The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-29

Wilmot a. notoriety Of which he never dreamed.
| - AT the following session Of Congreas the same
amendment was offered to the Three million bill.
And now during theAspendency of the Oregon
Territorial Bill, ii the Senate, proviso or clause
was introduced to the same effect as the Wilmot
proviso. This proposition caused very lengthy
discussion Of The subject of Slavery in all its bear
ings Mr.. Calhoun, and his satellites, claiming
that the territory OF the United States, although
free, is The common patrimohy Of the whole peo.
pie; and that the southern STAKEHOLDER has the right
to carry his slaves into any territory belonging to
the United States, and there hold them as prop.
srty, in the same manner as he would hold horse.
This party welhave not the least doubt, are rep.
resented with acandidate in the person of Gen.
Taylor, il he has an opinion on the subject at all.
An individual born and educated in the South, and
the holder OF 260 slaves, as IL Gen. Taylor, would
not be likely to be the one ia oppose the extension
OF that "peculiar institution" And the whig
who has impudence enough now to call democrats
"northern dDugh.faces," should Immediately com.
mence selling brass ware, for his face would fur
nish his stock in trade.
Another portion of the Senate claims that in the
territory Of Oregon, the principles Of the proviso
should be applied; and that slavery should, by an
act Of Congress, be forever prohibited in the ter
ritory lately acquired from Mexico. This party
will be represented in candidate by the nominee
Of the Buffalo convention. which comes Of next
month This position is occupied by the Barn
burners in New York, and is now known as the
"Wilmot proviso," or s'Free territory" platform.
Other members of the Senate, have stood upon
the Missouri compromise, claiming that slavery
should be prohibited by Congress north Of 800 and
80 minutes north latitude We believe none Of
the candidates for the Presidency occupy this
position. 4a s.srf,. d Is.rlq.sa et.trtI
Another position is that Congress has not the
power to exercise any jurisdiction over the SUBJ
ect but that it should OF right be left to the peo,
pie of the territories to regulate it according to
the principles of the constitution. This is the po-
sition assumed by Gen, Cass, in his letter to Mr..
Nicholson, of Tennessee. rs SG.5t
As our readers are aware, committee was ap-
pointed some two weeks since by the Senate, for
the purpose of taking into consideration this i'm.
portant and momentous question. That COM
mittee consisted OF Clayton, of DEL, Calhoun, of
S. c., Phelps, Of VT, Dickinson, of N. Y,
Bright, Of lnd Underwood, of KY, Atchison,
pi Mo-, and Clarke, of r. l.; being four OF each
party, taken equally from the North and the
South. f1 ,iy ...s .-,-st M
This committee have reported bill which. in
effect, excludes slavery from Oregon; as it au-
thorizes the legislature of the territory to act den
itivey on the subject; and it is well known tha:
that Legislation will be such as to forever prohibit
slavery in Oregon. The position OF the committee
as far as Oregon is concerned, is the position oc
cupied by Gen. Cass. The bill leaves the ques.
ton open as it respects California end New Mexi-
CO. Shareholders and non.slave holders can set
tie in the two latter Territories unfortunately,
and il any difficulties arise out of any such set.
Elements, they are to be referred ultimately to
the Supreme Court of the United States for adju.
dication. The view taken by the COMMITTEES is
plausible. viz that the question is constitutional
one, and therefore belongs rather to the Supreme
Court. as the rightful interpreters Of the eonstu.
- II
Should the Slave.holders of the South carry
their slaves into California or New Mexico, then
the question arises can they be held in Slavery in
such territory, without any special statute on the
subject. In other words, does the Constitution OF
the United States permit the holding of Slaves in
territory where it did not exist when such terri
tory was acquired? Or can any portion of the |
human family be held in bondage in the terrific
res of the United States Without law These
questions we propose 10 discuss in future num-
Der or numbers Of our paper. Suffice it for the
present to say that we take the position that sia-
uery cannot erist Difhout positive statme-that
Congress has no po,oer to pass or sanction the
passage of such statute, and thaffherefore, sia-
uery cannot erist IN ay territory acquired blythe
Uaiied States Of .Neraco. as HosI..s p< |
The committee that reported the Bill to the |
Senate were unanimous in their recommendation /
Two oaly-Mr, Clarke and Mr.. Underwood re-
serving the right to object upon further consider
ation Mr.. Clayton, the chairman of the commit
tee, accompanied the introduction of the bill with
explanatory remarks, We have room but for the
following: i
81 do not expect, sir, that this or any
other proposition which the wit Of
man can possibly suggest, will prevent
agitation on this subject; which is now
daily spreading through the country,
and l fear dividing it into geographical
parties. If the Missouri compromise
Of 800 80 should be adopted, the agita.
tors. would Immediately raise the stand.
ard Of repeal, and agitate as fercely as
ever. We know that, sir. They will
ngitate after the passage Of any biIl.-
Blu: this bill resolves the whole ques.
tion between the north and the south
into a constitutional and judicial ques-
Il 4 r.