New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-13
XXXVIrH CONGRESS.
SENATE....WAsHrSGroy, Feb, 70, 1851.
SECOND SESSION.

Mr.. DIXON rep, Conn., presented petiIons rom
the citizens of Connecticut, IN favor OF Tie oi'eh'en
' Mr.. WILKINSON rep, Minn) presented Joint
resolution from tie State OF Mmneso'a' oiocieo "
be pr rinteeSSI rrz,xpEx IS AM. XVI presented a
petition signe2 by % $50 citizens OF Massachusetts IN
ored such popk and felt cheered by such voice from
Massachus stts 1t showed them devoted to the Union
for which their ancestors fought.
Mr.. SUMMER rep, Mass eaid; These peiiiions
ask, as. understand it, for the passage OF what Is
famihg ~ known the Critenden Propositions Iher
beat apology for this petition is their Ignorance Of the
char cter OF those propositions. Had they knpwn
WAIT they were they never would have pfs SGnf
tire Breckinrjdge platform, which has already 6een
Sjlemnly condemned by the American peoI+e. lhey
tOist into the Constitution Of the United STAGES consli
that instrument never gave-which Washington,
Jefferson, Franklin, Patrick Henry, ana Jchh
Jay, if we may credit the c iimony oil lhels
lives and opinions, would nave sorhea,
Had any such proposition been made the eondllon OF
union This Uuion never could have been formed.
Mr. Madison told Ms in the Convention that IL was
wrong to attempt put in the Constitution tie idea OF
property in man, but these proportions propose TO IN
erholaie that idea and practically carrying II out,
hev run black line on the latitude of 30 10, and gave
constitutions protection TO Slavery in all the territory
south of that line belonging TO the RepuOhci ana
TO make the case still more oppressive, and sG more
mpossibe 10 be received at the North, they mako it
aprfeable 10 all the territory hereafter 10 be acquired,
30 that the flag of the Republic as moves southwark,
shall always be the flag Of Slavery and every intnre
acquisition in that direction shall be AfIcanzed and
that by virtue of the Constitution OF the United States
That is about enough in this age of civilization.
But that is not all Still further, they insist upon
guarantees TO Slavery in the National capital,
and in other places within tie Federal jurisdiction.
Nor is this all As if TO make il especially offensive to
the people of the North and to the people of Massa-
chusetts they propose 70 despOil our Colored fellow
citizens of their political franchise, long time occurred
them by the institutions OF that honoied Common
wealth. Sir il is for these things that these petitioners
now pray. They insist they shall be interpolated IN
the Constitution of the United States l have an
infinite respect for the right Of petition, and desire
ALWAYS to promote the interests and 10 carry forward
the just and proper desires OF my ieliow-eizes But
must express my regret that these gentlemen nave
missed the opportunity after uniting in such numbers
of calling plainly and unequivocay, as savers oil ne
Union of their fathers for two thingstwo things all
sufficient for the present OCCASION and with regard 10
which / should expect the sympathes OF the lion.
Senator from Kentucky. First, the Constitution
of the United States as administered by George
Washington, to be preserved intact and blame
less in its text, without any unkerng or
patching. And secondly, the verdict OF the people
last NoVember by which Abraham Lincoln was elected
President Of the United States TO be enforced without
price or faltering. There is ground upon which
every patriot and loyal citizen of the land can stand
and he has over him then the Constitution and the nag
of his country You had better have that, Sir, than
any scheme Device jugglery, or hocus pocus called
compromise On such ground, all who really love
the Union and the country take their stand With
night of the passage Of the Nebraska BILL it was after
midnight made the declaration in debate that the
time for compromises had passed. The events now
taking place all verify this truth 1t is obvious lhat
the existing difficulties be arranged only on
permanent principles Of justice and freedom ana hu-
manty Any seeming settlement founded upon an aban-
Of principle T DC 1S' on1 .ho e
Won will remember Sir the whole country was nlled
with shame and dsmay, as the report came 70 ns OF
the surrender Of Southern forts, and when 1t was
known that Fort Sumter too, was about TO be given
up cry went forth from the heart Of the people, by
which that fortress was saved at least for the present
Propositions are now made and brought forward by
the Senator from Kentucky, and now enforced 6ya
upon the North to surrender rs pnnclPies-to
surrender its impregnable principles Of human
rights, which constitute our Northern iofts,
II even proposed now to surrender the principle OF
Freedom in the Territores-the Fort Sumter OF the
North trust, Sir, they will yet be eayed, and as
their safety depends upon the President, trust that
went forth from them few days ago. to save that
other Fort Sumter when IL wac menaced. For myself,
If stand with many with few, or alone have but
one thing TO sayno surrender Of the Fort Sumter OF
The North-no surrender Of any Of Northern Forts.
No Sir not one But the bankers and merchants
throw out their fears and they tell us the Government
shall not have money if do not surrender our pr-
ciples. Then, again, Sir, appeal to the people, L
than the French, and only want the opportunity TO
show ito come forward and relieve the ne
cessities Of the Government, as the French ,peo-
pie recently, at the hint Of Louis Napoleon,
came forward with loan composed Of small sunni.
Our Government stands upon the aggregate virtue and
intelligence Of the people, and it only remains now
that should make ali appeal to the aggregate wealth
of the peope-the farmer the laborer, the mechanic.
Every who truly loves his country will be will
ing TO give of bis earnings 10 uphold the Constitution
and the national hag and ont of these small earnings
4 4 ah.tlI ..,.
treasury. There is but thing for the North
to do-that IT, 10 stand firm in their position
They may be guided by Of the greatest patriots of
the age, mean Lafayette, who, in bis old age, when
his experience had been ripeDed by time, and while
looking over the unutterable caamties Of the old
French Revolution, said, " 1t was his solemn duty
declare that in his opinion they were to be referred
not TO the bad passions of men, but TO those td
sells that sought to substitute compromise for principle
Lafayette may well speak 10 his American iellow-citl
zens now to caution them against any timd counsels
that would substitute compromise for principles.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN Is. Am KY said he supposed
the signers of the petition intelligent When
he presented the propositions he presented them
basis of peace, but why had not gentlemen Offered to
amend
Mr.. SUMNER said he thought them wrong in every |
word and every line.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN-Had the gentleman no propo-
sitions TO make
Mr.. SUMNER said he had-the Constitution, as adj
by Washington and our fathers.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN-Why did not he move that
then
Mr.. SUMNER said he had voted for the resolutions
Of the Senator from w-Hampshire which expressed
bis idea.
The PRESIDENT announced that the hour for the
special order had arrived.
A motion was made TO postpone 1t.
Mr.. HALE rep, N. H. hoped not, as he thought
he time had arrived when the practical business of the
country should be attended to. lie wanted the Yeas
and Nays, TO know who the men were that come
mere to make speeches that do no possible good on
.arth.
Mr. DOUGLAS Dem, ILL., IF the Senator was 80
nuch opposed 10 speecL.makiDQ he boped that he