The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-30
SPEECH OF MA. MASON,
OF VIRGINIA,
On The bill to establish gorarmsn. in Oregon.
In SENATE, July 6, l64S

The bill for the establishment of the territorial
If Oregon being under consideration
Mr. MASON said Mr.. President il seems that the peo-
nile in Oregon finding themselves without other law when
he tile Territory ascertaincd and established in
The United States, assembled in convention and enacted
laws their temporary security Amongst these laws we
have been duly normed is by which slavery or as il
is termed, "nvoluntary servitude except for crmep is
forever prohibited Sir, whatever crude opinions may have
been formed when the subject be discussed was first
under consideration in this body elsewhere apprehen
there now who will say that the people Of terri
tory belonging TO the United States have right proprio
js pass laws IN deTogaton of the authority of the Uni
led States II there such opinions they have been
poded and that there and iurist
who viii maintain that the people who may lie found within
Territory belonging TO the United States, undertaking. for
their safety or for any other reason to egsatc for
that Territory without the sanction of the government that
such laws have any validity whatever against the
the country that to say against the of the
United States Well the Committee Territories in
this body by instruction from the Senate have reported
oil providing government for the Territory of Oregon
under the sanction of what of the government Of Uni
ted States whose property is. And by the 18th section
of the BILL the laws existing within the limits of Ore
gon be they what they may adopted, and declared
be full force for the government of the people of the Ter
noy One OF those laws, then, being that involuntary
vude slavery shall be forever thereafter excluded from
the Territory and that law being adopted by the bill upon
your table, if that bill be enacted into law follows of
necessity that involuntary servude will be excluded from
that Territory by the act of the Congress of the United
States, and thus called upon this BILL far
regards the 18th section of it, precisely if there was
spread It's face prohiblton terms against slavery
that Territory Sir, Ii right should be clearly under
Stood that should be uncovered that should expose
that may defeat it if we
Gentlemen have said upon this floor that the southern
States (where alone this institution is ound here ag
ting this question that the southern States have presented
the question before the national councils and that for all
the consequences that result from agitation the South is
responsible Let then, the truth be known let the fact
appear that committee of this body have introduced bill
with this provision in it, and if there be offence in astans
the question: let the responsibility where it of right
longs What We seek to do is simply to defeat it, We ask
legislation the subject whatever but having stricken
this clause from the BILL to leave that, taba
Mr. President in common with others who stand upon
this oC representatives of sovereign States of the South
parties this confederation depend upon the compro.
misses of the constitution they called but upon its
guarantees And here announce, will undertake
show that this provision prevails and the deliberate
of this Senate that slavery by act of Congress-
hereafter to be inerdcted the Territory of Oregon is
done not only derogaon of the faith of the constitution
but . done in violation of its letter. Sir the guarantees
Of the constitutions am free to admit, founded in
promises and although there may be form of expression
the instrument which would lead infer that compro-
misses existed yet they will be found the character Of the
enacimcnts and in all the conemporancous history of the
proceedings which led 10 those Sir need say
gentlemen around here Legislators of the land that
any government which not founded in absolute force
any government whose just power derived from the
sent OF the governed especially if consist of
federation of States each sovereign within its sphere that
such government be formed without mutual and
great CONCESSIONS made with mutual forbearancc for the
OF un0er now much greater
concession and compromise such government
when made up of States extending for thousands of miles
through every variety of climate and with all the arrng
and conflicting interests that incident to variety of
patton and of product These compromises of the const-
luton, properly the guarantees that resulted from
them what the South appeals for the
ton of their federal rghtsrights secured to them by
pact and for which ample consideration paid their
part
Having promised thus much now approach this subject
with the gravity that becomes the occasion II has been
well said that republics have their foundation public
tue and when this is absent they degenerate and fall
into decay Equally true it is that considerations
have their foundations laid in political integrity and public
faith Constitutional obligation is of little force when all
respect liz lost for constitutional faith.
Mr. President there has been but former occasion
when this formidable question before the country it's
present aspect and senators now present who then in
the national councils will bear witness that i'll its aga
Ton then the solid foundations of the Unen shaken
Upon the refusal to admit the State of Missouri into the
Union without clause in her constitution against the
continuance of slavery within her limits the whole South
stood IN hostile array against the North and East The
feeling excited in the southern States deep and intense
There was dissension difference in that quarter. The
attempt to degrade the people of Missouri below the level
of equality with other States insulting as it was was
yet small offence compared with the magnitude of the
principle involved principle which assumed right in
od me extension OF the slave population beyond the limits
10 which was then confined. Sir, after lapse of more
man quarter OF century the question is again pre-
sened and we are now to discuss calmly and temperatey
he constitutional SANCTION interfere with the institutions
OF the southern States by forbddng their
territory the common property of the Unon and thus to
uspaage and impair the political weight which has been
assigned by the constitution this portion Of the confedera-
cy
Mr. President, when the constitution adopted in
1888 the institution Of slavery formed important part of
'he social condition OF all the southern and many of the
northern States Its existence and influence upon the flu
lure destiny of the South, where, from climate and other
causes was most likely become permanent recog
hsed and discussed with deberaton. The antag
onlst interests of the North and East brought
u array and after months of consideration and debate by
e wise and patriotic then assembled, after great and
mutual concessions all sides for the good, a
representative weight in the federal councils assigned
70 The slave population and secured the States interested
oy perpetual guarantee of the constitution.
o there are four provisions this instrument recogni-
sing slavery and providing appropriate guarantees for
ounty of that institution
ls In the second section of the first article establishing
BASIS OF representation hreefhs of po pulaton
"a In the ninth section of the same article prohibiting
he passage OF law by Congress prior year 1905
"a PERIOD oil twenty years., TO prevent the further mpora-
uon OF slaves by any Of the States
ID In The nth article providing that amendment of
inc con Tuition shall affect the prohibitions of the ninth sec
hon Of the first article prior to the year lS0S and
4th In the second clause second section of the fourth
ace providing for the surrender of fugitive slaves on the
cam OF their owners, by the State where such fugitvcs
These sir all full and distinct rccoeni,ons Of class
M IN bondage and guarantees provided by the const-
ooha compnct FIRST allowing their continued importation
o twenty years. second providing for the security OF their
uure as property; and third, and important admit
s mem IN the scale OF representation of
hhca power and for each one of these guarantees full and
equivalent was given to the northern and eastern
Ses IN mnunt'es and advantages secured them. will
very striking which has been rescued from
oy MT Jefferson, and left under his hand
MORAL for history 1t taken from his unpublished manu-
sps and was communicated me MANY wears ainca bv