Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-08

The Journal, we suppose, presumes that
Its readers have miserably short memories, or
that they are to be gnlled by any thing which
is found in its columns For example:
OREooS.-It will be seen from reference to
our Congressional summary, that this territory /
has at last got government. The bill for its or
sanitation has the WILMoT PsoyIso IN 1T. and
is the law of the land, having received the sigma
ture of the President. Mr.. Polk sent message
with the signed bill TO the House of Representa-
tves, where it originated, communicating his rea-
sions for signing it. with this to US ODIOUS fea-
tura.-JoURNAt, Aug. 18th.
We do most datly deny that the Oregon bill
contains the Wilmot Proviso-JoURNAL, Sept. l. |
The realy-to Us Southern NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WiImct Proyiso vert for the exclusion of slavery
from all the territories of the United States-a
very different thing from the Proviso of the Ore
gen bill.-JoURNAL, Sept LIST.
When the Journal shall have explained
how what was the Wilmot Proviso on the
18th of August was not the Wimot Proviso
on the 1st of September, and how what was
sODTOUS' " to us Southern people" on the
18th of August, was every different thing !"
lust two weeks afterwards, we will by that
time try TO be prepared to offer something fur
Their for its consideration.
Chronicle, Of Wednesday morning.
We shall undertake to Sc explain" the above
to the satisfaction of every intelligent reader.
To those who are not disposed 10 understand
US, we would say that, for their opinion one
way or the other, we care not fig.
In speaking of the incorporation OF the
q" Wimot Proviso :" into the Oregon bill that
recently passed both Houses of Congress, and
which received the signature of the President,
we supposed that every man who knew any
thing about the political affairs OF the day, un-
derstood US as meaning the Wilmot Proviso,
or rather its principles, as applied to the Ore
gon Territory. Surely all those papers that
used the phrase in the same connection that
we did on the 18th ultimo, cannot be supposed
| to mean the actual Wilmot Proviso as intro
duced by the Hon. David Wilmot, in the House
of Representatives, on the Sth of August,
1916, in the shape of an amendment to- the
Two Million bill, which is in these words:
Provided, That as an express and funda-
mental condition to the acquisition of any
territory from the republic of Mexico by the
United States, by virtue of any treaty which
may be negotiated between them, and 10 the
use by the Executive OF the moneys herein
appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall ever exist in any part of said
territory, except for crime, whereof the party
shall first be duly convicted"
Now the above is, in so many words and
letters, the famous Wilmot Proviso Surely
this is very :" different thing from the "Pro-
viso" in the Oregon bill, as that bill twice
passed the House of Representatives in the
goth Congress, receiving each time the votes
of Southern men of both political parties.
On the 4th OF February, 1847, the Hon,
Preston King, of New York, introduced the
three million bill in the House of Representa-
tives, the ID section of which was in these
words
Sec 2 Be 1t further enacted, That there
shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude in any territory which shall hereafter be
acquired by, or annexed 10, the United States,
otherwise than in the punishment of crimes,
whereof the party shall have been duly con-
vcted Provided, dlacays, That any person
escaping into the same, from whom labor Oh
service is lawfully claimed in any one Of the
United States, such fugitive may be lawfully
reclaimed and conveyed out of the said terrific
ry TO the person claiming his or her service OIL
labor"
This was Mr.. Preston Kings 'Wilmot Pro.
uiso.' >" differing" it will be seen, essentially
from the Simon pure of the previous session
Now, then, what is the nature Of the Pro
viso in the Oregon bill The 6 Proviso,' O
as it was Familiarity called, the " Wilmot Pro
viso," of that bill was this, That the provis
ions of the ordinance of 1887 are hereby ex
tended 10 the territory of Oregon
Is this not very {" different" thing from
the Wilmot Proviso? The " W1lmot Provi
, 500 expressly prohibits the introduction o
2 slavery into any territory that we might &C
+, quire from Mcrico, and the Preston KIN!
"Proviso'' went for keeping the institution
out of any territory that might be hereafter &C
c quired by any means, or from any source
, whilst the 18th section of the Oregon Terrific
rial bill only excludes it from that territory
all of which lies 81 degrees North of Sc 80
the line of the Missouri Compromise.
We are we'll aware that, by ourself ant
others, the general phrase" the Wilmot Pro
viso"-was carelessly used in speaking of thu
10Th section OF the Oregon bill j; but we neve
dreamt for moment but that every person
I who knows anything about the matter. under
stood that, in using the phrase thus, we mean
it as applied 10 the Oregon territory, and NJ
farther
Now we think we have " explained'' thi
matter TO every intelligent, candid mind, an
here il must rest