Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27

abrsgating the pronipition Oh slavery known as INC ~
souri, compromise.
The resolutions were read at length.
II Mr.. CASS hope that those resolutions, when put
into plain English do not mean another Hartford Con
vention.
Mr.. WELLER They come pretty near il, think.
Mr.. SMITH Mr. President, apprehend there j:
nothing in the resolutions that calls for the remark which
the honorable Senator from has seen ut to make
70 the Senate But whether the resolutions of another
Hartford Convention not thing is certain and the
honorable Senator may rely upon IL that these resolu
tons express the sentiments of the people OF the State OF
Connecticut by an overwhelming majority and tell the
honorable Senator further that they express the sen
meuts of large majority of the Democratic party Of the
State of Connecticut They passed the Senate Of
State with ony vote in the negative and there
believe only some forty or nity negative votes IN the
n other House.
The honorable Senator may. if lie peases stigmatzc
the sentiments contained in these resolutions sent
msnts emanating from Hartford Convention They are
the sentiments of the freemen Of Connecticut and be-
lieye they will to be the sentiments Of
! whelming majority Of the people Of Michigan.
make the usual motion, that these resolutions lie
| the table and be printed for the Of the Senate
The PRESIDENT. They viii be printed as a matter of
Il course, under the rule 80
! Mr. CASS Mr. President heard all this kindof de-
nuucation forty years ago, and with much violence
and emphasis as be used here, and heard the Hart
ford Convention defended rghtul act That which
wished call attention declaration in these
uons that they would not submit the law of the land
when passed and thinking perceived something Of that
sort in the resolutions, impeed to ask whether
there was to be Hartford Convention. AS what
the honorable Senator from Connecticut says in respect
the feelings Of majority OF the people Of the State Of
Connecticut know nothing about it, have no right to
contradict him but know, and trust my co-assocates
in the Senate know that if law be passed under this
/ Government which Is consttutonal-and trust we as
sumo TO pass oher-the people Of the State If Con-
nectcut viii submit to it, look to NO other state Of
! things.
with respect to the opinion Of the people Qs my own
State ) .thHi ts ,ssssSt siSter being saifsnsf
there but believe know their opinion as we'll as he
does believe the people Of the State of Michigan will
sustain their representatives. when those
carry throu great constitutional principle, which
American citizens wherever they the right Of
self government Allow here TO mention single cir
cunstance This principle of self-goyernmen has been
reproached and do know but that the reproach has
been cast on me for using the term "squatter sove
reiguty" applied to it. That was no term OF mine,
although the Senator from South Carolina r BuTLER)
supposed it was. II the term used by his eminent
and deceased colleague (Ir Calhoun term of
preach cast upon those who forward the doctrne that
you should bring California into the Union upon the prn
chile of the right Of govern themselves That
the ground which took and which others took.
maintain alss that, not having provided Govern
for the people of California for two years. they
entitled by oil the laws of God and govern them
selves That we call the right of self government ana
there was the origin Of the phrase. OF
sef-government within the principles Of the Constitution
That all maintained, that is what we maintain
believe the American people will forever stand
up for that principle which carried their fathers through
the Revolution and has given them the most blessed
government on the face Of the globe.
Mr.. SMITH. Mr. President, / leave the Senate to de-
eide who it is that has commenced denunciation this
subject Did not the honorable Senator from Michigan
in his place and stigmatze these resolutions
mating from spirit which he supposes to have been
uupatriotc and odious spirit the spirit Of the Hart
ford Convention Sir whether right or wrong do not
hesitate to say that these resolutions contain the opinions
and sentiments of overwhelming majority of the peo
pie Of the State Of Connecticut of all parties should
H. 10 IF that fafa
did not say that they utterly opposed repeal Of
the Missouri compromise and in this particular they
have been most fairly and ably represented in the other
wing of this Capitol, the whole delegation being Demo-
cratic and three of the members from the State voting
in opposition to this measure, and but in its favor.
1t i'll became that Senator then to rise in his place and
sgmatize his political friends in Connecticut as be-
ing acuated by views and entertaining sentiments
responding with those which supposed to hare been
entertained by the members Of the Hartford Convention
But should like ask the honorable Senator whether
he has all times maintained the ground which he
this subject and which he has endeavored to
maintain admit with great deal of ability. itsohap
pened that travelled with the honorable Senator in the
railroad at the close of the session Of 1896 after the
Wmot proyiso as it is called had been introduced into
the House of Representatives, and with my ears
heard the honorable Senator say that it had not been
for John Davis he would have voted for the Wmot pro-
vso He not only said but he proclaimed again and
again Was that an emanaon Of the spirit of the Hart
ford Cow enon when the honorable Senator said pub
cy throughout the North that if it had not been for
John Davis Senator from the tree States would have
voted for the Wiimot proviso 1t is notorious that the
honorable Senator in the Northern country ayowed him
self in favor of that proposition; but for
other he fit to change his views upon the subject
am not about reproach him with Inconsistency; but
when introduce respectful resolutions, which have been
passed by the Legs aure of my State, sustained by a
parties and adopted by very large and overpowering
vote, will not sit here quietly and hear the honorable
Senator stgmaze the people Of my State when is well
known that he himself for the Wilmot provso orig
nay and would have voted for it if he had had OPP
portuny to do so when it first introduced to the
consideration of the Senate know very well the ground
which the honorable Senator has since taken and know
very well that he has changed his views This is free
country and he has right to change his opinions but
he pardon the people Of Connecticut if they have
little stability this and other questions than the
honorable Senator himself has. He must pardon them if
they have not whitfield quite much, they have net
been sometimes for and sometimes against the Wilmot
proyso Sir they people who are in the habit Of
adhering with rmness to their opinions when once form
ed and once expressed.
did not expect to be drawn into controversy on this
or any other subject presented those resolutions.
They drawn up in respectful language They do not
assai the motives Of honorable Senator's They make
no attack upon the motives of the honorable Senator
from Michigan although he day for the Wilmot
proyiso and the next day against it. do not call In
question the patriotism recttude Of the honorable Sc
nator but viii not stand here in silence and hear the
motives of the Legislature of my State Of the people
Of that State mpeached came back here to occupy
my seat for three brief days. and expected to be per-
mited to occupy without being drawn into contro-
versy this any other subject but will say to the
Senator from Michigan that ready for controver
sy with him. he chooses to raise with me- in regard
to this or any other matter.
The sentiments advanced in these resolutions the
honest opinions of the people of State. They