Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-28

distinguished political opponents-but, though
the slow-com pen Of the Historian may he
wiilisR 10 write down on his impe rishable tab
ists, the verdict Of JUSTICE il is due to the Pres
est that faithful public servants should be de-
Tended from the showers Of poisoned arrows so
often hurled against them Especially, when
unjust attacks are itersted and reiterated, ought
their fsIsity 10 be fully and repeatedly exposed
that the public mind may not be msled into tne
belief that the frequency Of the a'Pe"'on IS
some evidence Of its truth. The axiom which
teaches that "coDstant dropping will wear
away = stoDe,' learns ~ also that D,isrePresen-
tati0ns, perseveTeingIy repeated may at last find
believers even among those who at first. with
instructive discernmeDt, turned incredu'ousy
away. II IL for this reason that we deem il fit
ting 10 notice Oft repeated Islander THAT the
gsptlsmsn whose name heads this article be-
came last winter recreant TO Free Soil princi-
pies for the sake Of Office which we find APP
Provingly copied from an Ohio paper into the
Editorial columns Of the last Goshen Democrat.
And, besides merely taking issue " it'll il on its
charge, we 60 further and pledge the proof from
the record that no Northern Congressman, save
''ihe old man eloquent has left more enduring
records in the archives Of Congress Of his sim
ceve and earnest, (not bigoted and imprac tcabIe)
devotion to the cause Of Free Soil.
We pass over an anaysis Of the Congression-
n career Of Mr.. Smith IN ! 643, -4-5 aud 6-his
decided opposition to the great entering wedge
Of Slavery Extension. the Annexation Of Texas
his defence Of the right of Petiiion-hs warm
Antagonism to the admission Of Florida with n
Constitution prohibiting her Legislature from
Emancipation. and his opposition TO the slavery
conceded War with Mexico. His course on
aii these questions stand in striking contrast
TO that Of his defamers; but we waive more than
the above passing aIIuson to th-m aud confine
our remarks to his course in the last (}0ih) Con-
Rress, during which he was Chairman of the
Committee on Territories
Al the first session Of the Goth Congress, (see
Congressional Globe page 32l) Mr.. Smith
ported a Bill for the Territorial Government Of
Oregon, which was drafted by himself, and which
contained the w ilmot Proviso. In the Commit
teo Of the whole subse quently, where the A yes
and Noes cannot be demanded, this Proviso
stricken out, (sec page 1920 but upon report
ing II to the House, the Ayes and Noes were
called. and by IA 10 SO, this section was re-
stored and the bill passed. The Senate, as is
we'll known, amended il by inserting the Ian
guage Of the Missouri Compromise instead of the
Proviso, but when returned to the House. (see
page 1862 on motion Of Mr.. Smith, the Hous.
by III to 81. refused TO concur IN the amend
snent; and the Senate, seeing the frmncss Of
this CO. ordinate branch of the government,
yielded the point. fsec page 1879
Thus passed the only biH, containing the Pro-
viso, which has n'atur-,i into u law since the
cent opposition TO its extension over our Terri
tories. And this bill, will, the Proviso embraced
!" it, WINS drafted by Mr.. Smi,h-rcported by
him-deicnded by him-the Proviso frice re-
stored 10 II through, his ex-rions and on his mo
tions-nnd the bill itself succe ssfully ploted
through opposing channels By its waichful au-
thor. And yet his defanI-rs never utter the
poorest word Of acknowledgement for these
faithful labors for Freedom.
Al the same session, (see page lO06) Mr..
Smith asked leave TO report bills for the Terri
toriai Government Of New Mexico and Califor-
MIA. stating that he had such bills drawn up. and
osg'ng Congress not to adjourn without provi-
ding some government for these new ~ acquired
Territories. Much important business was pc nd
ing-Osegon amongst the rest--and the leave
was not granted, but these bills contained claus
es directly prohibiting slavery in both terrific
Sies-
But foIed in this attempt, at the earliest pos
sbie period Of the next session. IN its first month
indeed, on the Goth Of December. 1913 outer
che President election and after Mr.. Smiths
name had been presented by his friends through
out the Union for "a seat in the Cabinet he
ported b,ii, establishing a Territorial Govern
snent for California, and containing in its 10Th
section, the celebrated Wilmot Provso, word
Tor word ard letter for letter. This bill passed,
after animated debate (see page GOS) on the
9th Of February 1919 five days before the In
augeration, by a vote OF l26 to 81, Smith in the
affirmative. But as is well known. il failed in
'"- Senate. And this too is conveniently for
gotten by these Persevering slanderers.
Bu; we do not stop here
Tho great-the Createst-danCer Of the ex-
tension OF Slavery over territory free is,
every reading man knows, from the impuden Mt
claim Of Texas, already adj United as q Slave
State by the Loco Foco party, to extend her
boundary to tho Rio Grande, aud thus TO take
W1Shsn her Nnlts and subject Ia her slavery code,
all that is valuable Of New Mexico, including
Santa Fe, Taos, Dolores and all the villages aud
country on the Eastern aud most fertile bank
Of the Upper Rio Grande. Upon this question
the great battle between Slavery and Freedom
will be fought the coming winter, and here the
danger Of defeat 10 the most imminent. Mr..
smith, foresceing this, ut the same session, re-
ported . bill, January Sd lSl9, see page li6)
for the Territorial Government Of New Mexico,
which besides containing the same direct,
QuivocaI prohibition Of Slavery that was incor-
pora,ed in his other Territorial bills, prescribed
for Now Mexico her true boundary, regulating
the ground'ess claim Of voracious Texas and
preserving vast area Of Free country from the
ParalyziDg blight of Slavery. And though the
absorbing interest Of the California question
prevented this deeply important bill from being
acted upon. yet Il IS TO be, in a few months, the
battle ground Of the Champions Of Freedom and
Slavery, and Northern men owe thanks to Mr.
Smith that he thus so ably and early prepared
the platform upon which they are in that contest
TO stand.
We see thus far, no evidence Of recreapcv.-l
The record is. on the contrary. a noble one
worthy Of the fame Of any Statesman Of this
day-and in the highest de gree honorable TO him
whose name Is thus linked indissoiubly with the
three great bills Of this era-Oregon, California.
and New Mexico. He pledged himself to his
constituents to support the Wiimot Proviso un.
Ssiterngy. He has done up to the very latest
moment Of his Congressional career, and no
Territorial ball has passed from his ands with
wosed against the extension Of Slavery and in
favor OF its strictest limitation scAcnerer and Ao.c-
Ger presented Nay. more, he has been in the
front rankin the very heat Of the b,ttl.-on
these great Questions. When the Goshen DEM
ecrat anc its allies. but a short year ago, were
denouncing inc froviso As unconstitution.i and
anti-republican. he was supporting. d.Srnd;n~
and vindicating il against their attacks: and nn,s
when 'hey nave, for political gain, assumed
position. which gives the lie to the sinc.,;,,, e
their past one, and which they are eaualy =.
Tesdy - before, for partizan benefit, to dese,,
.s nea Win . shameles:ness that is unparalleled
hey denounce aim for being recre ant to the han
ner Of Freedom which they themselves warred
upon 20 Indignantly less than a twelvemonth
since, no can triumPhantly point to his votes and
20 fAeir course. ~'~'' ~~"''as'
mps. sns great cry With these defamer. is the
:. -. .a.n.a.;" A6stanng from any alIusion
Legislation affecting the principle Of slave, v'
tension, which .e have alluded to-he I. d.
nosnced and vilified. because he did No, ~, ~.
for land he did not ocoigsfl a CAPTAIN D. 'o,e