Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-05-09

/ Mr.. Fe-senden. (Rep) ! do not propose
90 discuss the question OF the pending amend
ment. or o. consider the main question N
any considerable length: hut, cir. as pre-.
sent-d Yesterday the r.-Olution. oi my State
on this subicct aud the suhjret al-o ot the
resolution which WAS sent Us by the Pfc-l-
dent. deem u my duty ~ say lew words
with reference TO both ,hcse point-. II the
Senate will cxcuse me in speaking oi both
on the proposition now pending, in order to
save mys.li the trouble Of speaking again,
aud the Senate the pain OF listening to mo
again upon either OF tie questions referred
TO in the resolutions. ani now before tho
Senate.
The resolves from my State which LAID
on the table yesterday, approve the re.oin'
,ion under consijsu,ion In the senate. which
emenaicd from the President. rendering AID
10 .ueh States as might zee bt Co initiate The
roliey Of aboli.hiug slavery IN those S'a'e-
The legislature OF Maine approve It. and *
pres. the willingness Of the people Of Maine
TO he taxed Tor that purpose. That re-olu.
ton Of the legislature relieves me. u had
any dihculiy at all on the suhpct. oi any
question that might arse with regard To the
trupriety of S-nator or Representative
irom the State oi Name voting athrms'i'ely
upon a resolution which prcP-cs t. Pay
money Tor tho State. for their u.e " they
shouli g, ht 90 initiate measure OF that
description. they are ,ery much moro
comr-,cnt authority 20 decide upon that
question than their Senator's ani Reprr.en'
ts,ise- in Congress. aud 10 seems they have
decided upon It.
Now, .ir, there have been two questions
r,i-ei with reicr.nc. to that proposition,
and N th. Senate will excuse me. wish %
.ay q word or two upon that proposition be-
fore procceJiug to the measure now under
consideration. One is the constitutional
power OF COncrcss u vote money Tor that
rurro-.. aui the other j. m regard to its
propr,ety. As 10 the constitutional power.
| think u - too early 10 discus. that qnes-
iiOn. The resolution propose. nothing but
an expression of opinion on the part o' The
Congrc.. OF the United States that the
United State, ought in a certain contingency,
provided the people Of any State should SO
ti 10 initiate ihi. policy oi abOli-hin: slave
~, 20 AID them in - doing To . certain or
reasonable c1teut IL does not even say that
it will be the duty Of Congress to vote that
money. bot that 70 will be the duty o. Tho
United States o. extend that aid. My con.
.liuenis have declared that they cpincidrd
in ,ha, sentiment. |, is,ery ohSiou. that
whether Congrs-- now po.se.se. the power or
not. IL the people of,he United State. should
I've Of opinion tha, it - their duty, they can
very easily pot Congress N such position
AZ to carry out their rill. Therefore. cir.
voiin, amply that Il !. the duty Of the Unit
ei States o. do u involves nD constitutional
question whatever IN reierruc, - the power
ui Congress. Senator. will sce that very
easily by look ins At the term. oi the rc.olu
ton i,s'lf Even if u should there wOuli
be n, very particular dIfi,ulty ahOu, i,. be
cause the matter would be lei, ior alter con
.rdsra,ion. IL l. a mere expression OF opin'
ion. LII. holdn; out . helping hand. W
showing a disposition ., hold ou, n helping
hand TO the people Of any slave state which
might -,e 1T of itself - initiate u policy OF
the Kind referred to.
Imisht have had some doubt, perhaps.
whether, "a Senator cent her, alta tine
when thi. question had not ben considered
at ALA SENATOR representing the State oi
M,ine-l VA. authorized cNea indirectly, 10
pledge that people 10 policy ot that ie-
crip,Ion involving an expenditure of money;
but. sir, the people themselves. through
their representatives, their Lrgi''a,ure. have
taken that question Out Oi my hands, AMI
advised me that IL would be the disposition
and viii os the people Of Maine 30 to act l
am satisfied with that decision. had little
doubt With rrs,ri to the matter oi that rs.
Il. D.. tIa. anthnrIliNR II.
position oi the opinion. Of the people rep
resent. and should probably have ,o'eiior
the resolution. hsl,eyin: IL TO b, sensible and
wise in ITS terms and IA it, meaning. even u
| had not received the instruction. but the
advice that have received un the SUBJECT
Now, cir, let me ask honorable Senator.
who represent slave States here, what oh-c'
ton can he taken 10 II! l. u an in.ul, 10
YOU? Does it propose. directly Or indirect
iy, TO interfere with your authority upon
YOUR own soil! Does u claim Tor the Con-
,rr-s of the United Sa.es. or for the p"opIe
/ Of the United States as Ia whole. the night.
/ in any way, directly or Indirectly, 10 inter.
| ier- with your authority opon your own
soil? Not at all f; YOU canno, pretend that.
. l. u anything more or less than saying %
. ~
/ direction. and you hnd yourself involved IN
pecunIary difficulties IN consequence OF that
acton too great for you {, tear, IL - the
oplninn Of the people OF the Tree States thai,
under the circumstances, as brethren con-
necied with YOU by the tie OF common
country, and not suffering under the burden
which you bear, and Us this measure !. for
the general good. as We have always con-
tended. We think it no more than right that
~e should bear part oi the burden. IL
that an in.ult 90 you in any way? IL IL an
injury to you! IL It in the slightest posi-.
bic degree. breaking our pledge that wewill
I not interfere with slavery in the States of
the unlon? You can hardly go pretend IL.
wha, then Is the argument7 IL Is this,
as I understand it "Iho result 10 that you
get up two parties in our States. Yon en-
courage party IN favor Of abolishing slave
ry; you hold out helping hand TO such as
live among US Who may believe II Is IN evil,
aud desire TO initiate steps TO which 1t may
be DESTROYED" Well. cir, | reply to you
frankly. that II that is to be the eject. 80
much the better. | hold myself restrained
by no Law Of any kind 90 description from
saying 20 such Of your people. II any there
are, who desire 10 initiate . policy ot that
description and TO accomplish, that purpose.
that TO that end and that eject avn with
them. believe IL to be great measure
one which would tend strongly 90 the eleva.
ton OF the people Of this country in moro
particulars than one. hold that the insti'
luton Is injurious to you. | have right
to that opinion. hold that while IL exists
among you. and To 81 large an eIten, as It
docs, it's injurious To the people Of the
country 1t 10 injurious to Us asa nation.
IL weaiens our force. u creates di.cords. it
ha, produced rebellion and war. and. there.