The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. JOHN A. DIX,


SPEECH OF MIR. JOHN A. DIX,
OF NEW YORK, ~
In the Senate of the United States, March ls47On thu
three million bill.
The bill approprating three millions of dollars, to ena
HE the President to enter into negotiations for the reso
ration of peace with Mexico, being under consdera
ton
MIR DIX said Mr. President, intended TO address
The Senate on the general subject of the war but being
always more ready to listen than to speak, have given
way to Others who desrous OF presenting their
10 the Senate. And | have done so with pleasure, be-
cause knew that they were much more capable than
myself OF enlghenng the judgment of the Senate on the
questions before it. have thought the occasion APP
our government was founded; of reviewing its prog
ress of entering into critical survey OF our position
as a, nation, for the purpose OF estimating INTEL
ligeny our responsibilities to ourselves and others OF
seeing wherein strength consists and OF determining
by what OF policy the permanent interests OF the
country most likely to be promoted If do not mis-
take prevailing Indications, opportunity may be Afford
ed hereafter for such review, and one fully appro-
pirate the present pass by all these grave consider
atoms rise for the purpose OF saying few words IN
respect to the position taken by the non slaveholding
the admission Of future States into the Union--a
position taken by resolutions passed by the legs-
presented by the bill passed BY the House, and now
awaiting the action of the Senate. 1t has been large
" discussed on both sides New York is one of the
States, by which resolutions relating to the question have
has been the subject of here AS OF her rep
resenaves this floor, wish to say something in her
vndicaton, and in reference to the vote may be called
on to give probably at too late hour for discussion
And in the first place. desire TO state what understand
to be the rights OF the original parties to the constitution
respect to the subject of slavery within their own lin
its. sy,..L Il 40 +..It
The constitution of the United States recognised the
stence of slavery in the thirteen original States, which
were parties to that compact The recognition not
in direct terms but by force of certain stpuations de-
quences OF its existence. These stpulatons binding
upon all the members of the Union-as well those
which originally, those which have since been
admitted into it. Whatever opinions may be entertained
with regard to the political social influences of slavery
the obligation OF those who live under the protection OF
the constitution, to carry out in good faith all its shpua
solemn obligation therefore, to leave the States in
which slavery exists, unmolesed and free to deal with
It according to their own interests and conceptions OF
duty. h-8
Such understand to be the rights and obligations OF
the States which the original parties to the federal
compact; and they belong equally to those who have
pass to the consideration of admitting new States into
the Union, with slavery. Whether organized State,
formed from territory not belonging TO the United States
or IN other words, whether foreign State shall be adj
mitted into the Union at ALL is problem which may be
determined (waivng all questions of constitutional
power upon general considerations of expediency,
itv proposed to be received The admission Of Texas
is the only OF this kind which has occurred since
the adoption OF the constitution Slavery existed in that
republic at the time of the admission and we did not re-
qure that it should be abolished 1t is true the compro-
mise line adopted the adjustment of the Missouri
question fixed of the conditions of the adms-
sion. Slavery prohibited north of 80 deg 80 min.
north latitude But it is equally true believe that there
was settlement then, if there is now. in that part of
Texas which hes north of the parallel OF latitude refer
red to. There slavery TO be abolished. 1t was
uninhabited wilderness believe it be true also,
that Texas, notwithstanding the fundamental condition
on which she was admitted into the Unionhat slavery
should not exist above 80 deg 80 mnhas extended to
her whole territory without reservations the provisions
OF her constitution in respect to slavery of which is,
that the egsture shall have power to pass laws for
the emancipation of slaves, without the of their
owners nor without paying their owners, previous to
snch emancipation, full equivalent IN money Tor the
slaves SO emancipated"
who voted for the admission of Texas, without further
restriction, are all resolyable into the single fact that
slavery existed in that republic. We took it found
IT. The same reasonngs applied to the acquisition OF
foreign territory, in which slavery does not exist de-
mand that It shall be received as we find it, and that we
shall SO maintain it long it continues to be terri
Tory IL shall at any time thereafter be organized into
state, and admitted into the Union, it is entitled to come
IN with all the political rights of the original States, and
therefore, free to determine for itself what its forms Of
organization. political or social shall be- provided they
mental compact between the Sates or with any stpula
hon or compromise in respect to the territory from which
II formed If slavery exists when State comes into
the Union, 1t may be subsequently abolished IN such
form as the constitution laws of the State prescribe
for expressing the sovereign will or assent On the other
hand, slavery does not exist when State into
the Unlon may be subsequently established by the act
OF the State without violating any provision of the fed
eral constitution This freedom of action is nseparable
from the sovereignty of the State, and there is
morty TO control it by federal laws
have thus stated what | understand to be the
ceded rights Of the States in respect to this subject
admit to the fullest extent the exclusive control of each
State over the subject, within its own jurisdiction.
ADMIT the right of the States to be exempt from every
species OF niermeddling interference within their
nnits have always acted in conformity with this adj
mission. introduced resolutions in the first meeting
ever held at the north in opposition to the movements OF
me aboitionsts. The meeting was held in Albany in
1888, and It's proceedings not only met with the approba-
uon OF a large portion of the people of the non-save-
hodlng States OF all parties, but believe they met also
with the appreciation of the whole South They were
founded upon the principle have already statedperec
edom in each State under the guarantees of the
stu to determine for ITSELF without external interer-
ence whether it will abolish continue or establish sa-
very within its own limits.
return again, for instant to the question of acquir-
ng new territory, territory belonging to other indie
pendent nations We have done so in two nsances-bv
the purchase OF Louisiana in 1903, and Florida in 1920
Slavery existed IN both and at the time of acquiring
them, no provision was made for aboshng or restrain
ing it. They were, IN this respect, taken they were
found. refer TO these cases. to show that there has
been no interference with slavery by those who are op
posed to it in principle, where it has actually existed
when acquiring territory, and that they have been
willing such occasions to leave II to the silent influ
of the moral and physca! causes. which u
matey determine its limits both in point of time and geo
graphical extent
higher question than any yet presented to us is
made by this bill Ii proposes appropriation OF money
to purchase territory from Mexco--a of which
approve am in favor of the appropriation and the pur
chase | have always been in favor of acquiring Cali
lorna Just terms Its ports the Pacific would
invaluable q a