Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-07-07
The Oregon Question.

Mr. Phelps Of Vermont continued the debate
in the Senate, on Thursday, upon the question
Of excluding slavery from Oregon. The cor
respondent of the New York Express gives the
following sketch Of his remarks:
Senator Phelps Of Vermont acquitted himself to-
day in a most handsome maner on the Oregon bill
lie spoke in reply TO Messrs Calhoun and Berrien
and uttered many truths which am confident can
not be rehntted. Without attempting complete
abstract, will give yon few Of his more pointed
remarks. lie took the ground that IL Congress had
right 10 the territory Of Oregon, it undoubtedly
had the power to legislate for its welfare. There
was no clause in the constitution which prohibited
a state from passing its own laws, and the same
was true with regard to the national laws. But
having fairly entered upon his remarks which were
in opposition to the extension Of slavery in the new
territory. he spoke Of the slave as property lie
denied that any human being could consistently he
called properiy,-and what proved this assertion
was, that when n from Virginia went into New
England with slave that very momen; the slave
was emancipafed. The stakeholder and his slave
were subject TO the jurisdiction Of the state into
which the latter may be taken and IL taken to Or
egon the question OF his becoming free or remain
ing in bondage, should be decided by the people of
that territory. Slavery stood upon local legislation.
lie denied The right of shareholders to carry their
slaves into the new territory-though they had a
right to emigrate themselves.
Gus armies, and acquired new dominion, Of
planting their peculiar institution in every new
country conquered. lie could not admit this doc
trine' and wished to see single claim in the const-
tuition which conntenanced the idea.
Would the introduction of slavery into the now
territory be of any advantage TO its inhabitants -
lie e-,.',ad that il would not, sol ;il..-,-s,.d L.s
Proposiion ny alludlng 10 the state of Ohio where
slave had never been harbored, and also by com.
pairing the great West Ito It's advan,aeel with that
other section Of the country which professed to he
Heesed with the institution OF slavery He ALLEGED
that Congress had right to cgisaie for the bene.
fit Of the whole people, but no right whatever 10
promote the interest Of state at the expense of
another Congress had power thus to egisaie. bnt
was IN duty bound to protect the majority Of those
Immediately interested. What effect would the in.
PRODUCTION Of slavery into Oregon have upon the
happiness Of the people This was a question
which had been strangely overlooked by the gentle
man from the South. The territory in question
was ill'adapted to pcrnetnaiing the Southern insti
tuition, but il not, wound il he right to force the in
slitution upon Oregon contrary to the expressed
will Of It's inhabitants The gentleman from the
South had begged to he "let alone" and what he
asked for the people of Oregon was that they might
he let alone.
lie believed he spoke the opinion of three fourlhs
Of the people Of the land and even Of the South
Where was the man, he would inquire who would
he the hrst TO advocate the institution of slavery
provided the country at this time entirely free
why, tcni should II be extended TO the remote re-
gion Of Oregon He openly avowed his opposi.
ton TO the slave clause of the Oregon bill He
wanted the Senate OF the United States TO lie con-
sistent. IL was only the other day that this BODY
had passed a resolution sympathizing with revoIn-
tlonary France, and now 1t proposed to extend
the institution Of slavery. Was this right was il
reasonable In concluding his admirable speech.
MIR Phelps took occasion TO comment upon the spir.
it Of conqueswhich seemed to be so prevalent, and
condemned Il in the most pointed manner
lie would be liberal 10 the South and willingly
confessed that he had always found the slave in a
better condition than he commonly reported
to be he would not rcproaeh the South on account
oil their peculiar institution but the consequences
OF perpclnatlng it in Oregon were highly important
IN political point Of view, and therefore il was
that he had so freely expressed his opinions.
lie spoke forupwnrtls of one hour and half, and
was listened to with marked attention. While lis
tenng to Mr. Phelps, was struck with the idea
that this Oregon bill seems to Ia beyond the reach
OF Wings and Democrats, rs such, but that its set
Element will probably be left between the North and
the South.