the limits of her territory.
"But what, sir, is proposed by the amendment of
my colleague? The people of Arkansas have as
sembled in convention and formed constitution.
They have come to this Congress and presented
their claim for admission into the Union as q SOW
ereign State. They present that constitution for
/
find in its ninth article the following clause The
{ General Assembly shall have no po,oer to pass
laws for the emancipation Of slaues withom the
consent eft their owners.'
"My colleague proposes to amend the eighth sec
ton of the bill for the admission of Arkansas in
to the Union by inserting the following declara-
ton And nothing in this act shall be construed
as assent By Congress to the article IN the con-
stitution oe said State an relation 10 slaUe'y and
the emancipation Of slaves 1t must be seen at a
glance that this simple, plain declaration contains
nothing of the principle which gave rise to the
Missouri controversy. In that restriction
was imposed upon Missouri, which denied to that
| State certain rights and powers that, under the
Constitution ofthe United States, were possessedby
other States. The advocates of the State contend
ed that Congress had no authority to enforce that
restriction or limitation upon her sovereignty This
amendment does not, 1.-THE sghtestdegree, abridge,
restrain or in any manner interfere with the pre-
rogative or power of Arkansas as an independent
State. If adopted, it will not postpone her admis
sion into the Union a single day. IL does not
question the right Of her citizens to any species 81
property recognised By the constitution or laos Of The
| State. IT IMPOSES NO RESTRAINT UPON HER Po-
LITIcAL POWER AND SOVEREIGNTY. 1t simply
denies that, by the act of admitting her into the
Union with this article incorporated into her
i =
Piles of that article. Without this protestation the
act of admission would be, at least, implied as
sent to this extraordinary constitutional provision
Whilst such an appreciation would be of no use to
or benefit to that State, it would be in direct vio-
lation of the opinion Of a large majority of the
members of this House, and the known sentiments
of the people which they represent. What good rea
son, then, can be urged why this amendment should
not be adopted? Are gentlemen prepared to say
by their votes, to reject this most reasonable pro-
position, that this act shall be construed
sent by Congress to the article in the constitution
of the State in relation to slauery and the eadnci
{ patton of slayes? Will not such an inference be
the natural and necessary result of such vote?
ask gentlemen, whose opinions l knuw sein"ian
- -. - ti-io 9.SJo~1 :. .ons'uer well
before they take step which cannot be retraced"
"The people of Arkansas have used less caution
than did the trainers of the Federal Constitution
Though their constitution was to be presented to u
Congress for its approval, composed of members a
{ majority of whom in both branches represent con-
sttuents opposed to slavery in every form, it con-
tains an article the design and effect of which is
to make involuntary servitude perpetual within
her limits This is much to be regretted If she
had pursued different course, the difficulties which
: now present themselves would have been avoided,
without any prejudice to her rights or her wishes.
Can it be expected that the Representatives from
the free States of this Union will give their assent
to this exceptionable article In justice to those
whom they represent can they do less than to ex-
press their dissent from il? Hhas been shoaon that
{ Mis amendment can hare no injurious effect upon
the rights Of the people Of Arkansas. Will mem
bers on this floor, coming from States whose peo-
pie are known to be hostile to the principle of this
article in the constitution presented for their ap-
proval, be faithful to the trust reposed in them if
they fail to declare their disapprobation of it,"
Such is the unvarnished history of the events
alluded to in that part of Mr.. STEPHENss speech
which reflects upon the National Intelligencer; in
view of which we cheerfully leave it to the judy
ment of every unprecedented mind to decide whether
the conductors of this press now justly arragned
for not having publicly censured this act of Mr..
ADAMS, and how far it is our duty to denounce or
appreciate every movement, however inofensive or
unimportant, and however favorably or unfavorably
received, that may be made in either House Of
Congress.
In conclusion, perhaps, the reader may expect us
to complete this history by informing him why there
was any opposition to the admission Of the States
of Michigan and Arkansas. The reason, SO far as
it did not relate to boundaries, may be given in
few words The contest was of partisan rather
than sectional character. The speedy admis-
sion of these States had become measure of
Gen. Jackson's administration, which the Oppo-
sition in the House of Representatives supposed