The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-31


doubt as to their necessity or propnety The precedent
is dangerous, and ought possible, TO be avoided In
novations OF such magnitude and importance should not
be permitted, unless the safety Of our armies, the Sc
curly and permanency OF the Union itself demands
them. t,rf a. ~
much in regard % the votes have given against two
measures that received inc nancton OF the Executive
regretted to differ from him. and therefore felt It necessary
briefly 10 explain the reasons OF that difference shall
now proceed to discuss the question more immediately
before the committee m =,
The bill appropriaes the sum OF three millions OF dol
lars to be placed at the disposal Of the President LOT the
once more the blessings Ok peace The gentleman IRON
Pennsylvania Mr.. WnMoTl proposes 70 add proyiso,
prohibiting slavery IN any territory 10 he ecqureu py
treaty OF otherwise, from Mexico No one can doGp'i
from the remarks Of the chairman OF the Committee on
Foreign Reations in the Senate aud House, that IN ueal
ing with Mexico, the Executive expects to OBTAIN erllo
y as an indemnity for the claims Oh prr cizsni anu
perhaps for the expenses of the war; and tina, s's Hp
preparation may be used to eectuatc tins purpose So
then the proyiso seems proper because 1t Is mere con
diton annexed to the grant OF money made WIN ha'
view. SHALL however vote for the bill, whether lhe
provso be adopted not 1t is better to make the naked
appropriation, and thus peace with Mexico ana
speedily terminate the war; than 70 expend MY lmes Inc
amount besides the lives OF our brave and gallant cou-
trymen; and at the expiration OF long and proiEacled
war; arrive at nearly the same result misrepresentation
is not without precedent, and may be looked upon III e
nature of secret service money have no hesitation IN
placing it at his disposal, believing that will be used
by him with prudence and economy and for the accom-
pllshmeht OF a desirable end
We have been asked, Mr.. Chairman, whether we
would embarrass the President, by compelling hum IN
any treaty he may conclude with Mexico, to engrait this
provso on it They must be wilfully ignorant who have
heard this debate and still persist in charging any SUCH
design upon its advocates. The gentleman from Penn,
syvana MIR. WLMoT] has, in the most enpnatic ana
ineligible manner, dsclamed IL; and such has been the
tone OF all who have followed him Yet the tain, IS
thrown cut, and | must believe, for some special pur-
pose, that determined to subject the Executive TO
the humiang position OF permitting the Mexican gov
eminent TO dictate to u.s. in treaty. terms involving our
domestic institutions. Sir, look al the provlso ITSELF anu
what more can you make OF it, than mere DECLARATION
of the determination of Congress, in the event OF any ter
rory being acquired from Mexico, by conquest or Rpr
chase, TO prohibit the extension OF slavery over H. MS
is the plain English OF it, and nothing else. Mexico has
nothing to do with domestic or municipal regulations
and this provso not intended to recognise any suc
right in her would spurn the idea OF permitting any
foreign government interfere with any other than our
foreign relations But what the facts IN relation 10
this movement AT the last session the belief pervaded
the House that the would not be terminated without
an acquisition of territory and when smiar OH was
under discussion, like provso was attached 10 IL py q
large vote, the whole north being nearly unanimous u
was defeated in the Senate At this session II has been
proclaimed to be the intention of the constituted auhorl-
ties to make the acquisition OF territory SINE qua non
Would it then be fair, manly, or magnanmous' 1oF
Northern to withhold their opinions upon queslioh
Of such moment, and not unfold their views to Their
southern friends until the country is acquired, and many
of them, with their slaves, have sought for and oblaned
abodes in it, When called upon by southern men to
come forward and discuss 1t, think is too aie LOT us
to decline.
Much has been said about the agitation of this ques-
ton at this critical period and many have deeply re.
GREETED it, 1t cannot be charged to myself for until now
have had no lot or part in it. But IN justice 10 those
who have advocated the principles OF this provlso al
must admit that they have not commenced the discussion
at this session What is the history of the whole mat
ter After the treaty with Great Britain was consnm-
mated and ratified, by which the difficulties about Ore,
gon were amcably settled bill establishing erIIora
government introduced into and passed the House
1t had the ansavey clause in it, and was voted Tor oy
many southern members The Senate did not act on 1t
and it consequently failed to become a law we all know
how zeaously urged to settle the Oregon ques
ton to extend our laws over that territory ana foe
the lives and rights of American citizens Well cary
in this session similar bill was again reported ana
after some delay, acted on This embraced substantial
w. the ordinance of 1857 When under discussion
in Committee of the Whole the state OF the Union
the gentleman from South Carolina Mr.. Burt moved
in effect to insert the Missouri compromise, which aitel
a tedious and exciting debate, was rejected Again Il
was proposed in the House, again discussed and again
rejected The bill passed and was sent to the Senate
II referred TO committee of which majority arc
members from the savehodng States, and the ordinance
of ST stricken out, and the bill reported back with
amendments The bill with this amendment did not ap-
pear strong enough, Gas earn and was reconmltted
and the committee inserted in lieu OF the anti slavery
clause the Missouri compromise It remains yet to De
seen whether the Senate will pass this bill IN that shape
or whether, indeed, they will pass it at all canno
conceive how the gentlemen from the south will recon
Gle this course with the main and principal argument
that the whole subject should be entirely submitted to h'
been anticipated BY the people of Oregon Such, Mr
Chairman, the sad spectacle presented to us ana ye
I we mpored not to agitae. . -,
Notwithstanding the ordinance of 1857 and the Ms
souri, compromise, is contended with great warmth an
zeal that Congress has not the power OF excluding slave
~ from the territories of the United States and som
have gone so far deny that we have any constitu
tonal authority to establish territorial government
The one my Judgment, involves the other; ana Doll
strike me as strange positions at this period OF our pot
cal existence The principal reason assigned is, tina
sovereignty does not reside in the general government
contend that Congress, this government sovereign
That possesses many powers and attributes OF sover
egnty must be conceded The people, through the States
have delegated to it certain express powers such as
lay and collect taxes TO coin money and to declare war
which are among the highest attributes OF sovereignty
So far as these powers extend the authority OF the gov
eminent is plenary and potential Mr. Madison says ut
jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only
and leaves to the several States esduary and nvloa
bic sovereignty over all other Objects What is the I'm
plication here, but that portion OF sovereignty was re-
tanned by the States, and portion surrendered to the gen
era government both of which must be respected and ne
Their renChed upon In the construction OF the constitution
an isolated section paragraph should not be examine
and passed upon without regard to the residue The Who'll
must be taken together to ascertain the precise meann
e and bearing of any particular portion thereof II som
of those who have preceded me had adopted this rule
they themselves would have been much relieved, and tn
subject would have been stpt OF many of IT'S difficulties
The query has been propounded with much apparent
uation If YOU have the right to exclude slavery unde
the constitution, what limit IS there to your legislaN
powers over Terrtories We answer, the restrictions
the constitution itself. The power to dispose of an
make all needu rules and regulations respecting the ter
rtov or other property belonging to the United States
restrained BY other provisions OF the same instrument
Under this power no authority be claimed to estah
lsb anv particular religion, to abridge the freedom
a fho ale from nattf Ionn