The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. J. A. qUITMAN,
OF MISSISSIPPI,

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On the powers of the government with regard to the Ter
ritories delivered in the House of Representatives,
December Is, 1856.
The House having under consideration the question of
ferng the Presidents message to the Committee OF the
Whole the state of tho Unon and the printing OF ten
thousand copies thereof
| Mr. QUITMAN said:
Mr. SrnAxER when rose on yesterday, it was my in
tention merely to explain my position two points of
the pending discussion; but since have the hoor this
morning. by the courtesy OF the House. and have had
night reflect upon the subject shall avail myself more
fully of the opportunity and devote the allotted hour to
such notice of the various questions involved in this debate
the Presidents annual message as my limited time Will
permit
The most striking feature of this debate consists in the
differences Of opinions which exist not only between the
several political parties represented on this hoor but TO
extent between members OF the same party, on
the subject of the relations which the Territories and their
inhabitants bear towards the federal government and to-
wards the States This arises sometimes from erroneous
conceptions of the theory of our government and more
frequently from the attempt to apply rules OF action to
particular cases. without reference any theory whatever
is my purpose therefore, to go back to the fountain
opinion While shall endeavor to present my views OF
the true theory Of political system, know that
must do it briefly, and confne myself to mere glance OF
And here let me premise that, although desrous Of
Fastening to the confederation Of that subject feel IT
proper to notice IN passing one or Two 9aep poi1s o.
message with regard to the present aspect of the slavery
question In my opinion that able document on this sub
against all the assaults that be made upon it. regard
well-timed and its conclusions strictly correct
Had before entertained any doubts of the ultimate
aims and objects of the antsavery, selfstyed repub
lcan party the developments which have been made in
this discussion would have removed such doubts The
President speaks boldly but with due caution for one
endorse his language Yet do not to say that you
Mr. Speaker Others here of your party directly propose
in the words Of the President ito effect change in the
relative condition of the white and black in the slave
holding States" mean to say that the avowed objects
Of your political association would should you become
successful lead to such result and mean to further
what will dare to contradict that there are many
distinguished members of the ant-savery party, consti
tung the very soul of that party who have openly de-
cared that their great purpose the ultimate destruction
of the institution of African slavery ntertwined as It
with the social systems of fifteen sovereign States of this
Union Your platforms it is true have not threatened d.
rect interference the affairs of the southern States No
party dares do that The North the whole North dares
directly assa the institution in the States Were the
North to make such attempt under our present system
of government would not stoop to argue the point
with contempt and ridcue and SUCH Mr. Speaker would
be your and that of your political riend the
combined South to assal any essential domestic policy
which you gentlemen Of the North think fit to entertain in
your social systems
Believing that it be very clearly shown that negro
slavery it exsis in the South has not only been hith
of the chief of national prosperity
but is and must continue to be- element Of moral and
military strength have been disposed, with some
timd politicians to shrink from the discussion of these
questions when obtruded upon by the ignorant or de-
signing But during the present debate such discussion
is unmporant; it, is, at least not the real issue. The
practical question whether the slavehodng States and
the inhabitants Of those States not entitled to
equal participation not merely in portion of the ad
vantages of system government but in all those adj
vantages in all acts of legislation, in all places al
ways, and everywhere well within the limits Of the
spectve States in the Territories the property
OF all the Staes-whether repeat, shall not have
equal participation in every right beth direct and coat
er which may be incident to the equality Of tho States
We claim the privilege of equal competition for political
power in the government unrestraned by the action of
that We claim the right Of expansion as
hereafter require ebow-room to guard against the
possibility that system of labor, benefcent and
productive might from redundant slave population
fined to limits become ultimate evil We claim
peace and tranquility from this war Of hatred malice and
| uncharitableness
United States for the bold clear and manly in which
he has rebuked this ansavery organization Instead Of
meeting this insdious and ill-disgused upon the
South with weak efforts at concation and compromises
he has repeed the enemy with open defiance like the
temper in which this is done and my Judgment approves
the policy of such course The principles of this sectional
antslavey organization leave middle ground for
i cesson compromise. There is halfway house for
tmid me-servng politicians The principle must be
squarely met with its direct converse 1t sa battle for
victory death. In this struggle either you must con-
quer and crush must succeed in defending the
rights and privileges of our section AS the contest
stands tits war to the knife You are the aggressors
you have brought about this ISSUE aware that the
leaders of the back-repubcan paryI qualify the term
to distinguish this organization from the republican
party Of Jeersons day am aware say, that the lead
of black repubicanism have studiousy denied the
charge of aggression To meet their denial 1t s enough
to point to the broad basis Of their party, which, am
ready TO admit deserves the designation of great" ap
piled to by their orators and presses 1t s unfortunate
ly great in its numbers great in its power for evil and
more than ALL great in being founded upon widespread
sentiment of hostility to slavery Upon that sentiment
Mr. Speaker and not upon the Kansas act upon the
repeal of the Missouri restriction rests your political
power and that of your party That sentiment, incuca.
ted in your schools and in your churches for quarter Of
century, is the cement which unes dscordant political
elements and constitutes the grand basis Of the organza
tion of black republicansm Even had this party never
rendered political issues adopted political PLATFORM il
would still deserve the ebuke of the President for the wal
Of opinion which, from its constitutional elements 1t wages
against the social systems of the South That alone under
sesses much influence would the fruitful seeds OF
alienation of feeling between the sections and would
therefore, lead to eventual separation.
There is another point in this dscussion Mr. Speaker
upon which must not forget TO touch While express
ing my hearty concurrence with the views of the Pre
dent the slavery question, win not conceal my regret
that cannot also commend the course OF the adminstr
ton in regard to Central American affairs.
listened yesterday with much pleasure to the eoquen
remarks Of the gentleman from Alabama Mr. WALKER OF
that part Of the message which refers these matters
of the views presented by him concur. The policy
which has generally been pursued by government il
relation Central America has been too narrow too timd
and too much warped by European diplomacy My judg
ment and my heart have always responded to the nob
before Congress the recognition of the young
publcs then sprngng into existence southern bor
der and the proprety of adopting penal laws to RESTRAIN
our citizens from aiding those republics to their in
dependence But having fully presented my opinions
this subject in speech delivered during the last REGULAR