The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-06

southern wings have united in putting Wilmot Provsc
politician in the chair Wilmot Proviso Call it
rather the Winthrop Proviso. He had the honor of in
Producing such provso into the House of Representa-
tives before Mr.. Wilmot entered that body We quote
from the speech of Gen Bayly, of Virginia, delivered
in the House of Representatives It'll February, si7
| on the Wmot Provso:
The attempt by the old Congress legsate for the terri
tories was always considered by sound republicans
usupation of power and after the adoption of the pres
ent constitution, it deliberately attempted in
pure and better days of the republic On the 7h May,
$780, the Indiana territory formed AT that time there
| was such attempt; the 10th of the month";
when passed authorizing the establishment OF a
government in the Mississippi territory. On the 18th
March, 1904 the erecting Louisiana into two terrific
ries passed. In that act the power attempts
ed be exercised in the section prohibiting any oher
than persons removing to the territory reside intro
duce slaves; but the attention of Congress seems not to
have been called to it the time for the next session il
was repealed In the law erecting Michigan into sepa-
rate territorial government there attempt at
oral legislation there in case of Illinois or
OF Missouri In the of Wisconsin, the 70 was; and
the conditions and restrictions of the ordinance of 1887
were recognised But il done in general and am.
biguous phraseoogy and which caused it to pass un
noticed 1t not attempted in the case of Iowa;
nor in the bill of the last Congress relative to the Ore
gon territory until the 9th article of the ordinance 1887
engraed on it, upon the motion of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr. WINrHnorl On the contrary
in most OF these acts all legislative power except such
as relates to the disposal of the public lands is recognised
as existing in the territorial legislatures This clearly
done IN the case of Iowa. the provision reference TO
which shall have occasion quote in another connection
1t true, IN the of these there secured TO the in
habitans of the territories all "he rights privileges
and immuntes," granted and secured by the ordinance
OF 1877; and have heard it conended that this recoy
Missed the article prohibiting slavery But it is very
clear that this is erroneous view. The words
here used are taken from the constitution of the United
States, where they have technical ned mean
Ing In the language of Judge Chase, in the case of Nor
ris u.s. Campbell, privilege and immunity are synonv-
NOUS, or nearly Privilege signifies peculiar advan-
tage exemption, immunity; immunity signifies excmp-
ton, privilege And in the language Mr. Justice Wash
ington, in the of Coreld and CoryelI the rights
privileges, and imnunities which designed TO be Sc
cured by the constitution and also by the case in question
are the fundamental rights and privileges Such as the
right OF trial by jury of habea corpus religious freedom
10 acquire and possess property and many of the
same class, which are provided for in the ordinance
Here then is the proof, that before Mr. Wmot had
the opportunity of introducing his proviso, Mr. Win
throp had brought it up in previous Congress. Does
any one doubt Mr. Winthrops opinions upon that Dues
tion' He may have deemed pruden upon one occasion
not to promulgate it, but the motion of Mr. Winthrop
remains upon the records of Congress, and his strong
sympathies with the Wilmot Proviso cannot be denied
And them we ask, how it to pass that the south
ern wings OF the House have thrown their vote into his
scale' They have made up their minds of course, to
answer to their constituents for this party vote The
declaration OF an able and distinguished northern states
man still rings in our "Ihe southern wings have
voted in MIR. Winthrop But what can the south now
expect of the northern democrats, if they do not go
against the Provlso go the death myself against the
Wilmot Provso; but what can the southern wings saw
against the northern democrats not standing by them
when these very wings will not themselves stand by the
interests OF the SOUTH"
This is the beginning of the wing minority Congress-
and yet the work not done at one blow. The
machinery did not move smoothly at once. Two calls
were had in vain Mr.. Winthrop could not exactly rub
through. third call was necessary; and then the
screws were more violently applied than ever, when
finally the wing caucus candidate elected by vote
of ITO out of 2ls. single vote taken from him, or
two added TO the whole VOTE would have defeated
him. If Messrs Holmes of Charleston, and Tompkns
OF Mississippi had voted and had thrown their surages
they did at FIRST Mr. W. could not have been elected
even on the hdeballot But these two representatives
did not answer to their names. Mr. Tompkins, the new
wing member from Mississippi, is said have pledged
himself to his constituents that he would not vote for
hoDert u winthrop. lie did not IT is true, vote for Mr..
Winthrop; but he might well have done so, for his
voting all really answered the same effect as vo-
ting for him.
Mr.. Winthrop delivered very neat address when he
took the chair, in which he spoke, truly enough of the
heavy cares and pressing responsibility which he was
about to assume. He spoke with feeling as well as
force 1t reminds of what he said in his late speech
at Faneuil Hall:
"An1, Mr. President may say that cannot, in max
ing this acknowledgment, indulge in any further ecstac
emotions of delight the idea that have returned IN
Congress while shall always feel it honor to re-
present cy of Boston anywhere nothing to cause
me to ancipa any peculiar pleasure in taking part in
eg stature in the of parties and of
the country. only encouragement difficulty and en-
barassmen ahead, and disposed exclam in behalf
of myself and my wing associates, with Hamlet in the
play
The time is out of joint oh cursed Spite
That called to set it right
If his seat upon the floor so embarrassing to him,
how much the position which he has assumed in the
chair of the House
And now, this being the morning and the evening of
the first day. we wait with socitude to see the
denouement of the second.
A committee not appointed this day by the Senate
to wait upon the President, conjunction with the com
H.