The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-04-07
allow me to make siaale romark'

allow me TO make single remarki
Mr.. Fessenden. Certainly.
MIR. Butler. wish 10 pronounce what
,binI is consisien, with the purpose Of ihi
bill. In the Constitution = now mark wha
| saw, the gentleman seems 10 trace disiinc
tions very clearly lin the Constitution
there were no such pariIes as North ant
Sop,b. there we're thineen States entering
into This Union, and under the Cons,iiu
lion -
Mr.. Fessenden. I deny that the thirteen
States, an S,aica. framed the Constitution
I, was The act Of the people.
Mr.. Butler. Very well; 60 On. | have
Mr.. Fessenden. The Constitution was
no, formed by the Siates as States. II was
formed by the people OF the United States
"a have always understood Il. i am no,
choice, as stated in tho use OF language
and do not care whether gentlemen admit
the word Compact" TO be applicble or NOT.
m San by thai the proposition that they
made themselves, and enforced by the aid
of Northern votes; those who voted for Il
from the North being pledged 10 90 honle
and defend il before their people, on The
ground ,ha, they had received this consider
alton for it, Tha, is the doc'rine, and nc
other, that I have heard, and is all wish IL
say in reference 10 that point.
| hope ii there is agitation; II there is ex.
element; ifthere is fanaiicism, ii you
choose TO call il so; If there is sickly senli.
mentality, il you like iha, better, IN The
free States from this time forward, you will
Jus, cas-, your eyes back 10 those who made
il, started il, and gave occasion for il. j
you hear Of cavillings al The North. coupled
with denuncialions Of slavery at The South
recollect line stale Of quiet from which you
brought il forth. II is not enough TO tell The
y ople of the free States that this was ten
dered by the North 10 the Sonlh. We dc
no, admit Ihs authority Of The Senator max
ing, il. though he may occupy a most emf
nent position, TO speak for The North. lie
has no more au,ho iiy than | have. Al
any rate, we repudiale him as acting fol
Us in our part Of the country. ! cal an-
swer for my own State. With all the re-
spec, that The people Of my State may have
for his character aud position, he callno
claim, aud The gentlemen of the Souih can.
no, claim for him, or for any other gentle
man from The North who acl with him, iha
he speaks for us. excep, SO far rs his own
Slate is concerned. They caanoi claim
for him that he has any right TO tender from
The North this release, Aud allow me Ia
say, that do not understand that principle
of honor. RI, ough il seems TO he well un'
dersiood here, which allows that wha, can.
not honorahly be taken directly, can be
grasped with hoIor when offered by anolh-
er having no authority 10 give il. There
may he some very nice distinctions in the
minds Of gentlemen. They NAV be ab
10 reconcile the difficulty. They coul''
not. il seems, move in this mailer; they
could moi undertake 10 bring il up in any
shape or form but, iiIasmuch as The pro-
.,silior has come here. they will not wait
TO see whether il is auihorizrd by those who
alone are competent 10 make it. but will
take |, al once, and settle that question af
Su, | do no; understand such a
princi pie.
Sir, what are the particular grounds ol
excuse for ,he introduction OF this ,ronhle.
some question a, the present time! Mark
you, no practical T, 'ul, is expected from II.
No change Of position is 10 arise from it,
Nothing is TO come oul of il at all, ercepi
the repeal OF this restriction in The act for
the admission OF Missouri. That isall and
that all is nothing, say Southern gentlemen.
Why, then, is il 10 be done! Because, say
several Senators, iha, restriction is uncon.
slilu ional. But upon this point there is a
difference Of opinion among themselves
| understand my honorable friend from
North Carolina Mr.. BADGER 10 say aud
| have great respec, for his opinion us p
lawyer-,hai he hTS no doubt Of the CO =
Of that restriction. under.
stand other Southern gentlemen 10 affirm
its unconsiiiulionalily.
But i, is singular, that, in the history OF
this question, The uncons,itutionaliiy oi this
: sirlc,ien laid dormant in The minds Of
Southern gentlemen for more than thirty
years. II is very singular that il laid long
enough for them 10 avail themselves OF the
Of Missouri as State, OF Arkan-
sas as State, and ofTexas as Stale. .
When The latter question came up in ~
Senate, not the frs, man iha, know OF. o.
eve, heard Of, brea,hed the idea, or sugges.
ted il in any way, that resir, iion thus
fixed and determined was unconstitutional
Why did not tha, objection arise ihen!-
Wha, new lish has been shed upon The
country! When did il come! Did il pre-.
sent itself at any time before slavery was
ready-having secured all il nj first claim.
.d-io gasp all the remaining territory
How far is This 10 20! Are we next TO- re-
move The restriction in the resolution AL
mi,ling Texas, and is all new territory here.
after 10 he acquirI 10 be subject TO no re-
think The country will be led
to inquire what is 10 be The effect of this
Increase Of slave States! Gentle
men talk Of The balance of power having
been seemed TO The free states. II strikes
me ,ha, there will be some little power
secuted TO The South, or 10 The slave States.
But upon this question Of consiiiu,ionaliiy
We have had All Argument from the learned
and honorable Senator from Connecticut.
JM:. ToucEY. He was not coEient with
ihe views taken by other gentlemen, but
has arcued The matter IN full, ~ \ lawyer.
Allow me 10 say, sir, thai upon that question
| never had the least doubt. | can give a
reason for Il. Sir, In my early rea,iing
there was such thing found a. soveroiun-
~. The Senator from Michigan has grven
us an argument OH The subject Of this cor.
power Of Congress 10 prohibi,
slavery in The new Territories.
Mr. Cass. Do YOU find il in the Consii.
iutions
Mr.. Fessenden. Suppose do no, /; does
Il exist, or does il not eais''
Mr.. Cass. II gives you no power.
MIR. Fessenden. IL there such thing
a. sovereignty recognised BY the people !
Mr.. Cass. will stale 10 the Senator that
/, gives you no kind Of power. You are
sovereign in relation to other nations. When
nav yvu so sonsuI, The laws Of na,io,,s 10 ascer.
,ain:bu, as 10 who Is 10 do ii,and how |, 10 TO
b., j,,. go, ,nnsi look 10 The Cons,iiu,ion (: