The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF srH. DonBIN


OF NORTH CAROLINA
IN the House Of Representatives, February H. isi7On
the WnMoT proviso, prohibiting slavery in any ter
rtoes whatever that may hereafter be acquired by the
United States ....aas.
The bill to appropriate three millions of dollars TO en-
able the President to enter upon negotiations for the
toraon OF peace with Mexico, being under consideration
Mr. WI.Mor offered the following proviso:
"sEo Q Had be fpther enacted That there shah be
neither shveor involuntary sevitude In any territory on
lie continent OF America which shall hereafter be acquired
pIopriation in any other whatever except for
rnes whereof the party shall have been duly
l o s whom labor or service Is a@y claimed IN
any OF the United Sn:es, such fugitive may be lawful.
" reclaimed and conveyed out of said territory the per
s,n claiming his or her labor or service."
Mr.. DOBBIN of North Carolina, addressed the com
mtee as follows; sssf...
the purpose OF repubshing another edition OF the his
tory of the Mexican war. Its origin, its rise, and lis
progress, are familiar to the humblest cotiager of the
country as well rs the most active politician in the
capital The fame of those gallant soldiers who fought
and achieved the brilliant victories OF Monterey and
Resaca de la Palma has crossed the confines Of our
republic, and has elected the applause and adrnia-
ton of the mlghtiest powers on earth
But, Mr.. Chairman, there as q war OF recent origin
upon the ogn the rise, and the progress OF which, do
propose to make some remarks this morning. | mean
the recently waged upon the reputation the constr
uona rights, and domestic institutions of the southern
States. An honorable gentleman fir, m New York [Mr
SrRONG the other day, who had the manly Independence
purpose TO speak, announced to this House. that if
the manner IN which this begerant proposition origi
mated and the circumstances under which brought
to light could be made matter of public history, it
would at once be curious, entertaining, and amusing ;
for according to the lnsinuatons Or perhaps the posi-
tive srmations, that have been made gentlemen were
solemny impressed with the magnitude of this
ment that although many of the forces of northern
friends were secretly combined in the alliance, yet that it
soon became apparent II matter of too momentous
importance Tor the public to suppose for day that
man alone was ITS protector 1t is said therefore, that
while one distinguished gentleman from New York Mr.
GROyERl advised this proposition, another gentleman
from Ohio mt BRINKERHoFF] wrote, and another dis
hngulshed gentleman, IRON Pennsylvania, Mr.. WILL
NOT introduced it.
Before | reply, Mr.. Chairman, to the untenable pre-
texts promulged on this floor, in justification of this
unnecessary and inexcusable assault; before say any,
thing IN regard TO my defensive operations; before be-
gin to ylndlcate the reputation and the constitutional
rights of the south, which think have here been unustly
and cruelty assailed, | propose to make few remarks
upon the peculiar and curious annerthe rery peculiar
and curious manner In which this war has thus far been
conducted.
AT the last session Of Congress, this warke manifesto
frst made Its appearance; an adjournment took place,
and the achievements thus far " boodess;' we in
duged the hope that the over but that
this was only the ending of the first campaign On
memorable occasion, a few weeks since, when all was
calm and quiet; when no cloud of domestic dscord OBJ
secured the horizon; when man dreamed of the re-
newa OF these hostes. an honorable gentleman from
New York MIR. kING] appeared upon the stage, clad in
the habiment, the amable and nofensiye habment Of
a" personal explanation" and with a counenance that
always seems as If his thoughts turned on
peace he proclaimed to us that his voice" &c still
for war;; and that the armistice which we thought
existence, was to end and the to be prosecuted
with vigor :
But, Mr. Chairman without intending ANYTHING unkind
to the honorable and distinguished gentlemen who seem
TO have acted thus far the generals in this wake
palgn, cannot refrain from abiding to the manner in
which they have made the distribution of the various
duties among, the generals who have commanded their
forces. The honorable gentleman from New York mir
RATHBuN, who advocated this proposition announced
us, the solemn and deliberate manner that slave
ny evil that it was blighng curse, and great
calamity; and IN eloquent burst of Indignation pro-
claimed that any northern who dared here counte
nance the extension Ct slave territory would be swept
away by tornado from the north. Yea, sir, his eo-
quence mounted still higher: he said that such a
one would be destroyed "by thunder manufactured
G. he R1a second Wa only 9 the thunder Of the
mf thus far 1t was very surprising to somebut not to
a-that that same honorable gentleman. who denounced
slavery as this blhhg curse, mildew, calamity, and
tomd agree that our saves should not be included the
appoonne Of representatives, might go, and rel
come mo any territory nth them All, Mr.. Chairman
did not that experienced and dexteros debater for mo-
ment forget that thunder which he previously declared
would destroy any man who countenanced the extension
Of slave territory Did he not forget, that when he put
himself IN the position OF counenancng this extension of
slave territory, whether il carried with it political power
or not he rendered himself liable the hunders If any
such exist which he said prepared for gentlemen
"ho gave tlelT support 10 BuCn a prOpOSlOn! ne
not forget that by thus agreeing that this slave
territory might be extended, the conditions he mention
eu ne came Uitn the operation of this terrible tornado
ana northern thunder agree that lie SAID he spoke for
himself alone. But the same honorable gentleman in
me same speech proceeded to alude to the proposition
OF the governor of Virginia. to become relieved of their
Tree negroes by sending them to the north, where so
n a sentimental sympathy professed for them.
6at proposition the gentleman spurned with scorn and
Inauguration and, instead of generously opening northern
aoos 70 admit the free negro, and relieve him from the
cruel atmosphere of slavery he denounced the idea as al
most an insult TO the north
Then, MIR. Chairman ask the House to attend pre-
clsey to the character of the gentemans speech He
mat northern thunder would destroy any northern man
VINO would counenance the extension of slave territory
ana concluded by saying if slaves were not repre-
'ehted he would not object to its extension and by de-
nouncng the idea of receiving our free negroes at the
norm 80 that the sum and substance of his speech is
Unless you agree that slaves shall not be counted in the
OF representatives, your slaves shall not
was the condition in which he would place the south
nat was one course of Argument that was one plan
d the campaign, adopted by the gentleman from New
FORK winch really seemed to dread the political power
more than 1t abhoHed the slavery of the south
But the honorable gentleman from Pennsvlvania. mir
who was the author of this declaration of
war upon the reputation and constitutional rights of the
south, adopted different course. He, with somewhat
vehement defamation stated that all he wanted was
hat the government should assume position OF sneu
ay; and he capped the climax of has doctrine of neu
aty oy introducing positive proposition inviting the
government to interfere The gentleman proceeded to
'peak very kindly of the spirit of compromise, but
evnced hls compromising spirit by advocating PROPOSE
!on which violates all the compromises of the consti-
Ion and the Missouri compromise also. He denounced
he idea OF allowing slavery to make further aggressons
ipon the south; and as he considered this ga matter of
irawn from its socket before she would Weld an inch
ct he stated for HIMSELF he had 'no squeamsh