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

House of Representatives. influence in the govern
ment would be increased in proportion less
able to defend ourselves. SHOW PERIOD said the
members from the eastern States, when it may be in our
power put a stop, if we please, 10 the importation OF this
Weakness and will endeavor, for your convenience TO
restrain the religions and political preGd,ces Of our people
such proposition they were Tor AN immediate and total
prohibition
"By this settlement we have secured an unlimited i'm,
portaion negroes for twenty years. Nor declared
hat the importation shall be then stopped; may be con
tinued. We have security that the general government
enancipate them for no such authority grant
ed. We have Obtained right 10 recover slaves in
whatever part America they may take refuge, which is
right had before In short, considering all clrcuu-
stances have made the best Terms for the security ots
species opropeny was in our power TO make. We would
have made better If we could but on the whole do mol
think them bad"
What ''better terms" could he have made, if there
was already the right TO extend slavery country
now free | challenge the gentleman TO show a single
opinion of the trainers OF the constitution sustaining the
position they have assumed They (the trainers OF the
constitution merely tolerated existing slavery they never
dreamed of its perpetuity much less its extension. All
of Them except those from South Carolina, and perhaps
Georgia, looking forward to lis speedy extinction
The ordinance of 81, forever restricting slavery from
every foot of territory then belonging the States and
consecrang II 10 freedom, and the making of the const-
tuition, simultaneous acts. The ordinance passed in
July of that year, and the constitution then under DIS
cussion, was completed in September following The
first Congress under the constitution, by Of ITS acts,
ratified that ordinance; and, mistake not Virginia, on
that OCCASION voted unanimously IN It's favor.
| agree with the gentleman from South Carolina, mat
the constitution has gone piece by piece; and, II ms
take not, he had hand in its mulation. lie and his
friends tore off large piece.
| Mr. RHErr. Does the gentleman from New York
mean me- have recollection of having made the
Mr. WooD do mean him. | may be mistaken as to
the individual but the remark or similar one, has been
made on this floor. piece of it went when louisiana
was annexed; and so thought he who had most to do
with it. The necessities OF the might seem to usti-
fy that act Another piece, and large went when
Texas annexed Is there power in the constn-
ton TO admit Sates says one Certainly; from our
own territory There is letter eXtant of MIR. Aladlsons,
if mistake not, showing that that power in the consu-
ton given with direct reference to the admission OF
States from own territory and particularly Vermont,
Tennessee, and new contemplated State to be called
Franklin and TO be taken from the western part OF Penn
| syyana,
In this rending OF the constitution we have had no
hand. New York will sustain all there is left AS long
as there is single shred remaining she will cling TO it,
We shall threaten It's destruction because
not accomplish unconstitutional act, or the carrying OF
slavery where 1t does not exist. The threats OF
some gentlemen here remind me very much OF over-n-
duged and spoiled children, who when subjected for the
first time sautay restraint in their peshness threat
en- destruction TO the very homestead
Mr. BiGGs. Does the gentlemen from New York deny
TO the south the right to her slaves under the consu-
ton, as property
TO the south all the constitution gives her. and will
suffer infringement OF her rights. thank the gentle
man for the interruption. reminded of recent law
of Massachusetts, interfering, as II sad, with the
rights OF the south If correctly understand that law,
is that the arrestng of slaves fleeing from service
labor, shall not be done without mourning penalty
by the officers OF the State but by the officers OF the
eral government Now, this is purely legal question,
and to be decided by the Supreme Court not by this
House refer the gentleman TO the opinion OF the chief
Justice in the 10th OF Peters, briggs VS.. the
Common wealth of Pennsy lvania in which he comments
upon the law of 1893 and the right of State leglsa-
lures to prohibit Their Officers . from interfering IN TINS
what means have already said She now claims what
ever OF Mexico shall be acquired by this war. After
cutching the whole of Texas and involving us in war,
she now talks of the fairness of dividing these Mexican
conquess. She should have thought OF this before II
is too late Come what may so far as am con-
cerned slavery shall go no farther and the threat that
YOU will dissolve the Union unless permitted TO extend
slavery these newly acquired territories, and where
it does exist is empty as the idle wind That
slavery will be extended over any or all territory here
certain that you have the territory know II has
been asserted by some, who have taken part in this
debate, that from the nature OF the sou and climate sla
the adoption of this provso' We know beer slavery
can exist there. Even the Cumanche Indians have
slaves Slavery exists even amid the colds OF Russia
1t will go wherever man, his cupdlty and lust of
power, carry it, and remain just as long as is profit
able.
But why do YOU want the north of Mexico For the
same you wanted the whole OF Texas Your slave
population press upon YOU and you are compelled, from
the very nature of the institution, to extend yourselves
In other counresin the free Statesa dense population is
wealth. power, and strength; and hence desired WIN
stop must day. from the want OF territory, II
from no other cause. Did tina permit, could tell you
where il will stop, and what will inevitably be the end
of it.
But saws the gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. BowDoN)
py combining us to certain limits you TO compel us
to emancipate our slaves" That gentleman is your bust
ness not ours we have nothing to do with IT. But we
have great deal to do with the question: whether this
country if acquired shall be cursed, we say; weaken
ed Mr. Pinckney said by the introduction OF slave
population,
This is national question. 1t is not question of
mere dollars and cents II is not political ques
ton 1t is one in which the north has higher and
deeper stake than the south possibly have. rs
question whether, in the government of the country she
shall be borne down by the influence of your slavehold
ing arsocatc institutions, that have not in them the first
element of democracy is question whether this re-
public shall be weakened cramped and degraded by an
institution doomed of God and man. We know some
thing of the of slavery, and have seen more
and had we not got rid of it, should have been IN as
are. Hug this institution to your BOSOM If you
choose, until eats out your very vals but let IL not
blast and blight and curse with the mldew OF heaven,
any other portion of Gods heritage, where by leave
of the constitution, it exists. Say what you will,
il hangs this country black and portentous cloud
Do gentlemen suppose we blind that cannot look
on this picture, and that !" do not wish to make
any nvidious comparisons, but am reminded, that IN
1890 Virginia contained twice the population OF New
York With fewer square miles OF territory, and less
genial climate in 1910, New York had twice the number
of inhabitants of Virginia at the former period the rep
Presentation of Virginia the largest in the national e
gislaure now it is the fourth in number The OF
all this cannot be mistaken Why, sir, when Ihear gen
tlemen talk of the beauties and blessings OF slavery and
roundly affirm that it is of the best institutions in
the world, am strongly reminded of the Tale OF tfe
tub" and of Peters insisting that a loaf of bread
l. r AI,rt ,nlIn oh