The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-24
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Mr. MANN. FItsiucTlI
seems moi TO be strictly in order yet the Senate have
indueed honorable gentlemen 10 whom we have listened
certainly bave--wilh so much qualification and much
instruction, will ask them TO indulge me iof very
few moments ia order that may express the opinions
nheh entertain upon The subject now under consider.
alton The bill which has lately passed The Senate VIII
be received by be American people, u II shall be enacted
into law as one ol the most important measures that
have occupied the councils OF the country ior more than
thirty wears II will be interesting 10 them. BECAUSE for
the first time ~ thirty years, IRON that quarter OF the
country 10 which we Of the South have always looked
Tor aggression there has come 10 Us The olive branch OF
peace and consolaon and We on The part OF The South
have not only mel hall way but we have even advanced
TO our brethren OF the North give TO them the raerna
hand once more Sir, in the expressive language OF
HOLY Writ il came 'with healing on its Wings and
there be anything which eace from the south
ern mind the eengs almost OF bitterness with which the
question OF slavery has been approached IN Congress-
will be the act o. the North IN coming forward voun-
tarly TO obeale from the statute book the law ot 1920
and that they have done boldly, manfuily and in the
spirit OF true Americans.
Now, sir, they have done all that, and they have
asked OF US ony to discaim and repudiae. in the
egsa,on any purpose The part OF the federal govern
lnent 10 establish or the institution of slavery
anywhere; and we have agreed TO IT, We. would have
agreed 10 IT, matter Of form only but as matter
OF substance for the doctrine the part OF the South
has uniformly been that this institution OF slavery Isl sub
ec forbidden 10 federal legislation in every form what
ever.
Ihave asked to espass upon the attention of the Sem
ale or afew moments because IL seems that from the
tenacy OF the southern mlnd-and il Is not extraord-
nary that il should be tenacious upon this subjectthere
has gone abroad even in some parts OF my own honored
State, the msconcspuon which trust they will find now
forever dspelIed hy the clear, luminous, and conclusive
demonstration, lawyer and as isrs, that we have
Just heard from the the way from the State
OF North Carolina, Mr. BADGER.l assert tha, il is a
conclusive demonstration, proved almost with the GER
tainty OF mathematics.
What does the bill do? II annuls the Missouri
law Of 1890 What was ascrlbed to IN The North I
That, in annullng that law, you by the same act
re-es,ablish slavery. What was asked on the part
Of our friends OF The Ncrth' That The bill should dis,
claim any nen % PURPOSE, OF any &c. psu,ion
was answered the part OF The South, that The bl has
already done il; because, in the same BILL II is declared
that it is not the intent The purpose OF Congress IN any
manner either 10 legisae slavery the Territory
exclude slavery from II II was replied that the people
Of the North sensitive upon this subject There are
some men the North who set themselves up 10 be the
instructors of the people who doubt lhs and therefore,
should make il so clear that none can sorbt, and put
into The bill The amendment offered by the honorable SEN
aor from North Carolina This was supererogatory. as
we believed, because II was there already but, TO
cude all doubt from the northern mnd and that their
people might know that The southern mind came up on
that occasion the North, sad: We meet you on
common ground; we deny your right to prohibit sa-
very; show you that we discaim all right TO
establish il, and therefore put the amendment in your
own language IN manner that is mos, acceptable TO
you, and we will vote for il most cheerfully.
say, then, with the honorable senator from North
Carolina. Mi BADGER that il is rather too much when
this grea, OF peace proered by the North
TO the Souis-when they, in coming forward as was
well said BY the honorable senators TO do IT, have incur
to appreca,e--when they have subjected themselves to
The censuTe Of friends well OF ioes--to the mis-
construction OF the enlightened mind, well "a oil the
uneng htened. which they have TO meet al home-it IS
rather TOO much that we from The South 10 whom the
offer has been made should cavi, and doubt, and ex-
press dissatisfaction. and should fail to stand by those
men, when honorable gentlemen from the North and
West and IRON the North aud East, have perled them
selves upon this issue-,hat we OF the South should
hagge and sickle about details and small matters that
do affect the principles OF the bill, eyincng ihat We
satisfied with what iney nave done.
Mr. President, my short service ~ thia body has de-
mons,ra,ed 70 my own people 'hat have ,hs one caT-
acirs,c at least a. pubic man VIII yield nothing
whatever OF principle Dluriousy affecting the interests
Of the South upon this subject ! stood here IN 1850
when Others fell around not only in the public coun-
ellis, but in the southern States prepared 10 peril this
Union upon this question believed due 10 the safety,
the integrity, and the honor OF my people that we should
make The issue The occasion has now passed by. We
believed that we were wrong. The South yielded, and
bow in acquiescence TO their WILL
Where DO stand now Sir, this odious measure,
the Missouri law which involved exercise OF direct
power upon the part OF Congress to prohibit slavery 10
the Territories is annulled II has been proved logically
and conclusively that leaves that Territory unaffected
by any law upon The subject o slavery And n ~ rather
much that those, al eas; who look 10 this Union,
do, aud as hope all look TO IT, as the panoply not
Of American liberty only bu, oi national liberty every
where--whep this question, and this question alone can
destroy that Unonshould refuse, on the hrst occasion
that is offered. 10 cement IL forever; for tear not TO
make the prophecy that the bill Fasses into law ex
acly a. left the Senate wIihou, altering letter, II will
gue, Tor than my generation OF yours, between lhe
North aud tba South this sectional agitation II will
send abroad among the people this great principle that
Congress discams jurisdiction 10 any form or shape over
that question will give IL 10 them, htst because IL
unnecessary, fair, aed legal deduction from the
Of compromise OF 1850; and again, because by this bill
s ceded 10 the people OF The Territories the right 10 regu-
late hero Institutions according 10 their own will
That is the basis upon which hs rests and If
capable o reading human nature al all ii that ptn-
cpe goes abroad into the North AMI the Northwest all
but that class who have political almen whaieye 10
sustain Them but tins slavery tatOn will be quoted.
believe, my conscience and in my Judgment, mat
other than this great mtassre Is 10 qlei this sectional
agitation, this division Of the American eupe, for geper
atoms to come Looking al il III that lgb cannot see
tie policy oi raising doubts and laiusing discomfort ino
The minds OF men either Norm South about The de-
tails OF the bill, when The principle s clear.
Sir, conriderlng What has been ceded 10 us by The
North, am Tree 10 say, southern man, that they
have forward upon this occasion with the olive
branch OF peace They have done 1t with raternal
spirit alone, but in a spirit Of devoted patriotism That
tribute mas been paid TO them BY horotabe senators upon
this hoor OF two different parties. For one, am pre-
pared TO meet lbem IN that spirit and being satisfied
.ha' theTe = principle m the bill injurious 70 the
Sooth, or affecting The interests o slavery any way,
and elsewhere
MI BROWN. The honorable senator from North
Catolna having e Il his duty 10 give 10 the Senate and
lhe country The reasons which influenced him. and which,
70 ms onion, lnshhed him in moving the proyiso when
tne Nebraska pi was under considerations and the two
asungutttd senators tiom South Carolina and Virginia
having justified themselves before the Senate and the
country ~ voting Tor Thar pfoyiso, wish 10 say word
10 Iusihcalion OF myself Tor ayng voted against H.
was OF five southern men who recorded thpif
votes against that pfoyso and though had stood alone
IN The Senate, should have voted ag.ins, I, WIZ,