The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-09-06
To the House Of Representatives
of the United States:

Oregon
To the House Of Representatives.
of lhe United States:
When the President has gven his official
sanction to bill which has passed Congress,
usage requires that he shall notify the House
IN which it originated of that fact. The
mode of giving this notification has been by
an oral message delivered by his private
secretary.
Having this day approved and signed an
act entitled "An act to establish the terrific
rial government of Oregon" ! deem 1t prop
CT. under the existing circumstances, to
mmunicatc the fact in a more solemn
form.
The deeply interesting and protraclcd
discussions which have taken place in both
houses of Congress, and the absorbing inter-
cs, which the subject las excited through
out the country. justify, IN my judgement,
this departure from the form of notice Oh.
served in other cases.
In this communication with a coordinate
branch Of the government, made proper by
the considerations referred to, shall frank
ly. and without reserve, express the reasons
which have constrained me not TO withhold
my signature from the bill to establish a gov
ernment over Oregon, eve though the tw"
territories Of New Mexico and California
are to be left. for the present, without gov.
ernments. None doubt that it is proper to
establish government in Oregon. Indeed,
1t has been too long delayed. ] have made
repeated recommendations to Congress to
this effect. The petitions ofthe people THAT
dis, orr, resinn have been presented to the
government. and ought not to be dIsregarded.
Togive to them regularly organized govern
ncnt and the protection "f our laws, which
as citizens Of the United States they clam,
is high duty on our part and one which We
are bound to perform, unless there be con-
trolling reasons to prevent it.
In the progress Of all governments, ques-
lions Of such transcendent Importance occa-
sipnaly arise, as to cast 10 the shade all
thnse of mere party character. But one
such question can now be agltated in this
country; and this may cndangcr our glorious
Union, the source of our greatness, and all
our political blessings This question is
slavery. With the slave holding States this
does not embrace merely the rights of pro-
perry. however, valuable; bat it asccnds far
higher, and involves the domestic peace and
security of every family.
The fathers of the consttution-thc wise
and patriotic men who laid the foundations
of our nstilutions-forcseeIng the danger
from this quarter, acted in spirit ot
compromise and mutual concession on this
dangerous and delicate sub bect; and their
wisdom ought to be the guide Of their sue
cessors. Whilst they left to the States ex-
clusvey the question of domestic slavery
within their respective limits, they provided
that slaves who mig Int escape INTO other
States not recognising the institution ot sla-
very, shall ''be delivered up on the claim of
the party to whom such service or labor
may be due
Upon this foundation the matter rested
until the Missouri question arose.
In December, 1919, application was made
to Congress by the people of the Missouri
Territory for admission into the Union as
State. The discussion upon the subject in
Congress involved the question of slavery,
and was prosecuted with such violence as
to produce exctcments alarming to every
patro, in the Union. Bu, the good genius
OF conci,iation which presided at the birth of
our institutions finally prevailed, and the
Missouri compromise was adopted. The
eighth section of the act Of Congress Of the
9th Of March 1920. "to authorize the pco-
pie of the Missouri Territory to form con-
stitulion aud Stale government" &c., pro.
vdes: That, in all that territory ceded by
France to the United States, under The name
OF Louisiana, which lies north Of thirty six
degrees and thirty minutes north latitude,
not included within the limits of the Slate
contemplated by this act, slavery AMI invo'-
untary servtudc, otherwise than in the pun
ishment of crimes, whereof the parties shall
have been duly convicted, shall be, and is
hereby, forever prohibited: Provided al,oayS,
That any person escaping into the same.
| from whom labor or service is lawfully
claimed in any State or Territory of the
United States, such fugitive may be law
fully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person
claiming his or her labor or service aforc'
| said"
This compromise had the effect of calm
ing the troubled waves, and restoring peace
and goodwill throughout the States of the
Union.
The Missouri question had excited intense
agitation Of the public mind, and threatened
to divide the country into geographical par
ties alternating the feelings Of attachment