Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-18
measure, from what State or section of tho Union

measure, from what State or section of tho Union
he comes.
Why, then, can we not Withdraw this vexed
question from polticsi Why can we not adopt
the principle of this bill as rule OF action in all
new territorial organizations Why can we not
deprive these agitators of their vocaton and rem
der it impossible for senators to come here upon
bargains on the slavery question | believe that
the peace, the harmony, and perpetuity OF the
Union require us to GO back TO the doctrines OF
the Revolution, to the principles Of the Constitu-
tioa, TO the principles of the compromise of 1850,
and leave the people, under the Constitution, to
do as they may see proper in respect to their own
internal affairs
Mr.. President, have not brought this question
forward as northern man southern man.
am unwilling to recognise such divisions and
distinctions. have brought it forward an
American senator, representing State which is
true to this principle, and which has approved of
my action in respect to the Nebraska bill. have
brought it forward not as an act of justice to the
south moro than to the north. have presented
It especially an act of justice to the people Of
those Territories, and Of the States to be formed
therefrom, now and in all time to come
have nothing to say about northern rights or
southcra rights. know of no such divisions or
distinctions under the Constitution. The bill
does equal and exact justice to the whole Union,
and every part of it; it violates the rights of no
State or Territory, but places each on a perfect
equality, and leaves the people thereof TO the
free enjoyment Of all their rights under the Con-
sttution.
Now, sir, wish to say to our southern friends,
that if they desire to see this great principle
ried out, now is their time to rally around it, to
cherish 1t, preserve it, make it the rule OF action
in all future time. If they fail to do it now,
and thereby allow the doctrine of interference TO
prevail, upon their heads the consequences Of that
interference must rest. To our northern friends
on the other hand, desire to say, that from this
day henceforward, they must rebuke the SANDER
which has been uttered against the south, that
they desire to legisate slavery into the Terrific
ries. The south has indicated her sincerity, her
honor on that point, by bringing forward pro-
vision, negativing, in express terms, any such
effect result Of this BILL | am rejoiced to
know that, while the proposition to abrogate the
eighth section OF the Missouri act comes from
free State, the proposition to negative the con-
clusion that slavery is thereby introduced comes
from slaveholding State. Thus, both sides
furnish conclusive evidence that they go for the
principle, and the principle only, and desire to
take no advantage Of any possible misconstruc-
ton.
MIR. President ! feel that | owe an apology to
the Senate for having occupied their attention so
long, and still greater apology for having dis
cussed the question in such an incoherent and de-
sultory manner But could not forbear to claim
the right of closing this debate. thought gen.
saw the manner in which was assailed and mis-
represented in the course of this discussion, and
especially by assaults still more dsreputable in
some portions Of the country. These assaults
have had no other effect upon me than to give me
courage and energy for still more rcsolute dis
charge of duty. | say frankly that, inmy opinion,
this measure will be as popular at tho north as at
the south, when its provisions and principles shall
have been fully developed and become we'll un-
derstood. The people at the north are attached
to the principles of selfgovernment; and you can
not convince them that that is selfgovernment
which deprves people of the right Of legislating
for themselves, and compels them to receive laws
which are forced upon them by legislature in
which they are not represented. We are willing
to stand upon this great principle of sef-govern-
ment everywhere; and it is to MS proud reflec-
ton that, in this whole discussion, no friend of
the bill has urged an argument in It's favor which
could not be used with the same propriety in
free State as in slave State, and rice rersa But
no enemy Of the bill has used an argument which
would bear repetition one mile across Mason and
Dixon s line Our opponents have dealt entirely
in sectional appeals. The friends Of the bill have
discussed a great principle of universal appica-
ton, which can be sustained by the same reasons,
and the same arguments, in every time and in
every corner of the Union.