Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-29
PRESTON KINGS SPEECH ON TILE
TWO MILLION BILL.

iHe iloNln speech ol Mt. hlnp (lemo-
crat.) delivered in the House Of Representa-
tlves on the 9th inst, was suggested by some
severe structures INDUCED in by the Union,
on the introduction by that gentleman of a
bill appropriltiug Two Millions for procuring
peace with Mexico Pa. freeman.
Mr.. Preston King asked leave 10 make a
personal explanation leave being unanimous
ly given, Mr.. King said
Mr.. Speaker-I find in the Union of this
morning a paragraph abiding, | presume, to
a bill which | yesterday asked leave to in
troduce. Tn Editor of the Union, it is very
evident, mistakes the purport of the bill. /
desire briefly TO state the reasons and opin-
ions which induced me to propose the mea-
sure and that | may not be misunderstood,
have written what | propose to say. Sir,
In proposing to introduce that bill, | had no
intention to interfere with or TO anticipate the
action Of the Standing Committee from which
1t came to the House at the last session but
was governed solely by the desire to bring
the subjects presented by the provisions OF
the bill, to the early consideration and action
of the House. The bill embraces two prin-
eipal features-one placing an amount of
money at the discretion of the President, to
he used In negotiating a peace with Mexico,
II an opportunity shall occur when the presi-
dent should deem it proper to use this money
In negotiating a treaty Of peace the other,
excluding slavery from any territory which
the United States may hereafter acquire, be-
ing the provision offered by the honorable
gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA, mir. Will
mott and adopted on the part Of this peace
measure by the House Of Representatives in
August last. | will frankly say, that il
had not supposed that there was a disposition
In some quarters silently 10 give the free prin-
clple OF the Nllmot proposition the go-by, and
by smothering and avoiding action upon il to
give farther extension TO the domini0ns of
slavery at the expense of free territory,
should not at this time have brought forward
this bill. The President recommended, and
reiterates his recommendation of a law grant
ing the two millions. If compiled with, with
the Wilmot p%royiso, | would cheerfully grant
the money. But | would have the free prin-
ciple of the Wilmot proviso enacted into law,
whether this bill pass or not. The time has
come when this republic should declare by
law that it will not be made an instrument to
the extension Of slavery on the continent of
America-that the boundaries, institutions,
and principles of our Republic must and will
extend, there can be no doubt. The present
war with Mexico must result in an extension
of the territory Of the United States. A peace
honorable to this country cannot be conclud-
ed without indemnity from Mexico in terri
tory. 1t is whispered that it will not do to
propose a law lhat any such territory should
he free territory, because a Southern Admin
~istratlon will take no territory unless it shall
be so arranged that the territory shall be open
to slavery. | will not listen to or harbor so
monstrous an idea every inch of Texas was
yielded to Slavery. / know that it was re-
iuctantly yielded 10 the possession of Slavery
by many, who supposed the acquisition of
Texas might be hazarded by any discussion
about the terms so strongly insisted upon by
the Representatives from the slave States;
but, with Texas, the extension of slavery, 1t
was supposed, would cease. 1t was hoped
the South would not desire to carry it where
it does not now exist. Is this sol The two
millions are distinctly, urgently, and repeat
eddy recommended by the President to be APP
Propriated. There is no other purpose for
which this appropriation can be wanted, ex-
cept in connection with a cessation of terrific
ry by Mexico. Mexico already owes us un-
paid indemnities for acknowledged and adiu-
dictated spoilations on our commerce. re-
peat, we must have territory from Mexico,
and there can be no harm or improperly in
stating what circumstances and every action
OF our Government proclaim to the world as
clearly and as unerrlngly as words could DO.
Shall the territory now free, which shall come
to our jurisdiction, be free territory, open to
settlem mt by the iaboring man of the free
States, or shall it be slave territory given I'D
TO slave labor! One Of them it must be; it
cannot be both. Tn labor of the free white
men and women, and Of their children, can
not and will not eat and drink, and lie down,
and rise up with the black labor of slaves
free white labor will not be degraded by such
.e-;.z, IL -1.,..n
law, the presence of the slave will exclude
the laboTing white man. The young men
who went with their axes into the forests, and
hewed out of the wilderness such States as
Ohio, and Indiana, and Michigan, and Hi
nois, and Iowa, and Wisconsin, would never
have consented in the workshops or in the
field TO be coupled with negro slaves. These
powerful commonwealths have sprung up in
the great West within the memory of a single
generation. free, populous, and ilourishing,
by the wisdom of the legislation of the men
of the Revolution. One act of this Govern.
ment did more for them than all other acts oil
Legislation. 1t was the ordinance of July,
1887, by which slavery aud involuntary ser.
vltude, except for crimes, was forever prohi.
bited in all the territory of the United States,
north and west Of the Ohio river. The brave
and patriotic generation who achieved our IN.
dependence, and established the republic, did
not hesitate about passing such an act
They thus saved these now popnlous and
powerful States from the evils of slavery and
a black population. Shall we hesitate TO do
the same thing for territory where slavery
does not now exist | trust not. The man
who has wealth or credit to purchase a plan.
ta;ion and become the owner of slaves, may
settle and reside without social degradation
in a country where slavery exists. Not Sc
with the ~laboring white man. He cannot 90
without social degradation, and he therefore
will not 60. He is excluded quite as effec-
raalIy as he could be by law. The mere pre-