The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-12
TIsIRTiETH CONGRESS-
WAsmlseroS, July 10. 1918.
Senate.

BILL-rnE wifdor
After this expenditure of an hour in the usual mis-
cellaneous business of the morning, the bill providing
government Tor the territory Of Oregon the question
being upon the 18th section, which embraces the prn
cpie Of the Wmot provso and upon the several pre-
positions to amend the said section.
VIEWS JOHNSON, MARYLAND.
Mr.. REyERpY IoussoN of Maryland. rose to the re-
view Of the genera subject before tho Senate There
are, Mr. President connected vita this bill four
veral general propositions pending before the Sc
nate
l. The 18th section of the bill which embraces the
from the Oregon territory.
2 A proposition so strike out the 18th section from
the bill leaving the subject open question
3. The proposition Of tho Senator from Missouri
(Mr Jefferson Dayis,) declaring directly against the
exclusion of slavery from this territory.
4. The amendment Of the senator from Indiana (Mr
Brigh) proposing tho adoption of che Mississippi CON-
promise To this we have an amendment proposed by
the Senator from Kentucky, CIR Underwood) provid
ing that south Of this proposed compromise line the
istence Of saveiy shall be expressly guaranteed, in de-
fapcc Of all future legislation OF Congress- While the
territories involved shall continue territories of the
United States.
The subject these several propositions il The par
amount question which now onsros-es the public mind
We have been preciptated into this difficulty by the
overshadowing influences of the federal admin
istraton, from the dictatorial exercise of the
executive powers of this government, controlling
the internal legislation of the country and debating
its external policy The powers Of the national legis-
ature have been superceded and almost totally disre
garded, until it has become fixed idea in the public
mind that the whole local and e administration
of government depends entirely upon who shall be
elected President of the country. | regret that this
opinion should have preferred its postponemen mt till
after the Presidential election when could be dis
cussed with greater elaboration and with single
ness OF purpose TO the good and 60 the rights Of the
whole country Bot, sir the question is before in
all it's amplitude, and it imperatively demands settle
| ment now Nowwe called to act upon It, In the
present state of the public mind it 10 not only now a
matter of importance but question involving the
most momentous consequences 10 nyolves the aues.
ton Of the constitution the extent OF its power,
the expedency of its neutrality-suspicious. of the most
difficult and delicate character 1t involves the rights
". cO-pqualitV
this Union. 1t implies inferiority of of the
States in all matters touching the principles of pa
trioism and morality. 1t maintains the existence and
the continuing degeneracy Of portion of the MON,
itself from these corrupng influences and arrest
its SYNONYMOUS extension. These are the fearful
topics of discussion presented to US in the general
question embraced in the bill under consideration
They certain to array section against section,
State against State, and citizen against citizen As
blood and treasure gave us the liberties which we
| now enjoy, how important it is for to termi-
nate these difficulties by every honorable effort
Of justice patriotism, and Cancellation. If suffered
to become an element in cur political contents, who
docs not that sooner later we must cease
to be a united people who does not see that our
Union, instead Of being cherished and perpetuated
will be Union no longer When that day of separa-
ton shall come no tongue utter the caamties
that will fall upon us-aDguage win be impotent to
describe Them and imagination in vain viii attempt
depict them And look around us IN what epoch Of
the worlds history hurryn 10 involve ourselves
in this catastrophe of discord aud disunon Almost
every nation under the looking to us for counsel
and encouragement in its struggles for freedom. We
are the star Of their hope animating and gudin them
In their pursuit OF liberty How agfully responsibe
then is position to ourselves and to tho world
But sir amidst the gloom Of the day do not despair
believe there is yet that virtue and intelligence
among the people that will frown down the demagogues
Of the hour and preserve us the great and united and
prosperous nation that What is it, then,
which has brought this startling question of disorder
INTO this land, and who are responsible for it The
honorable Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. Davisl
has said and in he has truly said that this
danger which has upon nacing destruc-
ton is all attributable and is the bitter fruit OF the
annexation Of Texas In one sense that is true. But
annexation did not necessarily involve in war
with Mexico 10 man can be blind not
to see, that had the administration been prudent
and cautious in the annexation Of Texas there would
have been war with Mexico; and that there would
have been no acquisition Of territory from which this
pefous subject has arisen. No can doubt the
perfect right which Texas had TO herselfto this
Union, and our right to receive her And there Is no
doubt She could have been admitted without war and
without Of wsr. It what followed Mr. FRESH
dent that brought on the Not drop of blood,
AID not one-twenteth part Of the treasure expended
need have been expended, bad the dostnics Of this
executive government bee N ia more prudeot and
siderate hands have not shadow Of doubt that
had the honorable Senator from South Carolina lMr.
Cahoun remained in the state Department the Next
can war would have been avoided and this question:
that is upon us, never would have arisen. But,
sir it was managed diiferc ntly and tho issue has
The equences are upon u.s. aud we have TO meet
them. Even after the commencement of The war,
after the battles OF Pao Alto and Resaca de la Palma
had n different policy boon pursued, the would
have been suspended peace would have been secured,
the question between and Mexico would have been
settled and the question which is here should have
escaped But sir, IL the lust Of dominion &c
the search after glory IL the ambition of the Exc
cutye OF terminating his with just such
sage he sent into this body few days ago, that
brought this evil upon Mr.. johnson gave some-
thing Ct the history of annexation ard argued tbs evil
dent pacific results that must have followed a different
policy. He next passed to a brief review of the ndica-
lions in Congress and the fearful signs in the North as
commanding our most actiyeand serious consideration
Mr. Johnson, with these general observations, pro
ceeded to argue the cOns tutionalities embraced in
this question Of the proviso. He believed slavery
eyii-hc wished it had never been ntroduced-but he
not ala hat had
tages-that there no patriotism and virtue in
tie South. Sir, the agitation Of this question is the
greatest evil which this country suffers, and il has
grown upon US to an alarming extent. Twenty years
ago no man Of character would have placed hmsefin
the position in which an cxPresident of the United
A SrNAroE-No, nor thirteen years ago.
Mr. JoHNsoE--No, nor thirteen years ago, ten.
He would not have dared TO take such position in
the days Of General jackson. No man, twenty years
ago, would have taken such position but he would
have regarded it insult to have had it offered to
him, After denounciug the abolition spirit of the
North in general and of General Percy Howe in par
tcular and after arguing the absence of power under
the constitution TO exclude slavery from the terrific
RIGS Mr. Johns returned to the direct question of
the difficulty to be settled and eloquenty pleaded the
adoption OF the Missouri compromise. Every consider
alton OF duty and self preservation suggested It, He
would rather that this Unon should suffer every other
calamity, with which an inscTutable Providence
could act us than that direst Of all calamities dis
union. But there worse things even than dis
union A sense of degradaton-of inequality and in
may be settled Make the line exclude slavery
tho north of it. and the constitution will protect
us on the South. would rather that the government
for all time should be in the hands of political ad-
versares, much as / wish the of our cause;
would lose all the gores of the war, and the heroes
who have acquired IL for US should be forgotten now
and forever rather than this question should not be
settled aud the only mode OF settlement is by a
promiFe.
MIR. HuNrER. of VA, secured the floor for to-mor.
row.
Mr.. HANSEGAN moved amendment for informa-
ton adopting the compromise, but leaving the ques
ton of slavery south of the line to the discretion Of
people thereof when they shall come as States into
the Union.
MIR. UNDERWOOD moved a verbal modification Of his
amendment, guaranteeing slavery south OF the COM
promise line.
Ordered to be printed.
Adjourned.