Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-09


by her act of the part of the United States
against Mexico. When for the annexation Of
Texas adopted by Government Mexico withdrew
her minister from Washington refused to renew negotiations
and prepared wage In the valley of the Rio Grande,
the Texan side of that river the OF the two nations
met hosltes commenced and actual war waged There
be doubt of what the duty OF every good citizen Of
the United States in state of The enemies OF his
country should be his enemesher friends his friends
cordial support and vigorous prosecution OF the should be
sustained while the lasts The war should be terminated
whenever honorable peace be obtained and before
The bill which proposed and still propose TO Introduce
looks such termination OF the While its first fea-
urehe million approprlation-more clearly dscloses
what would be in vain deny, attempt conceal that
the acquisition of territory at least OF the CALIFORNIA; and
New Mexico indemnity for the well for
wrongs and injuries against Government and cit
zens will be insisted upon by the Government of the United
States but upon terms liberal and honorable to Mexico it
contains also principle in the PROVISION proposed by my
friend from Pennsylvania more important than the it
self principle with which Mexico, in arranging her
Of peace has nothing to do, and with which do under
stand that is proposed by any body she should have any
thing TO do is subject of treaty stipulation unless
eaymakng powers Of the two Governments SHALL of their
free will choose to make it 1t is question purely
own, and pertaining exclusively to the United States
This principle excludes slavery from any territory which may
hereafter be added to this country This principle deem
be of vital Importance and should be very much gated it
could receive the unanimous assent and appreciation of Con-
gress. This however, do not expect The inter-
est which pernacousy insisted upon extending slavery
Texas still DESIRES appehend its further extension This
should not be For the existence of slavery in the United
States the Government of the Republic responsible 1t
planted here while the country colonies of Great
Bran and lis existence continuance is question for
the Government OF the Union; belongs exclusively each
State for itself
The bill proposed presents question of abolionsn 1t
the antagonist of abotionism denying any constitutional
power in the Federal Government NEEDLE in any way with
the existence of slavery within the limits of State No free
State in the Union has held asserted the right
thorty of the Federal Government to abolish interfere with
slavery any State But while every free State has always
and stands ready maintain, the constitution
and all its compromises it cannot be supposed the people of
the free States will approve the exeron of the power of the
Federal Government to extend indefinitely the institution Of
slavery territory which Free With the abolition
OF slavery the Congress of the Union have nothing do
but would be equally wide departure from the consu
ton, and from every sound principle upon which cpub
lean institutions founded that the Government Of the
United States should be instrumental in extending slavery
any direction, converting free territory slave terri
tory To avoid this result it is necessary that Congress
shall provide by law against the existence of slavery any
territory which hereafter may become the territory Of the Uni
ted States and which shall not be included within the limits
of State. Whenever any territory shall have obtained
population sufficient for the formation Of State Government
and shall have formed State constitution and been admitted
into the Union State then the responsibility Of the Fede
raj Government on the question of slavery for that territory and
people, thus admitted as State, ceases.
Then say they who oppose the enactment of the Wmot
proviso, Why not let the question aone and leave to the
States and the people themselves determine whether the
State shall be slave State free State This inquiry
and reasoning specious and plausible but the simplest
examination the principles of will show that
II is unsound and false. If left Alone slaves less
will be carried to the territory and if the country while
remains territory should be settled Ivy population holding
slaves, the and additional question of abolition pre-
sented and in order to get free State slavery first be
abolished. This embarrassment in community, with
out means to indemnify the owners, would be obstacle
almost nsurmountabe and the State would be very far
from being free to choose between becoming free State
slave State On the contrary if the country, while
mains Territory, shall be settled by free population, from
which slavery excludedhen, when State government is
formed the State and the people would be unembarassed by
any pecuniar interests questions of vested right and be
rec TO decide whether the State should be free State
slave State In ORDER them this freedom of choice
to the State and to the people, slavery be excluded from
the country while shall be Territory and until shall be-
come q State.
Bot will not pursue the subject 1t must be obvious
TO ALL think will be acknowledged by all that the char
acter OF the population in the Territory will determine the
character of the State when that Territory shall be erected
into State. Ii the Territory has slave population of only
oneourth one-h of the whole number it will be slave
State II free population while Territory it will be a
free State Exclude slavery from all territory not within the
limits OF State, and willing the Territory shall deter
mine for itself, when it becomes a State, what shall be its
character Many of the States in which slavery existed when
the Union formed have abolished the institution No
stance OF any of the States from which slavery has
excluded be found where the State the people have de-
termined to introduce slaves If Congress shall refuse
this session. to makethis free principle law the Of the
Republic VIII conquer free territory upon which slavery will
be planted desire the adoption of the free principle, be-
cause believe to be TO the free States Just the white
men who fight battles and constitute the strength of the
country in peace because believe it TO be consistent
with the principles of Government and because believe
will tend to improve the condition and character of labor
the whole country. And who will deny that, in Republic,
It should be of the chief objects of Government to ee
vate and dignity the condition and character of labor I'm
less this measure shall be brought before the House by
mee, or inome other way, shall continue urge the bill
proposed yesterday upon the attention of the House.
Mr. billiard, Of Alabama said that the debate con-
corning the with Mexico had taken wide range that he
TILL some practical question should arise which would afford
more legitimate ground for what he desired say. Such
question before the committee Not that Mr. H.
already taken place he only regretted the aspces which in
too many instances had marked it both sides. In all
stltuonal Governments great latitude of debate allow
ed The course Of EXECUTIVE power be freely scrunz-
ed ought to be, and he trusted the time would
when, IN this Government such freedom should be denied
French King had said, 81 the State y but a
President OF the United States could make of such
gunge He occupied, it true exalted and very in
huenila position IN the Government but he must expect
have his public closy scrunized, and in
very hashy judged In Royal Governments, where was
usual for the monarch to address the Legislature in per-
son, it customary in discussing the reply the royal
Speech for the utmost freedom of debate be INDUCED in and
the greatest freedom of remark permitted without complaint
In England when address made from the throne
reply OF Parliament manifested the highest degree of jealousy
on the part OF that body for tha rights Of Engshmen And
ohn phn