Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-07

Ell as an independent Safe. We had r,
CO Jnize,i her independence; and we migl
As we'll taken into our Government an
Power on the face of the earlh, aud on
b,rked our fortunes with them. as vii
Texas. Was there any other way |
t. 81 with foreign iudeperd mt Stat,
except through the treaty making powt
mentioned in The Constitution OF the Uni
ted States? CnUld you, by a joint res
luton # Congress, do that which III
Constitute had provided should be don
by treaty2 | know that YOU tried u d
it IN constitutional way. When il wa
first proposed, there was no man so bol
or so reckless as 10 suppose it could b
done in any other way Than by the exer
else of the treaty making power by tn
President, by and with The advice an
consent of The Senate, it requiring tvs
thirds tn ralify the act. 1t was foun
hat that would be impossible. 1t wa
found hard 10 procure majority here &
assist in doing the deed, much less coul
YOU muster two thirds; and the darlin;
project must have fliled without viola
tan of the Constitution of the Unitet
Sales.
But, Ike every other attempt you make
Constitution or no Constitution, your am
i,iiion must be gratifisd; slavery must b
upheld at all hazards; and come wha
may, hsr will is law. Cotton is king, ant
many of you are lords of cotton. You
brought into competition with the poliii
cal power of the free States, vast slave
holding region, with the stipulation Iha
Sou nigh, make it into five States, anC
thus bring ten Senators here TO face dowr
and vote down the free Senators of the
North. 1t was vast acquisition. L
vas in derogalion of our political rights
and We had right TO complain of it. II
II had been sought for The general good
of the nation, if it had been contended
that IFS object was TO inure 10 the general
benefit, that would have done something
towards extenuaIing the iniquity OF the
deed; but that was not even pretended.
If you look at Mr.. Upshur's letter, you
viii find the object stated; if you look al
Mr. Calhoun's communication at the time
you will find that, with a boldness ard
direciness Characteristic of The man, he
places il upon the ground that it is 10 ex-
Tend and strengthen the institution of sla
very.
But | pass over that. Texas had been
a free country. Under the Just rule OF
Mexico, recently acquiring her own lib
eTiy, she could nor, with a hypocrisy
characteristic of Older Governments, fail
10 accord liberty 10 all her people. She
had, by her decree, before this region
was seized upon by US, abrngated the in
of slavery through al her bor-
bers. Texas was seizsd by our agents;
the seizure connived al by Ihe Govern
menl; she was re-ensiaved; and then, in
the language Of the time, re-annexed to
TINS Government.
The next great and fragrant aggression
upon the rights of Inc North, upon the
h 'ror of the Norih, upon the pride of the
North, was forcing upon us your accurS.
I'd fugitive bill, as badge of servitnde
and sabIection. Following US into every
hole and corner Of the North, you cannot
go where you may not find the fugitive
hunted within our own borders and TO our
own doors. We cannot teach the great
lesson of freedom to our children without
being in danger of having this accursad
act come III conflict with all our teach.
ings. If northern man endeavors TO
impress his posterity with The glorious
Did doctrines of The Revoluiion-if he
TO teach them that all men
Ire equal-the first thing he may know
S marshal dragging man back to sIa.
very, for no crime that he has committed.
Sir, those that live in the slave regions
know not, and cannot appreciate, the feel
ngs of outrage and indignation conse-
lueni upon Witnessing an act like this.
do not claim that it comes in violent
with any of our pecuniary inter-
sis; but it is badge Of inferioriiy, of
'ervitude, in violation of our principles,
hat free people cannot tolerate, and
'ught not 10 tolerate, for moment The
I'D law was bad enough; but the new
ne was not only more rigid, but it trans.
;ended and violated the Consultation of
he United States in many particulars
hat might easily be pointed out.
But you were not content with all this.
The tame and easy servlity of the North;
ur ready acquiscence in these aggres,
ions. | have 10 doubt, tended 10 invite
he more serious aggressions of a still
ater period. Now, sir, we approach
noIher and greater aggression; for these
upon northern rights are
n direct proportion 10 our easy forbear-
nee towards injustice. They now begin
D come upon US thick and fast and more
erlous still, until the whole country is
harmed at the prospect of despoiism now
hunderlng al our very doors. Next was
he bold, reckless-altampt shall | say:
%, the perpetraiion of the perfdious ma
ional, or rather sectional act of the alb
ogaiion of the old Missouri restriction.
know ii has been harped upon enough;
is thoroughly understood by our people, |
nd The Indignation Of all just men rises
proportion TO the enormily OF he acr. I
here was no pallialion; there was no
xcuse for it. The ingenuity of man
as never yet been able to coniure up
eason that would cover The enormity of
lat wicked and unjusiifable act. You
ay the restriction was unconstitutional.
will not argue that point. know il
as constitutional, because the principle
it had the sanction of all the great
ghts of constitutional law for more than
evenly long years. Every department
the Government had sanctioned it as
constitutional act. The greatest jurisis
! The land had SO pronounced it-men
hose prejudices were all the other way.
'uthern gentlemen who would have been
ad TO find an excuse in the constitution
abrogate or get rid of it. Mr.. Calhoun,