New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-09-21
Terrirory-How to be Preserved-nly
Propositfon.

10 adjust the vexed question 70 The salts
N of msIori,y Of both Houses. and Of the
trv. terminating at once the state o. anarchy
uncertainty in which the New Territories,
,gh no fault Of theirs, had been plunged. a
fal survey Of the ground showed hat each Ci
parties 10 the controversy IN progress vas
v divided into TWO or three sections, boiding
different viewe. There wero on our SIDE
lao men from earnest conviction and PFoVlso
from selfish cslcalsticn-men ~ho only Yalaea
aoe,tion for its domagogical cspacities-who
: vociferoos champions Of Free S)il on the
yet would have inwsrdly regretted To see
question settled by the adoption Of the Pro-
and the acqaiescence OF the S'uth therein
RS were men whose hopes Of reelection were
ed on their ability 10 make themselves con
nous as champions Of Free Soii-there were
r. who wanted the question Kept open as
.ns Of ANNOYANCE 10 the New Administration
distraction TO its friends there were men who
by means Of it to have Congress break up
q tho General Appropriation bill unpassed or
,ed.so a. 10 compel the President 70 call an Tx.
Session and thus entitle them TO dils'e oil
inner at Washington on o. per day and lots Of
sage. These motives and impulses were rem
ID transparent to a careful observer Of the
80 q events at Washington. On the otner
;. there were also several subdivisions-the
upionists. W bo used the Proviso as lever tor
iog apart the States the earnest advocates OF
very Extension for the sake Of the markets IT
old open and the power 1t would give and
another class who were sincerely attached to
Union and quite indifferent il not opposed to
Extension Of Slavery into the New Terrific
.. bat rhO ,ceye snpiiing TO see the South beafen
1 humiiiated, as they conteDded 1t would need
sly be by the adoption Of the Wimot Provi'o'
this class were many worthy and patriotic
n. whom should be unwilling wsntonly, use
,,y to ALLEVIATE or mortify. | should, and shall
very willing to leave to them the satisfaction
having defeated the Wilmot Proviso, Pror'ded
,ays that Slavery shall not be planted upon one
h Of American soil beyond the boundaries OF
present Slave States. And ] believe, If II
re not for those whose consequence and ambi-
n hinge upon keeping up the Provi'o agitation
both sides of the Potomsc, the question might
70 been settled Last Winter Substantially upon
basis above indicated.
Most certainly, in say ing this do not deny the
costly nor dispsrsge the importance OF the re-
lance hitherto offered to Slavery Extension
~ Wilmot Pfoviso was right, was timely, was
si.penssble. 1t was the proper rallying polut
that agitation and discussion in the face OF
hich Slavery cannot be extended. To Its Elk
nsion darkness aud silence are essential These
.nished, any particular formula of opposition
ay have become of small account.
In view of these truths, aud desiring only to
d and serve the cause Of Human Freedom,
ok tho course last Winter which is thus ex-
aimed in my letter to my constituents at the
csc OF the Session
81 certainly could not consent TO such measure az
Senate q, though my grounds OF objection were not
ecsey forth in any OF the set speeches against H.
could have foregone the express appheau"n OF the
imot PrOvso 40 called in the clear conviction thAt
obi-ct would otherwise be effected, had the Sens,cs
nendment provided fairly and fully for the organic "
On of the New Territories In every other respect
I'd openly To Southern members who rallied against
10 Proviso-'I for one will meet you fully hall way
Id us to enact a law securing To New Mexico her
ncsnt and rightful boundsries-sd us to protect ard
efend her sgsinst the impudent claim OF Texas TO
bsofb and subugste hersecure 10 the real people oil
law MEXICO aud California the right 10 decide conciu
,vely whether they shall tolerate Slavery or not-snd
will vote To organize these Territories without Pro-
'so against Slavery. made this offer with some re
uctsIoe but II accepted should have faithfully cou-
,ied with its spuaiions For OF the two perls which
bresten these ferritories-tbst OF planting Slavery
ey the Rio Grsnde and that Of ts naturalization on
his aide through the absorption OF New Mexico by
rsxas-I deem the latter moro Imminent ana iorndH-
lie To provide safeguard against this. was willing
leSser risk of the other. But the OpyOT
unity not afforded me-
Ii 10 this, the Ereniag Post now says, on which
{ bases its charge that was willing to com
promise by agreeing "tO gire up one half The Ter
aory to Slavery" Do you see anything like
hat in the above extract 1t comprises every
TEN Of testimony that the Post can muster. Let
10 consider
/, 10 not alleged that | gave one vote or failed
10 give one on the Slavery question except IA
7Ae Post would have dictated, nor that | even pro
kssed any thing out of the way. My votes and
,cts in tho House are on record, and 'Glddinss
aott Greeley 10 the succession on nearly or quite
svery vote affecting Slavery or the Territories.
was recognised aud hated by every Slavery tx
ensionist in the Houae a. among their most deter
mined and active antagonists, and do no, believe
TIE Post can now persuade them that they were
Utterly mistaken.
Yet made. off the floor, the proposition above
.ited. and would have gladly seen it adopted
But not was not acceptable to the other side
did not hope IL would be to the fsctionists CT
either eide who were usng the Proviso as an en-
for Disunion, as a petard to blow
Up the New Administration, as a hobby WHEREOF
10 ride into the next House, or wand where
= ith to conjure up an Extra Session. But | d'6
hope that the sensible. moderate. unselhsh oppo-
rents Of the Wilmot Proviso who wanted the
,aestioa settled, and desired. not that Slavery
.houd be extended but that the South should mol
,e humblsd. would eoncar 10 this mode of-settlins
ne question. They did not -whether because
heir party associations constrained them TO stan,
" rexs, in her unrigh,eous claim to New-Mexi
o. or I'm the case of snolherl there WA fear O
ONE pot or scheme on my pert or las the Pos, sus
ec,,l because they did not suppose the PROPOSE
ION could have been carried II they had sccede'
o il. Ibelieve nobody has yet suspected that
made il with any purpose of beneftins Slavery.
Bu, 10, us SEQ how much The Pos, can mako on
{ IL;
Z. Wa now ash the hon. ex-memoer II we dld 10
,Se, him fairly out Of bis own mouth l. tor one,
va 10 the Southern members VIII meet you na'
sy' lie speaks OF his reluctance 70 nNke 'n.s p'y
o.I,lon Why, Because of the two perus whlS'
rss,.o these tsrritor.os one OF which ne terms IN
.nting of slavery yond the Rio Srsnae' inc ONE
;. a.,,,.l,x.tion on this side The latter peru D.