Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-29

Il
ton of that good faith which vas implied in
tne cession, and in the acceptance of the ter.
| tNory nor, unless compensation wers made
70 the slaves, without a manifest ipfrinsement
an amendment OF Che Constitution az the
Shieea states; nor without exciting a degree
JUST alarm and apprehension in the States
I;nnn'ng slavery, far transcending. in mis-
would be accomplished by the sho,;,;on -
congressional Globe, vol. 6, page 5sl
Ine utter iasuficiency of this tarn nor;,;n9
| ene NJ scarcely need be pointed ont Oh
| Jec'ionaoie as IL was In conceding 10 ConOress
me constitutional power to abolish slavery in
@ .ne district oil Coiumb bis, and declaring against
| the exercise OF that power only on the ero,nS
| Of inexpediency, it was still more 40 p ,h;s
that it made no reference whatever 10 IN. tar'
rltories of the United States The nas.s o. of
Mr. Calhouns resolution would have eom-
mitted the Senate, not only against the aboIi.
tiou Of slavery in the District of Columbia.
but also against the application of the Viii,
mot Proviso and kindred measures, to the ter
ritories. Mr. Clays amendment was entirely
silent on the subject. 1t is true, that ia an.
other resolution which be proposed 10 have
adopted as an additional amendment, II was
declared that the abolition of slavery in the
Territory Of Flerida would be highly ,n,g
pedient, principally for the reason 6that II
would be In violation Of q solemn compromise
made at memorable and critical period in
the history OF this country, by which, while
slavery was prohibited nerth, It was admitted
south OF the line of tnirty-six degrees thirty
minutes north latitude" The defect in the
hrst amendment can hardly be considered bv
Southern men as remedied by another which
recognized the binding force of the Missouri
compromise
On the question to strike out Mr.. CaIbou,,s
resolution, and insert Mr.. Clsy's as an amend
ment, after 1t had been modified by striking
out the part relating 70 the compensation for
slaves, the vote stood-yeas 10, nays Is.
Congressional Globe, vol 6, page 62j Mr..
6"chanGn'S s name stands recorded in tasaf.
frntattve.
On a subsequent occasion, Mr.. CaIhou,
with view to infuse vitality into Mr.. Claws
amendment, moved TO insert th at any attam,t
OF Congress to abolish slavery in any of the
territories, would be a dangerous attack
upon the States in which slavery exists. Mr.
buchanan opposed the amendment-and il
was IN reply to his speech that Mr.. Calhoun
made the remarks which may be found in the
third volume Of his works, pages 1874 10 Ie6.
and which he commenced by saying that s.tbe
remarks of the Senator from PennsyIvania
were Of such a character that be could NOT
permit them to pass in silence''
From these votes, and this language Of Mr..
Buchanan, il is clear:
LIST. That ne was not opposed to the reli-
cies of agitation which Mr. Calhoun inside
regarded as more fatal than any other
I'd That he recognised the constitutional
PoTsr OF Congress to abolish slavery in the
District OF Columbia, opposing its exercise
only on the ground of its inexpediency-a DO
stion which the position of Mr.. Van Buren,
ern institutions
81. That he refused to commit hiuiseif fully
on the great question as TO the power Of Con-
grsss over the Territories of the United States.
and as Tar as he did 60, evidently left il to be
y y Understood that the abolition Of slavery by
Congress, in those Territories, would be . no
attack on the States in which it exists
, Ii his opinions, in these respects, have uu-
lergone any material change, the country
has not yet been authoritatiyely apprised Of
he fact. The reflections cast by hiiseeches
nstftu.lon Fan, 0f slavery, in enc design he has
70 ahu h. ,n nnloof from the excitement
growing on, Ur the repeal Of the Missouri
ore not well calculated to inspire
my change, it has been a change for the
,etter.
If, then, in the coming canvass for the Pres
dency the principles Of the Kansas Nebraska
bill are to be sustained by the Democratic
that is necessarily so-with what
whose votes and speeches, in conflict with
those principles, constitute portions OF the
public records of the country, within the
reach of our opponents, and not to be denied,
,r explained away? In my judgment, should
the Cincinnati Convention put Mr. Buchanan
in nomination, it will place the Democratic
party in an untenable position, expose II to
assaults, from which, under the lead Of ano-
ther man, it would be free, and endanger the
which a wise choice Of a candidate
is all that is needed to render a thing certain.
MISSISSIPPI DEMOCRAT.