Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-01-31
The Proviso In Iowa.

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The ProvisO In Iowa.
That the democracy Of Iowa have here
',o!ore taken firm, and high ground against
this irrelevant party issue which, in .
new form, has laterally been thrown into
the political arena, for the purpose Of ar
raying the northern against the southern
states Of the Union, is q fact the truth OF
which will not be controverted, especially
after their position has, as in the late Pre-
sidential contest, been 30 well and &c tri-
umphantly sustained BY the people Of this
State. And not only at the Presidential
electi,n did the popular voice condemn
the introduction Of this incendiary proviso
into the politics Of Iowa. AT the August
election for State and Legislative oficers,
although regular third party nominations
were made in many counties, not solita-
~ one Of them was elected, and the advo-
Gates Of the Wilmot Proviso were forced
to fall back upon their old allies, the wings,
to whom, after temporary alienation,
they re-sold themselves at the commence
snent Of the late session of the General
Assembly. Through and in consideration
Of this wholesale transaction in the rhite-
slaue market Of the north, the Proviso was
frequently thrown in by the wing mem
beers to distract and hinder the legitimate
legislation Of the session, in the shape Of
instructions to our representatives in Con-
gress. Taking as their ground the clear
and unmistakable instructions Of their con-
stituents at the ballot box, these resolu-
lions, as they were offered from day to day
during the session, were uniformly either
laid upon the table or promptly voted down
BY the democratic members. Near the
close Of the session, however, the follow
ing mild preamble. smelling somewhat to-
wards the Wilmot Proviso, together with
instructions to our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress, passed the Senate,
by the aid Of four democratic yotes-Mr.
Fear being absent on a visit home, and
Mr.. Crawford being quite indisposed at
the time. The following are the resolu-
tions referred to. They were offered by
Mr.. Espy, democratic Senator from Lee
county:
Preamble and joint resolution relative to
the Territories belonging to the United
States.
Whereas, the General Assembly Of the
State Of Iowa recognise in Congress the
exclusive right Of legislation over all Ter
ritories now belonging to, or hereafter to
be acquired by, the General Government;
and whereas, the said General Assembly
fully accord to each State respectively a
complete sovereignty in the regulation Of
its own institutions, as recognised by the
Constitution Of the United States.
And whereas, it is also the sense Of this
General Assembly that the institution of
slavery cannot legitimately exist with
in any territory belonging to the Z.
States (unless recognized BY the law re-
gulating such territory at the time of its
.ession to the United States) except BY
the sanction of positive law.
And whereas, the subject herein refer
ed to is likely to become one upon which
Congress may feel required to act: There
fore,
Resolved, That whenever Congress
shall be required TO act upon the question
of slavery in any Of the territories now
free, and belonging to the United States,
our Senators be instructed, and our Re-
representatives. requested, to exert their in
tluence in favor Of law prohibiting the
introduction Of the institution Of slavery
within any such territory.
They were very properly laid upon the
House, but two or three democrats, ac-
cording to our recollection, and one wing,
voting in the negative. Thus endeta the
history Of the only thing at all resembling
Proyiso instructions which came any
where near to probability Of passing the
General Assembly of Iowa. As to the
motives Of their author in introducing
them, his otherwise uniformly consistent
course as democratic representative du-
ring the session, forbids that we should
seek to impugn them. Though disagree
ing with him in opinion, we cannot Blu,
bear testimony to the honesty and SINGER
ity of his intentions. The three other de.
.mocrats who voted for the resolution did
80, we imagine, without reflection, and
under an impression that at all events they
were comparatively harmless. As they
did not receive the sanction of the MAORI
ty, It is perhaps unnecessary to remark
upon the folly Of requesting or instructine
our representatives to vote in favor Of a
law prohibiting the introduction Of slave
~ into territory which is previously de.
ciared in the preamble 10 be free, but in
relation to which no one has a. vet even
arbitrarily to declare slave ter
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