The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-10-15

m. lie said il was uaneccssaryj because,
California was now, by The laws Of Mexico,
free territory--slavery had long ago been
abolished in all The dominions of Mexico
and, consequently, if annexed TO the United
States, or acquired by them, il must ramain
free territory until slavery should be estab-
lshed within il by a positive law of Con-
gress This sounds very plausible, but, the
old man forgot thai Mexico had also abo-
lshed slavery in 1'ex1s, and that American
emigrants settled there Nth their slapes, the
Mexican laws TO the contrary Notwithstanding;
and that, if California were acquired by the
United States, emgrants, unless prohibited,
would take their slaves there in like manner;
and thus, in the course Of a few years,
large vested slaye-holding interest would be
built up, which il would be difficult, if not
impossible, TO disturb; and If, in that case,
an attempt we're made to disturb it, it would
then present question Of Abolition; where
as, now,it issimplya question of Prevention.
| have no doubt the venerable gentleman
himself became convrccd Of his error, for
he afterwards voted for the amendment.
The question being taken on the amend
ment, il was carried by handsonie majority
epery man from the slaDe STATES voting aga
inst it, and every one from the free States,
except three-Messrs Wick, Of H., and
M'Clernand and Ficklin, of Ill.,-votng for
iii. The amendment being adopted, the
South, having at first warmly advocated the
bill, now turned against it---denounced ii*-
and even its author, Gen. Mckay, as we'll as
every other man from the slave States, voted
against its final passage. |, was passed how
ever, and, late on Saturday night, sent TO
The Senate. By their zsalons support Of the
bill before amendment, and their strenuous
opposition 10 il afterwards, the southern re-
representatives. showed very clearly that they
cared nothing for the acquisition of Califor-
MIA, unless they could mike il subseryent
to their schemes for sectional advancement,
and fully disclosed an intensely selfish Sec
lional feeling on their part; in the existence
Of which the people Of the free states have
been slow 10 believe, but which has long been
sufficiently obvicus TO their Representatives.
You will rocollect that the protracted and
excited controversy which, in 1921, arose in
Congress in reference TO the admission Of
Missouri into the Union as slave State,
familiarly known as" the Missouri question:"
was finally, and principally through tho
management Of Mr.. Cliy, "comprom'sad"
by the enactment of law excluding slavery
from all the territory Of the Uaited States
lying north of the plrallol of IS degrees 80
minutes north latitude. This same com.
promise was preiendedly extended through
Texas, on its accession to the Union, by the
terms of the resolutions of annexation.
say preteadelly, bee ause, as any one can
see by glance at the map, no part Of Texas
de facto extended north of that parallel; and
the whole region lying north Of 3S degrees
80 minutes claimed by Texas heing in fact
the Mexican province Of New Mexico, OF
which Santa Fe is tho capital, and which
Gen. Kearney has now been sent TO con-
quer.
After the adoption of the amendment
above mentioned, MIR. Rhett Of s. G., oh.
serving the determined uuauimiiy of the
members from tho free states, camo forward
| with an amendment TO tie amendment, CON
ining its operation TO the country north of
| 80 degrees 30 minutes-or, as southern men
we're then pleased TO call it" the Missouri
compromise line" This proposition was
promptly rejected. Az no public discussion
was had in regard to it, | am not authorized
10 say what were the reasons of others for
heir vote; but my own reasons for the vote
which Igave with the majority for the rejec-
ton of the proposition were the following;
Firs,-Because the missouri compro-
mise line, did not in terms, nor can it by any
just implication, be held to extend farther
west than the then existing territory of the
United States.
Sscond-Bacause its pretended application
to Texas was mockery and cheat.
Third-Becausa, not week previous to
the events | am now relating, when the bill
for the establishment of the territorial gov
ernment in what remains to us Of Oregon
was under consideration in tho House, and
when Mr.. Thompson Of Pa. moved clause
excluding slavery from that territory all of
which lies north Of 40 degrees north latitude,
every man from the slave states, except two,
voted, under the ayes and noes, against the
proposition; thus declaring, BY their recorded
votes, that they did not then regard the
/" Missouri compromise lino'' as extending
west of the Rocky mountains!
The time of the Senate having been oc-
cnpied with other m'ttcrs, it was not until
about IL o'clock on Monday TINT the bill was
taken up, on the motion of Mr.. Lewis, of
Alabama, who moved to strike out the propiso
being the amendment of Mr. Wilmot, Of
which have been speaking, On this ques-
ton, Mr. Davis, of Mass, rose and spok Q
until the hour for the adjournmon, of the two
Houses arrived; and tho wholo matter thus
fell 10 the ground.