Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-26
FREE SOIL VS.. SLAVERY.
MIR. COrwin's Great Speech against the
Compromise Bill,
Delivered IN the u. s. Senate, july %, '4s


| Mr.. PRESIDENT:-l should scarcely I'M
ldertake to assign To the Senate reason tor
prolouging this debate, especially after the
very elaborate and lucid exposition of the
bill now before us which has been given by
the Senator from Vermont; feel compeil-
led, however, from various considerations,
with which will not trouble the Senate, To
Estate i'm very few words, it that be possible.
what my objections are TO the passage of
1.-The bill; and, it may be, TO offer some few
observations in reply 70 such propositions
as have been announced at various times
lduring this debate, by Senators on the other
side of the Chamber. j have listened with
great eagerness, since the commencement of
lthis discussion, TO everything that has been
said, with the most sincere and unteigned
Idesire to make myself acquainted with at
least the primary elements and principles
(which enter into the composition OF the bill.
And | think | may say, without exposing
myself To the charge of egotisn, that feel
rs little the influences which have been spo-
ken of by the Senator from Vermont a. it is
desirable that any gentleman, acting III the
capacity of a legislator, should feel do
mot particpate, however | may advertise
gentlemen, in the belief which has been so
constantly expressed during this discussion,
that this is subject which Is likely to pro-
Iduce that terrible and momentous excite
ment that is spoken of. believe II this
principle were discussed solemnly and, so
10 speak, abStracrly from those extraneous
circumstances too frequently adverted to
here. that we should be much more likely
ito arrive at satisfactory conclusion TO our
selves. and al more satisfactory results, /
hone, TO those who are to come after Us.
have no belief that the passage of a law,
=. t,af he n
auce disruption of the bonds that hold this
Union together. | have no belief that the
passage of the law so much deprecated by
lsome gentlemen on this side by the name, It
Won rIease. of the % Wilmot Proviso,"
could, by any possibility Whatever, induce
the Southern portion of the Union, which
we are told is so much excited on the sub
liect, to tear themselves asunder from the
Unconstitutional compact by which we are all
held together. Sir, If entertained an opin-
lion OF this kind ! should scarcely think a
seat on this floor worth possessing for SIN
gle day. | do not think the technical term
lspoken of by the Senator from Vermont,
1.-THE IS Wilm0t Proviso," can of itself exer-
lcise that influence upon statesmen OF eX-
lated intellect of the South which has
lbeen intimated by gentlemen who have
participated in this debate. What Is tins
terrible i" Wilmot Proviso" that has been
erected here and elsewhere into such raw
head and bloody-bones, to use very eX-
lpressive phrase of the nursery! What is
lit? Why, sir, there are about me Senators
Iwho know very well to whom the paternity
of the {" Wilmot Proviso," as it has been
recently baptized, belonged. They know
THAT the same gentleman who drafted the
Declaration Of Independence which is hung
i,,, hall o,,I ,,ioc I'm
and regarded with the same reverence as
our bible--for it has become a gospel of
freedom all over the world as well rs in this
lcountrv-drafted also that which is chilled
the +" Wilmot Proviso," composing as It did
a section of the Ordinance of 1897, and that
THE hand that drafted both was Jeiierson'S.
There have been some strange m'snomers
lin regard to acts, some strange confusion OF
nomenclature in this country, as m this case,
when a part of the Ordinance of 1857, has
come to bear the appellation of the 8 Will
lmot Proviso." Sir, much as | respect that
gentleman for his position upon this subject
which has connected his very name with the
Ordinance of 1887, deny to him the honor
of originating it. 1t Is piracy of the copy
right. do not see that there is any danger
that Southern gentleman after the lapse of
so many years, and after the founding of
Young Empire in the West, by virtue of that
Ordinance. will so desecrate the memory of
Jefferson and spit on his grave, because we
merely re-enact that Ordinance over a ter
ritory which has subsequently come into our
ls,ossession. | have no idea that such con-
sequences will follow from the passage Of
such law, as gentlemen have meditated.
There must have been strange revolution
wrought in the minds of Southern gentlemen
between 1887 and 1847 if such consequent
lccs are to follow. And could not help OBJ
serving while the Senator from Vermont
was expressing those noble sentiments which
leverybOdy, even those who do not feel them
must admire, telling US we should act here
independently of the excitement without
these walls, and that we should scorn those
newspaper paragraphs in which we are viii
flied, written by those who know lille Of
the motives by which we are Influenced and
who care less; | could not help observing
that at last the Senator adsnoni~hed Us that
there was an excitement abroad which we
must allay, and to do that be agreed to this
bill, although IL was somewhat different
I from that which he desired, so that the lion
hearted Senator from Vermont has agreed
to this Compromise, as it j. called, because
there is an excitement which he wishes to
allay by it. Sir, desire to see gentlemen
act and vote here as if there were no ex-
ci,e,nent on the subject. ! should be very
sorry at least, to allow any influences to
operate upon my deliberate judgment, ex-
lcept those which belong to the relation of
representative and constituent. IL i the
fartherest from my intention Of anything
that can be conceived Of to say anything 10
regard to this bill which may wound the
feelings of gentlemen who have labored so
hard 10 produce something that would sat
lisfy US an. The Senator from Vermont,
has acted as he should have acted, has act
ed nobIy in relation to this matter, and
know very well that he will be willing to