The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-29


resisted, IT, indeed. Il was seriously questioned
The alarms and spprehensons Of our southern breth
rem growing out Of the Missouri controversy of $780,
supposed the Missouri compromise would extend 70 them
in all time 10 come, and the whole country seemed dis
posed TO scQuesce in whatever action Congress might
choose take upon the subject OF slavery the terrific
ries, presumpg Of course, that would be done in obe
ence TO those principles Of compromise and concession
which had been sanctioned and Recognised the settled
was moi only authorized BY the action Of The
government and the acquescence OF the people Tor this
long period of tme but was during the same year.
twice affirmed in the most solemn manner, by the act OF
Texas annexation and the subsequent act Of admitting
the State OF Texas into the Union, in which the Mis-
souri, compromise was in so many words, and upon
ntely westward, through the State Of Texas. Those
two acts. relating TO the annexation and admission OF
Texas into the Union. and raifyng and extending the
Missouri compromise indehal.eiy wes,wasd' 20 ia5
the votes OF the entire democratic party throughout the
free States as well the slave States including the
and 'soles as they now choose TO call
that the sanction OF the Missouri compromise through
Texas matter Of practical importance, 80 far as
the institution Of slavery was concerned within the limits
Texas both sides OF that line was so adapted to that
peculiar institution that slavery could never exist there,
whether prohibited BY law Or not THIS was as well
voted for by northern southern men in consequences OF
its practical effect in excluding slavery from small strip
Of desert waste where neither the white man nor the
black procure the means OF Subsistence; but was
voted for he supposed. in good faith for the purpose
Of preserving principle which had been deliberately in
corporated into our legislation as solemn and sacred
binding in honor and patriotism upon all
men who desired the peace and harmony OF the Union
All the and inducements to the adoption OF the
compromise in 1920 and which has secured for i the
support and approval OF the whole country up 10 1885,
applied with equal force to it's extension through Texas
then, and to New Mexico and California now. In the
opinion Of Mr. D. it would be no more OF practical
furo tba nytau ,f nlo vuoo
cerned, when applied to New Mexico and California,
than it In ls45 in reference to Texas. He did not
believe that slavery would even 90 into those territories
either side of the line whether the Missouri compro
mise was adopted or not He believed that the physical
condition OF the country such that the country would
forever remain free under all circumstances BY the de-
action Of Congress But this did not change the princ
pie involved did not create the necessity OF slavery
agitation in Congress- and above ALL did not sanction
and strife between the different sections Of the Union
without bestowng any one blessing upon the black or
These considerations induced him, in ls45, TO bring for
ward the Missouri compromise, and propose its appca
ton 10 Texas with the view Of it's ultimate extension to
the Pacific ocean, whenever California should be acquired
and with the same view received the united vote OF the
democracy Of the NORTH far as he advised During
the next year things assumed entirely different aspect
War broke out between The United States and Mexico
fought on the sh and 9th of May 1s46 After these VIC
tories won the policy OF our government was imme
datey changed from defensive position into war OF
invasion. with the view of obtaining indemnity for the
injuries had received in territory nasmuch as Mex
leo was known to have no money win which to make
special message to Congress, ntmatng the opinion that
before the session OF Congress he might have OPP
portunity Of concluding treaty OF peace with Mexico
and adjusting the boundaries between the two countries
as to acquire large amount Of territory and asking for
an appropriation OF money to enable him to pay fair
equivalent for the country acquired over and above the
which entitled. The message was
referred the committee Of the whole house the State
OF the Union. and bill Immediately introduced IN con-
formy with its recommendations 10 this bill Mr.. Will
n anS on Inc
:a nss asd
ton to the "Ordinance of 49," the Missouri Compro
mise. and all other enactments previously adopted by
Congress touching slavery in the territories Mr. d. here
read the Wimot Provso from the journal, as follows:
"Proptded That, express and fundamental CON
don the acquisition by any territory from the republic
of Mexico. by the United states. by virtue Of any treaty
which may be negotiated between them, and to the Of
the Executives Of the moneys herein appropriated, neither
slavery involuntary servude shall exist any
O. said territory except for crine whereof the party shall
This provso. said Mr. D., was to have become part
Of the treaty. The country to have been acquired
the "srpre and fundamental condition that slavery
should msy exist therein The acquisition was to have
upon the fact, whether slavery should exist the
country acquired Suppose this proviso had prevailed
and become part Of the treaty and we had acquired
California and New Mexico upon that express and fun
damenta condition., and after they had been acquired,
they should have been admitted into the Union put
suance OF the constitution Of the United States, upon
equal footing with the original States. in all respects
whatsoever, and suppose that in the OF time these
States like New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois, should
have chosen To- have revised this constitution, and in
such revision should have recognised the institution OF
slavery, what would be the position OF the government
OF the United States then towards these two States and
also towards the republic OF Mexicol
In that event would not the faith OF this nation stand
power interpose and abolish slavery within the limits
OF these two sovereign States Of the Union, and that,
too in direct and papabe violation OF the constitution OF
the United Sates What would, what could this nation
have done IN this contingency Would she have kept
her faith and redeemed her pledge to Mexico II So Il
rights and sovereignty OF two OF the indie
pendent States OF the Union, by deliberate and wanton
violation OF the constitution OF the United States. in
woke the Wilmot Proviso men (sald MI d. TO inform
the country what they would have done, IL they had
succeeded with their mad scheme, and Mexico had made
her demand upon this government to have preserved its
faith BY executing that portion OF the treaty. Woudthe
President Of the United States have been required 10
march the armies OF the republic into the States oil Cali
forna and New Mexico, and there with fire and sword
blacks and en-lavng the whitesi Or would they have
dissolved the Union with the bayonet by orcbly turning
these States out and sending them back TO Mexico 10 pur
suance OF the Wlmo Proviso clause OF the treaty. The
or the other OF these alternatives they would have been
required by their scheme TO have taken Either would
have led 10 consequences from the very thought Of which
The stouest heart shrnks with horror Or woud they have
said to Mexico that this solemn pledge OF nations
hand the giving OF which constituted 1.-THE express and
condition. upon which we received this
vast domain, filed with exhausess treasures, was never
Intended 10 have been kept and that she ought TO have
unio