The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-11

: whether, as Congress had fixed five wears as
the probationary period of citizenship f I
aliens, it was constitutional for the States to
confer the right ofsuffrage on any aliens unless
they had fulfilled this period. Some of the
Southern Senators disclaimed by any oppo-
f siton to the bill on the ground that Mime
{, sofa was to be free State; others occupied
a different position.
Mr. Thompson, of Kentucky, did not at
. tempt to disguise his feelings Il am not,
as Southern man." he said, " going to vote
J to help them to bludgcon u.s." He referred
to the changes in the new State delegations,
wrought by FreeSoilism. There was the
: faithful Senator from California, (Mr. Well
er,) struck down. There was his venerable
friend from Michigan, (Mr. Cass,) who had
nobly wthstood the instructions Of his
Lesislature-he too had fallen in the mad
ness of the hour. His col eague would soon
follow in the in the same way-and so would
his friend Mr.. Jones) from Iowa, notwith-
standing the land grants for lis State he had
procured at the last session. There was
quite enough Of that influence Gree Sold in
the councils Of the nation He proceeded
, to argue that, under the Treaty by which
we acquired Louisiana, Minnesota was really
slave territory, and Southern men now had
a right to carry their slaves there. The
truth was, the equilibrium in theSenate was
already destroyed the free States were
ahead of the slave States. Admit this Min
nesota, and you will have arrogant, assum-
ing, rictcntious, free soiliSl! and Democrat
ic Senator's"
Il have said that | want no Minnesota
Senators here. Minnesota is Territory be-
longing to us, and we have the power to
MAKE all needfu rules and regulations for it.
Instead OF taking into partnership and full
fellowship all these outside Territories and
lost people of Gods earth, would say. let
lis take them II we must DO it. and rule
them as Great Britain rules AtIghanistan,
ilindostan, and all through the Punjaub.
making them work for you as you would
work negro on cotton or sugar plantation.
do not like the business Of buyine land
and paying tor 1t out of our money. and then
sell ng 1t out under price. or giving it away
to these people.
" have read the clause of the Constitu-
ton and the article of the treaty with France
and II were in the Supreme Court, would
decide that this was all Slavcholding Terri
tory would say that it should remain
siaveholding Territory until Free-Soilism
died out like Mi!lerism and Mormonism
should be willing to reconsider the vote by
which this bill was passed but know that
VI that he done. shall not succeed! in LAYING
1t On tie table If the proposition that
nobody bit American citizens shall vote is
to Ill it, will go in for that as it rather
suits my feelings"
Mr.. Thompson renewed his attack on sim
liar grounds at 4 subsequent stage Of the
proceedings, but it is needless to quote fur
ther-enough is before our readers to show
the aatm"s at this speech, and, let us add
the rea! meaning Of the opposition Of the
Slaveholdng members
The speech of Mr.. Douglas in reply was
able and spirited. One passage in it will
show his position in relation to the equiIib-
rmm demand of the Richmond Enquirer and
other leading Democratic papers of the
South
Mr.. President, why should we get into
sectional contest here between the North
and the South? Is it to he struggle to
keep up an equilibrium between non shaving
and Slaveho'ding States Sir, deny the
power of this Government to maintain any
equilibrium on the subject. 1t is contrary
to the principles of the Constitutional is
contrary to the principles of the Nebraska
Bill-it Is contrary to the principles of the
Democratic Party-it is contrary to the
principles Of State equality and self govern
ment, to attempt here to keep an equilibrium
between nOn-slaving and slaveholding States.
in order that they may balance each other
Each State has the right to do as it pieases :;
and tell the Senator from Kentucky that
he has no more right to insist upon having
Slavery tolerated il, Minnesota, than have
to insist upon having Slavery abolished in
Kentucky. He would be driven Immediately
to resistance, to revolution, before he would
permit this Congress, or any other power
outside Of the State of Kentu ky, to inter-
tere with her domestic and local institutions
to tell her whether she should use slave
or free labor. Then why attempt to inter
iere with any other State, or amy other Ter
ritorY or community. upon that very subject
| on which lie is SO sensitive. within the limits
Of his own State!'
Mr.. Butler, of South Carolina, did not c.
on'in agree with his friend from Kentucky.
(Mr. Thompson.) but that gentleman had
gone very far in a few words to present
the ideas lie NJ. Buter) entertained on the
subject -
81 Lave 10 donbt," said Mr.. Butler, "that
this vote will be reconsidercd, and that it is
a fpregonc conclusion. This may be, and
think it will lie, q Commonwealth, quite as
g0oda some Of the old ones, in which fanati-
cism is burning to tie very bitter ashes of dis
polntmcnt. | am sorry to say it for | be-
heye If | Were to utter one sentiment more
than another it is that the time will come
when the old Atlantic Statcs-the old tbir
teen-w!l find that they have committed
the greatest mistake they ever committed
i'll life, in allowing miserable issues to sepa-
rate them. | believe. sir, that the time will
come when those men who are now contcn,l
ing with almost an internecne spirit. one
against the other, will find that they have
committed suicide.
But, sir, that is looking into the future
and when the curtain of the future is thrown
before me: have no right to look beyond it:
cannot look beyond it, You are voting
for this measure, not because your States
recognize it as principle, but because Won
think it gives you power. That is the truth
oft; and II does give you power I rote for
L on tie grOp't1 that l cannot resist II. differ
with my friend from Kentucky. | have no
right 70 resist the admission of new State.
lave always had my doubts whether the
admission Of rev States into this Confedra-
cy would perpetuate the Union, or was an
element to dissolve it,
Mr.. Brown OF Mississippi, was vehement
in his appeals against reconsideration. He
invoked the Democratic Party to save the
country from ruin
"Look at the other side Of the Chamber
and You do not find a solitary member of
that party commonly called the Black Re-
publican party-but which I call simply the
Republican party-wbo does not vote for
this proposition. The Senator from New
Hampshire [Mr. Halel comes forward to-day,
and does US the favor to say that be voted
for the proposition the other day, simply that
he might have the opportunity to Go what
he has done-movc a reconsideration; that
he, isolating himself from his rarty-that he
the Senator from New Hampshire, voted
with us on this side of the question, having
in his minds eye at the moment to move
this reconsideration. Now, sir, the whole
body of that party come up in solid phal-
anx, and vote to reverse the decision which
we rendered two days ago. 1 know not
whether we are, here, more under the infiu-
ence or foreigners or Black Republicanism !;
but know this, that we are under some
sort of influence which causes US to change
our Judgment very suddenly"
Tho fret vote taken was IN consdor;np