Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1848-06-27
wrr,mor pRov1so.
General Cass charged scih haring sPoKE'


rOr oCand VOTED for the Wilmot Pr0rtSo
Let fair statement put to silence this further
Roorbacl. At the session of Congress of 1916
and lS47 the three million bill, as 1t Is usually
known. came before the Senate, and a'proposltlon
was submitted TO amend the bill by adding another
section embracing the provisions OF the WIlmot
P.oyiso. On the lst of March, lS47, Gen. Cass
addressed the Senate and spoke mainly to this
question. lie avowed himself opposed TO the Of
fered amendment, and said, '' shall vote against
this proviso, because
"lst The present is proper time for the in
trodnction into the country and into Congress, OF
an exciting topic, tending to divide us, when our
united exerIiuns are necessary to prosecute the
existing war.
"2d 1t will be quite in season 10 provide for
the government Of territory, not yet acquired
from foreign countries, after we shall have obtain:
cd it.
sd. The proviso can only apply to British and
Mexican territories, there are no others c"teT-
mnous TO rs. Its phraseOlogy would reachcither,
though its application is pointed 10 Mexico. 1t
seems TO me that to express go much confidence III
the successful result of this war, as to at
this time if not Orer this anticipated acquisition,
al least for it, and to lay down partial basis for
its government would do US no good i'll the eyes
OF the world and would irritate still! moret the Next
can people.
"4th Legislation now would I've wholly nope
raiive because no territory 10 be hereafter &C
qurcd can be governed without an act OF Congress
nrovdno for its government. And sHch an act
on its passage would open the whole subject, and
would leave the Congress, called upon 10 pass it,
free 10 exercise its own discretion entirely Uncon-
trolled by any declaration found on the statute
book.
9th. There is great reason TO think that the
adoption of this provisO would, in all probability
bring tho war to an nntmely issue, by the effect
it would have on future operations.
"6th. Its passage would certainly prevent the
acquisition of one foot OF territory; thus defeating
a measure called for by vast majority of the
America people, and defeating it, too by the very
act purporting to establish partial basis for its
government
18th The progress OF public opinion upon
the question Of the adoption of this provso as the
circumstances of the country have become more
and more difficult seems To me to indicate very
clearly that since its introduction at the past ses-
sion of Congress, the conviction has been gaining
ground that the present is no time for the ag'ta-
ton of this subject, andas the foreign war becomes
more embarrassing, in greater degree Than many
anticipated. it ia best to avoid domestic dispute,
which would raise bitter questions at home, and
add confidence to the motives forresistance abroad.
And certainly the fact now ascertained, that the
war would be put to hazard, and the acquisition
OF territory defeated by the adoption OF this Provl-
So renders it impossible for me to vote for it, con-
nected as deem no'h OF Inese oUJeCts' YIN 'le
dearest rights and honor of the country
And fnally ,on the same day, the vote was taken
and stood thus:
YEAs-Messrs Allen, Anterior, Cameron, Gil
ley, John NJ. Clayton, Corwin, Davis, Dayton,
Dix, Evans, Fairfield, Greene, Huntington, Mil
Ter, Niles, Phelps, Simmons, Sturgeon, Upham,
Webster and Woodridge-2l.
NAYs-Messrs. Archer, Ashley, Atchinson,
Badger, Bagby, Benton, Berrien, BFeese, Bright,
Butler, Calhoun, Cass, Chalmers, Co!quits, Crit
tenden, Dickinson, flanagan, Houst ION, Jarnagin,
johnson of Maryland, Johnson Of Louisiana,
Lewis, Nangum. Mason, Morehead, Pearce, Rusk,
Sewer, Soule, Turney and Westcott-3I.
This is the only vote ever taken in the Senate
and the only speech, it is believed, ever made by
Cen. Cass in that body on this subjec ct.