Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-01
Thirty-sixth Congressional Session
THURSDAY, DECEMBER -, 1851.
SENATE.

lOlllI IL UC ohSiI -tSfN ~
agreed to.
Several private memorials were presented
BIZ Mcssrs. Lane and Seward, which were re-
fcrrch.
Mr.. Ricc presented some resolutions, which
were referred to the committee Of thirteen with
ont reading, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Green called for the order of the day
Territorial business.
Tic Senate then proceeded to the considcra-
ton Of Il bill for the organization OF Il Terrific.
,ial Government OF Arizona. The bill was read
at great length.
Mr. Brown offered an amendment 10 the
| bill, nrovii;ng that the laws of New Mexico
| shall remain in force in Arizona 50 fac as they
| relate to the protection Of property in slaves.
Mr.. Trumbull offered, as an amendment to
the amendment, Il i~roviSo that the avs remain
ing in force in New Mexico a, the titne 1t waS
acquired, relating to property in slaves, should
be re-enactcd.
Mr.. Doo!itllc proceeded to address the Sc
nate. lie said that for eighty years the people
of the Uuitcd States had, By ali adherence to
two fundamental principles, lived together in
peace. The first Of these vas that the people
Of the free States and the power Of the Genera!
Government should never interfere with slave.
ry in the States; and the second principle WAS
that the people Of the slave States and the pow
or of the Genera! Government should never in
tcrfcrc with freedom in the Territories. The
Constitution is the srpre:uc las Of the land !;
and, rs nothing could he found in il tol"rating
attacks upon slavery in the Territories, So, on
the other hand, nothing coull.be found Justify
iug attacks upon freedom in the Territories.
He thought il rather late III the day To allude
to the much talked Of bred Scott decision, so
far rs it related 10 the question OF slavery III
the Territories; but lie could not see that III This
decision. or in the opinions OF any Of the Judges
of the STlrcme Court, anything upon which
could lie based the right ~ carry and protect
slaves in the Territories which were acquired
from Mexico. nGr was there any declaration IN
the decision which justified any one in saying
that the Constitution protected slavery in these
Territories.
lie said that the Senator from Tcnnes see
(Nr. Nicliolsnn) had stated that widespread
apprclGcnsions existed through the South, and
that this apprehension was founded on their
fears Of Republican principles. In quoting from
the Republican platform the Senator, in a speech
which he knew would 20 nut To his c%onStltu-
cnts, had not quoted that portion in which the
Republican party express their Interpretation
Of violent Interference with slavery in the
States. or the invasion of aiy State. lie would
say that the South could not have peacc just so
l0ng aS they con;cndea that the Constitution,
Of its own force, carried slavery into the terri.
tories and protected il, ah,l they might SIS we'll
know it at once.
Mr.. Nicholson said that lie explicitly stated
the position Of the Republican party, but con-
tended that the principles Of i.s platform, il
carried ont, would soon lead to interference
with the gradual adjustment Of slavery.
Mr.. Dn0little raid that there was nothing
either in Republican principles or It's opponents
which lntimatcd any adjustment Of the insii.
tuition of slavery in the States. The Rcpubli'
can party maintained that the Constitution
neither affirmed or denied the existence OF slave.
~. Some one had published 4 book stating
that the Federal Constitution freed slaves
everywhere, but 20 one believed that. The
Republican party did not admit that slavery
was carried everywhere by the Constitution
They held no such position as was held by the
extremists Of either side. The extreme men
Of the South wished to extend slavery into the
territories, and it had been held on the other
hand that the Constitution, by its own force.
prohibited slavery in this country.
Mr.. Cling1uan inquired if the distinguished
Senator from New York (.Mr. Scward) had not
endorsed this latter principle by recommend.
ing \ book containing it?
Mr.. Doolittle believed that the Senator from
Mississippi (Mr. Brown had endorsed the book
alluded to-.
iiir. Doolittlc proceeded to say that he could
not see any just cause for 4 dissolution Of the
Union, and argued 1t length against the right
of secession, stating that Florida, California,
Louisiana and Texas had been purchased by
the Federal Government ut the expense Of mil
lions. and yet they could take NIL Of this pro-
pcrty and 90 ont Of the Uninn if tho right Of
secession was acknowledged.
Mr.. Wig(all stated that the government had
never complied with all Of its requirements in
the purchase Of Texas. They had no forts
there. One, however, was in course Of cree
ton there, and when its armament was to be
sisted L. iiSlig;hftA applause and RR..ssets1""~c
intend to 20 out Of this Union.
MIR. Doolittle.-The Senator can 90 out, but
we would like TO have the State remain.
Mr.. Wigfall.-Thc State will 90 too.
Mr.. Doo!ittle proceeded to declare that the
Republican party were willing to enforce the
fugitive slave provision Of the Constitution
The Senator from Virginia had declared that
Virginia had lost 2l00,Q 900 by the runaway Of
slaves. As Virginia owned 81, 900, coo in sIarcs.
the loss was one per cent. only.
Tsc dissolution Of the Union was PRAYED for
by every Abolitioni>t-that slavery might he
rendered unsafe in the border States, and the
North no longer compelled to surrender lugi.
tivcs. These men believed that the strong arm
Of the Federal Government alone prevented IN
insurrcction in the slave States, Of which the
present Minister to France declared that it
wouiG hc 4 GesGl.tion compared with which
the p.>tilrncc which walkcth ut MONDAY,
and the Storm that cotneth at night. were TO-
thing.
.,lr. benjamin said that he would not proceed
10 speak mt length. Is issrlrs If It practical ma
ture would nc brought i,rforr the Senate. The
State Of South Carolina had withdrawn from
the Union, and on Monday the fact would he
officially announced, and the question would
wait decision, whether tho independence Of that
State should hr recognized or war declared
UPON her.
Mr.. Brown spoke briefly on his amendment,
and said tina; the South must have equality in
the Territories by Introducing their property,
which, in former days, had been recognized in
New England, ard foreign governments. II
this equality was refused, lie declared here, in
the presence Of t:c Senate and ALMIGHTY God,
that The Union would hc at al end ia less than
ninety days.
Mr.. Green laid that he regretted shat tie
questions which added To the general agitation
had been thus introduced OH This bill. He did
not desire ANYTHING considered which would
cause greater alienation IN the country lac
thought that these political subjects !iai better
be postponed, and the bills passed organizing
the Territories IT Arizona and. Jefferson. lie
should vote Tor the amendment. however, Of
the member fi"!n Mississippi. (Air. Brown re-
cognizing property in slaves in Arizona, for he
desired the question settled. although ii had
now no practical bearing. Ii it c"uIi not he
settled here. the Senators had better hid each
other al!ru and return hone, and trt the people
settle il.
4 long debate e:,>ued between Mc>Sr>. Doc.
little and Green "n the question If the Consti-