Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-10

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idea that handful any number of inhabitants in
Territory Of the United States should have the power
granted to them by Congress of regulating their domes
tic institutions and at their discretion to deny to the
Of one section Of the Union the power to enjoy his
right OF property in slaves We not prepared to
reverse and set aside the previously established practice
and doctrines of the Government in other respects from
1889 to that time. We could peace, quiet
end Of agitation that result from such
We thought that if Territorial Legislature should in
one year or two years establish abolish slavery the
agitation OF the question of slavery would still We
in Tennessee at that time believed advocating
principles and doctrines this subject approved in all
the Southern states The principle then contended for
was that the people of Territory, when they came to
form their State constitution, and then only quail
fed to establish their domestic institutions To that
there was no opposition in Tennessee but to this idea
OF universal liberty and equality of privilege extending
to the Territories as well the States they were not
taken either with its wisdom propriety. suppose
the honorable Senator does mean when he speaks in
that way, to include all mankind.
Mr.. TOOMBS. said the white race.
Mr. BELL But still these very doctrines Of universal
liberty and equality of privilege now so much dwet
upon are used to give weight and the sanction OF autho
ry to other conclusions very repugnant to Southern
views and sentiments there any Tennesseeaus pre-
sent theymay recollect that in all political contests
in that State, the Wings have had to meehoweyer
founded-the charge that while the Democrats the
exclusive champions and defenders of liberty and the
equality Of human rights and privileges, the Wings,
the other hand were foes to liberty and that equality Of
rights and privileges which the honorable Senator auds
SO highly to-day. The Wings in Tennessee again and
again. IN their political controversies have been assaed
as monarchsts arstocrats and the enemies Of popular
rights and by principles and in
our feelings, against the great Democratic principle of
the equality OF human rights and privileges have
often had to repe these charges, and sometimes have
been compelled to silence them by saying to their
authors, Gentlemen, If you continue press these
charges for popular effect against the Wings and per-
sst in ringing these changes upon liberty and equality
as the fundamental principle Of your party, then
fnry furnis
ments to the aboltoniss ut the North; you telling
them that they are right that they asserting and
acting upon the true principles Of the Democratic party
in the slave States well at the North" have
peatedy demonstrated against this course of the
cratic party in Tennessee
remember, upon several occasions have referred
some public statement Of the Senator from Ohio (Mr
CHAsE) upon this subject. Whether it made since
he came into the Senate before do not recollect,
and the time is not material. Some question appeared
to have arisen in Ohio to the position that gentleman
occupied as party man. and saw the announcement,
think under his own signature, heralded in
paper that he adhered to the Democratic faith upon the
ground that the principles Of Democracy necessarily led
to the abolition of slavery and universal freedom be-
ieye that Senator is still regarded belonging to the
Democratic party but under what qualifications do not
know understood that in arranging the committees of
the Senate at the present session he recognised
Democrat The Senator from California NIr. Gwa who
sits near me can inform me whether that is not
. MIR. GWlN. No, sir; but that Senator appointed
to some committees.
Mr.. BELL Certainly he appointed to some COM
mttces and must have been appointed by the Demo
cratic members OF the Senate, for the Wings did not
sign him to any
Now, sir, l understand from the honorable Senator
from Georgia that the principle established by this bill is
that OF perfect equality right and privilege the
habitants of the Territories and that they are
vested with the right Of full sovereignty their do
mesc institutions unrestricted far regards slave
ry, by the Constitution.
By the repeal of the Missouri compromise these Terri
tories would be slave Territories but by tho further
visions OF the bill they made free Territories to give
complete effect to the principle of universal equality and
privilege This understand to be the doctrine avowed
by the Senator from Georgia. He says that he neither
for the North nor the South in giving his support to this
bill and that it was not designed to secure any advan
tage to the South II the principle which he announced
is the principle OF this BILL and If to give effect to it any
slave territory hereafter annexed to the United States
must be made free territory and these have become by
this bill the established principles and policy of Southern
gentlemen then think these doctrines indicative Of
the arrival of progressive period in the history of
Southern sentiment said yesterday that if the South
ern Senators had to the conclusion that the prin
cipes OF this bill were SO important they announced
that they were ready to waive the Clayton amendment
though they approved it, thought it bad policy the
part OF the South to make any objection to giving the
right of suffrage to aliens and foreigners naturazed
we know that they coming into the country at
the rate Of half million year; and, since the Atlantic
may be said to be bridged practically, may
pect immigration from the Old World Of million annu-
ally No one expects to stop this immigration. En-
No impeachment, restriction be imposed upon it
and under the operation of the principles adopted
for the regulation Of Territories under any cir
cumstances the South would be acting unwisey to alien
ate the feelings and excite the hostility of large por
ton OF future population against the South and South
ern institutions.
Sir, know that the Senate is fatigued but still
must revert for few moments, to points Of per-
sonal nature The honorable Senator from Georgia
puts his statement in regard the proceedings OF the
Southern Wing caucus to which reference has been made
upon such footing oblige retract any tenn
pered expressions which expressed under mistake
do so with pleasure. truly say that whatever pro-
must necessarily have been when absent from the
meeting, should feel myself dishonored. never
heard before yesterday that the object of tho meeting
what has been stated My idea Of tho object of that
meeting formed solely upon my observation of what
passed when / present. l thought the measure
which proposed in my hearing 50 impruden that
it ought not even to be made public. differ with the
honorable Senator in regard to the proprey of that but
will not dispute with him that subject understand
the honorable Senator state that the main purpose
to authorize the Senator from North Carolina to make
tho announcement in his speech which he did. was
astonshed at the statement. had been left wholly in
the dark to any such purpose having ever been in
tended in getting up that meeting
The honorable Senator from North Carolina, within o
very few days after the meeting proclaimed in the Senate
that all the Southern Wing Senators agreed with him in
opinion in regard to the bill and complaint is made
against that when he made that open declaration
sat by silently, and made public declaration to the
contrary. At that time had not decided finally upon
my What complain of in regard to that deca-
ration of the honorable Senator from North Carsna is,
that of the honorable Senator'S from the South
especially Of the Wing Senators with whom had
been associatng the most friendly terms for many
mot rNUith fhe and