Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-05

tell the terms nor conditions Of peace, nor can
now presume TO say what course il vii, be The
duly Of honest and honorable men IN Congress 20
lake upon the treaty. can only hope thar
when that important era shall arrive, may, lor
one, be dnecIed 10 the true performance OF than
duty.
There has been a proposition, Mr.. President
10 resist the acquisition Of any more territory
whatever; and last year the Wing members Of
lhe Senate voted in favor Of that course
Wings from The North aud South were united on
that. The Democratic Senators voted the other
way. TheNouhern democracy (hey Them
selves so, and ! may therefore use The em,) }
wished, and wish now, 10 carry on the war. ac-
qulre all the territory we may, and receive il into
The Union, relying on the WllmOt proyiso 10
keep out slavery. On The other hand, the south.
ern democracy would acquire the territory, but
make no prohibition Of slavery.
The sections Of the democracy both agreed as
TO Obtaining the new territory, and therefore uni
Ted in support Of the war and acquisition, leay-
ing II to be seuled afterwards. whether the an
nexcd country should be free territory or slave
territory. That dispute was 10 be a secondary
matter. Now sir, allow me 10 say that have
not seen one intelligent and lairman the South,
who objecls 10 the influence Of the Nonh being
eXerted TO prevent the increase and extension Of
The slave power. Certainly no man Of sense
can complain Of this. ] do not know the man
who says il is unreasonable in us, or may not
rightly be done by US. The apparent, obvious
inequality Of free and slave representation, so
wholly inconsistent with the fundamental princi-
pies oil republican government, we may properly
resist. But what is past must stand. We can
not 60 back. What is established, must stand.
And | say here to-day, thai with the same firm
ness with which would resist any further in.
crease Of slave representation. would resist any
hazard TO the maintenance of The Constitution,
by disturbing existing rights under its provisions.
But Southern gentlemen, sir, do complain Of
the Wmot Proyiso in one thing, that il is une-
quail; that if new territory be acquired under il,
twill be settled by families from The North, with.
out slaves, who do not need slave labor. While
the people Of The South cannot scule il, or live
in II, because they cannot take their slaves with
Them, if they emgrale, and cannot do without
them. 1t tends, they say, 10 establish against
Them durogaUry distinction, a mortilying dis
linCIicn.
But look at the force OF this argument. am
always happy TO meet gentlemen Of character aud
ability. from the South, upon this ground but
what is iH How stands the case, nowl They
admit that the dsproporionue representation be.
tween the North and SouIh, as il now exists, is
clear inequality; but if new territory is TO be
had, aud more slave representation allowed, is not
that maniIeslly a plain augmentation Of such IN
equainyi Most certainly, il cannot be denied.
am not prophet sir, nor the son Of pro-
Phet. But if were 10 prophcsy, the very last
subject on which should dare to venture pre-
dicIiun, would be The course Of the Northern de-
mocracy on This subject Of the extension Of sIa- /
very. The predictions Of the almanac rrspcc-
ting the state of the weather, would be lust as
reliable as any ! could make, Of their probable
proceedings. hope there are some one among
them, am glad to believe there arc many of
them, who would go with us in support of the
come TO the real question, the vote-who and
how many can we rely on To help usl
Sir, what occurred the other day at Worcester
may serve TO shed some ght on the matter
We find there no expressed adhesion tolhc princ-
pie, but the reverse. The WiImot proviso was
secuted out Of the asscmbIogc of the Democracy
Of Massachusetts; AT least have so understood
And the Democratic, or Loco Foco members Of
Congress from Maine aud New Ilampshre-are
we quite certain that they will abandon the Ad-
minislrarion, and support the proyiso against the
slave power!
We can only say and in my Judgment, can
only say, Mr. President, that we are to use the
first and last, and every occasion that offers, to
oppose the extension Of slave power. But
speak Of it, here, as in Congress, as a political
question, a question for statesmen to act upon.
We must so regard il. certainly do not mean
to say that il is less important in moral point OF
vew--thal It's not more imporantin many other
points Of view. But as a legislator, or in any
official capacity, must look at it, consider il, and
decide it as matter Of political action.
Sir, am quite aware that ! am using FAR too
much Of this sunlight and hasten 10 Il few clio.
sing observations.
lfpcoce comes, it will bring with itsomo terms,
! know not what. How we are TO deal with the
treaty, must be deferred until we have got it, and
have seen what it is. But suppose that peace
should not come; that The armStICc should be
broken off; and that Congress assemblies, with
tho war in active prosecution. What shall be
done thenl Now this is a very natural question
what is the answer! would not venture to
anticipate what may be suggested 10 such an
emergency, but my own mind is perfectly clear.
| hold the war making power TO be entrusted TO
Congress. The Constitution places it there
| believe that Congress was surprised into the re-
cognition oi war on the 18Th Of May, 1876.
believe lhNti( the question had been put to Con.
gress before the advance of our troops, not ten
votes could have been obtained to pronounce
that there was then an existing state of things
which amounted 10, or justified war or TO declare
war against Mexico.
Bur war does now exist, and what is our duty?
| say for one, that suppose ito be true. ! hope
il is true, that n majority OF the next House OF
Representatives will be Wings; will be opposed
10 The war. think we have heard from the
Fast and the West, the North and the South,
some things which make that pretty clear. Sup
pose it TO be so. What rhenl Well, sir, say,
lor one aud al once, that unless the President of
the United States shall make out case which
shall show to Congress that the aim and object
I,r ipn tb tod is M plr