The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-04
THREE MILLION BILL

|
which shall hereafter be acquired by annexed TO the
other manner whatever except for crimes whereof the
y shall have been duly convicted Provided ai,cdys That
escaping into such territory from whom aoor
or service is lawfully claimed any Of the United
States, such fugitive may be lawfully claimed anu con
veyed said territory the power claiming his or her
labor service"
Mr. GRAHAM moved to substitute for all of the pro-
posed amendment after the word propded the follow
| ing
If any territory be acquired by the United States from
Mexico, the Missouri compromise line of 10 degrees 10 min
ues shall extended direct tho Pacific that is,
slavery shall be prohibited north OF that line and allowed
south of it." ,tst
| The amendment to the amendment was rejected by
Teers were then demanded upon the WnMoT proviso.
MIR. EWING, of Pennsylvania, said that he had not
occupied much of their time during the session. and as
he desired that the country should know the situation in
which they placed, he would say few words upon
the present question He proceeded to contrast the con-
on Of the country at the present time with its position
when the present administration into power-to
fer briefly to the OF the war; and to express his
views on the slavery question
rose and reported.
. The SPEAKER having resumed the chair the usual
resolution for terminating the debate ho three million
bill within five minutes after the bill should have been
| taken up in committee, was moved
| Mr.. BRINKERHOFF moved TO amend the resolution
by striking out the words fve minutes and inserting in
lieu thereof the words ''half an hour"
The amendment having been rejected, the resolution
| was then adopted
Mr.. MCKAY moved that the House take recess rom
half-past two to five o'clock; which was agreed TO-
On motion the House again resolved itself into Com
mittee Of the Whole oc the state Of the Union,
| Mr.. DOUGLASS had contented himself with giving a
silent vote this former occasions, and
would do but for the fact that there few
minutes remaining for debate under the order of the
sideratons on the BILL and especially to the proposed
amendment known the ''WIIAoT proyiso." 1t was
well known that he in favor of the bill and against
the proviso. 1t was also well known that he would
have been willing arranged the
| of slavery according to the principles of the Mis-
souri, compromise. But all hope of such ar
ngement for the present at end and the ques-
ton must be determined between the original bill
and the amendment He would suggest few considera-
tons, why he thought that every northern at least
should vote against the proyiso In the first place we
want the territory at least California and New Mexico
and the adoption of the provso with the agitation and
excitement will produce upon the slavery question,
The acquisition was essential TO the commerce, trade,
sheres and great maritime interest of the north, well
as useful to the general interests OF the whole country
These great interests ought not to be haZarded by
mature agitation of an exciting question which may
never arise and if it does arise, may be settled then
well now. But above ALL the free States ought to be
content to leave 1t open question until acquire the
territory repeat the free States ought to be content,
for this reason Slavery is prohibited by the funda-
mental laws OF Mexico we incorporate part of the
OF that territory so incorporated, so far they
are not inconsistent with the constitution of the Uni
sa ses will ne in ee Until repealed by
ndisputable this point When the territory is an
nexed, therefore, will free territory with the
remain free, nnless that legal prohibition be repealed
The question next arises who to repeal this prohibition
We are told in debate that Congress- and Congress Alone
possess the power TO prescribe the fundamental law of
the Territorial government When Congress comes to
establish Territorial government the free territory
acquired under this BILL the question will then arise
continued In the decision of that question BY Congress
the free States will necessarily have the preponderance of
power A large majority Of the representatives this
floor from the free States, and that majority is in
| creasng with every succeeding census. The power,
them in the hands of the free States and must exist
there, whenever this question shall be settled it, indeed,
teyer arise The south poweress in the settlement
OF this question by Congress. Constituting minority,
representatives of the south liable at any time be
States, if they shall ever attempt to repeal the prohibition
slavery in the territory that may be acquired under this
bill. How, them is slavery be established by law in
that territory except by the of the free States
And whether the free States will OF will not, give their
CONSENT question to be decided when may properly
arise If the act Of Congress, creating territorial gov
eminent shall be silent upon the subject of slavery, still
all laws passed by that territorial government must be
submitted to Congress for its assent before they become
valid If the Territories should repeal the restriction still
Congress would have the reserved power of dissenting
such repeal and declaring it null and void This power
is reserved in all the acts creating territorial governments
and gives Congress the right to declare any territorial
law vold OF which 1t dlsapproves. The power, then, is
IN the hands OF the free States and why should force
this exciting question prematurely, before the territory
acquired, ana when we know nothing OF Its extent, stu
alton, or limts' have submitted these remarks upon
the assumed positive that Congress has the power to le
glsate on the subject OF slavery in the territories
Whether il does does not possess such power under
the constitution, shall not stop to inquire is it
eria to my present purposes for if Congress has pow
er to egslae upon the subject, it has constitutional
right to adopt this provsO in this view of the subject
repeat that the free States the last that ought
this vexed question: and endanger the acquisition of the
territory and the attainment of an honorable peace Let
us first terminate the war-acquire the terrtory-get in
IDENTITIES for the wrong committed upon citizens and
country and then settle the domestic questions at the
proper time and in the proper spirit
The amendment to the amendment again read,
and teers being ordered it decided in the negative by
| yeas 81, nays &c.
The question then recurring upon the amendment of
the gentleman from Pennsylvania it was read Upon
this question teers ordered, when il decided
| in the affirmative by yeas 90, nays so.
On motion the committee then rOse and the CHAIR
MAN reported that they had had under consideration the
state of the Union generally, and particularly Senate bill
No. 1885, and had directed him to report the same to the
House with an amendment
! Mr. RATHBUN moved the previous question, which
seconded and the main question was ordered be
put, viz: Will the House agree TO the amendment re-
ported by the Committee of the Wholei The yeas and
nays being ordered the question was decided follows
YEAs-Messrs Abbott, John Quincy Adams, Anderson,
Arnold, Ashmun, Benton, Brnkerhof William w Camp
bell John II. Campbell Carroll, Cathcart, Collame Col
lin, Cranston, Cummns, Darragh Dcano, DeMou, Dill
lingham, Dixon Dunlap Ellsworth, John Fl. Ewing Foot,
W. Houston, Samuel ID. Hubbard Hudson Hunger
ford Washington Hunt, b. Hunt, Joseph r. Ingerso,
King Lawrence Levin, Lewis, MccIelland, joseph J. Nc.
Dowel, McGaughey, McIlvaine, Marsh, Miller, Moseey
Moulton, Niven, Norris PERIL, Petit, Pollock, Ramsey,
well Root, Runk Sawtele, Scammon, schcnck, Seaman,
Severance Truman Smith, Caleb B. Smith, Starkweathcr,