Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-09-10


ey was not to lie expended for the extension of {
Slavery, he should not vote for it. He believed
the majority of the members Of this House would
not allow additional slave territory to be added
to the Union.
Mr.. Winthrop of Massachusetts, said he was
grateful for the ten minutes allowed TO him upon
this bill He had voted for the bill to carry on
the war with Mexico, notwithstanding the false
hood embodied in the preamble. He had done
so, for the defence of the country against its
foreign foes, and he almost felt disposed now to
vote against its domestic enemies. Mr.. w. add |
ed, with great earnestness and spirit, that he
would not give vote to allow the President to
buy Californa-to buy Cuba it might be, or the
Sandwich Islands. 1t was an act to give the +
sanction of this House to the extension of teri-
tory--sIave territory. He said this with no I'M
kindness TO the South, but he thought we had
gone far enough, already, in that direction. He
would not allow the President, by his vote, to
purchase territory which is to be appropriated to
purposes O. Slavery. He wished, under present
circumstances, for no enlargement of our terri
tory.
HAl' w lluOlj vi Clllloylf dulu3 odlu VIC NCIC
called upon to vote two millions of money in the
dark He regretted that the President had
thought that this money was necessary. He
dsliked to be led blind and to act bndly He
wished that the President had conferred secretly
and conhdentalIy with the House upon this sub
ject He had believed the war with Mexico
Just war, If, however, it was war of conquest,
l. e Al, 81
the age, opposed to the principles of our reIi-
gion We claimed the Rio Grande for our
boundary, and it was for that, he supposed the
war was going on. He supposed, then, that
the President meant to acquire other terrltory-
California for example, If he could obtain it
by purchase, he had no objection-but he could
never vote to annex California as slave coun-
| try He would not put Slavery upon free terri
tory. He had been for the Annexation of Tex
as but it was because Slavery was already there
) that he had not opposed its continuance Mr.
+ Wilmot concluded, with a provlso, that Slavery
, should not be attached to any territory which
, might be purchased with the two millions of
; dollars here appropriated
Mr. Hunt, of N. Y. said he should not cry
S Peace, peace, when there is no peace lie was
for calling things by their right names. The
naked question before the House was, whether
t we were ready to purchase California? We did
2 not now want more territory either by purchase
t or conquest. He would not consent to tax his
I constituents for any such purpose. The pur-
chase Of territory for the extension of Slavery in
r the Union, would create convusion that would
shake this Union to its centre, He desired that
: there should be no agitation Of this question
d and he hoped Congress would nerpose to pre-.
: vent it.
It Mr.. Simms of S. c., was delighted that peace
It had spanned our horizon. There was, however
# never more popular war than that with Next
e co, He was sorry and mortified that statesmen
9 did not SO regard it. The feelings which hac
prompted the Executive to send in his message
5, ought to be appreciated here. Mexico was
l. weak, and we were strong. The offer of peace
1t would place us in proper position before the
e civilized world We offered peace before hos
f tilities commenced, and we renew those offer.
is now. How could gentlemen complain that thi:
IT offer was made to us in public, and not i'll pri
r Vate? There was another subject prematureIy
Is introduced into this discussion, and that wa.
= Slavery. II we should acquire territory, j
s. would be time enough to agitate this subject
He hoped thai all propositions in regard to Slave
= ry would be voted down and rejected The,
e were altogether out Of place, and ought not t.
is be needed. Gentlemen here were against
is peace. This was factous opposition.
Mr. Davis, of KY, was for peace, but was 70
d conquering it. He would not give the Presi
J. dent the money nor buy California in time o
A. war
+ Mr. J. q Adams asked that the bill shout,
l. be read on which we were to vote--Which wa
If done
e. Mr. A. said he should vote for the bill mos
ID heartily and should not regret that in his h,
10 differed from his colleague. He had had thu
to misfortune to differ with his colleague before
is upon the Mexican war billy He was not will
at ing to connect the slave question with this bill
l. Mexico, including Texas, had long since abol
S lshed Slavery and it had been rc-established on
r. the soil of Texas Our own countrymen hac
ID put it there, and not Mexico There was ne
other part OF Mexico where Slavery existed
10 10 the sentiment nterdicting Slavery, he sub
n scrlbed with all his heart and would vote for it
with all his heart, as an independent question:
is He would vote for the bill as it was lie hail.
Is ed the message received to-day as refreshing
rs measure.
o. Mr.. Rockwell of Conn, said, there was n,
10 member Of this House, no citizen Of the United
rt States more in favor of peace with Mexico
10 than himself He believed thai the prpsiden
m contemplated no such thing as peace without tn
I'd extension Of territory. The House knew moth
H. ing Of the purchase of this territory We wen
to going with the sword in one hand and the purs
H. in the other. By bribery or by force, we wer
We coming in possession of country belonging t.
a Mexico. Why this unusual course! Was
" not for some unusual and secret purpose? Tn
question involved want of confidence in thu
Executive, he knew, but he had not this conf