The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-02
CONGRESSIONAL.

known as the WILMoT proviso
The House being in Committee OF the Whole on the
state of the MON on the Bill making further provision
for the expenses attending the intercourse between the
United States and foreign nanons. usually called the
three million BILL MIR NoRRIs, OF New Hampshire, IN
the chalr,) Mr.. NLMoT OF pennsylvania, oheea ue io
lowing amendment;
Aad BE- il further enacted, That there shall be neither
slavery involuntary seyltude in any territory on the
or the United States by virtue OF this appropria
on any other whatsoever except Tor crimes
whereof the parry shall have been duly convced ffords"
afcays That any person escaping lno @ ~ ,h
whom labor service II lawfully claimed IN any one OF the
United States such fugitive may be lawfully lamed and
conveyed Of said errioy 10 the person claiming his OF
her labor service
Objection being made by Mr. DRoMGooLE OF Nlrginla,
who raised question OF order, 1t was temporarily WIN
drawn by the mover, who supported It IN speech al
length: when, having concluded, Slr STRONG, oi New
York, obtained the floor Mr. DRoMGooIE still persist
ing in raising the question OF oae ana ih S . Uni
claiming the floor order 10 prevent iurtner INTERRUPT
iion moved strike out the words three MILLIONS IN
The second section OF the bill and insert 1.-Two millions
Mr. STRONG then addressed the committee as fol-
lows, etE a.I
Mr. CHAIRMAN The bill now before the committee,
and the amendment offered by the honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania, NIT WIiMor,l make II matter OF
DUTY as conceive, well OF proprety, that should
ask the attention OF the House the views which will
govern nv vote relation to both Tor WILL with per-
mission assume that they both properly under con-
sideraon This will be the eXcusable from the TACT
that from the commencement of the session to the
en hour what the subject ostensibly before
The House in Committee OF the Whole there has been
but one sci of topics dscussedhe conduct OF the Pres
dent the war; and slavery This is the first time how
ever that this last agiaBg subject brought directly
and in due form before the House; and have,
aEence, remained silent hitherto up to tins time feel
the more incumbent on me to express my views now
because the vote which believe II TO be my duty 10 give
will be different from perhaps from many, my re-
speoted colleagues: am persuaded nevertheless that
this vote will BIZ in accordance with the feelings and
opnions not only OF the democracy OF my district but
also of the great majority OF the democracy OF the State
of New York, and OF the north generally. Such
apprehend, will continue 10 be the sentiments
aud views of the northern democracy. Sir, am in
favoS of the bill recommended by the President and
entirely opposed to this provso shall vote for the one
snd not for the other will oppose this proviso ut the
present time come what shape it may, and whatever
garb may assume 1t is il-tmed out of place; has
no business here; do no goods and s calculated TO
produce as il has produced, nothing but mlschef-abso
iute unmitga,ed evil But let review the course OF
events for moment At the commencement OF the pres
ent session the President sent as was his duy and
conformity with established usage MS annual message
mas SO often been quoted. and which has afforded the pre-
Aeyt in certain quarters Tor the most malignant and bitter
assaults upon The Chief Magistrate OF this nation that ge
n,s and intellect, dsordered by passion, could deyse
"I deem il be my dny present to you the pres
ent OCCASION condensed review of the injuries had
of the causes which led 10 the war; and of its
oass since its commencement This is rendered the
more because OF the misapprehensions which
acier The has been represented unjust and
cessay and OF aggression ON our part upon weak
sa med by u few have been widely and extensively
lated ody al homes but have been spread throughout
Mexico and the whole world more etiectual means
coud NOT have been devised the and
potact the than advocate and adhere TO their cause
and thus give them aid and comfort"
Observe now the Dbraseology OF this much abused
and perverted sentence The President deems it bis dn-
w to present condensed review OF the injuries had
received, of the causes OF the war; and Of its progress
since It's commencement" Certainly, nothing wrong or
ar, int Tho lS no mn
necessary, because of the '.Insapprehensons which
have prevailed, "to some exent as TO its origin and
character Nothing IL this surely to be either denied or
found fault with The war, says the President, has
b,en represented unjust and unnecessary, and
one of aggression our part" This will not be ques
toned and therefore there can be no Just cause OF COM
miami "Such views again says the Presi
Ion, ugh entertained bH 6y fer, have been widely
and circulated not only at home but have been
spread throughout MEXICO and the whole world" Is this
denied have not yet heard any man controvert these
facts and the President then expresses his opinion and
Jelief that ga more efeetua means could not have been
devised 10 encourage he enemy and proac the war than
10 advocate and adhere to men sIpse anu nus g,ve mem
opinion Ii is not because he mas erred 10 hs facts and
statements but because he has ue whaI the huniplesl
citizen claims right TO domerey q, en- an op.M1on 10
the truth and business of which every p, fsoh WIZ SUD
scrbethat he is to be denounced with such .rce mais-
nifty and in terms the offensive and oppro rcns.
The President does not even intimate that il is possIe
for any member of Congress have been guilty Of these
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of entertaining such ''eoneous
vews on the contrary he expresses his conviction that
they are cherished but by few And yet what have we
seen in this ha' One member gets up after another
claiming and assuming TO be one of ''the few, who are
not only willing acy to admit that they entertain such
views and Nspread them throughout Mexico
and the whole world,7 but denounce the President for
expressing opinion that such conduct is calculated to
give "aid and comfort to our enemies. TO no other de-
scrphon OF persons does the Presidents language apply
IS not the facts but the opinions OF the President with
which these patriots find fault and willing to place
themselves voluntarily within category which the Pres
dent assigned them, for the purpose of assang
him and his administration First, the honorable gentle
man from kentucky MIR. DAvIsl led oil the debate and
his speech. rather speeches, have been characterized
BY nothing remarkable except for the many and varied
epitheis OF denencaton and abuse which he poured out
promiscuously upon the President "Usurper, TRAITOR,
autocrat," dictator" Nero" Caligua, Tiberius,"
figured conspeuousy in the honorable genteman's vo
caGulary. He even threatened the President with I'M
parchment for high crimes aud mlsdemeanors, until he
seemed wearied and exhausted with the mighty effort
Next followed the honorable gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
1IDDINGs,l the chief of the abolition band upon this
loor and who appears by common consent to be the
chosen champion and leader OF the wing or federal party
also here Following in the track OF his predecessor in
lebate, he seemed TO labor to Guido him in denuncaon
2f the Presidents and in the application OF yndctlve ep
het TO him Moreover, he boldly assumed the OF
he Mexicans, and argued against that of his country
His printed speech contains expressions like these:
eve know that it is of conquest commenced and
arred ON for the purpose Of disnemberng Mexico Now
with all these facts before 10 vote for the appro
raton oil and money TO continue this wicked and
nurderous war; and to carry out these designs, feel be-
fore Heaven, ,hnl should make myself party TO it,
feel that should become involved IN the crimes and blood
she'd Of those we send thereT
Again: ''
II had intended TO have noticed that part the message
which speaks OF the annexation OF Texas that beyond all
doubt, was for the extension OF slavery"
Now Nh. Chairman, consider this direct libel on
Au,ar yhff hanr al ,hotr