The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-10

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In SENATE, JUNE 3, lS4S.
The bill to establish territorial government In Oregon
being under consideration in the Senate, as In Commit.
tee of the Whole
Mr. DOWNS said am very sorry that the debate upon
this bill, which entirely unexpected 10 me at least,
should have taken the turn has this morning supposed
Yesterday that there was general being
that there sufficient number of senators In favor OF
the BILL with modification, to secure its passage-that
this twelfth section should be stricken out This was the
understanding of the majority of the committee The
gentleman who acts in behalf of the COMMITTEES in the absence
of the chairman assented to that course am very sorry
he has changed bs and has this morning Withdrawn
his motion strike the twelfth section. agree with
the honorable Senator from Missouri Mr. BEEroN that in
acting upon this bill is wholly unnecessary to Introduce
the question Of slavery bill important this should
be passed without raising unnecessarily that vexed ques-
ton. believe may say regretted it's Introduction as
much any member of this body wish to be under
stood upon this subject hold extreme opinions on
the extension of slavery into territory stop good
deal short of the opinion II is well known, which some
gentlemen upon this floor entertain. do choose to
pursue far, at present, gentlemen do have
been conending for moderaon orbearance for denun-
eaons for standing where have always heretofore stood
have contendcd that by operation of the constitution
of the United States new territory, slavery necessarily
existed have assumed no such position That is question
which has been much discussed do not choose to COM
nit myself fully upon it; but may say that no man, up to
this tne heard express desire to be exonerated
from an expression of my opinions. do ask it
But requires further eucdaon My present impressions
are these willing leave the question where believe
portion people OF the UHfteu
that should be left viz with the people of the Territories
themselves. Hence that hoped this bill would be
permitted to without requiring the express declaration
of Congress to the position they will take upon thus ex-
citing question Now, upon what right, or upon what
ground can those who hold different opinion object to
this course According to their own principles they ought
object for Their first principle is that, by
the and laws they exist, territories
slavery exist 1t is not commended that was ever
established here it cannot therefore exist according to
their doctrine The whole weight of argument seems
be against those who insist that Congress should now
nterpose Where is the necessity If their principle is cor
rect, But in this it is left blank. The people of
Oregon have moved regard to the subject They have
passed ordinance made provision, which think Is
the amendment proposed by the Senator from
New Hampshire, (Mr. HALE,) prohibiting slavery, as
though there doubt about the existence of the
hbon THERE that supposed they had provided for It's
establishment Does striking the twelfth section inter-
fere with any way Not at all not IN the least
was asonshed the strange position assumed by the
honorable from North Carolina (Mr. BADoER,)
that unless this proposition was adopted all their laws
would be abrogaed. 1t sufficiently answered by the
honorable from Texas and South Carolina, (r
RUsK and Mr. BurLER But presume there are very few
in this Senate who entertain that opinion Those laws
adopted Oregon under extraordinary circumstances
This government had failed to extend its laws them. 1t
necessary that they should have laws for their govern
men IL perfectly mmaIeria whether the act recognise
them they adopted because they had other
laws there. They will far they incompatible with
the constitution and laws when laws extended
over them. l know not by what authority except by
of the people, they have any operation at all even
now but whatever authority they have will remain it is
CERTAIN whatever you here, until your system
goes into operations and then, when not inconsistent with
Why them should those who contend that slavery ought
be extended Oregon raise this question here In
the first place. according to their own principle there can be
danger of what they wish to avoid In the next place.
they have positive enactment of the Provisional Govern
ment orbidding it, In addition to that there cannot be
who believes for that slavery exist there
You induce holding slaves to go there with his
slaves. 1t would be perfectly useless. Everybody seems
to admit that Upon these three grounds then the case
stands clearly against You have all your way
And yet it is insisted here now without object and there
fore insungly, that this must be rammed down
throats nos polens Is this the spirit of brohery
love- compromise and concession in which glorious
Union originated Could it have grown up under the in
fuence of such eelngs' Will it last while such in
dugcd' These thoughts on which we ought all to
ponder and pause have yet despared of the
Union: hope SHALL am not disposed to brood
evils that may come; but such measure, at
such time, under such circumstances UNFAIRLY
boon day. and snached back the nexunnecessary
practical useless to you the pound of flesh the
Jew but death to us-is, is painful to confess
Of good 1t cannot be contended that there is necessity
for it,
Mr. President gentlemen may have been surprised
the of the honorable from New Hamp
shire, Mr. HALE, the other day. when he withdrew his
amendment; but they now, have no doubt that the
gentleman understood what he was doing. Whatever may
have been considered concession in the withdrawal of
that amendment the tme evident that the ques
ton of the Wmot Proviso is clearly and distinctly in
voved in the twelfth section of this bill as in the amendment
And when the amendment of the honorable from
should be passed without eher but the head of the
committee has abandoned that position and Withdrawn his
amendment and regret to say, back in the
position which were before the amendment Of the
senator from New Hampshire Withdrawn. And
have no choice 1t amounts to the same thing do
think this ought to be pressed under the crcum
stances, at this time
had no idea of saying word upon this subject. Upon
hs upon other questions, my disposition to hear
and to be informed, speak but much
shed the taken this morning. felt to be
propitous to produce harmony this subject
calculated lead evil consequences that could resist
the inclination felt raise my voice against it. do
the general discussion upon this subject
believe the die is Gentlemen that this question
be met and perhaps may we'll be met here any
where else II be the tendency of the
proceeding of to-day s this stage of the debate,
disposed the discussion of the subject
large, although there remarks made by the Sem
from Connecticut Mr.. NILES that extraordi-
nary would consider myself derect in duty if
permit them pass without notice. But here, be it
Marked all other phases of this NATTER the
defensive shall attempt quote the precise words Of
the Senator but merely state the substance of of the
points made by him. As understand, of his positions
that there preponderance of power and of the high
Offices held there and that that power maintained by the
institution of slavery. Now, do think there is any
for complaint of this kind. do believe that
entered into the thoughts Of the people of
the south that this performance in relation to public Offices
should prevail in the SOUTH If has existed has arisen
the natural of events and from design
the part of the south If has happened that dsn-
ushed officers of the government have from the south
that they have been brought into Office by the
of this slave question: assertion which has founda
on But gentlemen say that the greater number Of Pres
dents have been taken from the south, and that it
has been through the influence of this slave qucs-
N,,r niuhta uelpa that ho tho f0,,,k