Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-16

gress Does not every body that this entirely breaks up
all the intended proportion IN our system OF Government
What calculation be made in any thing connected with
the hope oilts perpetuity under such OF things
SIR, men there are whom and whom hear speak
OF the duty OF extending free institutions the whole
world If possible We 10 benevoence, they think, to
confer the blessings we enjoy every other people, But
while trust that liberty and free civil institutions we have
experienced them, may ultimately spread the globe, Lam
by no means sure that all people fit for them am
desous OF imposing forcing peculiar forms upon any
nation mat does not wish to embrace them When people
are t for free Institutions of segoyement they will seek
them and have them form other perhaps different
and better Tor them than those of country But you
cannot make ieemen of persons TO self
government and Ignorant Of what freedom is And until
people have acquired that knowledge they not tit to COM
pose free State.
had the honor, Mr. President for short time to be con-
nected with the Executive Government While in the De-
parment OF State represented to me- and felt that it
was matter OF much importance the commercial interests
OF The country to obtain port upon the Pacific could
properly and without danger be obtained from Mexico The
port contemplated was that OF San Francisco II was In con-
temptation either obtain direct cesson of that port fair
terms or to arrange with Mexico that American ships might
enter the habor and American citizens transact business IN the
place as in our cities This matter Of commercial
arrangement somewhat after the in which Portugal
holds Macao IN China certainly thought it then OF consid-
cradle Importance, and think But il never entered
my head that TO accomplish this object useful in ITSELF and
far 1t wen should large territory to The United
States to into the Union in the other form pre-
scrbed by the constitution.
Sir, this is position Peace may soon come. hope
to hear OF before the dawn of another morning But can
not conceal from myself that peace may bring with crisis
dangerous than We know what contro-
versies may bring TO We cannot tell the terms
dons peace, can now presume to say what it
will be the duty of honest and honorable in Congress to
take upon the treaty only hope that when that import
ant shall arrive, may for one, be directed to the
performance Of that duty.
There has been proposition Mr.. President resist the
acquisition Of any territory whatever and last year the
of yofad in that
Wings from the North and South united that The
Democratic Senators voted the other way The Northern
Democracy hey call themselves So and may therefore
the te) wished, and wish to carry the acquire
all the territory may and receive into the Unon relying
the Wlmot Proviso to keep out slavery On the other
hand the Southern Democracy would acquire the territory,
but make prohibition of slavery The sections of the De-
mocracy both agreed obtaining the territory and
therefore united support of the and of acquisition eav
ing il to be settled afterwards whether the annexed country
should be free territory slave territory That dispute
to be secondary matter. Now sir, allow TO say that
have intelligent and fair of the South who
objects 10 the influence of the North being exered prevent
the ncease and extension OF the slave power Certainly
of complain of this. do not know the
who says is unreasonable in may not rightly be done
by The apparent obvious inequality OF free and slave
resentaon, wholly inconsistent with the fundamental prn-
cipes OF Republican Government may properly resist.
But what is past must stand. We go back. What
is established must stand. And say here to-day that with
the rmness with which would resist any further
of slave representation would resist any hazard the
maintenance of the constitution by disturbing existing rights
under its provisions
But Southern gentlemen, sir do complain of the Wimot
Proviso in thngthat it is unequal that if territory
be acquired under it, il will be settled by families from the
North without slaves who do not need slave labor while
the people of the South cannot settle live because
they take their slaves with them they emgrate and
do without them tends they say establish against
them derogatory distinction, Notifying distinction. But
look at the force of this argument always happy to meet
gentlemen Of character and ability from the South upon this
"a. a..
admit that the dsproporonate representation the
North and the South, exists, clear inequality
but territory be had and more slave representation
allowed not that manfey plain augmentation of such
inequality Most certainly, it cannot be denied.
not prophet, sir, nor the of prophet but if
prophesy, the very last subject which should dare
to prediction woad be the of the Northern
Democracy this subject of the extension of slavery The
predictions of the almanac respecting the state of the weather
would be Just reliable could make of their proba
bic proceedings. hope there among them-I am
glad to believe there many of them-who would go
with support of the sentiment of the Wimot Proyiso
but when the real question: he vote, who and
how many rely on to help us Sir, what occurred
the other day at Worcester may to shed some light
the matter We find there expressed adhesion to the prn
cpe but the The Wmot Proviso secuted out
of the assembage Of the Democracy Of Massachusetts,
least have understood and the Democratic Locofoco
members Of Congress from Maine and New Hampshire,
quite certain that they will abandon the Administration,
and support the provso against the slave power
We can only say-and, in my Judgment can only say
Mr. President that to the first and last and every
that offers to oppose the extension OF slave
But speak Of here, Congress, political question,
question for TO act upon. We must regard it.
certainly do not mean say that it less important in
moral point Of vew that il is not important many
Other points of view but legislator in any official
paciiy, must look at it, consider il, and decide it,
ter of political action.
Sir am quite that am using far too much Of this
sunlight, and hasten a few closing observations
If peace II will bring with il some TERMS know
what How deal with the treaty must be deferred
until have got and have what is But suppose
that peace should come, that the armsce should be
broken off, and that Congress assemblies with the
tive prosecution, what shall be done then Now this is
very natural question what is the answer would
anticipate what may be suggested in such
gency, but my mind is perfectly cleat hold the
making power be entrusted TO Congesshe constitution
places there. believe that Congress surprised
the recognition Of the 18th of May lS46 believe
that If the question had been put Congress before the adj
march OF troops votes could have been OBJ
tanned that there then existing state OF
things which amounted justified to declare
against Mexico.
But war does exist and what is our duty say, for
one, that suppose il TO be true- hope is true-tha
majority of the next House of Representatives will be Whgs
will be opposed the think have heard from the
East and the West the North and the South, things
which make that pretty clear Suppose to be What
then WE'LL SIR say for one, and at once, that unless the
President of the United States shall make out which
shall show Congress that the aim and object for which the
prosecuted purpose not connected with the
safety Of the Union and the just rights of the American peo
pie then Congress ought to resolutions against the pro-
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