P. S. Another point in the honorable senator’s speech, in which he attempts to vindicate the penal slave code of North Carolina and of the other Southern States from the taint of cupidity, may be safely left without comment to intelligent men. Every student of the _criminal_ legislation of the Southern States in regard to slaves, knows that their laws are replete with proofs where the sensibilities of a man are sacrificed to the spirit of gain. FOOTNOTES: [8] In February, 1847, Mr. Calhoun offered a series of resolutions in the Senate of the United States, among which was the following:-- “_Resolved_, That it is a fundamental principle in our political creed, that a people, in forming a constitution, have the unconditional right to form and adopt the government which they may think best calculated to secure their liberty, prosperity and happiness; and, in conformity thereto, no other condition is imposed by the Federal Constitution on a state, in order to be admitted into this Union, except that its constitution shall be “republican;” and that the imposition of any other by Congress would not only be in violation of the constitution, but in direct conflict with the principle on which our political system rests.” In sustaining these resolutions, he said,-- “Sir, I hold it to be a fundamental principle of our political system that the people have a right to establish what government they may think proper for themselves; that every state ABOUT to become a member of this Union has a right to FORM ITS OWN GOVERNMENT AS IT PLEASES; and that, in order to be admitted, there is but one qualification, and that is, that the government shall be republican. There is no express provision to that effect, but it results from that important section which guaranties to every state in this Union a republican form of government.” Mr. Senator Downs, of Louisiana, offered the following resolution:-- “_Resolved_, That it is competent and expedient, and not inconsistent with the practice of the government in some cases, to admit California, or such portion of it as Congress may deem proper, immediately into the Union, on an equal footing with the other states; and that the committee on ---- be instructed to report a bill for that purpose, for that portion of California which lies west of the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains.” * * * * * The doctrine of these resolutions was fully indorsed by the Washington _Union_, speaking, doubtless, (for it never spoke any thing else,) the sentiments of the then administration.