Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-24


read one or two paragraphs. Mr.. Hand, of New
York, in opposition to the admission of Arkansas
as slaveholding State, said: ID la
81 ana aware twill be, as it has already been,
cOntended, that by the Missouri compromise, as
it has been preposterously termed, Congress has
parted with its right to. prohibit the intrOduc-
ton Of slavery into the territory south Of 36 80
min. north lattutde." -. as -. sr a.1f
He acknowledged that by the Missouri compro-
mise, as he said it was preposterously termed the
North was estopped from denying the right to
hold slaves south Of that line; but, he added:
"There are, to my mind, insuperable objections
to the soundness of the proposition"
Here they are; ef ta
SIN the first place, there was no compromise
or compact whereby Congress surrendered any
power, or yielded any jurisdiction; and in the
second place, it it had done so, it was mere leg
islatve act, that could not bind their successors;
it would be subject to repeal at the will of any
succeeding Congress- ,H. .a-r .,..r
give these passages as specimens OF the vari-
GUS speeches made in opposition TO the admission
of Arkansas by the same class of politicians who
now oppose the Nebraska bill, upon the ground
that it violates solemn compact. SO much for
the speeches. Now for the vote. The Journal,
which hold in my hand, shows that forty-nine
northern votes were recorded against the admis-
sion of Arkansas, ....r... . ..n-..st .-
Yet, sirs, in utter dsregard-and charity leads
me to hope, in profound ignorance-of all these
facts, gentlemen are boasting that the north al
ways observed the contract, never denied its va
lidity, never wished to violate it; and they have
even referred to. the cases Of the admission of
Missouri and Arkansas as instances of their good
faith. ..... -s...A,.. g.... .,.. ..t .
Now, is it possible that gentlemen could sup
pose these things could be said and distributed in
the speeches without exposure! Did they pre-
sumo that, inasmuch as their lives were devoted
to slavery agitation, whatever they did not know
about the History of that question did not exist!
| am willing to believe, hope it may be the fact,
that they were profoundly ignorant of all these
records, all these debates, all these facts, which
overthrow every position they have assumed.
wish the Senator from Maine, Mr.. Fessenden,]
who delivered his maiden speech here tonight,
and who made great many sly stabs at me, had
informed himself upon the subject before he re-
peated all these groundless assertions. can ex-
cuse him for the reason that he has been here but
few days, and having enlisted under the banner
Of TIE abolition conederates, was unwise and
simple enough to believe that what they had pub
lshed could be relied upon as stubborn facts. He
may be an innocent victim. hope he can have
the excuse OF not having investigated the subject.
| am wiling TO excuse him on the ground that he
did not know what he was talking about and it is
the only excuse which | can make for him. l will
say, however, that do not think he was required
by his loyalty to Aboltonsts, to repeat every
disreputuble insinuation which they made. Why
did he throw into his speech that foul inuendo
about ga northern man with southern principles"
and then quote the Senator from Massachusetts
Mr. Sumner,l as his authority! Ay, sir, i say
that foul insnuation. Did not the senator from
Massachusetts, who first dragged it into this de-
bate, wish to have the public understand that
was known as northern man with southern prln-
ciples! Was not that the allusion! If 1t was,
he avaed himself Of cant phrase in the public
mind, in violation OF the truth of history | know
of but one: man in this country who ever made it
d ooast that he was ga northern man with south
ern principles and he turning to MIR. SumnerJ
was your candidate for the Presidency in lS4o.
Applause in the galleries .--s.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. (Mr. Mason.) Order,
order. ,,-, .....s ,...s -E -Er.s--.
Mr. DOUGLAS. Ii his sarcasm was intended
for Martin Van Buren, it Involves family quarrel,
with which have no disposition to interfere.
will only add, that have been able to discover
nothing in the present position or recent history
of that distinguished statesman, which would lead
me to covet the souJriquet by which he Is known
-''A Northern man with Southern principles"
Mr.. President, the Senators from Ohio and
Massachusetts, Mr.. Chase and MI. Sumner
have taken the liberty to impeach my motives III
bringing forward this measure. | desire to know
by what right they arragn me; or by what author
ity they impute to me other and different motives
! than those which ] have assigned. | have shown
from the record that advocated and voted for the
same principles and provisions in the compromise
acts ot 1850, which are embraced in this bill.
| have proven that put the same construction mp
on those measures Immediately alter their adop-
ton that is given in the report which L submitted
! this session from the Committee ON Territories.
| have shown that the Legislature OF Illinois at its
! first session, after these measures were enacted,
passed resolutions approving them, and declaring
that the same great principle OF selt-government
should be incorporated into all territorial organic
atoms Yet, sir, in the fact OF these facts, these
Senators have the hardihood to declare that this
] was all an ter-thought'' on my part, conceived
for the first time during the present session; ant
that the measure is offered as bid for presiden
tlal votes! Are they incapable OF concclVing
that an honest man can do a right thing from wor
thy motives! must be permitted to tell thost
Senators that their experience in seeking polltl
cal praferment does not furnish safe rule BY
which to Judge the characters and principles 0
other Senators! | must be permitted to tell tn
Senator from Ohio, that did not obtain my sea
in this body either by u corrupt bargain or dis
honorable coalition! | must be permitted to re
mind the Senator IRON Massachusetts that di'
not enter into any combinations or arrangement
by which my character, my principles, and m!
!, honor, were set up at public auction or privat
sale in order to procure seat i'll the Senate OF tn
/, ofthe United States! did not come into tn
Senate by any such means 5s G
: Mr. WELLER. But there are some men whom
| know that did. .#
Mr.. CHASE, to Mr.. Weller) Do you say tina
"a | came here by bargain! t-
The PRESIDING OFFICER, Mr.. Mason. Orde
:, must be preserved in the Senate, taa1s 5.t.
=, MIR. WELLER. | will explain what mean.
: The PRESIDING OFFICER The Senator iroI
! ! Illinois is entitled to the floor. . -e .r.
! Mr. DopGE, Of Iowa. i call both the Sens
tor from California and the Senator from Ohio I