Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-29

In the House nt Representatives, y. ot"'1'
March Is, 1854, on the bill providing Ter,
ri,oria! Governments for Nebraska ann
Kansas. =,
Mr. Books said Mr.. Chairman, desire
"a exnress NV views upon the bill whtch is
ennrossins the thoughts Of every member on
this floor, and wish to DO so before 'he
ground is altogether covered by the army OF
Sneakers who are holding themselves in re-.
serve. Should aught Of intemperance OF
language escape me in the remarks | am
about to make, I trust that it may be regard.
ed as directed towards principles and posi-
tions. and not to the persous Fl ON whom they
proceed.
Ihave lived long enough to learn, that 10
do Justice to the opinions and even prrjndces
of others, is the snrest way to secure just
consideration Of my own.
Nor, sir, does it jump with my humor or
nv appreciation of honor to assi,ll those who,
in ohedience to 4 local sentiment, are avcrse
to resort but too common in a warmer lat.
itude. 1t is cheap display of chiyalry to
insult when no risk is incurred; aud, Tor my
own part. | would prefer the condition OF
him who bears the wound than Of him by
whom il is. under such circumstances, uced.
es,ly Inflicted. =,
am frank to avow my belief that it would
have been wiser and in better keeping with
the general interests of the country, had the
till providing Territorial Governments for
Nebraska aud Kausas been delayed until the
pressing wants of the people of those Ter
ritori~s had caused them TO apply to Con.
gress for relief.
The friends Of the bill maintain that the
so.callcd Missouri compromise line has been
superseded bv subsequent acts of legislation
which are inconsistent with it. and that it is
therefore virtually annulled. would have
ureftrred to continue in this attitude ltwouid
have given US the advantages of defensive
position.
But, sir, the bill is before us, aud il becomes
us of the South to avail ourselves of the OPP
por,une OCCASION to bring back congresslon'
al legislation within Constitutional restraint
to reassert the great constitutional principle
that as the people are the source OF all polit'
ica power, they have in the capacity o
sovereign States, the inherent right Of self.
government, and to reg ain our constitutional
right to go with our property, OF every de-
scriplion, upon any part of the public do
main.
We rejoice to unite with our brethren o
the West in so patriotic an enterprise, ant
we rejoice that the stars of The Constitution
and of empire, are mingling their rays 10
cether in the West. We rejoice upon thi:
coincidence of opinion between the people
of two great sections, which are destined to
grow together in prosperity aud wealth, anc
which God has united in common interest
by that great highway of commerce which
brings the treasures Of the West into the
Lap of the South Was the Wilmot provist
incorporated into the hill, apprchend tina
no obstacle would lie intersosed to its pas
sage by those who no;"oppose it, But, sir
n certain fraternity, who with humble pre-
tensions, have assumed to be the only relia
bic expounders of the Consluution-the dis
coverers Of higher law than tile law o
God, in obedience to the peculiar tenets
whicn they are required to love their breth
rem in black more than those OF the sam
color as themseIves-,eIl US in sanctimnniou
tones OF. senatorial dignity to "main'a
plighted faith" They object to the bill
lst Because of the assumption that it wa
the original policy of the country to exclud
slavery from the Territories held in comnio
toy the States
ID. Because Of an act Of legislation il
1920 the consideration Of which has bee
enjoyed by the slave States, and the benefit
of which have not yet accrued to the ire
States.
Sd. Because Of the assumed Antagonist
Of the free and slave labor, and that the ad
mission of slaves into these Territories wi
result in the exclusion Of foreign emgrant
And
4th Because of the immortality and tn
inexpediency of slavery.
propose to reply to the objections in tn
order. ia which they are stated, ard invIt
your attention, first, to that which is base
upon what is assumed to have been the or
ginal policy of the country. 1t is not SUI
prisins that among people who have ju.
emerged from wasting and protracted wa
waned in the defence of their own libert,
that in the first enjoyment OF that lbert.,
manv should have been precipitated into e'
travagances of opinion and of act. The'
was an exutant feeling of triumph, natur'
vet dangerous, which pervaded every ran