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

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from the deep damnation which such may merit It
will however, effect injury and its mpotepcy will but
add to its inamy The who deserts this crisisone
affecting the future destiny Of half the continent and the
pepeuity of the Unionw be consigned TO proper fate
The South with blush of shame and the North with
delight win alike look without sympathy the exeeraon Of
is destitute either power benefit or to in
jure Kissing but stingess, let the viper crawl on"
Laughter
Now, sir, this looks to as though there some
agitation IN the country This looks like agitation against
myself. am not angry at the am not vexed |;
ana DO not hate him. would think badly Of myself if
were capable Of descending to the level of has hate.
BUT would take care, il to know him, to do
as on sucn occasions think it is always proper to do.
AS ne talks about slime if he has left any upon his
track would step over it. Laughter
However, was sorry to such things in that paper
because had generation for it from my childhood.
recoec to have it more than fty wears ago When
l first the Richmond Inquirer in old Rockbridpe
county, Virginia. thought it was the only newspaper in
the world. Laughter. Sir, was very young then:
hands since and that it should change politics and prn
cples is not strange do not claim the charity of the
Richmond Inquirer because | q native of the Old
Dominion. have never piqued myself upon nv origin
have received any marks of sympathy favor or
admiration from that State. shall ask for them
although have always endeavored to deserve them
Yes sir from the deepest gorges in her mountains have
drunk OF her pure streams; their submits my eyes
first learned to look upon nature and have ceased
to feel proud that upon her soil that walked in
childhood. remember it still. For her virtues will
raise parrcidal hand against my mother Some Of her
children, though, have no doubt been spoiled, SIR
Laughter
Well, Mr. President that has taken up much more time
than had ancipated but do not intend that it shall
proract my speech beyond the session of to-day
that there something prophetic In that writer
He says that am opposed to the bill Yes, sir, am
opposed to the provision in relation to the Indians and
if it possible that could feel repuguant and
determinedy against any thing ese would be the pro-
vision to repeal the Missouri compromise. Why sir /?
Because have stood upon it. Did stand upon alone?
If did in section Of the Unon did not in the other
If voted alone the people Of the South sustained me-
Why? Because it was regarded solemn compact,
and because they proud, chvarous just and gener-
GUS adopt no new course, but have heretofore main
tanned my present position and the which gave
that occasion will take care sir on this
and will show that ground to me- that it one
which have ntained since Texas annexed to the
United States and since she formed one star of our con-
steation.
If voted, Mr.. President, on former occasion, in
1S4S for the Missouri compromise Ivoted for in accord
ance with the injunction of Texas AS Texan, could
not consistently have voted otherwise The compromise
forms part Of the constitution that State and her Sena
in Congress must be bound by long continues
portion Of her organic law Upon her citizens her officers
and agents. in whatever capacity they may be acting, it
rests with paramount authority, which admits of
dispensaton Among the conditions expressed in that
enactment to which the of the Republic of Texas
wasperemptory exacted prerequisite to her admission
into the Union, will be found the folowing 1t provides
that all States formed north of 800 80 within the
limits of Texas, she then rghfully claimed slavery
should be prohibited that in all south Of that they
should come into the Union with without slavery,
they might think proper This was accepted by Texas,
with all the sancty and soemnity that could attach to
any compact whatever. She adopted the Missouri COM
promise
"The of the Texan Republic this condition was
given possible mode whereby could be expressed by
the Government and the people. manifested in the
most solemn form by her Executive by her Legislature oy
deputies in convention and her people at the pos for
he
puar and they ratified the previous action OF Execu
tive the Legislature, and the Convention and finally it was
attached and became Of the constitution under which
she admitted State into this Union Whenever
question may arise involving the application of this rule of
action must and will obey its command Such was the case
when the bill for the organization Of Oregon as Territory was
brought forward No part of that Territory my south of the
parallel of 1926 its southern limit being more than Ave and
half degrees north Of the Missouri compromise line
The Missouri compromise has been repeatedly recognised
and acted upon by Congress solemn compact between the
States and such has received the sancon of each nd
vida member of the oonederaey consider that the vital
interests of all the States and especially the South de-
in great degree upon the preservation and sacred
observance ofthat compact Texas adopting the compro
mise ine in compliance with the imperative demand of the
other States part Of the price of her admission surren
deed than third Of her territory in latudinal
her right to continue the institution Of slavery This
sacrifice exaced by the Southern well by the North
States The sacrifice received the hands of Texas,
and among the solemn guarantees then made her in behalf
of the Union, the full benefit of which she is entitled
that of preserving the Missouri compromise humble
Judgment, the least in calue."
Such the opinions expressed in letter to Gen.
Gadsden, of South Carolina the 25th of Septem-
Der, 1S49.
Them sir as further expression of my opinion at the
time acted on this compromise in 1S4S, said:
Legislation in Congress the subject Of slavery in the
Territories is in my opinion useless and inudcous The
line of demarkaon between the free and slave States fixed
by the compromise. The right of the States lying south Of
that line to be admitted with the institution Of slavery the
people asking such admission require it, be questioned
The spirit of the rule would in my opinion be infinged
should Congress by law attempt to exclude the institution
from any territory south of that line. the principle
that Congress has right legislae upon the subject Of Slavery
an any of the Territories of this Union. 1t is institution Of
exclusively domestic regulation subject alone to the CONTROL
jurisdiction and authority of the several States each acting
Independently for ITSELF Congressional have the right
to impose slavery upon State unwilling to receive it to
exclude it from one DESTROYS of retaining-"
Mr. President my opposition to this BILL trust will not
be deemed of factious impertnent character grow
ing out Of the present condition of the country, dis
position to oppose introduced into this body
do not know, do pretend to know, the origin of
this measure do not conceive that there was the
slightest necessity for its introduction and when saw
the question of repeal up-for in fact it was that
from the frs-of the Missouri compromise foresaw the
consequences which must necessarily arise from it, the
agitation which must be renewed in this country and
which l. with every other public functionary with every
private man. had deprecated Of the greatest mis-
fortunes that could happen to Sir, was not pre-
pared for this and when it did in the shape and
form which it has assumed had no alternative left but
either adhere to the principles which had formerly
avowed and acted upon and upon which Texas was ad
mitted to abandon them and vote for contrary prn
cipe repeating the acts which had formerly recognised
Sir if this gives offence to any, regret 1t In the extreme
took my ground early upon the compromise bill OF
1850 am not behind any man in my devotion to it.
But previous to its adoption, had taken my position
upon the Missouri compromise and stand there csab-