, 1861-01-04

ntor Hunter before the BrcckInridee Club, at
Charlottesville, admitting that the opinion Of
the South in regard to slavery bad changed,
and that her opinion was against the repeal ot
the Missouri Compromise Tor the extension Of
tue system.
Nr. Hunter said he never admitted that the
South thought that Congress had the right to
restrict slavery in the territories.
A1r. Baker said he understood that gentlemen
on the other side, some time in their lives,
were In favor OF establishing line between
freedom and slavery,
afr. Benjamin said that he had never admit
ted that Congress Ind any power to extend
slavery into any territory. The South had
been in favor Of extending the Missouri Inc
as n matter Of compact merely.
Mr., Baker thought VIC could do nothing Us .
matter Of compact which would violate the
IRON Louisiana BELIEVED In conscience that
Congress had no right to exclude slavery. he
must have violated his oath when he voted for
auch exclusion.
3tr. Benjamin said Congress had no such
power under the Constitution.
Afr Baker said an act Of Congress was q ga
cred law, nude under oath, and Ii hc voted to
prohibit slavery by law when he actually be-
lieved that Congress had no right under the
Constitution to pass such law, did he not
yio}atc his oath when he rendered such rote2
lie said the Senator from Louisiana in drcary
catalogue complained that the government in
terferea with SLAVERY in The South.
Mr. Benjamin said he did not complain of
Congress but Of the States.
Mr Baker was glad to hear the champion of
slavcry admit that Congress had not interfer-
cd, but that his complaints were of the States
How could Illinois, for instance, interfere with
slnyerg in Virginia?
Mr. Benjamin said she could not By bill, but
armed men might 60 to Virginia and seize the
Tinted Stnfes arms md n1rr1 nr r,oacnhln ~ er
and try to excite the slaves to revolt A man
In Massachusetts was found to say it wa. right,
and Massachusetts elected him Governor, and
thus endorsed murder. Massachusetts, had
sent Senatots here to abuse aud vilify the
South.
Mr.. Baker said that there was not better
scope to debate. He admitted that individu-
ALI might steal in slave States. There were
bad men everywhere, but this was no causc for
separation and WIZ.
Mr.. Benjamin said the Republican party In
tend tb saffound the slave States With free
States, 50 as to enforce emancipation.
ilr. Baker argued that if cyen that were SO,
1t was no c.use for disupion.
Mr Be,jamin-l say. decidedly yes
Alr. baker said No; and proceeded to argue
that it WAS q necessity that slavery must be
surrounded by free States. If slavery is cx-
tended 1t must be against the sentiment Of the
world. He claimed that the North were only
the allies Of the South, aud were bound to re-
turn slaves. France, England OF Russia would
not do that. IT the slaves should revolt, the
North would be bound to assist the South,
aud would do It. Hc argued that the right Of
free speech could not be controlled in free
cnuntry, or free press, which was greater
restrict thtsc to dyeft civil war or maintain
slavery. The great principle Of free govern
ment would never be surrendered. Come veal,
come woe, slayery shall never be extended by
the power Of the government Of the United
States. He would not yield one zach to seces-
sion, bnt there were things which lie would
yield. Among them the repeal Of the per-
sonal liberty bills, should the Supreme
Court pronounce them unconstitutional. atr.
Clay lad said and lie would say, yield not one
inch or word to secession. He should agree
to make all the territories States now, and let
people decide on slavery; but he would never
agree to protect slavery in the name of free
look little as though because they had lost
the Offices the South had rot np.this rebellion?
He said, after all hc had great confidence In
the loyalty Of the people Of the South. He
heard loyal sentiments everywhere, aud could
sec the clouds breaking, and he was not with
ish heat to subside, the Union would yet re-
main safe If trusted to the hands Of the people.
The Senator from Louisiana had said that q
State had nlready seeded, and we must nc
knowledge its independence Or make war He
SAID he Wonia not achno"leoge Us lndepen.
dencc, anu sald II vas No very strange thins II
q great government naa someumes 70 enforce
Jackson In regard to collecting the revenue
when South Carolina once before revoltcd, rs
an answer to the Scnutor from Louisiana when
ne p askea no" we "ouio conect tne revenue;
ANA ABOVE al, let 1ne laws pc maintained ana
the union o. 1 pe presesVea." He closed with the
words o. Webstefs speech 10 reply TO Hayns.
Mr. Uouslas a. askeo Ihat tnc report OF thc
Goram1ttee OF 1hittceh be taken up
MI. 4oug!as pfoceeaed TO address the sen
ate. He SAID NO act OF MS public lie evei
Eove MN 60 mneh pam as 70 vote Tor the reeo-
1ution line Gonmi1ee eoala not asrec) In
nsueE TO 1ee !ne EAU o, Inc M
uust ~ ,t1eh ~ tue latG electloH- ne snoula
assune enat "nenessl Constess unuertook 10
acs upon @ nlavcfy: My, ulscora ana asltation Was
TUT. su1e ~ loAu". "uea Nous1ees, tees Lne ques-
tl t1on alone, IncIe %@ reacc; ne releffea 70
@ tne e3cltement Wnea M tnc a11ssousl Compro.
ia nass was tnac'eo s ~, l"e tIIgl astatlon o,
ls.o Vac setueu W tac esi11ashment Of inc
compromise Anc. 20 long as that nd
]ustment WAS earned out, there twas peace
ana quict 1cSns was edmltted quietly under
fhfs rule, though there was great contrartcty
or opinion; but no one objected because it ex
Mexico were acquired, and the extension o1
| the line TO the Pac!hc Ocean was demanded
| The records show that ha rrported, Us Chair.
| man Of the Committee on Territories, q rcso
luton to extend the lino to the Pacific. ThiE
1 vas adopted In the Senate, but when 1t #as
sent to the Housc, It was rejected BY Northern
votes. That opened the doodgates Of tho agi
tatlon Of 1915, which only were settled BY ths
compromises Of 1850 When We settle thit
! question In the Territories, then We shall set
tie it entirely. The AbolftioniBts could neycl
| have brought the Union to the verge OF disso
luton but for the question In Territories. Il
] was the question OF the extension OF tha
Line in ISIS which opened the agitation. The
arguments Of 1919 and 1870 were repeated
! Tho positions Of the North and the Southwets
the sumo. The purest patriots in the lano
were alarmed aud Mr, Clay came back to ths
| Senate to see if he could not bring peace ut
/ found no trouble with the Southern members
but he could find no support Of this line in thu
| North. The Missouri line was abandoned be
| cause It's friends said they could not carry /,
out in good faith. Then they turned to sex
what was next best They desired to take th,
[ question out Of Congress and eecure the peace
Of the country. At list It was decided 10 leave
the question to the people of the Territories
themselves. The records show that he sup
ported both compromises, and for the Sam
reasons peace followed MI oycr the country
But in 1858 it became necessary TO organic
the Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska Th
committee in forming the hill determined II
carry out the eomprom'.e measures Of 1850
though tbey had ali BE-. au favor Of tho Mis-
souri, Compromise, as long as it could be car
ricd out. A hue and cry yas inmediatel,
raised that thcy were violating sacred rom
Drouise. hut lie bill did not 1ncntion thc Mis
souri Comnra,nise but rave the nconie tn
| power Of eettIinr The QUESTION for themselves
The history Of the Goyernment might be ii
yidcd into three PARTS. Beiorc 1870 the GOV
ernmcnt admitted many Territories, but al