The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. BAYLY,
In The House Of Representatives., February II :,
lS47-On the Wilmot Provi,o.
lConcludcd.1

IN me rouse 81 Representatives., February IL,
lS47-On The Wiimot Prori,o.
Concluded
But gentlemen contend that the Missouri com
promise does not extend to territory hereafter TO
be acquired. admit, in terms it does not. Bnt
not equitable. was il not fair, as far as the
non slavehniding States were concerned; there
was no reciprocity in it, But this is ministerial
now. II is not the south that is seeking to dis
card IT, Was it not fair as far as the north was
concerned The conclusive fact which | have
already mentioned. obvates the necessity Of any
argument IL ,cds The proposition Of The north
'tseB, carried by northern uoles. against south
ern rotes and southern protests. 10 favor Of the
Missouri compromise every senator from the non
slaveholdlng States. except two, voted and in
the House Of Representatives every member from
the same States except five also vaied for il
The north. at least. is estopped from complaining
OF Its inequality. fit was fair and equal as far
as the territory we then possessed was concerned
why will it not be far as the territory 10 be
acquired hereafter is concerned2 How is it, that
IN reference to territory hereafter to be acquired,
equality is not equity Upon what principle is
1t. that territory, won by common blood and the
common treasure of every portion Of the Union,
is to be appropriated exclusively to aggrandze
and augment the power of one? Sir, this Union
rests upon the basis of the most perfect equality
among all lis members; and whenever the gov
eminent of ii is administered for these exclusive
advantage of any portion of it, lis days will be
numbered.
In the case Of Texas, the Missouri compromise
line was recognized as extending 10 territory TO
which it did not in terms apply. But gentlemen
say the south voted against applying ii TO Texas
II is true we did, because. for the reasons have
given, we did not think Congress had the power
to do IT, But il was proposed by gentleman
from non slaveholJing State, and il was carried
by the representatives Of the non slaveholdinp
States. We could not vote for il, but we acqni
esced. Notwithstanding all this, in less than Two
years gentlemen who voted 10 extend the Mis-.
souri, compromise to Texas, came forward and in
sist that the Missouri compromise has no applica
iion to territory which we did not possess AZ The
time Of its adoption. They are estopped by their
own votes from taking this ground.
have thus shown the iniquity and unconsliin-
t0nality Of this whole proceeding. But tho worst
of il is. according to genIlemen's own showing. it
is a purely gratuit0us outrage upon us The
gentleman from New York, fMr. King. and
nearly every one who has spoken upon that side
vt the question. admits that, soon as these ter
rltories are erected into States, that they may in
troduce slavery il they choose. Grant this, (and
1t Is too plain proposition to admit Of doubt or
dscussion,) and where the use of prohibiting sla-
very in terriory2 If you do not prohibit it, it
VIII never exist in regions unsuited to the back
man if you do, while the territories are under
your pupllage, it will be introduced as som as
they are left to act for themselves wherever slave
labor can be used to advantage. Suppose negro
slavery existed at this moment in Maine Does
any one doubt that it would soon be exlirpafed by
the laws Of nature, which are much stronger than
the laws Of man. Sir, as the statistics show. the
negro csnnot live and multiply there Suppose,
on the other hand, the white inhabitants If ia
maica were left free 10 act for themselves and
there was not negro in the island does any one
doubt that they would introduce slsvety7 Why,
sir. even The British government ITSELF offer bav
ing abolished slavery there, al great Gust, but
short time since. to avert the ruin il has brought
upon The planters, are trying to re.cstablish it
under 1imsy DISCUSSES. Suppose there was not a
slave in Mississippi Does any one doubt tina,
slavery would he introduced at once II any
such a one ran be found, | point him TO Texas.
SsVery had been abolished there bni she no
sooner becamrtindePendent, Than she re estsbIish