The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-25

| Mr. Chairman. you now have both my position, and
reasons or II more than sufficient But cannot let the
occasion pass without more expressing my profound
regret that hs mischief has been brought upon us and
the country depiecae it from my inmos sou
III we persist Ia this course, IN vain Will have been all
the lessons OF our past experience, which should have
been so instructive; IN vain The admoniop OF those
sages and statesmen who, now speaking from their
graves warn US oil The dangers OF sectional strife. AND
the worst enemy Of county could not iEpre-
cate upon us the dspeasure OF Heaven in fright
iuJudgmens Than those which must inevitably follow as
the consequences OF our What means the exu
taton which we already hear that the South is united
upon this question: We expect the South be united
upon this question. Though the South has not asked il,
yet, as II has been rendered TO them have difficulty
whatever in fully appreciang the entire sincerity and
confidence with which the gentleman from North Caro-
lima lhr KERR, whg the other day made bis appeal
10 the South IN behalf OF united action fom that aquarer.
without distinction Of party for understand him TO
have entertained no doubt whatever that the bill opens
the whole vast region which II covers to slavery.
Ii is rne. sir, be admitted doubt whether Nature her
SELF the climate OF The region, had not nterposei high
or law more potent barrier 10 the Introduction OF sIa-
very there, than the Missouri Compromise law and
that. p,aetcay. il would be lille than mere
question oil rights that SHAREHOLDERS would hardly think
OF doing than 10 take few slaves with them for
domestic servants the ground that slave labor gener
ally could not be proftably introduced there.
Now sir, this is honest 1t scouts all feigned issues,
all mental reservations all false preexts, admits the
true end aimed ahe right 10 introduce slavery into the
Territory by virtue OF the legislation proposed.
But, sir, a passing word upon the point here made,
that il is much practical question OF right
involving, in other words, abstraction The gen.
tie ran assures u.s. language OF decided emphasis that
the South will never abandon It's rights Sir, while ad-
mire both the spirit and herosm OF that determination
cannot foIbea to with equal emphasis that has
no application whatever TO the question before US.
Who asks the South TO abandon lis rights! Sir, !, for
lar IRON dong So stand ready, now and ever,
TO defend her rights 10 the utmost
The South called upon TO abandon her rights Why,
Mr. Chairman, precisely the reverse is the fact II Is the
rights OF The North which are in jeopardy II At Is bu!
question OF principle, II IS the Norlh which is called
upon 10 abandon that principl9
That Nebraska ID now free is fact which has been set
tied and acquesced in by the uniform legislation Of thirty
four years And whether incorporated into the act
not this the consideration, the part OF the North,
for the solemn compromise entered into between the
North and the South, o the express conditions on
which Missouri slave State, was admitted into the
Union. And though sir, this day would no, INSIST,
under like circumstances upon such terms, prop
oson, is no less the ac that even 10 that adusmen!
the South claimed ii as a triumph Who then, now
called upon 10 abandon rights The North. sir beyond
| all doubt, the North And what do we propose in this
emergency Simply, sir 70 abide by me consultation IN
It's spirit aud leteto abide by all the compromises upon
this subject which that spirit has invoked-io abide by
the Missouri Compromise OF 1s2oto abide by The
promises OF ls50io abide by the democratic platform OF
1862, and in doing carry out in good faith The
solemn njunctiens OF that platform, ITO resist all at.
Temps al renewing IN Congress out OF il, the agita
uon oi he slavery question, under whatever shape or
color the attempt may be made"
And is there 10 be no faith eposed in compromises
Is there obligatory duty imposed by democratic plat.
iormsi Sir, denounce these repeating clauses IN this
| bill as a deliberate and wicked violation OF both
| The Missour Compromise has been sanctioned and
ssncted by lbe Uniform legislation OF Congress and the
conscientious aequles ;enee-no of factions bat OF the
peopleior thirty -four years It's policy has been thus
sancIei since the foundation OF the government
for policy coeva with that OF the constitution il.
self And If IL is not sacred the constitution itself
IS oiy because lacks It's mere orsal szncions.
the offspring OF the setsacrifcing spirit which
offered up everything but honor and integrity upon The
altar OF The Union That spirit SIR, alike peryaded the
ltuFla I.lN
It's last sessions and those where the constitution and ali
lis compromises were ushered into being.
The Jeersonian policy (as il should be called) OF the
povlso or compromise OF 1857 but virtual tran
script. PRACTICAL application OF the then theory OF the
constitution 10 the ordinance which gave the whole
Northwest Terriiory-an empire seif-lo freedom.
Here, after lying embryo three years, this great
measure brought into life, quietly, Ia It's ultimate
practical Influences disposng OF the whole slavery ques.
ton this vast region, out OF which five OF the largest,
and prosperous States OF this Union have beep erect
ed. And il matters not by whom, or when, or where it
may have been applied the great mind conceived 1t
which conceived the Declaration OF ndepe ndence And
Thomas Jefferson aboonsi, IN the hateful sense
in which that word g banded nowadays Shade OF
Patrick Henry, and all the host OF his immortal compeers,
| forbid such deseeralion OF his name!
Sir, are 10 be told after all, that this policy thus
sanclihed, is all chtatl-that statesmen who have
learned their principles IN the schools oi the last three
quarters oil a century have been bat many children
| play ing bo.peep and blnd.man's buff
Let US now look at the great end which, ts advo
Gates declare, is to be attained by the adoption OF this
measure There is much apparent sincerity the zeal
with which II Is asserted that by denying the right TO the
people oil the Territory 10 dispose OF this whole question
by government OF their own choice, make their
don analogous % that OF our colonial ancestors, and
against which they rebelled and that this view of the
involves great principle. which every American
czen holds sacred and, uher, that by conerrDg upon
them this power, adopt the only practicable mode OF
aayng, finally and eHecually all further agitation OF
the slavery question But SIR The idea that this bill
fers this right even amended, all delusion 1t
is utterly iallaclous from beginning TO end
Mr. Chairman. answer 10 all this will now proceed
show by the other express provisions OF the bill ITSELF
that, even II adopt this measure, we after all deny
these people almost every attribute OF sovereignty, and
multiply the chances Tor agitation and excitement thou.
sand fold
There three, and only three departments of govern.
men recognised By American constiluton-lhe
i've the judicial, and the legislative In two Of these
Departments o the government you propose to create by
this bill you ehecnally deprive the people Of all par
ticrauon 10 the appointment of their officers you do
the very slaves you send among them. Both the exeeu.
tive and judicial departments you dispose OF, and make
the officers (Which in the States call the servants OF
the people, The mere creatures OF the executive power Of
the United States, by provisions like The following The
4 twelfth section OF the bill commences thus:
.9nd be further enacted That the governor seere-
my, chief jHee, and associate Justices, rney aud
matshs shall be nominated, ard by aud with the advice
add consent Of the Senate appointed by the President o
the United Staes."
And bow is II with the Legislative power OF the Ter.
rloryp II true you confer upon the people the
shadow Of sovereignty 10 the election Of the members OF
the legislative assembly, aud uron that assembly the
torn Of legislative power but, then, al Tell swoop,
you depve both o them oi the vety soul and substance
OF both, BY suecng all their acts TO the veto o the Ex
ecutye, and The determination OF the judiciary thus ap.
pointed
Il r.ik -, n.tt -. - u. a. - .