Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03


they should Do They ought show what their
disposition was wit at power execute any scheme OF
policy In relation h t. which, to be sure, might oil result
in having no decide effect in that foreigners would
and it might never inquired what section of the Union
was favorable to thtel and what was not.
The honorable lator from Virginia mr. HUNTER
spoke Of the saerke of the South He is disposed to
give up certain ions of policy which he had on &C.
in supporting this heasure Well sir, it is generous
principle and poiI and the avowa of it is frank and
manly Il is account Of the Northern friends Of the
South who have gone in and risked whatever to be
souri, compromise that several Senators from the South
have declared their determination to sacrifice their
opinions upon such questions these Of mere expe-
diency where they think great principle is involved
repeat think it manly and generous ct all events.
Sir, shall vote for the amendment althoughI DO Is
with some hesitaon because feel the weight Of the re-
marks of the honorable Senator from Indiana do not
know what the decision of the Senate will be- yet sir if
there be majority who will adhere to il, | believe
the bill never become law.
Mr.. TO0MBS. If the honorable Senator from Tennes-
had confined his remarks to defence of his po
stion, which think needed it. rather than assang that
Of other Senators this hoor should not have further
participated in this debate As to the advice which he
gives the friends of the b with reference to how they
should act this amendment, presume they will be
something like myself little tired of taking advice
from such quarter The Senator complains that he
does not understand the great principles which this bill
establishes know no Senator who has had better op-
of understanding them than he has had.
know that he met upon call of its friends, time after
time and that discussed the clause of the bill in
which these principles contained which have agated
this country from end of the Union to the other and
know that when it agreed upon by the friends of
the BILL North and South East and West Wing aud De-
mocra he here and recorded his vote for the clause
as and other friends OF the bill did The very question
of the repeal Of the Missouri restriction the very ques
ton taking this subject Of the Congress Of the Unit
ed States and gvngt the people Of the Territories who
to be affected by it, is contained in IT, Whatever this
bill does in that way is contained III the provision for
which the Senator from Tennessee voted which he aided
and operated in establishing and here upon the
Of Senator to help to put upon your
statute book know, too, that that Senator, at subse
quent portion Of the proceedings ntet with its Southern
friends of his former party alliance, and was supposed to
in resolution disappearing the known organ of
that party for opposing the great principle which he is
now unableto say he was supposed to concur in
that resolution supposed he did concur in it, because
he present and did not object to il. Then, sir on
these occasions the Senator had the benefit Of public dis
cussions Of party Of the friends of the BILL
Whg and Democrat and of the consultations with his own
peculiar party friends in their meeting upon this natter
and know, too, that at meeting of the Wing Senators
referred to- at which he was present we Tor fear we
might be msrepresented misunderstood, authorized
the Senator from North Carolina to say that concurred
with him in the conclusions to which he the BILL
Therefore say the Senator has had the advantage of
public discussions, Of caucus consultations with the
tsan allies and besides he sufficiently satisfied upon
it to give his vote for il upon the question: in the
Senate Of the United Now hewans 10 know what
the principle iss rust he will me- after this
Il: ss yss q az S ANN maH aiiss
6c axtspt ~ on this great principle fur
ther than to refer him to the bin itself
Mr.. BELL. Remember, wanted to know, because
principle stated by Senator, and another
principle by another
Mr.. T0OMBS. That the very object Of the clause
itself for which he voted to reconcile these conflicting
opinons that was the very why the friends Of
the bill met together laying aside their partisan views,
that they might reconcile their differences and defend
great principles We met and consulted, and agreed,
and came here and placed action upon the statute
book Of country Now, the gentleman says, let me
you reconcile it. Sir the vote of the Senator from
Tennessee is recorded and ft needs explanation, it is
needed from him both to the Senate and to the country
If it does not contain principles if this Missouri re-
strction ought not to have been repeaed this great
agitation to which he referred should not have been stop
ped or If the bill is double tongued double
if it contains any thing hurtfu to the Republic charge
that the Senator from Tennessee has his full share OF re-
sponsibity before the American people and the world
am told now but do not know exactly for what rea
sons, the gentleman viii vote against the proposed
ment ... ..@...
Mr.. BELL will vote for it.
Mr.. TOOMBS. Well, for it or against it. Laughter
1t is equally clear that the Senator's object was not so
much discuss the amendment to produce discord
adopted it on the principle stated by the Senator from
Virginia. We look upon it principle, great prin-
cpe that the Congress Of the United States should
longer usurp this power to interfere with the domestic
policy Of the Terrtoresin the judgment OF many OF US
against the Constitution in the Judgment Of all Of
against good pocy-n order to restrict the equal rights
of the free citizens Of oil the States in the Ter
ritories of the Republic. We believed We would bring
evil and evil only by legsatng here in this manner for
our remote dependencies for the Territories are nothing
alc 1a.o fbp
this policy we planted it in the clause of the bill to which
have referred and vote for it, and that clause had the
assent of the Senator from Tennessee
Now the Senator offers argument against his and
action that we ought rely upon the unconsttuton
atty of the Missouri compromise strange argument
for an American Senator The Constitution of my
try and his has thrown around itself quadruple wall to
protect it from violation The members of the House
Representatives to stand by it. The member:
of the Senate are sworn to do the The President
Of the United States binds himself, by solemn obFga
on to do the same and the Judiciary bound by the
same ties If bill is brought before me- and am salts
fed that is unconstitutional have option but to vote
against it. it seeks to repeal unconstitutional act
it is the highest you give me for its repeal fol
then have discretion. tmay be good law, it may
be wise law, in my judgment it may be beneficial law
but satisfy that 1t violates the fundamental law of the
land and cannot consider its wisdom and justice, though
in my Judgment it might shed boundess prosperity ovci
this Republic.
But the Senator says Why not rely the courts to de-
clare it unconstitutional? Sir, do my duty to the
Constitution whenever the question is presented to me
and trust the Judiciary will perform theirs if the ques
tion should get there But it does not follow
matter of that their judges would agree with me
on that subject when it there. They must decide
according to their judgment and their consciences.
must decide it according to mine. assume the obiga
tion of oath my conscience Their judgment can
to be constitutional and have SO declared it from lIss
until to-day and, in Judgment believe to be