The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-27

was reported in the Senate bya special comm tee con
listing of epht nembers-four from free four from
holding States, and equally representing the great pc
ca parties, viz Messrs Clayton OF Delaware Calhoun OF
souri, (siavehodng States and Phelps Of Vermont Cake
OF Rhode Island, Dickinson of New York Bright OF ndt
ana Gree States y pas ,ed that body on the mornn
of thursday July a. by vote OF 80 yeas to p nays Oh
the day, Friday July Is il taken up the House
Mr. Stephens of Georgia. laid on the table by
vote Of liz yeas TO 81 nays.
TIL" Oregon bill having afterwards passed the House,
addressed that body olowsil
Mr.. President: A week has now elapsed since the
Senate passed and sent TO the House of
bill to organize Territorial governments Oregon, Cali
fornia, and New Mexico. That bill after receiving the
support of three i'ths Of the members of this body
laid upon the table by the other House without reading
printing it, and of fear, without understanding
it. rule exists in that House, in consequence of which
BILL laid on the table, cannot be reached again du
ring the session but by the consent OF two thirds OF the
members The vote to lay on the table was therefore
decisive rejection of it; and that rejection not only
without discussion, but without consideration Cdsgat
audgue. The result has been, that of those who
condemned without hearing have since found it
ry to aay the of the public by debating the bill
after they had destroyed it-wh what effect shall
hereafter learn
The House has now sent Territorial bill to the SEN
ate Sir trust we shall not initiate their example We
owe 10 our own serespect and to tie high character
which this body has maintained, to take which
shall prevent free discussion before voting the
ITS OF this measure; which, in the rghtlul exercise OF
their constitutional authority ordinate branch of the
action their bill be deliberate and well considered
Retaliation would be unworthy of us Let us hereafter
resort to no wreched excuse for the vote shall give
upon It, that we have merely read something about their
OIL IN the newspapers or that OF us have heard
part of their debates while it before them. To the
end that 1t may receive that calm, dspassonae, and
spectul consideration to which any coming from
the other House is entitled, | will, before | sit down.
move the reference of the bill from that House to the ap
propriate committee
Ihave hitherto had no opportunity to express my SEN
tnents at large on that great which obtained
majority triumphant in this body, and was so summa
rlly disposed OF in the other House desired such an
opportunity; but ii impossible for me avail myself
OF any occasion to speak during the potacted debate in
the Senate, lasting through several days and one whole
tyfour hours, unless had to the conclusion that
the speedy passage of the bill less important than
speech delivered by me to explain it. Although heard
this measure traduced and its purposes and objects
shameully misepresented- although. indeed was I'M
der pledge TO submit, at the close of the discussion
such remarks as would, thought, justify this bill of
peace in the eyes of the world yet when fanatacism and
party spirit had exhausted their violence, such my
confidence in the intelligence OF the public, that sat in
silence under all the attacks made upon the bill rather
than delay its passage by debate From the period of
been offered discuss it. would rather at any time be
checked for silence than tasked for speech " but now
hold it to be duty dsabuse the public mind and ex
pose the calumnies of the enemies of that measure
The misrepresentation of that bill originated with
who had party objects to accomplish The patriotic
ator from Indiana near me Mr. HANNEGAN N admits that
he has been urged vote against the BILL because the
passage of it would njure the election of Gen Cass
Others tell me that it will endanger the of Cen
guished citizens, both of them would reject with scorn
and contempt, any proposition to defeat whose
object is to restore peace to distracted country the
ground that such defeat necessary to his ele
walton. Party politics not less than sectional fanacism
or the desire OF dsunon and civil Strife have given
rise to the misrepresentation and caumnies against this
I bill. At the time that | say this, admit that
many honest men, through Misrepresentation. have OPP
posed it. Some have said that the object Of it 10
south of the parallel of AZ degrees which is the southern
boundary OF Oregon; while others with equal confidence
have declared that object to be- prevent the citizens of
the slave States from ENJOYING constitutional right TO
! carry their property into those Territories
Sir we have that the most opposite doctrines and
opinions have been asserted, to suit different ATTITUDES
inflicted upon this bill and its friends, by representing
southern msaslre, ITS purposes have been stated TO
be to extend the of slavery and to convert free into
slave territory Wherever on the other hand the rights
of the South were held most sacred and the southern
claim to equal participation in the territory acquired bv
the blood and treasure is most popular. the bill
has been represented surrendeng the rights of the
South without an adequate consideration Letter writer's
stimulated sometimes by party feeling, and sometimes
by less excusabe motives have done much to deceive
the public mind and defeat this salutary measure BY
the concurrence of all these operating Influences geo.
graphical parties have been formed in opposite sections
of the United States whose continued existence depends
on the defeat of the bill.
These parties more dangerous TO the union of the States
than all other combined, directly antagonze
with the principles of this bill that it must destroy them,
or they must destroy it, The best possible Recommended
ton OF it, in the eye of true patriot may be found in
their settled hatred and hostility to this measure. The
between these parties and the bill is of exter
minaton; and the geographical factions will be
equally mpacabe against any other proposition to tran
quiZe the country and restore aterna feeling between
lis discorlan sections. They have falsely represented
the bill to be compromise of principle, and have
poyed the cant that principle cannot be compromised,
although the constitution itself was but compromise Of
principles and the result of mutual concessions between
n of tba cnl,, w..
tence is amidst the elements of civil strife and to reach
political power, which is the real object of their ambition,
they will break down any compromise other bill OF
peace if it do not break them down. Against these fac
ionists now solennIy invoke the a moi in the
Fare well Address of the Father of his country:
SIN contemplating the (says hc) which may dis
urb Union 1t occurs as matter OF serious concern
thai any ground should have been furnished for
zing parties Jy geographical m
and Sou hern-Atlantic and Western; whence designing
may endeavor excite belief that there is real
difference local interests and views One of the frpedi
is TO miuepresent opnons and aims Of other districts.
You shield yourselves too much against the aous-
les and hearbunngs which spring from these mtsrepre-
they tend render alien TO each other those
He afterwards adds
az already minated you the danger of parties in
the State, with particular reference to the founding oil Them
on geographical determinations"
To illustrate the influence of sectional feeling on this
subject let me advert the language of public men on
this floor Shortly after reported this bill The senator
from Connecticut me Mr.. BALDWIN, came TO me
and said that by this the North lost everything
in controversy The words scarcely out OF his
mouth before the senator from Kentucky Mr. UNDER
wooD up and observed, that by this bill the South
| a Il lran, RhA.is