The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF Dir. TIBBATTs,

The Mexican war.
m uopse being in Committee of the w hole on the state
~ the Union on The bill TO raise for limited time,
additional military force, and for other purposes-
Mr. TlBBATTS addressed the committee as follows:
M CHAIRMAN | feel sensiby at this moment that
bnnc deferred maketh the heart sick" have mingled
IN he contest for the floor, and endeavored TO obtain il
Tor three or four days and now, having succeeded in my
effort am so worried by the excitement OF the contest
hat fear will not be able to discuss the important
Questions arising out OF this BILL and the amendments
moposed 10 it, manner either credltabe or sahsiac-
ory TO myself do justice to those questions them
selves regret that the narrow bounds allowed BY the
hour rule absolutely pecudes the possibility OF dis
russng almost any of these important questions in
manner which would be satisfactory either to myself OF
the House.
lence to many Of the speeches which have been dely-
cred in this House during the present session OF Congress-
and constrained to say that IN my opnion some OF
them on both sides the House have been bad tsie
and such hardly proper TO be delivered IN the repre-
sentative assembly OF agreat nation have SIR witnessed
with great regret the nodu cton OF the exciting question
of slavery into this discussion consider the discussion
Of thai question entirely out OF place bill like that
now under the consideration or the comnlttee, ana pecu-
iary improper at time like this.
will not this time attempt to discuss that question
at large think it, however, not only proper but neces-
sary that should notice some OF the remarks made on
Yesterday BY the gentleman from New York, [Nlr
GRoyERl That gentleman assumed that the representa-
lives from the southern States had abandoned the prnci
pes of the Missouri compromise, on vote taken during
The pendency of the Oregon bill at the last session OF Con-
gress If the gentleman from New York understands the
actual state of the facts IN relation to that matter and the
feelings of the representatives from the slavehodlng
States then his accusation is not only an act OF gross IN
Justice TO us but nsdious attempt to deceive the peo-
pe of the north The Missouri compromise was not the
question issue that occasion. The fact that certain
members from the south that occasion voted against
the amendment proposed no evidence that the members
from the south are opposed to, or intend 70 ABANDON lhe
PRINCIPLES of the Missouri compromise. On the contrary
every that Congress the part OF the members IRON
the SOUTH when that question came under consideration
shows that they stand up by the compromise and Tor
the purpose OF dlsabusng the pubic mind on that SUB
ect. will refer TO two facts connected with the
admission of Texas. There three propositions IN
uoduced by members from slave States that subject
one by my colleague the left, Mr. BoYD1 one by the
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. M. BRowNl and one by
myself In all these propositions this compromise was
looked to particularly, and especially provided Tor In
the proposition offered by myself there was this pro-
vision:
SEC Ind be 1t further enacted That in all that portion of
the territory whches north OF trysx degrees and thirty
Otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof The
parties shall have been duly conviced) shall be, and IS
hereby, forever prohibited.
In the proposition of the gentleman from Tennessee
there this provision Sand such States as may be
formed out of that portion of said territory lying south OF
hry-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude commonly
known the Missouri compromise line, shall be admit
ted into the Union, with without slavery, the peo-
pie OF each State asking admission may desre and the
provision contained in the proposition offered
BY my colleague which finally passed the House, and 10
that all the southern MEMBERS who voted in favor OF the
annexation gave their assent know very well mat Inc
Missouri compromise provided only for the territory coded
by France but gentlemen must abide by the spirit OF the
compromise.
Yet the gentleman from New York gravey charges the
representatives from the south with desire to avoid the
principles of the compromise. The charge is most I'M
just think hat can safely assert that there Is not
southern member here who would violate the principles
ot the Missouri compromise order to acquire territory:
there be one do not know who he isf there is one,
LET him rise in his place and answer There is an
swer Then, sir, assert that there is not one, and
speak for all the south, when say that not dis
posed to violate the principles of the Missouri compro-
mise; and sir am much mistaken If the people OF the
north will be disposed to do so either
think it would be desirable to fix on permanent
boundary between this country and Mexico different from
the Rio del Nore. The Rio Grande is not in my opin-
proper boundary for great naon-l would prefer
hiking the boundary at some great mountain barrier IN
some part of the Monte del Madre and would pay a
fair equivalent for all the territory north Of such barrier
would not advocate, under any circumstances, the an
nexahon OF more territory to the Union except by alr
purchase, and on the payment of just compensation
But II gentlemen are to succeed by surrounding tine
south with Gordon of free States, from which the peO
pe of the south TO be excluded the people OF the
south to be told that in acquiring territory for which
their blood is to be spilled and their treasure expended,
they realizing benefits for others, which they TO
have SHARE and that they effect to be excluded
from territory which their blood and treasure has
helped to win, then against keeping one foot OF
Mexican errltory-l opposed to carrying the
on any such terms
Where, ask is the justice in excluding the south from
Territory for which they are now fighting shoulder to
shoulder with our northern brethren' The people OF the
north would have the whole of Oregon; they would get
Santa Fe the Bay of San Francisco and Monterey, on
The Pacific All these would go to the people OF the
north, on the principles of the Missouri compromise And
hs to New Mexico and much of California is south
Df the compromise ne it Is not desired by shareholders
All that the south would get to the south OF the RIO
rande would be outlet for their slaves to migrate
ouhwardy. cannot believe that the north, then, would
pe unwilling to stand by the compromise. But if an i'm
assabe wall is to be built around the southern States
had rather that should withdraw our armies once
nd give up every foot Of Mexican territory The great
rgument of gentlemen has been that the war would give
California. But all that is valuable in California for
commercial agricultural purposes lies north of the
rornse line. Santa Fe is in 30 degrees 50 minutes Mon
Grey, of the Pacific, in 36 degrees 80 minutes and San
rancsco bay in 80 degrees
Neither New Mexico California embraces any ter
toy south OF the line OF 36 degrees which would be de-
rabe 10 emigrants from the slave holding States Be-
des, the country IS too remote from that in
Inch they are interested and it is not probable that
here would be any emigration TO them from the south
nus the north would in effect have the whole of New
Mexico and the CALIFORNIA; for their emigrants
know that the terms of the compromise are confined
The territory we had acquired from France but " he
no sticks in the letter sticks in the bark" will apply to
he Interpretation that would conine the principles of
lat compromise to the territory with regard to which
was adopted II other new territory is not expressed
name, was certainly included within the spirit of the
nactment
But the gentleman from New York [bTr GRovERl says
ai IN this attempt to put restriction the of
t,hng new territory there is no interference with the
ghts OF the south insist that there is direct inter-
renee with their rights partners in the ownership Of
ny territory obtained by the common blood and treasure
both south and north of all parties.
u was truly observed by the gentleman from Georgia
r iooMDsl to-day that the north in that compromise
eided nothing; because il was the clear right of the
uh to settle anywhere, any territory acquired BY
common blood and common treasure OF all the States
he yielding was on the part of the South She sur
mart of hat wi barcl