Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-03-24
The NiI,,,ot ProYiso.

| The NiIsn0t PrOyiso.
Hitherto the lower house Of Congress
has nobly sustained the administration in
l.llsits great leading measures, particular
/ ly upon the Oregon question and the " ar
qrestion. Until very recently, the Senate
has been the principal seat Of detection
the grave ofthe peoples hopes. But we
lgrieve to say that that conservative body,
the-Hosas. has at length swung from its
moerings. However others Of cur party
may view this natter whatever may be
the views Of our northern contemporaries
respecting this slavery question-we can
not but regard the vote in the House on
the Wilmot proyiso to the three million
appropriation bill, az a deep and lasting
disgrace 10. the democratic party, ifnot to
the Nalion.s
Although both Houses Of Congress have
very recently seen tit i;c reconsider tiliss
vote, yet we must acknowledge, that we
were taken all aback by the first news. Our
| country is at war: The federal party is
throwing every obstacle in the way Of its
vigorous prosecution: Having failed TO
inspire the great mass Of the American
| people with the spirit Of toryism. and like
wise in inducing them to enter into their
reasonable designs, they commenced lay
ing plots for distracting the councils Of
the nation and circumventing the admins
tration. Their great aim was to compel
the President to abandon the war, and in
stead Of conquering an honorable peace,
| to submit to dishonorable terms from Mex
| leo, and thus entail everlasting iniamy up
on our government: Their every senti-
ment is moral treason; and many Of their
leaders in Congress are as deeply stepped
/ IN crime as ever was Aaron Burr and his
cosdjutors ~z
IN this state of affairs, the war, mean
time, :ualsirg heavy drains upon the best
blood and treasure Of our coGntry--thc
President thinks that The Mexican govern
ncnt will be favcyably disposed towards
a'trea,y Of peace, and that if the necessa-
~ means are placed at his disposal, a
treaty may be effected which will be per-
fectly honorableto the United States - one
by which we would acquire sufficient
territory for half dozen new stars to
the American constellation. For this
purpose. he asks that the comparatively
small sum OF two or three million dollars
be placed at his disposal.
A bill is introduced appropriating the
amount asked for by the President; when,
10 and behold ! the factious spirit of abol-
i,ionism is invoked 10 clog it with pro-
viso prohibiting the existence of slavery
within the territory to be acquired. We !
are, equally with the friends of this meas
ure, opposed 10 the admission Of any more
slave states into the Union. But was
there no other way to accomplish that OBJ
jecl? Could it be effected in no other |
way, but to make Of the peace bill pack
horse flor carrying this heavy abolition
measure through Congress? Must eve
ry important measure demanded by the
interests Of the whole country, and asked
for by our able and faithful Executive, to |
enable him in prosecuting to successful |
issue the most momentous undertakings, |
be made to sroan under, or perchance be |
crushed beneath the ponderous weight of
some measure which canuot be sustained |
upon its own merits.
The amendment is now the Elain feature |
Of the bill; while the appropriation-the |
original measure : has become mere in |
cident as it were, to the "Proriso''
The main question is now between sla-
very and nti-slavery--a local question
between the North and the South-not
whether the President shall have placed |
at his disposal the means Of efiecting an
honorable peace. The slave states are
fifteen in number majority of the whole,
independent Of those recreant Senators,
who, withou. reference to any other inter
est, would rejoice in the failure Of an i'm
portant measure.
We regret that our space. will not per-
nit US 10 give a full analysis Of the vote
or the proviso. We seriously regret that
the votes Of our Representatives. Mes
srs LETTER and Hastings, were not record
ed in the negative OF az. question. D D;;.
when we learned that such old democrat
ic members as Brinkerhoff, Cummins, Far
ran and Thurman, of Ohio; Cathcart,
Henly and Petit, Of Indiana, and Huge, Of
III with only One execution amono tho