The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-26

GCoaluied from yesterdays A" Union."l
will now SIR, pay my respects TO the gentleman iron
New York Mr.. RArHBuN,l who Immediately preceded
in this discussion That gentleman formally proposed
to the southern representatives this floor, that m they
would agree TO amend the constitution 10 strike ou
he compromise feature OF the hreeths slave represent
aon he would be willing that the south might take theI
slaves into the territory whatever numbers they
might think proper" II seems then, that he does moi
oppose slavery because 1t is an evil either social or po
hcal not because II 10 the free population
amongst which II existed contended by the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr.. PErrrl not because it was sin
not at all but simply because Il uras 10 the south element
Of political po.cer. would ask the members OF this
House upon all sides I'll Would ask the country, whether
this proposition does not prove the truth OF the remarks
this subject, made by friend, the able Independent
aud patriotic member from New York, MIR SrRoSG,l
that the agitation of this question was mere scramble
for political poweri And will the country tolerate the
agitation OF such question tor such purposes al time
important measures are necessary TO be brought forward
to the comfort of soldiers, the credit OF the
government and the triumph OF our arms ? The gentle
complained that the south had too many Presidents
too many Judges, and too many Speakers OF the House
OF Representatives And, is 1t good reason, be-
cause the south may have been somewhat more hon
ored by the confidence of the American people than
brethren of the north, that their feelings should
now be outraged, and the igaments OF the Union
weakened 1t is true, the south has had majority OF
the most important offices but while she held the
majority of the Offices, the north, through the agency
of the United States Bank, the protective arii, the
internal Improvement system, and the funding OF the pub
lie debt had secured TO herself the hons share OF the
finances of this Union Virginia has had thus far, more
than her due proportion of the Presidents of the United
States but let not be forgotten that she Is literally the
mother of States and of statesmen y that she gave TO her
sister States Washngton-''6rs in war, first in peace,
and first in the hearts OF his countymen;" Henry to
thunder in the very of tyranny the naenable rights
OF man, Jefferson 10 draught the charter OF our iRdepend
ence, 'inestmable to and formidable TO tyrants "
throughout the world and Marshall, who, for third
of century, eypounded the constitution OF country,
with ability and integrity equalled Let It be
remembered too, to her lasting honor, that she never
asked received any portion OF federal patronage, IN
the shape Of what she believed unconstitutional expendi
lures of the pablo money IN internal Improvements, but,
like her Harpers Ferry eagle, Towering in her pride
of place." she nobly refused the boon! She, aone OF
the original thirteen, deserted the democratic flag
in presidential elections and when the liberty OF speech
and of the press invaded by the sedlton law, her
resolutions of 9S consigned that law to the kissing exc
cratons OF their contemporaries and Posterty 1t is to
these causes than to any other that she owed her
political elevation and unrlvalled fame principles not
men, has ever been her motto. Did she not IN $50,
backed by South Carolina, Alabama Arkansas and Mis-
sour, repudlae both her IIppecanoe and Tyler
too, and adhere to the fortunes OF New lorks ayore
son, Martin Van BUREN, while New York deserted him,
and majority OF 1900 oGeneil Harrison Cen
eral HARRISON too, was opposed to such provision as
this under consideration for we are told by trend OF
this amendment Mr.. PETIT, of lndlanal that, when
governor OF Indiana he used all his influence to prevent
the anslavery provision In the northwestern ordinance
from having any application to that Territory And yet.
New York now complains that the south had too much
political power, and too many OF the Offices IN the federal
government.
|
plants.
Mr. KAUFMAN (rosuming) One of her Representa-
tives MIR RATHBUN] had, and as far as he was con-
cerned by the proposal he offered in regard to the slave
representation, and the enumeration he made of high
offices held by the south, gave conclusive evidence that
opposition to lduery nth htm pnreiya question OF
tedera and political porer. The northern free States
have majority of forty -four votes in the electoral
colleges and the admission of Wisconsin, they will
have majority of forty eght votes over the south and
it, with that pedomnancy OF numbers they cannot sus-
tain their against southern competitors 1t would be
libel the north to intimate that anything but supe-
ror qualifications and superior claims in the southern can
ddaes insured them northern preference Yes SIR, the
north had now the political power, and she would con-
tnue to have it. And how did the free States get the
political ascendency' It IS an interesting tact, MI
Chairman that they indebted for that power TO the
magnanmity and uncacuating generosity OF Virginia.
Never dreaming of future consequences she coded to
the United States the Northwestern Territory form
ed into the States of Ohio Indiana Illinois, Michigan.
and, may add Wisconsin; and never thinking OF any
consideration but kindness to the slave, who required
for his comfort, milder climate than the northwestern
territory, she agreed BY the vote OF all her representa-
tves in the Congress OF the United States, VIZ MeSsrs
Grayson, Carrington and Richard Henry Lee, to that
provision in the northwestern ordnance which forever
prohibited slavery said territory Indeed every southern
representative in the Congress OF the United States ana
every nohern member except Mr.. lates, from New
York then slave State voted for this ordnance. The
South thus unanimously agreed 10 give the free States
territory, and power which, unless her magnanimity
should awaken perhaps sumbering feeling OF graft
tule in the bosoms of the northern representatives, and
particularly those from the States formed out of Virginia
magnificent Donation may enable them to weaken the
SOUTH and endanger her security 1t is Tor the repesen-
taves of the north to say whether this gift OF Virginia
is 10 be an instrument in the hands OF northern Deiilah
to shear the south OF the locks OF her strength and thus
to endanger this glorious edhce of freedom, whose sud-
den rise and beautiful proportions are the wonder and
admiration of the whole world
! Notwithstanding the outcry which has been maze
against the south upon this floor yet history will show
that the north has gradually encroached upon the rights
| of the south, from the commencement OF our Union 10
the present time and this is the third act IN the drama
In the course of nv remarks connected with the Mis-
compromise and the history OF Texas, TINS posiloh
will be clearly established.
When the constitution OF the United States went INTO
operation every State but one. had slaves whih us
limits II appears BY the of 1880, the FIRST that
was taken under the constitution, that at THIS perion
more than year after the government went INTO opera
ton New Hampshire had l5S slaves within her limits
Rhode Island o52 Connecticut 1859;
New Jersey 1928; New York ~ ,32i while me o'ae
of Georgia had but 29,62i Massachusetts Is the only
exceptions although not until the year 80 that
was positively known TO the people OF that Common
wealth whether slavery iawfmtp existed there or not
Bradford in the second volume OF his History oil massi
chuses says (pages 226 and 227 tina; judgment OF
the supreme judicial court in Massachusetts, IN the course
of this year Q7S3) given in the county OF worcester
was final decision unfavorabe to the existence OF sa-
very in Massachusetts Many slaves says Mr.
Bradford were holden in bondage within the Province
(of Massachusetts until the revolutions although the
writer continues to say, "the odlous and hghly erina
traffic of human beings Ohe African slave rade) was
allowed in Massachusetts" IL seems, them slaves
were held even in Massachusetts up TO the time OF our
revolution, whether sanctioned by their laws or not
find by the Encyclopedia Americana, that even as late as
1892, the writer remarks that there are 22iG slaves IN
New Jersey; $50 in Pennsylvania and few SURVIVORS OF
former times in New York, Connecticut, and Rhoie Is
81 of Tho