The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-02-21


by the Senator from Mississippi (Mr
Brown.) Now I wish to say here, thai
bad that Senator (Mr. Lane) svowed suol
doctrine prior to the Presidential cleo
tiou as he did iD bis reply to me. expires
sing dIsunion and secession sentiments,
give it as my opinion. be would not have
received 10000 votes in the State of Ten
nessee. Mr. j. then read from the rec.
ord OF votes, showing that the Senators
from South Carolina, as we'll as the Sen.
ator from Oregon, aud others, voted a.
gainst the resolution declaring that slave.
~ needed protection | want to know
what has brought such a change over the
Senator'S mind since the last session oi
Congress, when the Senator said, under
the sanction of his oath, in voting agaipst
Mr.. Browns resolution, that it was not
necessary to pass laws now to protect sa.
veryl Now be is ready to say they have
the right to 90 out of ihe Union because
Congress has not passed laws to protect
slavery, which he then swore were not ne
cessary. THEN other resolutions we're in-
troduced, and Mr.. Brown offered an a.
mendment, and made an argument to
show the necessity Of passing laws to pro-
tect slavery then. But the Senate voted
az to 3. that there was no danger. aud
slavery did not need protection. Mr.. j.
read the list of votes. "Mr. Benjamin,
Aye" and Mr.. Lane--ah. yes, Mr.. Lane
of Oregon swore on the 25th of last NJ May
that slave property did not need proteo-
tion 10 the Territories And now want
him to getup here and tell the Senate and
the American people, if be is for the right
of State to break up the Union, because
she cannot get that protection for slave
property which he then swore it did not
need. Laughter Then the Senator
from Oregon, in bis reply to me, spoke of
the reservations and conditions made by
the Old Dominion and by New York in
surrenderiug their delegated powers. He
spoke with great familiarity of the sub
ject and the rights of the States, aud be
read few lines, and then wanted to know
il the time had hot arrived when these
States should resume their delegated pow
ers. After declaring, under the solemn
sanction of an oath. that no further pro-
lection was needed. be wants to know now
II the time has not arrived when these
States will be justified in breaking up the
Confederacy. Perhaps it might be well
to examine a book before speaking of it.
do not say this is the case with the Sen
stor, but shall proceed on the idea that
be thought he understood it all. This is
a CON mon misapprehensiou. Sometimes
it arises from a want Of examiD alton, and
it arises from a want of capa-
city to understand. On examination. We
find that the Committee of the Virginia
Convention reported resolutions previous
to the ratification of the Constitution, pro-
viding that certain amendments ought to
be referred to the other States. This
was voted down. Then the committee re
ported the ordinance adopting the Con-
of the United States, and in that
ordinance they 60 on and make pream-
bic and declar alton of their understand
ing, hut no conditions or reservations
Mr. j. then read the ordinance. This
was adopted June 20 and South Caroli
pa was already in the Union. SO even
if Virginia had made reservations South
Carolina could not profit by them, for she
had already adopted the Constitution
Mr. Madison received letter from Mr..
H amiton, who stated that he bad great
doubt as to the ratification in New Y ork
without conditions. One condition was
that they might have permission to recede
.recede was the word then-in FIVE or
seven years, if certain amendments were
not ratified. Mr.. Madison writes in re.
ply, that if the CONSTITUTIONS adopted, it
must be adopted in toto, without reserva-
lion or condition. Now, | am inclined to
.hink Mr.. Madi-on understood this ofdi-
nance, and here is bis letter, written in
July, in which be said to Mr. Hamilton
hat the idea of reserved right was as
bad as conditional rejection. | think
James Madison understood this ordin nee
and | had as soon rely on bis opinion as
,n that Of the distinguished Senator from
Oregon; and | am inclined to think be
understood the whole subject as we'll
as the Senator from Oregon, with
all his familiarity With the subject But
,he Government was formed, the Consti-
tuition ratified, and the provision made,
for whatl For the admission of new
States If the express grant to admit be
given. l say that the Government can ex-
srcise all the Incl dents necessary to car
ry the admission into effect. Then We
come to the State of Alabama, as the Sen
ator seems to be so familiar with things
Of that sort. An act to enable the peo-
pie of Alabama to form a Constitution
and State Government, and for the ad-
mission of such State into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States,
vas approved March 2, 1919. and the
people accepted it with this passage =
This ordinance is hereby declared un-
revocable without the consent OF the Unit
ted States" There is the compact. Yet
it is claimed that Alabama has right to
90 out at her own will, because she can