Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-09

[Reporied expressly for the New York Tribune ]
Mr. PRESIDENT: should scarcely un-
dertake to assign to the Senate reason
for prolonging ,his debate, especially at:
ter the very elaborate and lucid EXPOSE
ton of the bill now before us which has
been givcnby the Senator from Vermont:
feel compelled. however, from various
considerations, with which will not trou-
bic the So nate. to state in very few words.
If that be possible, what my objections
are to the passage Of the bill; and. it may
be. to offer some few observations in reply
TO such propositions as have been an
no,,nccd 1T various times during this de-
bate. by Senators on the other side of the
Chamber. ] have listened with great Gag
crness. since the commencement of this
discussion. to everything that has been
said. with the most sincere and unfeigned
desire 10 make myself acquainted with at
least the primary elements and princi-
pies which enter into the composition of
the bill And think ! may say, without
exposing mvselfto the charge OF ccoti,n.
that feel as little the Influences which
have been spoken of by the Senator from
Vermont as il is desirable that any gem
tleman. acting in the capacity Of a Icgis-
lator. should feel do not participate.
however | may advertise. gentlemen. in
The belief which has been so constantly
expressed during this discussion. that this
is suhlcct which is likely 20 produce that
terrible aud momentous excitement that
is spoken of, | believe if this principle
were discussed Solemnly and so to speak,
abstracfedly from those cNtrancous cir
cunistances, too frequently advcrtcd to
here. that we should be much more likely
10 arrive at Il satisfactory conclusion to- our
selves. and at more satisfactory results.
hope. to those who are to come after us.
have no belief that the passage Ola law.
such as is now before the Senate. will pro-
ducc a disruption of tho bonds that hold
this Union together. have no belief
that the passage of the law so much dep
recatcd by some gentlemen on this side
by the name. if you please. Of the Will
mot Proviao. could. by any possibility
whatever. induce the Southern portion of
the Mon. which we arc told is SO much
excited on the subject. TO tear themselves
aSundcr from the constitutional compact
bv which we are all held together. Sir.
if entertained an opinion of this kind
should scarcely think seat OF this floor
worth possessing for Il single dav.
do not think the technical term spo-
ken Of by the Senator from Vermont. the
'.Wilmot Proviso," can Of itself exercise
that influence upon statesmen of exalted
intellect Of the South which has been in
timatcd by gentlemen who have participa-
ted in this debate. What is this terrible
Wjlmot Proviso that mas been erected
here and elsewhere into such a raw head
and bloody bones. to use a very expressive
phrase of the nursery! What is it,
Why. sir, there are about me Senators
who know very well to whom the paternity
of the ..Wimot Proviso." as it has been
recently baptiscd. belonged They know
that the same gentleman who drafted the
Declaration of independence which is
hung up in our libraries. and regarded
with the same reverence as our bible
for it has become a gospel Of freedom all
over the world as well as I'm this country
drafted also that which is called the
..Wilmot Proviso." composing as it did a
section of the Ordinance of 1887. and
that the hand that drafted both was JEFF.
ferson's. There have been some strange
misnomers i'm regard to acts, some strange
confusion of nomenclature in this conn-
try. as in this case. when part Of the Or
dinance of 1887 has come to bear the APP
pellatio of the ..Wilmot Proviso.'' Sir.
much as respect that gentleman for his
position upon this subject. which has con-
nected his very name with the Ordinance
Of 1887, deny TO him the honor of origi-
mating it. 1t is a piracy Of the copyright.
do not see that there is any danger that
Southern gentlemen after the lapse Of SO
many years, and after the founding Of a
Young Empire in the West. by virtue OF
that Ordinance. will so desecrate the METH
ory of Jefferson and spit on his grave. be-
cause we merely re-enact that Ordinance
over territory which has subsequently
come into our possession. Ihave no idea
that such consequences will follow from
the passage of such law. as gentlemen
have meditated. There must have been
a strange revolution wrought in the minds
of Southern gentlemen between 1857 and
1917. if such consequences are TO follow
And ] could not help observing while the
Senator from Vermont was expressing
those noble sentiments which every body
esen those who do not feel them. must adj.
mire, telling us we should act here indie
pendently of the excitement without these
walls, and that we should scorn those
newspaper paragraphs in which we are
!, viiifed, written by those who know little 0
the motives by which we are Influenced
and who care less; could not help OBJ
serving that at last the Senator admonish
ed us that there was an excitement abroad
/, which we must a,!ay. and 10 do that h
agreed TO this bill. although ii was some
, what different from that which he desired
so that the lion hearted Senator from Yer
: mont has agreed to fhis Compromise a.
; il is called. because there is an excite
ment which he wishes to allay by it.
Sir. l desire to see gentlemen &C. an
, vote here as if there were no eScitemen
/, on the subject. / should be very sorr
e at least, TO allow any influences TO operat
: upon my deliberate ddgment, except thos
e which belong to the relation of represen
tative and constituent 1t is the farther
Y est from my intention Of any thing III;
. can be conceived of to say anything
y ~ l. ~ 7 II