The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-06
IN CONGRESS- OF THE o. STATES
NoNpAY. FEARuARr ! 60



thai slae IN Coagres . vott 0r and their best exef
t0ns 70 Troct the passage 81 act Of Congress n pro-
hf the iutroauc0h existence al slavery in tic Teri-
tories q TIE Inised States and especially In Kansas and
Nebraska; Aad also srprting them 10 yofe for the
peal o The fugyeawe law, containing provisions of
doubttal oonstuiioalits and which rpnFnant % the
moral seEss q the people q The free siAtss
The resol utDns having been read,
Mr.. CASs ssid Mr. President il i now some years
since the legislature q Michigan instructed he delegation
Of thai State n Congress for TIE histo
caly known lhe Wnm0t Fg0visotis Introduction a
slavery in tina Triiories 81 the United took the
earliest opportunity in my power n some remarks made
here IN conneAion with the general subject Of congressional
Jurisdiction those political communities
the course intended parsuA AS my convictions Of
strurtion hFownd tins determination g ms
this body whenever should be called upon by itE pro-
oeedings 70 take my pAr7 IN The decision Of the qHesioa
hle profassng nv adherence THE general doctrine
said am believer in The right Of Instruction when
fairly exercised and under proper circumstances There
limitations upon this exercise bu1 need seek
tain their extent apFcaticn for they do
nv present position acknowledge the obligation Of the
Instructions have received dc ANY further scon how
ever my part became unnecessary by the repeal of the
resolutions measure which adopted With much
unaninfy by the legislature and approved bY 8 VAST
msjorify Of the people OF The State.
And thus has the subject rested undstnred M within
few days the delegation Of Michigan Congress having
been left follow the dictates Of their conscience and nag
in relation this whole Quite reoepily
however change has taken place The democratic party
in the State has lost It's ascendency and party with
different views and may add in any respects with dis
cordant ones having obtained possession nf the legislative
power the resolutions which have just been read the
result Of lis action and cal upon me well upon the
other members of the delegation for deprving
American citizens in the Territories "a the power fp ren
late the most important Of their domestic
that Of the relnton between and servant and for
the repeal 0f The existing fuginVlaFe passed 70 give
effect to solemn guarantee o the constitution. As per-
eptoriy decline to do either, and intend retain ay
place necessary in my rindieatGn before the -
pie Of the State whom desire respectfully address from
the seat which here occupy by their favor and kindness
thst should now DO what was not required 10 DO ON tse
former occasion ascertain the limitations upon the right
Of instruction To speak perhaps with precision,
the extent Of the duty of obedience far
my present position And have say sir that The cir
cuTasances In which the power pass these resolutions
originated constitute of the very which occurred
the time these words Of caution spoken
restricting the obedience Of the representative The prae
ca question briefly stated is this Has political party
whenever ascends 10 power by whatever combinations
the right pass resolutions which its opponents in egs-
ave trusts bound 10 obey, prevented from obsy
on The consequences OF gach rule of actlon TOO
Obvious TO need detailed examination and serious
be incurred without pressing necessity Into this body il
would introduce changes radically affecting iis orgsaiza
ton and incompatible with the objects of its Institution
the representative branch The soreregnfy the States
IL would lose every characteristic OF ranence lH MEM
bers gcing out year by year. political fluctuations might
transfer power froa party another for III all times
would il be easy TO select questions tor TINS process of
rDova which hpnesl of opposite party could
support Sot az these constitutional aud others
~ inferior 10 neutrality-suspicious. involving ioints Of policy
forming The landmarks of the dehatabe ground where
struggles hare always heretofore taken pace That tins
power would be used abused indeed for this purpose
viii deny. The excfenents of the past
what the future would bring with and that the disad
vantage would he The share o tbs democracy certain for
ii is well understood that in the creed Of opponents
instructions carry with them neither the duty osF
the obligation resign The wig senators WHO have
occupied seats III this body from Michigan one Of them my
immediate predecessor and The other my colleague during
portion d frsi term Of service honorable and dstin-
gushad ctzens both disarowea the obligation inEtruc
and both refused. 0fey
the expressed VIII OF the legislature conveyed them by
its resolutions And believe their views in confor
miv with the opinions Of their party in the State
called upon discuss the general doctrine All
seek is explain why Acknowledged the obligations Of
the former Instructions and deny thc o the present
And when deny the power of ih existing malorty of the
legislature pf Michigan composed Is 81 political opo
nents whose efficient bond of union Is antaguDism 10 the
democracy instruct out Of office fe thar my Oh
iec accomplished presume there NOS member Cd
the general assembly whose viii i nbodled IN that doc
u1nent who dia know that human consideration
would induce to support the whie find such
favor in their eyes SO far respects mgfeL il WAS the
vacation Of the office that WAS hoped for
Mr. President strange doctrines ahroaa aud strange
organizations employed promulgsse and enforce
them Our political history contains such chapter n
the progress Of country that whieh open
ing The grave questions of ccnstitutionay and policy
which have been long the battle-ry Of parties
tenptaousy rejected and intolerance religious and polt
cal finds jealous and il may be they viii prove succeszfE
advocates this middle OF she nineteenth century hotng
with mnch seoompaneFcg Q IT'S inieigencf and n tins
perons and powerful by toleraton II syss Of pro-
serItiou which would exclude Che FIRST general who feH
81 the beAd Of organized American arfny-3nd neby
and gallRntly aid be fail while fighting for infant m
er1ss under the walls uf Qnebec4rom all political ccnh-
aence because he happened 10 he born ON the wrong
side of The Atlantic and would exclude also the last
surviving signer ~ the Declaration Of Independence
from ev similar token regard because be Catbo
iie these eminent lenders revolutionary cause
living witness this appeal 20 local and sectaftan
preiudloes But Montgomery and Carroll went 10 their
graves with the weight sf sach ingrAftn1e upon Their
heA7s Two great pares equally attached 10 tire Franei
pies c government but differing apon many questions
of administration and alternately borne power and
driven from H. and whether place 81 il watching
each other with jealous scrutiny, present wise and ort
nate arrangement inr the a1ion Of freedom and if
guarding against the abuse of authority such ha8 been
condition and wen and wisely has its work been done
hat neE experiment il needed What does this
lafelr-awBktngd real PROPOSE As eoRntrF, In
possession Of everything the haart of desire
power ntsspee prosperity happiness abundance free
dom equality religion o God and the resT@et c unp
81 the esFaeatE tna which give value 10 socsa life
uurity duration o political blessings We
parties FlssfsrInS no new erganizatonns
and the these dangerous Efforts aanaUned fhe
bsftsr VIII i be or and those who to follow ng IN
this heritage m heeSom
Daring the process of constructing p2riy upon this
narrow hasF n exclusion humhly affecting kpow both
INK while resouty deferiDeG tc direct everything and
especially q constructing with prfncipes ~ orEeEEa-
ton not only N fsir operation tnt seeking Bnity
81 ac0r In individual conviction and resos 3ty,
hu n the sartn3er 81 the w u each The demSnds ~
those who gain the direction of the ass0eati7nsdurnE
fhE precea the puhI5c mind bs ii a fvsrish
upfrieBdlY calm delarAfon aad Hnaori1iss
acquired NJ rostnaons arising out q thus q thins
90 not ar under fhe fair and proper circumstances
whi1h declared is ssQ u Indispensable the nblgA
tory force o. legislative inEtrncti0ns