Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-28
Tbirtv-sixth Congress--second Session

} Thirty-sixth Congressional Session
MONDAY, DECEMBER "a, 1850.
SENATE.
Mr.. Fessenden introduced 4 bill to grant puo
lie land and loan the credit Of the government
to the Peoples railroad. Laid on the table and
ordered to be printed.
r STATE OF TIE NATION.
Mr. pueh, Of Ohio, QDcln.,) offered a joint
resolution in regard to holding 4 convention
for proposing amendments to the Constitution,
and requesting tie several States to call the
convention as soon as practicable. Referred to
the select committee Of thirteen.
Mr.. Bisler presented the proceedings of q
meeting Of citizens of Reading, Pennsylvania;
also, a bill to suppress the invasion Of one
State by another, etc. Referred to the select
committee.
Mr.. Douglas presented several amendments
to the Constitution. Ordered to be printed
and referred to the Select Committee.
TIE SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Mass, (Ecp.) introduced a
bill for the more ~clItctual suppression OF the
slave lradc.
This bill proposes to modify the Act Of 1920,
so rs to remedy the objections raised by Judge
Magrath, Of South Carolina. 1t makes the tit
tinS out Of slavers, like the sailing Of them,
piracy, and to facilitate the conviction OF slave
pirates on land or sea, by changing the penalty
from death to imprisonment for lie. 1t also
makes the display OF the American flag, is i
badge Of nationality, by not legally registered
American ships, felony, the penalty OF which
shall be the imprisonment Of the crew and the
forfeiture Of the vessel. It releases naval OIL
GERS from any legal responsibility for the cap
turc uf suspected ~slarers, and which are not
proved to be slavcrs in the Courts. 1t cnlarges
the powers and increases the duties of judicial
officers Of the United States in the examination
of ships intended to sail for ports in Africa,
and in the arrest and examination Of colored
persons imported in violation IF the laws OF the
country.
The hour Of one o'clock having arrived Il
question arose whether the Jill Tor tile adInlS-
sion of Kansas should be taken up, which was
the special order, or whether the Senate should
proceed to consider the resolution OF Mr.. John
son, OF Tennessee, as unfinished business. Mr..
Nicholson had the floor on the latter. The
question was settled by taking up the Kansas
bill and allowing the floor to Mr.. Nicholson.
SPEECH OF MR.. NICHOLSON.
Mr.. Nicholson, Of Tennessee, rose to speak:
He referred to the speech Of the Senator from
Ohio. (Wadc) and said that he Wade admitted
that he did not much blame the Southern peo-
ple as they believed that the North were their
enemies. The Republican party are RESPONSE
bic for this feeling. The Senator from Ohio
spoke the truth when he said that the South
believed that the North were their enemies,
but he (NichUlson) denied that this belief vas
brought about by any acts Of the Democrats OF
the North. Mr.. Nicholson here paid an clo-
ouent tribute TO the fidelity Of the Democrats
of the North, who lie said, had long and brave
" fought against sectionalisln. The belief OF
the South III the cpmity Of the North came
from the most reliable SOurCcS-irom the
speeches and writings Of the eminent men OF
the Republican party, in which he would eSpe-
cialiy include the Senator from Ohio, I" aie.J
The sentiments Of the Northern mind III
regard to slavery are not to be questioned. The
South entertain opposite opinions Oh the sub
ject, but say this should be no cause oil quarrel,
us the men who formed the Constitution held
antagonistic opinions, yet they agreed. But
what the South complains OF now Is that these
opinions were seized upon in 1896 10y The Ike
publican party, and made the basis OF u pol'tI'
cal struggle which has at last enabled them TO
seize the reins OF power. He (SlchoiSonl be.
lievcd that the first fatal stab at the UnIon was
made at Philadelphia in 1856 Mr.. Nicholson
here quoted from the platform of the Rcpnbll-
can party, in regard to slavery in the Terrific
ries, to show that it was the basis Of all section.
alisrn. He then quoted Mr.. Fillmorc'S prcdic.
ton, that the Success ofsich a party must cause
disuniun. The Republicans c0Dccdc that IN the
States the South have a RICH. 10 hold slave pro-
pcrtv; but establish 4 principle, in places where
thew have the power, which atlixcs Il stigma OH
Southern men. All that the South have to rest
upon is the professions Of Il party whose gene
raj principle is 10 disregard the rights oil the
South outside their own States. Suppose that
this party gets Il majority III both Houses OF
Congress, they will abolish slavery in the Dis
lrict of Columbia, and in all the aTscnals and
dock yardS, etc, uf lie Sunt|r, and they will
also refuse To ADM: ncw slave StatcS.-
Is it strange, then, that Southern men
should begin 10 lock OH, for their own interests,
when. il this sectional power has dominion, 1t
will surely progress toward the extinction oil
slavery? The trouble is not so much that the
fugitive slave laH is rot enforced or the equall-
ty of the States is denied, but that a principle
is laid down that denies the title Of Southern
men to property which they claim under the
Constitutional principle which strikes at the
very root Of Il system identified with the into
resi-, prosperity and safety Of the South. He
Nicholsonj argued that Mr.. Lincoln hated
slavery, and believed that the Constitution
could be administered in such q way that no
objection could be made to the final extinction
of slavery. Is it strange, then, that the pco-
pic of the South arc alarmed ut the election Of
a candidate for the Presidency holding such
views The trouble is that the North has cs-
tablist,cd a party on the principle that slavery
is sinful and ought not 10 exist. (Nicholson)
claimed that nothing but full constitutional
guarantees would save the Union. No State
was more attached TO the Union than the one
he represented in part, yet the sentiment was
widely sprcad there that the result oil the late
election would render the preservation OF a
Constitutional Union impossible. Unless pro-
perly guarantees arc given, he thought that L
majority Of the people Of Tennessee would be
~impellcd 10 separate from the Union. Lie
(Nicholson) would do all he could to
obtain proper guarantees, but, If all
failed, lie would choose secession or
revolution rather than acguicscc. He re-
GREETED hasty action in the South, and
lie thought it better to have counsel and
concerted action in the Senate. lie thought
that an appeal from the whole South, with
unanimitS of sentiment, could not be resisted
by the North. He regarded the policy Of the
extreme Southern States as dictated 10y Il de-
sire to awake the sentiment Of the North,
rather than from Il love Of disnnion per Sc
lie thought that it was the duty Of the Border
States 10 meet in solemn consultation, and pre-
sent their demands to the North. But from
the course Of the Republican organs, lie had
scarcely a ray Of hope that their demands
would be granted. The chief points in our de-
mands would be the recognition Of the right Of
property in slaves, and the right to hold them
in the Territories. Although he had not much
hope left, yet he preferred 10 try if a solemn
appeal from the South to the North would not
produce a good effect. Mr.. Nicholson then re.
fcrred to the ordinance Of secession Of South
Carolina as the act Of sovereign State, say