The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTT.SIy CONGRESS,
SEN HL -


notices also given.
Mr.. MAsoNs resolution now came up, and Mr.
Trumbull resumed his remarks, showing the impor-
ance OF the inquiry relative to the Sackng of the
arsenal at Liberty, Mo.
The seizure OF an arsenal recently is regarded as
matter OF great Importance, yet the President, in
his message never alluded to the seizure of the ar
Sena in Missouri.
A resolution adopted in March, 1856 calling
the President for all the information in the de-
partments relative to the affairs of Kansas vet the
report of Captain Leonard has never been sent TO
the Senate
Mr.. TRUMBULL then proceeded to reply to an in
quiry made by Mr.. Yulee, to lay down the princi-
pies Of the Republican party, reading their platform
and defending the doctrines therein contained
Mr.. SAuLsBURY inquired if the Constitution gave
power to establish slavery in the Territories
Mr.. TRUMBULL replied that it was a Constitution
of freedom-not ofslavery. The word slave don't
occur in it.
Mr.. YULEE said it appeared, then, that the whole
object of the Republican party was to exclude sa-
very from the Territories. He desired to know
whether the exclusion did not apply to the District
of Columbia and all the forts and arSenals which
under the exclusive jurisdiction Of the Federal
Government. How was it in the new States of the
Union?
For the logical sequence of this argument would
be, that slaves now illegally held in Louisiana,
Missouri and every other new State. He wanted
light these matters, for it was a serious question.
He quoted from the speeches of Mr.. Seward, to
show the dangerous sentiments he avowed to dis
tract the country and accomplish the overthrow of
the South.
Mr.. TRUMBUL1 replied that they call themselves
Republicans because they advocate the principles
of Jefferson If his party has made any departure
from those principles, he would condemn such de-
parture. The fathers of the Old Republican party
their models, from whom their principles were
taken. The very words in the platform to which
the Senator from Florida objected, written
by the hand of Jefferson.
Mr.. YULEE.-To create, and not destroy, free gov
ernment.
Mr.. TRUMBULL.-Yes, and we perpetuate free
government by maintaining the principles we ad-
vocate. The other party call themselves Democrats
when their legislation is all shaped for the interests
of the slaveholding arstocracv, comprising only
one out of sixty of the inhabitants Of the United
States
To say that the labor of the two sections of the
country was conflicting and irreconcilable was a
declaration of war; and hence the South were
alarmed and look to their defence. He earnestly
appealed to all patriots to put down reasonable
designs
In alluding to the remarks heretofore made bv
the Republicans, he said, armed men had been sent
South to kill their people and deprive them of
their property. Could the South be patient under
these circumstances, and could they be blamed for
taking means for their defence?
The doctrines of the Republican party is to
plant the seeds of revolution. That is platform
which it is impossible for the country to stand.
A Trojan horse has been introduced out of which
will issue armed enemies to destroy the existence
OF the country.
Mr.. TRUMBULL replied that the Republican party
had its origin in the question of slavery in the
Territories and that question was not settled be
cause the Democratic party had unsettled it. He
referred to the term "Bock Republican," which
had been often used
Mr.. YULEE said that the term "Republican" hav-
ing been originally applied to the party of the foun
ders of this government the present sectional par
ty had no right to appropriate it to themselves
without some qualification. He would not call them
'black," but he hoped they would see the proprie.
ty of adopting some qualifying term.
Mr.. 6ULEE.-TO create, and n It to destroy, free
government
Mr.. CLAY asked if the Senator recognized the
right to reclaim fugitive slaves in the territories
Mr.. TRUMBULL.-I do, under act of Congress
not under the fugitive slave act unless it is made
applicable to the territories.
Mr.. CLAY inqnrcd how he could reconcile the
discrepancy between the obligation to give all men
freedom and the countcrvai!ing right to reclaim
fugitive slaves
Mr.. TRUMRULL replied that the first was merely
the enunciation Of the Declaration Of Indepcn-
denCc; but our fathers did not undertake to carry
out their principles perfectly. Every government
was an encroachment, more or less, on the natural
rights of man.
Mr.. CLAY inquired whether the Senator thought
there were any circumstances under which crime
could be justified, excused or tolerated-for the
fathers Of the Republic themselves were saychold-
Mr.. TRUMBUII.-I do not call it a crime IN the
citizens Of the South to hold slaves
Mr.. CLAY.-Is not poygamy crime You have
classed slavery and poYgamy together in your
platform.
Mr.. TRUMBuLL.-It is a crime under some cir
cumstances | take it that is crime in Tur
key
Mr. CLAY (interrupting) Il thank you for that
concession in this Christian country.
,,Lar ,1n+;,,l. Ir ,t 70 ,..ss,anj =, 4 H. - -
G,nGr Oh, hatIohs @ 40 moe SO reafn " a." NOT rtS4pn %
held in the Snutharn states ibink II Is = wrong
bnt il i hett,r 70 ord,ro tbo, u,rrn, tl,,n t mn
dertake 70 rigbt if by Greater crime and Greater
evil
Mr. Cr,v Tbor -, 1r,,oI Li, j., tain
that riGbt and wrono are merely conventional and
depend on the laws Of society," and the tone and
moral sentiment of society.
Mr. TRUmuLL-Not entirely, although many
things are criminal or innocent accordiner TO cir
cumstancps When we speak of crime, we mean
some violation of the laws of the land There are
no laws against polypamv in Turkey and no laws
against slavery in the Southern States
Mr.. CLAY-Would not the taking of human life
without excusabe circumstances, be crime, were
there no law against it? And is not polygamv or
slavery equally regarded as crime under similar
circumstances?
Mr.. TRUMBuIL-The taking of human life un iuS-
tifablv would undoubtedly be a crime and a great
wrong in civilized community. do not know how
savages might regard it. In some cases where we
would not regard killing as iustiabe perhaps thev
would. And ali this thing Of holding persons in
slavery depends the circumstances of the people
who have the slaves | hold it as an evil but in
my judgment it is not a crime in every instance
have never so regarded it; and that is nv cxpla-
nation of the Declaration of Independence and the
enunciation of the same principle in this pIatform
of the Rpnublican partv Mr. r. denied that he
consdarad slaves n hn iIIegalI hold r the District
of CoInnobia 7''''
Mr prSW No ,.o, s,aal- for ,.,rrsoIf orI1 or
for yonr rart,9
NJ 49, P2 ,, -rri i r ,l, lola,
or tbe RonmbIicon n,rt,. os Irdcrsto,d bv r,,snIr
ond Nv tha ,noria af tho N"rtb,ost who aro
anu " t,e PoTp? " to ~ VI I 'ITvo' w" ',o
pm III c-o., o,,;o,,,,,1 ,..,. J., ,,,,,,Io.. .
Inc oenate auJourh heu over 10 ~ Nl"il''dN next
HoOSh oF hhf kEoEN lAllN Ed:
The House was opened with prayer thls morn
ing:
mr.. DAVIS, OF M'slssipPl rose 10 IhfNe a speech
when running discussion LION Plaee on .ne pehu
ing PioP"ei'Iun' ""o:ho' II ,: va: w c
speeches, as the previous question had heretofore
Veen %eianueo dnG sse"nJeW - G;. -, -"
AT; r CiS,h eSIuaion anu ~. %
rue CLhJ I - W. P"' s,'N I",.'' - ~
GS rl"Poseu, l; 'o ','',' rs ~,
ueclue q9eS'i""' VI '''e F'''''E '"0 e'e'''' vi
PW Ur,,,, obi,otod 70 q or,i,t, c;.i, ,Ioot.l
h.; . rn,or UorSg and Snbordinota nfIcor ma
;d;,a, ~ - W. at,, rl,' tho Lod P''
s'ui"R "FcI tle poui' !, ,ru
NJ "No"saSI Ieeu WIN .h'' Mllson anu "GuIu
NOT laNor d 'loia''on vi tie express Id" o' oon-
greSs' 49,. -.,,,.r
MT -'AfNA'D uileleu Irolh JUN Vi I''"se = tnI'e
men. ,.,,
ihe points OIL 9rTer were !ueh, wl!nuf@Wn' i,
Mf: DAsLS' Si MISSISSIPPI was IA .a4"t o. tle M
W 1" IL @ eo ;l'n o,,e
st ne, so and would make as many s3crfcas as anv
1 ~ r. a. % - 90 ~ T;on ~! nnt,,jtI,sta,,J; a..
h an ~ p ~ .Io Inin tbnrn ciJs ,t
than the Union itself lie insisted ON a strict obser
- - ~ ~ H., cnnstitutio, IN ordnr N socp,,a T.,