The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-26

south did have for lis object TO impose slavery on the
people OF Oregon, but merely to prevent any restrictions
and TO give the people their choice; while the effect
oil the amendment offered by the gentleman from Penn
syvana is To prevent the people of the acquired territory
from having their choice in regard to domestic instm
ton sanctioned by the constitution of the United States
Besides, many believed in want of constitutional power
to restrict the citizens of Oregon that subject and they
only now ask that those who do believe in the power
may exercise it with moderation, fairness, and Justice.
and not IN such manner to inhic ndeible stigma
on the south and her institutions and to outrage the prn
cipes OF equality and State sovereignty. When the
on the subject OF slavery in Oregon taken the last
session of Congress, there no discussion whatever
on the subject Their vote may be compared to an OBJ
Ter dictum OF court The attention of members
called by single individual to the subject for the simple
reason that the north felt in its power TO impose
the restriction and the south harmless in its weak
ness to oppose it. II is true that my colleague [Mr
PIIsBURy] and myself voted in favor of that re-
strcon, and thus separated ourselves from the
owing to the peculiar position which held the rep
reseDtayes of the State of Texas Texas occupies df-
lerent position IN regard TO this question from any other
State IN the Union Authorized by the joint resolutions
OF the United States Congress to subdyide herself into
re States and extending, she does, the forty
ond degree of north latitude was made one of the con-
dtlons OF annexation that in the division of Texas into
Saies, the Missouri compromise should be respected
Tins condition was incorporated into the constitution of
our State. In voting for annexation, the constitution of
and for the resolution of the Texas Congress CIV
ing the consent of that government annexation we had
repeatedly recognised the Missouri compromise line and
when the question up on the Oregon BILL it neither
took us by surprise nor found unpepared to In
voting for the restriction only carrying the
views OF our constituents; and where that led us, we
were satisfied we could not err Indeed, for the repre-
sentatyes OF Texas TO have voted differently the Ore
gon restrictions would have been virtually saying that
she had come into the Union degrading and dsbonor
able terms, and that Texas not equal member OF
this conederacy 1t would have been granting privileges
to the people Of Oregon denied to the people of Texas
who live north of SO degrees 80 minutes of north ati-
tude These the that induced us to vote as
we dd, and not from any superior foresight sagacty
as to the favorable bearing our vote would have the
subject now under discussion But the south are now
united to man; they hold out the Missouri compromise
as the olive branch of peace to the north rather they
now offer to return to the NORTH who handed TO the
south IN 1920: and will you not take your offering
DO you ask OF the south return of better peace offer
ing than you yourselves gave her times past and gone
In few days, Mr. Chairman, this House will be called
upon TO decide this momenous question, as far
concerned Let me earnestly ask northern gentlemen to
renew that covenant which before saved this Union
between the north and the south, and Danish all dscon
tent and dissatisfaction Even under the Missouri com
promise, the north will get the valuable portion of
California, and twothrds of the soil The north have
the political power, and will continue to have it. The
cession OF Virginia, the northwestern ordinance and the
Missouri compromise settled that matter forever To all
the north yielded like the south on question of sec
tonal or political power' Will not her justice and mag
nanmlty now induce her, not to YIELD but to dvideto
compromise? magnanmous enemy will not take ad-
vantage of weak adversary; how then, ought friends
and brothers to act towards another You have the
power here. Look well it how you exercise it. This
is matter entirely OF feeling, and OF pecuniary IN
frea with the south. lquestion very much whether,
under any circumstances slavery would ever be trans
planted INTO California South of 36t degrees, the terri
tory is comparatively barren, and not adapted to slave
labor But still, we do not feel willing to be forced into
measures by the strong arm OF power Principle deare
to us than interest Ii not the amount of the duty
on tea that induced fathers thow it overheard and
to resist to the last but it because of the violation
OF the principle that taxation and representation should
go together And 50, SIR soemnly assure the of
the north that is not for the idea of pecunarv
loss that has united the south in resisting the principle Of
RACES the principles OF the constitution, and destroys the
compromise proposed TO the south in 1920, by northern
representatives and accepted by majority of the south
" for the sake of the Union.'
Let again urge upon our friends of the north 10
think of the past and to look the future before they
cast their votes. have heard of doors some north
en members deprecae the agitation of this question: and
Tyet tear, from the signs OF the times they will cast
their suirages in its favor Their hearts are right their
judgments correct and yet they think perhaps that
they are constrained by the anti-savery sentiments Of
Their constituents to vote in favor of this But
sincerely believe they are mistaken The people of the
north, cannot doubt would prefer let this question
remain as it was settled by those Who have gone before u.s.
rather than to sow the seeds of alienation and dsrust
amongst the members of confederacy which was
founded upon and can only be preserved by, mutual af
never preserve it. Force would be mere rope of sand
while mutual interests and mutual regards will knit us
together forever | believe the people Of the north will
sustain their representatives who fearessy do their duty
When the people fail TO sustain an honest and ndepend
en representative in the discharge of his duty under the
constitution, however variant his may be from
their feelings and wishes, the days of republic will
have been numbered Ihaue not the least doubt, that If
erer this Union destroyed, M be brought to its end
BY rant Of frmneSs and independence in The represen
tatirs to march up TO his mhoie duty Lack of moral
courage in the representative is as fatal to repub-
lican governments cowardice to an army i'm the
hour OF battle Last session. nv colleague and
myself voted for the restriction of slavery in Ore
gon, because we soemnly believed it right for rea- |
sons | have already explained, although we knew by
doing we would probably raise clamor against us
and perhaps endanger election; whereas, by voting
against the restriction, we would have glided on upon
the decetu current of popular favor uncensured and
unopposed Being both of us natives of the north ii
would furnish additional hopes to competitors of our
overthrow. The attempt rds made, but SignaHy failed
My colleague reelected by majority over all COM
petitors, and had opposition whatever / do not
mention these matters BY way of self graduation The |
arthes from it possible Ii is solely for the purpose of
showing that the people intelligent discriminating
and just; that they will not discard faithful public ser
wants for taking the responsibility of doing right how
ever it may at the first blush, contravene their wishes
and feelings, and to appeal to northern members take
such responsibility successfully took upon the Ore
gon bill at the last session of Congress
appeal to the liberal members of the north not
to precpate the fatal catastrophe that fear lies before
US, IN case OF the final adoption of this amendment BY
both houses OF Congress. Go with the friends of the
constitution now, and take time for ga sober second
thought" and consultation with your constituents
whose better Judgment feel confident will in most ca
approve your Let not at least be recorded
in history that the most powerful republic that ex
listed sowed the seeds of Its dissolution by dispute about
what was not hers Let at least wait until the matter
comes properly before California is not vet ours II
may Heuer be Sufficient unto the day the evil