Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-27

pose Of acquiring territory in the hands Of Southern Admin
istration.
II for that propso that voted. wished to get the
great principle which embodied fairly on the statue-book
believe it to be perfectly constitutional principle and
eminenty conservative principle.
Sir those who undertake TO dispute the constuonaly OF
that principle must rule out of existence something than
the immortal ordinance OF 1851 My honorable friend rom
South Carolina Mr. BURT) reminded the other day that
Mr. Madison, in the Federas, had doubt the
authority of the Condeatve Congress pass that ordinance
He did But with what view sir Not to bring that act
into dscrod but enforce upon the people Of the United
States the importance of adopting system of govern
men, under which such acts might henceoh be rghfuty
DONE This system OF government adopted The con-
stuon established In the very Of that constitution
found provision recognising the authority OF Congress
prevent the extension Of slavery, after certain number of
years, in the existing Staes and prevent its inrodc
ton into The territories imediately. What more During
the first session of the first Congress of the United States
der this constitution, this Northwestern Ordinance
with its anti slavery clause, soemnly recognised and
enacted This is fact before noticed, to my know
ledge, and 10 which beg the attention of the House.
Here the eighth of the first session Of the Congress
Listen to the preamble -
sWhereas order that the ordinance United States
in Congress assembled for the government OF the territory
northwest of the river Ohio, may continue 20 hare M eject
requisite that certain provisions should be made
adapt the the present Constitution ofhe United States
BE enacted" &c.
Then follow few formal changes in regard TO the Cover
and other officers The sixth article Of the ordinance
mains untouched Mr.. Madison member Of this first
Congress- many others OF those most distinguished
framing the constitution And this bill passed both
branches without objection and without any division except
upon mmaerial amendments
Here then, find the very trainers of the constitution
themselves in the first year of its adoption, applying the Prn-
cpe Of the Waof pr0riS0 to all the territories which the
General Government then possessed without compromise
TO latitude longitude. These territories much the
fruit Of the sacrifices tolls common blood
of the States any which be conquered from Mexico
They were the joint and common property OF the several
States The ordinance unanimously adopted 1884, and
re-enacled unanimously in 1889 Madison, who had
disputed the authority of the Congress Of the Confederation to
pass originally, voted for himself in the Congress of the
Constitution and all his colleagues from the savehoding
States voted for it with him. Sir, the consiuonaty Of
such be disputed know not what principle
of the Constitution can be considered as settled
have said that regarded this principle emnently
Srpatiue well entirely constitutional do believe,
sir that whenever this prouso shall be evocaby establish
ed shall be considered Interchangeable the laws Of the
Modes and Pesans, then, and not till them shall have
permanent peace with other countries and fixed boundaries
for country II is plain that there two parties in
the free States Both of them opposed uncompromisingy
opposed, hope and believe, the extension of slavery
One of them, however, and that the party of the present Ad
mnistraon, for the widest extension Of territory, subject
the anavery provso. The other of them, aud that the
party which have the honor belong are believe,
content with the Union is desire annexation of
States and utterly opposed to the prosecution OF this
for any purpose Of dismembeng Mexico Between these
parties in the free States the South holds the balance of
power. II may always hold it. If now, therefore, it will
putting end To this and IN arresng the march
of conquest upon which armies have entered the limits OF
the Republic well the limits of slavery may be finally
established.
1t is in this view that believe the principle of the Wio
proUiso be the great conservative principle Of the day. and
tits in this view that desire place it mmuaby upon
books The South has to be jealous OF such
movement from side Of the House, The South should
rather welcome il as overture of domestic peace
Sir, much depore the in which involved
deeply regret the whole policy of anncxatont the result
of these could be engra the policy of this provso
permanently and ineradcaby upon American SYSTEM
should regard blessing cheapy purchased Good would
indeed have been brought out Of evil and should be al
most ready to say, with the great dramast of old England
&c IL after every tempest such calm,
Let the winds blow till they have awakened DEATH
Yes sir in that event. instead of INDUCING any
ee and upon the Lone Star of Texas might
ther hail the of hope and PROMISE and peace and
might be moved TO apply the language Of another great
English poet
g Fairest OF Stars last in the tram of night
II rather thou belong to the dawn"
five could last lay down permanently the boundaries
Republic if we could feel that had extngushed for
the lust of extended dominion the bosoms Of the Amer
lean peoples if could present that old god Tcrainus
whom we have heard much and eloqueny elsewhere
not with outsireched still pointing territories
the distance, but with limbs Topped off, the Romans
times represented him. beokening that he had reached the
iuhes goal of his aspirations If could be assured that
limits to be further advanced either by purchase
conquest by fraud by force then-hen might feel
that had taken bond Of fate for the perpeuaon Of
Union
1t is in this spirit that voted for the proyso in the Three
Million Bill IL is in this spirit that offer the provso the
Thirty Million Bill before Pass them both of, by
and the stroke all idea both of the extension of s
very and the extension of territory and shall neither need
the three millions the thirty millions for securing peace
| and harmony, both at home and abroad.
perceive, however, Mr. Chairman, that this result is
yet TO be accomplished. The bill before will become law,
without provso condition Of any kind The Tremendous
power of purse and sword combined be conferred the
President and he is 10 be left to WELD upon his respon
sibiliy for full year Oh, sir, let him remember
that though g" is excellent to have giants strength it is
yrannous it like giant" Let him remember that,
though may relieve him from all responsibility TO US, his
responsibility to bis country and his God remains The
President make peace with Mexico he peases TO do
He has proved that he usup authority make let
him show that he willing employ the authority constu
onay conferred upon him make peace. repeat sir, he
can make peace il he will. He stop fighting. He
no design to dismember her Republic destroy her ndpen
dence He can withdraw his armies TO the Rio Grande.
Peace would follow these steps surely the day the night
Two occasions, Mr. Chairman have already occurred when
the President might have put end to this with the
highest honor to himself and to the country IL after the bat
ties OF the Rio Grande he bad orbone from all further
sion, contened himself with the umphs already achieved
and the territory already acquired and placed himself entirely
the defensive the could have survived the
If again, after the successful sorming Of Monterey-an
plot which will not suffer by comparison with any thing
the military annals OF the wodhe had taken advantage Of
the Of capuaon which the brave and generous Taylor
had humaney and honoraby sanctioned, and had