Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-12

prohibiting Slavery IN any Territories what
ever that may hereafter be acquired by the
United States
The bill to appropriate Three Millions of Dol
lars, to enable the President to enter upon
negotiations for the restoration of peace
with Mexico, being under consideration,
Mr. Wllmot offered the following proViso:
CSC. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That There
shall be neither slavery or involuntary servitude
in any territory on the continent of America which
shall hereafter be acquired by, annexed to, the
United States by virtue of this appropriation or in
any other manner whatever, except for crimes
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted
Provided, dEo00yS, That any person escaping into
such territory from whom labor or service is law
fully claimed in any one of the Unitad States,
such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and con-
veyed out of said territory to the person claiming
his or her labor or service"
Mr.. DOBBIN, of North Carolina, addressed
the Committee as follows:
| Mr.. CHAIRMAN [ do rot rise upon this oc-
casion for the purpose of republishing anoth-
er edition of the history of the Mexican war
It's origin, its rise, and its progress, are famil
lar to the humblest cottager of the country as
well as the most active politician in the capt.
| fought and achieved the brilliant victories of
Monterey and Resaca de Ia Palma has crossed
the confines of our own republic, and has
elected the applause and admiration of the
mightiest Powers on earth.
But, Mr.. Chairman, there IS a war of recent
origin; upon the origin, the rise, and the pro-
gress of which, do propose to make some
remarks this morning. | mean the war recent
~ Waged upon the reputation, the cOnstltu-
tiOna rights, and domestic institutions of the
southern States. An honorable gentleman
from New York MIR, Strongl the other day,
who had the manly independence and the pat
riotism to oppose that war, concerning which
| now propose to speak, announced to this
House, that if the manner in which this bel
| ligerant proposition originated, and the CIR
cumstances under which it was brought to
light, could be made matter of public histo-
~, it would at once be curious, entertaining,
and amusing for, according to the institutions,
or, perhaps, the positive affirmations, that
have been made, gentlemen were so solennly
impressed with the magnitude of this move
ment, that, although many of the forces ofour
northern friends were secretly combined In the
alliance; yet, that it soon became apparent 1t
was a matter OF too mOmentOuS importance for
the public to suppose for day that one man
alone was It's protector It is said, therefore.
that while one distinguished gentleman from
, New York MIR. Groverl advised this PROPOSE
ton, another gentleman from Ohio (Mr Brin-
kerhOtfl wrote, and another distinguished gen
tleman, from Pennsylvania, mir Wilmot,7
introduced it.
Before reply, Mr.. Chairman, to the unten-
able pretexts promulged on this floor, in justi-
fication of this unnecessary and inexcusable
assault; before [ say anything in regard to my
defensive operations; before begin to vindi
cate the reputation and the constitutional
rights of the South, which | think have here
been un Justly and cruelty assailed, | propose
to make few remarks upon the peculiar ant
curious mHnner-the rcry peculiar and curl
Gus manner, in which this war has thus ia
I been conducted.
At the last session of Congress, this war
like manifesto first made its appearance al
adjournment took place, and the achievements
were thus far 'bloodless;' we INDUCED thu
: hope that the war was over; but it seems tina
this was only the ending the first campaign
On a memorable occasion, few weeks since
when all was calm and quiet; when no clouC
- a # domestic diseord obscured the horizon
when no man dreamed OF fffse1Ie ns!zal q thes
hostllltles, an honorable gentleman from New
York [Mr. Kingl appeared upon the stage
clad IN the habiliment, the amabe and inof
fensive habiliment, of ''personal explana
tom and with countenance that alway;
seems as if sshis thoughts were turned or
peace,'' he proclaimed to us that his e voce'
was &c still for war; and that the armistict
which we thought was ip4 existence, was
end, and the war to[be prosecuted with vigo
BUT, Nh. Chairman, without intending any
thing unkind to the honorable and distinguish
ed gentlemen who seem to have acted thu
far as the generals in this Warlike campaign
, | cannot refrain from abiding to the mamie
IN which they have made the distribution G
the various duties among the generals VIII
have commanded their forces. The honorabl
gentleman from New York, mr. Rathbun,
who advocated this proposition, announced t
l. us, in the most solemn and deliberate manner
. that slavery was an evil; that it was blight
. ing curse, and great calamity; and, in a
eloquent burst of indignation, proclaimed tina
any northern man who dared here to counte
nance the extension of slave territory, wou
be swept away by tornado from the north
|" Yes, sir; his eloquence mounted still higher
he said that such a one would be destroye
! by thunder manufactured at the North, Sc
= cond only to the thunder of the Creator him
. Selt!' Well, MIR. Chairman, after proceedin:
- thus far, it was very surprising to some--bu
= not to all-that that same honorable gentle
= man, who denounced slavery as this blightin.
. curse, mildew, calamity, & misfortune, wounC
= up his speech by telling us, that If ace arome
agree that our staUes should not be included IA
the apportionment Of representatives, are NIGH
go, and acelcome, into any territory acih them
All, Mr. Chairman did not that experiences
and deXterous debater for amoment forget tia
thunder which he previously declared would
destroy any man who countenanced the ex
: tension OF slave territory? Did he not forget
that when he put himself in the possession O
countenancing this extension of slave terrific
", whether it carried with it political powe
Il or not, he rendered himself liable to the thun
ders, If any such exist, which he said were
prepared for gentlemen who gave their sup
port to such proposition? Did he not for
get that, by thus agreeing TO consent that THU
- slave territory might be extended, on the con
ditions he mentioned, he came 1citjtin the oper
alton Of THIS terrible tornado and norther,
v Munder? | agree that he said he spoke fo
himself alone. But the same honorable gen
tIeman, IN the same speech, proceeded to al
c Jude to the proposition of the Governor O
! Virginia, to become relieved of their free ne
groes by sending them to the north, where sc
much sentimental sympathy was protested fo
, them That proposition the gentleman spurn
!. ed with scorn and indignation and, instead O.
generously opening northern doors to admi
! the free negro, and relieve him from the crue
atmosphere OF slavery, he denounced the idef
l.