Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-20
REMARKS OF Mr.. WEBSTER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
ON THE THREE MILLION BILL
Is snxArn OF rae UNITED srArEs. MAneA |, ls4s.


the Bill for Its third reading
Mr. WEBSTER said: If my health had been better and
time had remained TO it my purpose to address
the bill before it, and ON several topics with
which is connected This purpose, under existing circum
stances, must necessarily iorego The origin OF the
with Mexico, and the motives and purposes for which il
originally commenced, however ably discussed already
subjects yet exhausted have been particularly de-
srous Of examining them greatly deceived Mr. Pres
dent II shall not long facts coming to the light
and circumstances found colnciding and concung which
shall fix the Executive Government more definite and
distinct purpose intended TO tie effected with the cooperation
OF others in bringing hosttes with Mexico than has as
yet been clearly developed OF fully understood
Al present. should hardly have but to Law before the
Senate the resolutions OF the House Of Representatives of
Massachusetts, adopted Thursday We have great
deal Of commentary and criticism State resolutions brought
here Those Of Michigan particularly been very sharp
y and narrowly looked into whether they really mean
what they These of Massachusetts
hope are sufficiently distinct and decided They admit of
neither doubt cayi eve0 doubt cavl were permss
bic in such What the Legislature of Massachusetts,
thinks, has said, and said plainly and directly Mr. Pres
dent have not before any tribunal tried my ingenuity at
what the lawyers call special demurrer for many years and
never tried here IN the Senate In the business of egs
aon, and especially considering State resolutions and the
proceedings OF public assemblies duty course I'M
desand every thing according the meaning Of
the words used OF all OCCASIONS these the in which
should stick in the bark seek for loop holes or means
OF escape in the language of Judge former
tunes, hitch and hang on pins aud PARTICLES" We
take the substance fairly and is and hesitate
forms and phrases When public bodies address whether
we comply with their wishes not bound 10
understand them they be understood seek for
subteriuges, and 10 rely fareched and subtle diff
cuties exceptions. All such attempts will be Justly re-
gaded only many con,rvances esortcd get rid of
the responsibility OF meeting the public directly and man
fully, and looking our constituents boldly in the face
SIR, we in the midst of war, waged at home in
defence OF our SOIL but waged thousand miles off and in
the heart OF the territories of another Government OF that
war no one yet sees the end and countsthe
~ hat hIS
uon OF territory at least If any deny il, others admit it, and
all know it TO be true.
Under these circumstances and plainly seeing this purpose
TO exist eight States COMPRISING some nj
the largest have demonstrated against the prosecution of the
war Tor such purpose language suited express their
meaning These circumstances here with the distinct and
precise object Of dissuadng from further
the war Tor the acquisition of territory by conquest Before ter
toy actually obtained and character fixed thew
oeseech Us to give up object full Of danger One and
ALL they protest against the extension of slave territory one
and all they regard the solemn duty the representa-
nves OF the free States take security in advance that no
more slave States shall be added the Union They demand
OF US this pledge this assurance, before the purchase
Is paid or the bargain concluded And yet Mr. President
ingenuity has been taxed 10 utmost criticisms deep
and shallow, and hypercrcisms quite ncomprehensbe
all been esoed to- the hope of showing that do not
understand the people that their resolutions are not what
they TO be that they do require any immediate
movement opposition thathey only look dis
tant fuure emergencies that they
to disposition in regard territory shall have been
acquired and settled and in instance think was said
that did not appear that any thing required of for
fifty years
Mr. President understand all these things very differently
Such not the Of the free States and other States
receive IT, Their trumpet gives forth uncertain sound Its
tones clear and distinct understand that loud and i'm
Perave call is made upon take securities
TO make certain that no more slave States shall
ever be added 10 this Union.
will read, sir, the Massachusetts, resolutions
Re8otued unanimously, That the Legislature Massachu
the slavery within the limits Of
"A inn .ndl
political evil which ought TO be abolished that end
tension should be uniformly earnestly opposed good
and patriotic men throughout the Union.
" Resolved unanimously That the people of Massachusetts
viii strenuous resist the annexation of
this Union, which the institution of slavery tolerated
established and the Legislature, behalf people OF
acquisition OF additional territory without express pro
by Congress that there shall be slavery nor in
voluntary servtude IN such territory otherwise than for the
punishment of crime"
Sir, is there any possibility of misunderstanding this Is
there escape from the meaning Of this language And
yet they hardly explicit than the resolutions OF other
Legsaures-Mchigan New York. Vermont and all the rest
The House Of Representatives of Massachusetts is be.
eve the legislative BODY in the country On
this occasion was not full but among those present there
entire unanimity For the resolutions there
votes against them, Notone stood up Justify
the upon such grounds those upon which has been
from day day, defended here. Massachusetts, without one
dissenting voiceand thank her for it, and proud her
for has denounced the whole object which our armies
aversng the mountains Of Mexico plunge
into the peslence of her The people Of Massachu.
sets the members of their Legislature
and her representatives here have heard man in
the State, public in private life express different opn
ion If any thing CERTAIN il certain that the sentiment
OF the whole North utterly opposed acquisition OF
territory TO be formed into savehodng States and as
such admitted into the Union.
But here, sir, cannot but pause. arrested by occur
rences OF this night which, confess, fill me with alarm
They ominous porenous Votes which have been lust
passed by maones here cannot fail public attention
Every patriotic American every who wishes preserve
the constitution, ought TO ponder them we'll heard sir the
honorable member from New York, (Mr. Dx,) and with
great part Of his remarks agreed thought they lead
10 useful result But then, what does he after
all lie IS for acquiring territory under the Wilmo pro-
viso but, at any rate, he is for acquiring territory He
will not vote against all territory form States though
he is willing 10 say they ought not be slave States
gentlemen of his party from the Northern and Eastern States
vote IN the same way and with the view This is called
a. the policy Of the Northern Democracy" denomina,e
the party only because denominates itself gentleman
from South Carolina, (Mr. BUTLER,) if understood him
rightly said he wanted territory all he desired was
equality and exclusions he wished the South be saved
from any thing derogato and he does against
the acquisition OF territory Nor do other Senators
States They therefore, in general Of new
territory and new States being slave States. This the pol
icy Of the Southern Democracy Both parties agree there
FORE to carry the for territory, though be not deci
ded whether the character Of acquired territory shall
be that Of freedom Of slavery This point they are willing
TO leave for future agitation and controversy Gentle
who in favor Of the Wmo provso are ready never
theless for this BILL though provso be struck out
The gentleman from New York ready Tor that and his
round him bor,