The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01
SPEECH OF. FIR. GORDON
OF NEW YORK.
In the House Of Representatives, February H. Si7-On
the WILMoT proviso, and three million bill

In the House Of Representatives, February H. 1s47-On
the WIMoT provisO, and three million bill.
Mr.. GORDON addressed the committee as follows:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: have upon previous occasion ex-
pressed my views generally in regard to the and to
this question of prospective slavery in the territory
which we have conquered from Mexico. do not in,
tend upon this occasion to travel over any Of the ground
then occupied nor do intend upon this occasion to
change from the humble position taken by me in that
speech But there are some questions connected with
these two topics that feel disposed to notice.
The time now is, Mr.. Chairman, when slavery can be
discussed and talked about upon this floor dspasson
atey as any other question that comes within the scope
to arrive when sir, it be talked about and discussed
here without producing a dissolution of the Union of
these States, explosion of Congress True it s Mr.
Chairman that there are some HosPurs upon this floor
who, in the discussion, have echoed and re-cchoed
through this hall and resounded over the country
the cry of dissolution of the Union. No sensible
has made any such proclamation this but say some
Hotspurs upon this floor, whose opinion light the
air that floats around this Capitol and as evanescent,
have proclaimed, upon the consummaon of the WILMor
provso dissolution of the Union of the United States
OF America. Sir, you might just well talk, in this
nineteenth century, of overturnng the Christian religion
az of dssolvng the union OF the United States Next to
the Christian religion, the people of these United States
from north to SOUTH from east TO west, all cherish and
adore this holy and sacred Union of dissolution
Of the Union And for what Why, because territory
free from the stain of slavery is forever to remain
and be held free by because the ban to be put upon
that institution by the action Of the Congress of the only
which may acquire, and which NAV be under the
elusive jurisdiction Of Congress- Wha, consequence
from such miserable cause Sir, the cry of dissolution
of the Union is second only in insanity and blaspheny
TO the cry in France that there God II is i'm
possibility There is prospect that the union of these
States will be dissolved upon this question. any
other Where slavery does not exist, shall not exist
and New Mexico and California, already acquired by
conquest, will be- and must be- and shall be, preserved
free, this insane cry the contrary Notwithstanding Sir,
evidence that this is to be at this time at this day,
the question OF slavery here debated both sides
with argument, with reason with candor
What the Arguments that opposed 10 that pro-
vso that is known throughout the country the "WIL-
provso which has been Represented at this session
of Congress- by an esteemed colleague Of mine Why,
that Congress has power TO egsate upon the subject
of slavery in the Territories that belong the United
States, and not yet erected into States that have
power TO egsate upon the subject at all Sir, it is
too late in the day 10 question the power this sub
ect in the Territories Congress has only legislaied
upon the subject in the Territories but il has abolshe
slavery where IL existed by law and that too with the
entire of the southern portion of the confe
eracy. And yet, at this time they get up here il III
history of the legislation OF this country was forgotten
and deny the authority Of Congress upon this sub
lect at all In 1851 when the celebrated ordnan
which reference has often been made, enacted BY
the Congress of the United Sses slavery existed by law
in the Northwest Teuitoryhroueen all that territory
northwest Of the Ohio river This territory was owned
and claimed by Virginia. New York, and Connecticut
These three States claimed H. and without here attempt