The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-20
SPEECH OF
MR.. UPHAM.
OF VERMONT.
On the Three Million Bill,
DELIVERED
In The Senate ofhe United States, Monday
March LIST. 1917.
DELIVERED


Concluded
The controversy however, was at length
settled by compromise and concession. Ii
was agreed that slaves should be represen-
ted, under the appellation Of other persons :
not as free persons, but only in the proper
ton OF three-fiths. In order TO reconcile the
non-slaveholding States 10 this provision.
another clause was inserted, that direct tax
es should be apporiioned in the same manner
as representatives.. So that, theoretically.
representation and taxation might go pdri
pdsSu. This provision, you will perceive,
sir. relieved the other two-fifths Of the slaves
from being taxed at all as property; so that
the stakeholder, in case of direct tax, pays
only OIL three-fitIhs of his slave property;
while the nOn-slavehOlder is compelled 10
pay on the whole of his property. This is
mAnifestly unequal. But, sir, it is in the
Constitution, and we are bound by it,. Does
any Senator believe that the non sayehol-
ding States would have consented that three
ifths of the slaves should be represented uu-
der the appellation of 'other persons If il
had been understood that the Federal Gov
eminent had power TO acquire foreign terri
tory, and create it into new slave States
No, sir; ifsuch had been the understanding.
slaves would have been excluded from the G.
Enumeration.
Sir, there were many able statesmen in
the Federal Convention who denounced
slavery in unmeasured terms. Hear Colonel
Mason OF Virginia:
Slavery discourages arts and manufac-
lures. The poor despise labor when per-
formed by slaves. They prevent the emi-
N vVh Ifqc ~ hn oil anri.h
strengthen country. They produce the
most pernicious effect on manners. Every
master of slaves is born apetty tyrant. They
bring the judgment of Heaven ON the coun-
try. As nations cannot be rewarded or pun
lsled in the next world, they must be 10 this.
BY an inevitable chain of causes and effects.
Providence publishes national sins by nation
al calamities. He held il essential. (he said)
IN every point Of view, that the General Gov
ernmtnt should have power 10 prevent the
increase of slayery.'
This, sir, is the language Of one of Virgin
las abiest statesmen. when engaged in fra
| ming constitution for this then young re-
public, to endure through all coming time.
Mr. Madison, also a member of the Con
ventiun, was not silent upon the subject.
He thought it wrong TO admitin the Con
stitution The idea that there could be prop
eriy IN men, At the lime of the adoption OF
The Constitution seven of The thirteen States
were free, and six we've slhye States and
nothing transpired in the Convention TO show
that an increase Of the Slave States was an
ticipated or desired. The balance Of polilical
power was in the hands of the free States.
and no statesman of that day, North or
South, as far as | know, desired 10 see il pass
into the hands of the Slave States. No such
change could have been anticipated for.
under the Constitution, no power was Civ
en- 10 the Federal Government to acquire for
eign territory. Such, il is certain, was the
opinion of MIR. Jefferson and many Other
southern statesmen OF great emnence. Bul
what does the history OF LITTLE more than
half century show Why, sir, in 1908, we
acquired Louisiana by purchase, and the
people Of the free and slave States paid fif
teen millions Of dollars for it. Mr.. Jefferson,
when he made the acquisition, admitted thai
he had no constitutional power to do it
but the vast importance Of the navigation OF
the Mississippi TO the commerce ofthe Uni
ted States, induced him TO make the pun
chase, and trust to an amendment OF the
Constitution to legaliZe the act. Well, sir.
what has been done with This territory thus
purchased of France Why, sir, three
slave States have been created out of it, viz:
Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas; all now
represented in this and the other branch oil
Congress.
In 1919 we acquired Florida by purchase
and the people Of the free and slave States
paid five millions of dollars for it. That, al
so, has been created into slave State, and
is represented upon the hoar Of both Houses
of Congress.
But this is not all. sir: in 1914, we &C
quircd Texas; but at what cost God only
knows. 1t will not. am well persuaded.
cost us less than one hundred millions OF
dollars, and The loss of hundreds. and per-
haps thousands, of valuable lives. The aid
of the Federal Government was invoked TO
obtain this territory for the asowed purpose
of preventing the abolition of slavery in Ken
lucky. This, sir. was a bold movement.
II was direct call upon the Federal Gov
eminent to put forth tiis power TO sustain,
uphold, extend, and perpetuate slavery in
the United States
Sir, this is apparent from the conespon-
dence of the State Department accompany
ing the Texas treaty. On the 9Th Of Au-
gust, 1913, Mr. Upshur, the Secretary OF