Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-10-12
The Democratic Party for the Wilmot
PrOViSO,

But perhaps we have some safer guarantee in the
9TH Baltimore resolution of the Democratic Party7
That resolution lodges the question entirely. 1t
contains not one principle which Giddings himself
might not consistently have subscribed TO-; and so
indecisive is it Of any point at issue, that when it
was introduced word for word in Congress, GA
February rs, 1874, by Campbell Of South Carroll
ma, Jno. P. Hale, Preston ". King, and many other
equally notorious Aboiitionists, recorded their votes
in its favor. 1t was Incorporated into the Demo
cratic Platform by Benz. F. Butler, the notorious
aboiItonist; and, at the great Free Soil Meeting held
in New York Immediately after the Baltimore Con.
v%ention, that same resolution was re-adopted, word
for word and letter for letter, and solemnly recogS
nized as a cardinal principle of the Free Soil faith.
And when in the Baltimore Convention, VIM. L.
Yancey, Of Alabama, introduced a resolution, de-
nying the power of Congress to interfere with sla-
very in the Territories, it was voted down BY PIG
TO 81. Six-sevenths of the Baltimore Convention,
when brought to the test, REFUSED to DEM the
pomer Of Congress to pass the Wamot Proc;so, and,
if votes mean anything. they thus solemnly asserted
that Congress HAD the power.
But let us turn from, these startling acts of the
Democratic party in Convention, to their equally
startling acts in the Congress of the United States.
On P. 318 of the House Journal, I'd session, oath
Congress. Feb. Sd, 1916, we find that a vote was
taken on the following amendment. to the 9th Sec
lion, Of the bill ito organize a territorial govein>
ment in Oregon:"
provided. however, that there shall be neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Ter
ritory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted
The amendment was adopted, forty~nine North
ern Democrats voting therefor. The question then
REQUIRED on the passage of the bill, for which, with
this, the Wlmot Propiso attached, FORTY-FIVE
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS VOTED, among
whom were, A. H. Arlington, A. Atkinson, J. E.
Belzer, E.. J. Black, J. A. Black, and 40 others
blouse Journal, p. 32l.) FortyJfoe SOUTHERN
Democrats for a bill embracing the Wlmot Prouiso.
and only three against 1t!
At the I'd session of the succeeding Congress,
Jan. Is, 1647, the bill "to establish the territorial
government Of. Oregon was reported from the
committee Of the whole House OH the state of the
Union, with an amendment embracing this identi-
calproviso for the restriction Of slavery. Mr.. Burt
moved to amend the said amendment by inserting
in their appropriate place the words. .'inasmuch as
the whole of the said territory lies north of SO deg.
80 minutes North latitude, known as the line of the
Missouri Compromise" He was willing that the
Wilmot Proviso should be extended over all Ore
gon, but he wished some little recognition Of the
Missouri Compromise. But No! The lmplacabIe
hostility Of our natural allies" would not permit
sven this small crumb Of comfort to the South, and
FIFTY>EIGHT DEMOCRATS, more than half
the majority, vossd against the Missouri Conspro~
mise.