The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-02-28
GEN. WILSON'S SPEECH
CONCLUDED.

ton OF expediency, whether that power should
be exercised or not for he did not stop to argue
about its constitutonality. The time for argu-
ment upon that question had long since gone by.
Since the adoption OF the Constitution, that power
had been constantly exercised by Congress and
if it was competent for Congoess to do anything
| for the Territories, they could make laws for
them. Slavery was most bllghting and with
ering curse upon every country which infested.
1t passed over the face oil the earth like prairie
! fire, burning up every green thing upon its sur
| face, penetrating into the very earth itself, and
| burning out its power of productiveness. The
| eye could not look out from this Capitol in any
| direction without witnessing this truth. The
EARN itself became vocal in attestation OF 1t. the
dumb beasts of the slave plantation, and the i'm
plements OF husbandry, spoke of it; and every
interest and every thing else, which came under
its influence, became invariably most compe-
tent and reliable witness against il. And was
this institution to be given by Congress to the
new countries, of which they were the lawgiv-
ers Should Congress give to these Territories
the same thing which our fathers complained OF
at the hands OF British authority, and numbered
among the causes which justified revolution?
Congress, it had been said by a gentleman from
Virginia, Mr.. Preston, held trust-power for
the Territories. Congress was to exercise that
power for the benefit of the cest tui que trust,
it had been called; and should that trust be
abused by sending among them the blighting
curse OF the slave institution: Congress was
bound to take care OF the territories 10 exercise
the trust for the permanent benefit of those who
were entitled to the beneficial use; and he felt
then that he sustained share Of the responsible
ty. and he desired SO to acquit himself that, when
he should pass away, when his only son, now a
little fellow, whom some of them had seen, when
he should come up to the estate of manhood, and
to perform his part among the citizens of the
country, he might not be disgraced with the
charge, that his father had contributed to extend
the blight OF Slavery over any portion of this
country. Oh, no! He TMr. WI would look
reverently up to the Father of all, and fervently
implOre OF Him TO spare the child from such
reproach. Oh /! may God foI bid it! On the con.
trary, in the proper discharge OF their trust, Con-
gress should extend to these countrits the means
OF enabling them 10 improve their condition, and
develop all their resources.
He had said that it was characteristic of the
Slave power to accomplish all It's purposes in this
Government; but ne declared now his belief that
the time had come when It's power over Congress
had gone forever. He made this declaration, not
because he had confidence in the politicians of the
day-none whatever The politicians were as
ready now to betray their constituents as they
ever had been. Mr.. w. said his confidence was
in the People; they had taken their power into
their own hands they had brought themselves
into order OF battle and line, without the command
of any political leader; there they stood, rank and
rear rank, and each file closes in position with
bayonets at charge. They had spoken with
voice like thunder to their representatives, and
warned them against abandoning the interests of
their constituencies at their peril. The People
themselves have dared the representatives to
evnce any sign ofretreat or abandonment of their
interests The time had been, when the Slave
Power, il it had any special work to be done by
Northern men, New Hampshire--litte unfortu-
nate New Hampshire would be selected TO do
that dirty work; but it was now otherwise, be-
cause the constituencies had taken the power out.
OF the hands OF those politicians who could betray
the trust reposed in them. Ii has been SO
throughout the whole region OF the North, from
Passamaquoddy bay to the head OF the Des Moines
river; and they were too many to be successful
ly resisted. He was surprised to hear the dec
larations made the other day by the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr.. Thompson upon this SUBJ
ject; and Ii he was not mistaken, when that
gentleman came to explain his declarations to the
laboring portion of his constituents, he would be
met with difficulties hard to be overcome.
He gave his views candidly upon this subject,
and after much reflection. The North, in his
judgement, were not disposed to trespass upon
the rights of the South for wherever the Con-
stitution recognized the existence of slavery,
they said, there let it be. The People ask no
legislation by Congress on that subject For
himself, gentlemen need not ask him tor his vote
to extend the institution OF slavery, with its In
fuences, one single inch beyond its present
boundaries-aye. not one sixteen thousandth part
of hairs breadth. He would not and he could
not consent to extend the boundaries of slavery,
because it would be doing injustice to those Ter.
rtorles for which we are now to legislate--be-
cause it would be doing violence to the laws of
Nature and of Natures God-and because it
would be betrayal of the trust at present conf.
ded to him. No man should point to HIM, and
say, in the insulting language of a former Rep
resentative from Virginia, Mr.. Randolph "We
have conquered you, and we will conquer you
again; and we have not conquered you by the
black slaves of the South, but by the white slaves
Of the North" Gentlemen need not talk to him,
or attempt TO frghteh him by threats OF the DISCO
luton of the Union. He (Mr ". J did not talk
about the dissolution of the Union; he did not
permit himself to think about such a thing as the
dissolution Of the Union; no Northern man did;
he and they looked upon il as impossible. But
il the alternative should be presented to him, OF
the extension Of slavery or the dissolution Of the
Union, he would say, rather than extend Slavery,
let the Union, aye, the Universe. itself, be dis
solved Never never would he raise his hand
or hisavoice to cgive a1vote Tor the extension of
slavery; for. as God was his judge, he coudnot
be moved from the purpose which he had now
announced, x'ssa tsshesf2,s e..Ne ,.s =