Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-09-08

and when associated with slave labor Wherever
labor is mainly performed by slaves if is regarded
as degrading TO freemen The free men of fthe
north therefore have deep interest to keep labor
free exclusively free, In the new territories
But sir, let lock farther into this alleged in
equality. There is pretence that southern peo
pie may not go into territory which shall be sub
ect to the ordinance of 1897. The only restraint
is that they shall not carry slaves thither and con-
tinue that relation. They say this shuts them out
altogether. Why, sir, there can be nothing more
inaccurate in point of fact than this. understand
that one half the people who settled Illinois, are
people, or the descendants of people, who came
from southern states. And | suppose that.one-
third of the people of Ohio those, or the de
scendents of those who emigrated from the south
and venture to saw, that IN respect to these two
states, they are at this day settled by people OF
southern origin IN as great proportion as they
are by people of northern origin according to the
general numbers, and proportion OF people, south
and north There are as many people from the
south, in proportion to the whole of the south in
those States, as there from the North, IN pro-
portion TO the whole people of the north. There
Is, then no exclusion OF southern people, there IS
only the exclusion of peculiar law. Neither in
principal nor in fact is there any inequality.
The question now Is whether it is competent to
Congress In the exercise of fair and Just discre-
ton, to say that considering that there have been
tNe sldve-holdng states added to this Uuion, out
of foreign acquisitions, and yet only one free
state; whether under this state of things it is I'M
reasonable and uni Just in the slightest degree TO
limit their further extension That is the question.
| see injustice in il. As to the power of Con
gres, have nothing to add TO what | said the 9TH
er day | have said that shall consent to no ex-
tension of the OF slavery upon this continent
any increase of slave representation in the oh
er House of Congress.
/ have stated my reasons for my conduct
and my vote. We ofthe North have gone in this
respect already far beyond all that any Southern
man could have expected or did expect, at the time
OF the adoption of the Constitution repeat the
statement OF the fact, of the creation of five new
States out OF newly acquired territory. We have
done that which, if those who framed the Constitu-
ton had forseen, they never would have agreed to
Slave representation. We have yielded thus far
and we have now in the House of Representatives,
twenty persons voting upon this very question, and
upon all other questions who are there in virtue of
the representation of slaves.
Let me conclude, therefore, by remarking that
while am willing to present this presenting
my own judgment and position in regard to this
case-and begit to be understood that am will
ing to present this to the whole world, as my own
Justification, rest upon these propositions First
! That when this Constitution adopted, nobody
| looked for any acquisition of territory to be
formed into slaevholdlng States Secondly: That
the principles of the Constitution prohibited, and
were intended to prohibit, and should be construc
| to prohibit all interference OF the General Govern
ment with Slavery it evisted and it still exists
in the States. And then that looking to the effect
ofthese new acquisitions which have in this great
degree enured to strengthen that interest in the
South by the addition these five States there is
nothlngalnlust nothing or when any honest man
complain If he isintel gent; and feel there is
nothing of which the civilized world, if they take
notice of so humble person myself, will reproah
me with when say as | said the other day that
| had made up my mind, for one, that under no cir
cumstances would l consent to the farther extern
sion of the of Slavery in the United States,
to the farther increase of Slave Representation in
the House of Representatives.