The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
pEEou OF nov. RoBER ToomBs,

n he oil to organize the Territories Of Nsbnska and
IKansss
N. TooMBS said
I'M President and Senators: Being somewhat ndisposed,
Iry be difficult for TO enter upon the discussion OF
gsson before you to-day bat being DESTROYS that
Al not be delayed, sha proceed 70 offer consid-
/ lons in favor Of the bill upon your table
come 10 the consideration of this bill with heart filled
gratitude 10 The Disposer OF human that, after
rhicts Of than The Third of century, this great
ion has found its solaiou not in temporary expedenis
aying sectional dscord, but in the principles Of
onstitutou, and upouthe foundation of justice and rgh,
III form The on true baBis of fraternity and of national
ord In the Argument which propose to submit,
ld initiate the great Athenan orator, who never adj
sed an assembly Of his oounteymen without praying 10
gods Of his country at he should utter no word that
ht tring dscre, upon the cnuse OF truth INJURY TO
interests Of his eouhiry. There has been marked
ferenoe in the mode of dis ussng this great question
obied by its udvoc ties and It's friends have heard no
kglment that would stand The of nationality which
build be addressed TO mixed assembly of my coun'rymen,
bonn the opponent of the bill and have heard none from
friends that night not he Addressed TO American citizens
kerywhere, North and SOUTH, except 10 freesoiers and
oronis;s, who se and move ana nave 'heir being eng
LIcal hopes sectional anogonism The fiends OF the
Measure place their support OF upon It's conformity TO the
Sns1tion, 10 the great American principle OF popular
veegnty, and upon the absolute requirements OF political
scc and equality. II is, demanded as measure OF
sice the South though such IS It's eect but IS de-
anded obedience 10 those sound, catholic, ma
Ronai principles
h, and iree-so.ers and udcrously exhibited in Their
antc rarings against the friends of the measure North and
oulh Writing undes this great fact the sennior IRON
Massachusetts and his coat derates only traduce the
ea of the South and he institutions, but pour forth tie
interest OF their troubled eoqaence against those
enaors and other czens from The non-savehoidng States
tho dare The rights of American ireemen, and
Irr from them this question. II appears, from The
peech the from Massachusetts that all such are
white slaves whose manhood has been debased and en-.
ysed by the irresistible attractions of the Save power
Diners who have Joined him the same side of the sut-
c have declared that executive patronage, and other
gnobe motives and not the great question ITSELF control
hese northern gentlemen hat, III my Judgment Is libel
pon the Moth But If il true, this the argument
(which they otter change our Institutions, and 10
bring us The adoption of theirs IN ih, sead' But SIR,
nave said that ilbc upon the North; and recent
events have furnished The conclusive proof that is
! bel upon them.
What, sir have within the last twelve months
large body of American iresmCn IN the State OF New
York belonging TO the dominant party of them hold
ng Office under the administration, refusing 10 unite with
aud aboonsts the enemies OF the country
and surrenderng Office iaher than surrendeng their prG-
aples This sublime Of national patriotism, Of dsn-
|uested truth for its own sake We have all seen
PASS before eyes within the last Twelve months, and we
have backed by one hundred thousand freemen OF
New York say then that am justified in saying that
The senator this charge beer of his own eoW-ci-
,ens of the North. SIR, neither the North nor the South
can ruthfuy make boast of Ireland that she pro-
duced reptile Under The exubersnce of institutions
even reptiles viii spring up, and may be safely allowed TO
crawl on al smothefed IN their own slime.
Senator's you may disguise question Will; you
y
cuses for your opposition u 1t but Is precisely the old
naked question: OF whether is right and expedent or not
for Congress TO restrict slavery IN the leiross ana inc
States Applying for admission into the Unon That Is the
question: Ii The sole question. Gentlemen have talked
bou compacs, sacred compacts, inviolahe compacts,
Asding upon the naoral honor shall advert 10, and
nm nent upon this point order; but will stop
inquire who those who would now teach us lessons
Of personal OF national hsnor Sir they are men whom
oats bind ns can restran-nen who des-
and ape under foot the constitution when comes
INTO conflict with their personal obectsnen who have
stood ia moral completely with treason, arson, and murder
from the day that the fgve slave law became the law OF
the hnd even this hour.
These are our teachers Of honor One of them the hon
orable from New YORK, MIR. SEWARD who, as
governor OF that State TO support the solemn COM
pact the constitution of the United States failed TO perform
that duty upon the ground rather pretense that slave
could be The subectmatter Of feionious aspoanon
Compscts constitutional compacts, cannot bind them.
These are our of honor and Of the invoabhy OF
acred compacts What do hey understand Of compacis
think of the northern States OF this Union, against
the popular WILL against the American sentiment which be-
gins widen and spread and deepen throughout all Our
borders ignoinious compaets have been made" coai-
tonsn tnnk they call tnom-by which the Offices OF
great commonwealth baered and sold for the sake of
senjing man TO this door who does represent Mass
chuse compact odious and hagitious as to
Justly amenable the low morality Of the common law
These are gentlemen who talk about sacred comparts
But agaio the honorable from New York, Mr.
from Massachusetts Mr. SuNsER,l and from
Ohio [Mr CHASE their speeches on this hoor, declare
lhee and will carry out even this compact
which they commend 10 our hoDor ics, SIT, Win o
dostution all shame they declare the eighth section Of
Of 1890 solemn compact between the North and
South that extends oil the territory ecqured from
France the Louisiana purchase, and then declare they
viii prohbi, slavery all the territory of the United States
excepting chat portion Of the Louisiana territory lying
south OF sc deg 80 min. They call compact and sEow
their readiness violate il Ia this e them read their
but snotner's degradation.
In the upon which about enter tits my
purpose TO show
st That the bill upon your table is constitutional and
~, ,hs rofCs
ID That makes wise, just, and proper disposition Of
the question Of slavery.
Sd That the eighth section Of the Of 1890 unconsu-
tional UNEQUAL aid unjust that compact,
obligatory anybody, and therefore ought to be re-
pealed and,
Ath shal cndea vor 10 show that the question assumed
by the senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUssER that
propose the established policy of the fathers Of
the republic holly without foundson and sustained
by either principle authority.
That the provision affecting slavery contained in the
bill does violate the Of the United States,
believe, admit ed all hands We have differed, and
offered greatly the power Of Congress legsae either
upon side the other Of this question gentlemen
from the Norm aysr OF resurrection, whether 10 the form
of the Of 1885, Il h. sometimes called, some
times the Missouri restucon sometimes the Wimot pro-
while they claim The power to restrict do not contend
that imperative while the greater nuabsr
both the South and the North, who wholly dery the
power slavery the Territories u she
republic the omission egsate against It, which
the bill docs m obedience the imperative commands Of
the constitution itself
Mr. Presdent the main difficulty and difference between
this and similar Questions the starting
poBhe very basis Of the constitutional construction, anu
um he school OF poltics which respectively belong
fhote Of the republican PARTY hold that fs government ~
one Of hunted powers and Is entitled . do nothing which
- not expressly authorized by the constitution, plainly
IN rarrp GRANT rgtyrr hen