Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-27
Slavery in the Territories.

The COMPROMISE COMMITTEE AND THEIR REPORT.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, Mr. Clayton of Delaware
Chairman of the Select Committee of the Territories
of Oregon, California and New Mexico, reported
bill for the organization of the territorial government
in each of them. 1t is very long, containing thirty
seven sections. The New-York Herald had the fol.
lowing telegraphic synopsis of the main features of
the bill, with the remarks of Mr. Clayton in expana-
ton of its details, and of the action of the commit
tee:-
The Committee recommended the passage of
the Oregon bill nearly as it stood before the SEN
ates amendments were proposed, simply amend
ing it so as to hold the existing territorial laws
of Oregon in force until alter the new govern
ment has time to act, and to re-enact or repeal
them.
Oregon to have legislative assembly of two
houses, elected by the people.
New Mexico and California to be organized
into separate territories, with governors, Judges,
secretaries. district attorneys and marshals, APP
pointed by the President and Senate of the Uni
ted States.
The Constitution and laws ofthe United States
to be extended over them.
The governors and Judges, in the territories of
CaIifnrnia and Nov MUAivu, constitute leg
lslative council, and to be authorized to pass
laws-subject to the revision or rejection of
Congress; but such council not to legislate res
pecting slavery, the establishment of religion,
the pedgng the faith of the territory for debt
or to dispose Of the soil.
If any question on the subject of slavery arise,
it is to be left to the decision of the judiciary of
the United States.
Courts are also to be established in these ter
ritores, with power of appeal to the supreme
court OF the United States in the different states
Mr.. Clayton said the subjects referred to this
committee were of infinite difficulty. The terri
tories for which temporary civil governments
were to be organised embraced an area of ,044,-
462 square miles; about as large as that of two
thirds of all Europe, and capable of sustaining,
sooner or later the population of mighty en-
pire. The intrinsic difficulties necessarily be-
longing to such an organization, were increased
by the nature and character of the population
now existing there, as well as that hereafter to
be introduced by the extension of the constitution
and laws of the United States, over so vast
country. The committee had entered upon the
discharge Of their duties under all these embar-
rassments with untirng industry with jealous
resolution, and an indefatigable spirit, which he
Justice to each and every one of his colleagues,
to say, that amidst all their long conferences and
aborious discussions, on the various topics nee
essarily considered by them, the most conciIia-
tory spirit had been evinced by them, each firm
y endeavoring to maintain the honor and inter-
est not merely of his own section of country, but
that of the whole nation and each endeavoring
TO maintain the honor and interest, not merely
ofhis own section of country, but that of the
whole nation; and each endeavoring to yield so
much as he felt could be properly and honorably
conceded to Others without sacrifice of what WIS
essentially due to his own constituents and the
people of all the states. The conferences of the
committee were in this spirit attended with free
and ample discussion, and after full interchang-
ing of views, vote was taken on a proposition
moved by the Senator from Missouri, (Mr At.
chson) that the spirit of the Missouri comprom-
Use be adopted, to govern the settlement of all the
territories of the United States, on this question.
The committee divided, four for and three
against the motion
The Senator from Indiana, Mr.. Bright, then
moved proposition, notice of which had been
previously given in the Senate, containing the
words of the Missouri compromise, as the con-
dltlon Of the territory said to be different
from that to which that compromise applied in
1920 motion was made by the Senator from
Kentucky, (Mr. Underwood, } to amend that prop
ositon, by providing that all the territory in
New Mexico and California, south of the parallel
of 80 deg. 30 min, shall be placed on the same
footing, in all respects as to slavery, that existed
in Louisiana while it was a territory. On this
question the committee divided, four for the mo-
ton and four against it, After the failure ofthis
motion, the question was taken on the PROPOSE
ton of the Senator from Kentucky, and with a
like result.
The Committee again being divided at this
stage Of the proceedings all compromise appeared
to be impossible; but the Committee proceeded
afterwards to consider proposition to endeavol
to adjust the great question; at least, so far as tC
enable Congress to extend the laws over and pro
vide for the administration Of Justice in the ter
rtories, leaving for the present the settlement o
it to the laws of population, or the adoption o
soil, climate, and all circumstances to the va
, rous kinds of labor; while it was admitted on al
sides, that the greatest portion of territory was
properly adapted to free labor, and would nee
essary be free soil forever, yet it was also, witt
equal unanimity, conceded, that there was
portion of it where free labor could never be in
+ troduced, owing to the climate and the peculiar
production of that portion.
1t was thought that if Oregon, which no one
imagines can ever be slaveholding, could be or
, ganized as the people of that territory desired
by the temporary adoption Of their present law
interdictng or prohibiting slavery till the terrific
rial Legislature, proposed to be organized by
popular vote under the bill referred to us, coult
enact some law on the subject, most of the OBJ
d ections which had been heard in debate to tn,
; 18th section, would be obviated, without an,
f sacrifice of principle by those who urged them
r and thatafter thus disposing of the question, 81
far as relates to Oregon, the territories of Cali
= fornia and New-Mexico could be organized il
The same bill by the appointment of Governors
), Secretaries, and Judges, to compose, accordin!
TO the old precedents, temporary Legislature 70
r each of these territories, but without the powe
TO egslate on the subject of slavery; thus pacin.
: that question beyond the power of territorial leg
S lslature, and vesting the right to introduce o
= prohibit slavery in these two territories in tn
e constitution, as the same should be expounde,
c BY judges, with right of appeal to the Supreme