The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-04
The Free Soil Meeting In Philadelphia
Speech of Mr.. Wilmot.

The Free Soil Meeting In Philadelphia
Speech of MIR. Wilmot.
From the Phila dephia Republic, Dec. 81
The free soil meeting at the Chinese Museum,
last night, was quite large and enthusiastic. The
meeting was called to order at half-past seven
o'clock, by Mr.. George Cornell, upon whose mo-
ton David G. Skerrett was appointed president
After the organization OF the meeting, reso-
lutions were offered by T. s. Lavender, and
adopted with unanimiiy and enthusiasm
Resolved, That the friends Of free soil, far from
being by the result Of the recent election
ind ample cause Of rejoicing in the fact that hostility
mount to all other poll ical considerations by three
hundred thousand freemen-a number larger than the
entire body Of Shareholders IN the United States.
Resolved, That still demand free soil for free
men, protesting against any compromise by which any
portion of national domain shall be given up to
the and shame of human bondage, and declaring
that any and every concession to the slave power
shall be met by our prompt and determined demand
for repeal
Resolved That we re. affirm the principles and policy
declared in the Buffalo platform, as demanded alike
by the exge of the rissby the interests of the
age and that we declare unslterable determna-
ton to sustain them at all times and under oil possible
contingencies until the preservation of freedom and
he interests of free labor shall become the established
policy of our national government;
Mr. WIIMoT was then Introduced by the pre-
sdent, and was received with long and hearty
cheering by the vast audience present.
He CONNIE need by saying, that it first Of all bscame
his duty to make his most Acknowledgements
been pleased to give him. He confessed that he had
appeared before that intelligent and large audience
with much reluctance indeed as his friends we'll
knew, It was against his moot earnest advice that
this meeting had been held. He had, however,
yielded to the persuasion of many kind friends who be-
Heved that his small voice would contribute to uphold
the STANDARD Of freedom In the present trying aud i'm
portant orss in which the country was now involved
It was not necessary that he shoud inform his au'
dence Of what meapt by the proviso. 1t has BEEN
subject much misrep ntation Il had been the
interest of both the two great political parties Of the
those who were engaged in sustaining it. An effort
had been made to blend this question with the subject
of abolition, with which in his humble JUDGMENT It had
Misses of the constitution in relation to slavery
He would have been the last to have agtated
this subject our Southern friends had been content
to abide by the compromises of that instrument, in
stead Of transcending them (Appause2 He held
state authority under the control of State laws and
that the general government has power this
question within any State Of this Union. This
the doctrine hs2ead advocated, aud which he
held but wbenvhe Southern States asked to be per-
mted to extend slavery the general territory Of
quired from the Mexican republic he would say that
the general governmentthat the whole peoples should
exert their and stretch forth their against
every effort to plant slavery there. This ques
tiop in his judgment, in which the free States Fave
DIP and abiding interest-one second to none that
had ever arisen since the foundation Of the republic
We found the soil acquired from Mexico by the war
with her. free from the pollution and degradation of
slsyeryait va: free soil and the question vas
Of the STAKEHOLDER and his black cstte?" This vas
the only question involved in this subject On the 8th
Of August 1885, the President Of the United States
sent In message to Congress asking for an appropri
alton of So 600 000 for the purpose of enabling him to
effect peace with Mexico 1t was apparent that this
money to be expended in the acquisition of ter.
ritoyy. We were indebted to Mexico in sums of
money; the contrary, she was indebted to us for
spoliations committed our commerce. This formed
the topic of general conversation the afternoon Of
the day this message was received and after full
sutaton as far as time was allowed for consultation
he mr. mi Of eve in,
Congress. Great applause There was no dissent
ing voice. so far as he (Mr W. heard in reference to
the propriety Of this measure-the provso. There
disposition on the part of the republican mem
beYs Of Congress to embarrsss the
was himself he being among the most consistent and
uniform supporters Of that administration Applause
The proviso was not introduced with any view to in
Auence or have any bearing upon the Presidential
election which to follow. Il was not offered to
break down one man and build up another. There
was nothing discussed as far as his knowledge vent
right-was 1t politic-was it in accordance with the
genius of institutions that this republic should
become the propaganda Of slavery? Enthusiastic
cheers) Were they to embark at this period of this
word-in the middle of the nineteenth century-wth
the past experiences before themIxth knowledge Of
that they should embark In the extension of slavery
Under these circumstances, the provso offered to
the bill. The proposition was offered on Saturday,
the 8th Of August; but Congress- by resolutions pre-
viously offered. had agreed to adjourn on the 10th.
The whole Of the Northern delegation with two excep
tons only, from the free States unanimously in
favor Of the proviso The democratic delegation Zone
member only being absenD from Pennsylvania stood,
united on the question. Great applause The
MT however being sent to the Senate failed
there being taken up at too late hour IL O'Clock
Congress. 1t met, he knew, the appreciation OF the
most eminent leading republicans Of that branch Of
the national legislature The very eminent and
tpectable gentleman who had been recently nominated
by Baltimore Convention gave IL his uuequivocal
approval. Applause He declared that 1t was ground
from which no Northern man ought to recede. TIRE.
M end nd he Ser
from Massachusetts,, (Mr. Davis) took the floor
the time Of adjournment, and commenced debating
the subject and occupied the whole time aud thus all
action was defeated on the subject. The eminent
Senator from Michigan (Mr. L. Cass) 40 deep his
with the Senator from Massac husetts on the course
he had pursued-that he had been instrumental in
feating this measure. This fact the Senator
denied would deny Mr.. w. went on to say that
his convictions that fthe vote had been taken
in the Senate the provso would have become the law
OF the land. AT the opening of the following session
Of Congress- large pro ortion IL not the entire repre-
fentaton in Congress from the fee States still in
its favor Resolutions of instruction unanimous
ly passed by the Legislature of Pennsylvanis sustain
ing the provso-that is ninety members Of the House
voted in its favor, and in the Senate they
passed with three dissenting voices only against 1t.
The subject take up by each Of the free States Of
the Union and In rapid succession, ten eleven
Of the free States through their Legislatures spoke
unanimous voice in favor Of this principle. 1t
democratic then.-it right, 1t just, it
principle which North held sacred, and declared
they would stand by and maintain. But in n short
time influences we're set at work to defeat this prn
cipc-the influence of the general government
brought to bear in favor Of the South, and humilia'
ting spectacle was presented Of men occupying the
first positions in the councils of the nation, who had
maintained this principle alb andoning it, and turning
their backs upon it large proportion Of the press
particularly of the republican press-commenced their
attacks upon IT, using all sorts Of anathemas against
It, 1t was trea,on to proclaim this principle-it was
treason to tho democratic party Such the decree
issued at Washington. Every who dared to speak
In favor OF It, was prescribed. The South united to-
getber and taid she would support for the
Presidency who dared to maintain this principle that
che would strike down every man, however eminent,
however good or however noble--every who main
tanned freedom in free territory. The consequence
was, that the ambitious men Of the country-those
who had fixed their gaze the Presidency, declared
they would oppose any who sustained 1t. To
sustain 1t, it was alleged. was unconstitutional. The
past experience and past action of the government
was all wrong-Jefsrson was wrong Madison, Wash
ington, and Jackson, were also wrong and all the
great and good men who laid the foundations of the