The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-25


energies, and the future prosperity of the people and
OF the States which destined hereafter 10 occupy thai
country In forming the first government for our Terri
tories to be States the Pacific should look
the country upon which that government operate
should look at its climate, SOIL its relative position
to- and It's future influence upon, the Union With these
enlarged views, IT is our duty well as interest TO
give to this school OF infant communities such laws and
Institutions will best them up into great and pros
porous Sates-Staes where labor may receive its best
reward enterprise achieve lis richest triumph, and ber
ENJOY It's surest protection. We not engaged in
making a government for South Carolina Mas
sachusetts. but for Oregon We are not making laws
Tor the regulation and protection OF the domestic
stuhons or for the local rights Of property in the
eral States OF this Union north south. No, sir /;
we are legislatng for our far distant provinces the
Pacihc and the question is, what laws and institu-
ions will best promote their prosperity for their pros
perity will best the strength and glory of the
whole republic. deny that the slave States alone
interested IN the introduction Of slavery into these Terri
tories II IT be right that slavery should go there; il
slave labor will be profitable there if the prosperity and
wealth OF that country are to be promoted by IT. then,
considering IT as question of political economy,
we OF the North are as much interested in sending
slavery there you of the South SO, the contrary, il
slavery will be hindance to the growth and prosperity
OF these Territories, you OF the South are much inter
ested 10 keep out of the North, unless you put
yourselves upon the narrow and selfish ground that you
have the article TO SELL and wish to get rid of it by
fcting upon some raw and inexperienced Territory
During this debate, senators from the South have said
that slavery was enlaled upon the southern States by
England introduced there while they yet colonies,
when they had not the power to resist the imposition
They charged our Yankee friends with aiding and
abeng the cruel mother country in the perperaton of
the misery We have also been told that if slavery be
curse, the North aided in infcting that upon the
South Without stopping to inquire into the truth OF
this charge, desire call the attention of the gentlemen
who make this charge to the striking similarity between
the position OF colonies on the Pacific and that OF
the old colonies OF England the Atlantic. The DIS
lance of each from the mother country is about the
vs sos IN hs ba
to be settled by freemen, and improved by human
labor. Both are about to be impressed, for the first
time, by the controlling influences of law and civil
destiny of people and States Now, sir if be true that
England committed outrage upon the rights
by sending slavery into her colonies how can excuse
ourselves for following her pencious example, by send
ing slavery into our provinces on the Pacific? England
opsps Of the age and the demands for labor orr in new
country But in this nineteenth century, full OF light,
liberty and free labor, what apology can we offer to
Of the Pacific There Is no Christian man now living
who would like to acknowledge his descent from him
who by force, placed the first African slave upon our
Atlantic shore and who, ask, is willing take the re-
free soil Of Oregon and California upon the Pacfc'
The proposition to establish slavery in countries
quered by arms, and free at the time of the conquest
is and startling proposition: This is far beyond
and above the old question concerning the rights OF slave
ry as they existed when our constitution was formed
as they now exist under State institutions. With these
vested rights have neither the power the disposition
to interfere. would protect them where they are, as
would protect any other rights secured by law and
stution But this new franchise which is now claimed
for slavery, has neither law practice TO support it. If
grant this privilege make ourselves the authors of
slavery in these conquered Provinces give to slavery
new existence, new energy and a new country. We
carry exotic into fresh soil, and with hands
plant it there, ii to grow and spread until its dark
branches shall overshadow the land To do this, is 10
become propagators and cuvatos OF slavery foreign
lands and only to be limited in operations by the
extent of the continent To extend slavery by conquest
of free SOIL to make slavery of the highest objects
of national dominion, and the chief Indictment to national
progress Ii to place slavery above liberty by sezing
upon soil in possession of free labor and converting it to
the of slave labor To grant this advantage slave
ny, will be to invest it with progressive power,
before acceded to by any nation, heather or christian.
know of no higher political responsibility than that
which rests upon legislators, when engaged in making
the first laws for and extensive empire 1t is, if
may the expression work OF creation, giving form
and character where they existed BEFORE causing
the spirit of law and order to the soudes Of
nature and converting them into the abodes of social and
political life In performing this great work for
tensve Territories in the far West desire 10 give them
such government will best to their citizens life
liberty, and propery will best encourage and reward
labor, agricultural, commercial, and mechanical will
best secure domestic tranquility to them, and national
strength and glory to the Union To these great
results have after much deliberaton, the
cuson ihat there should be neither slavery nor invo
unta servitude in the said Territories otherwise than in
the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted