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


motive for instrucng them to do that which they had
already done About the same time be had presented to
the Senate resolutions of instruction from the Illinois
legislature commanding him and his colleague to vote
for rate Of postage five cents uniform, one year after
they had both voted for and advocated this identical
proposition.
About the same time he also presented to the Senate
resolution Of instruction from the legislature to himself
and COLLEAGUES, use their influence in favor OF pre-
empon rights being granted TO persons now actual set
tiers the public domain that may be granted to this
State for buildng railroads other internal improve.
ments." When this resolution was read senators would
inquire whether the Illinois Legislature not aware
that there had been for two years general
law in force by which the actual settlers these lands
would be entitled -empons without further egs
laon Besides, they said if those lands should be grant.
ed TO the State the resolution contemplated, it would
be the province OF the legislature and not OF Congress- to
provide pre- empions to the actual settlers About the
time he presented to the Senate resolutions OF In.
structon from the legislature to use all proper and
honorable means obtain the passage oil laws for the
improvement OF The navigation Of the Mississippi, Ohio.
and Illinois rivers and for the Improvement and protec-
ton OF the harbors upon the northern lakes Senators
would again inquire what this meant whether con-
situents were not aware that we had uniformly sup
ported river and harbor appropriations without nsruc-
tons!
Mr. d. would not weary the audience with more Of
these resolutions He had referred enough 10 illus
tate their general character and to show how unneces
sary they were, inasmuch as they merely commanded
their senators to DO what had been previously done thus
doing chem manifest injustice by creating the impression
upon the minds OF large portion OF the people that they
opposed to these measures until compelled to sup
port them by legislative instruction, and BY this process
the member OF the Legislature who intro
duced the resolution OF instruction into the hero OF pop
ular Of Congress two years after became law His
object IN referring to these matters howsyer was not 70
themselves and the State BY lowering your character for
intelligence and probity Mr. d. had felt mortified and
Inundated in being required BY the law OF courtesy 70
they be read and printed, and entered upon the journals
He was well aware that no injustice or disespect was
intended BY them, and all other resolutions OF like char
acter which have occupied large portion OF the time
Of the legislature and cucumber the statute books
But they calculated TO produce unfavorabe impress
sons abroad Of the and character OF our con-
stuted authorities while at home they may bring the
whole doctrine Of instruction, pracsed by the
Legislature, into disespect and contempt He repeated
that these remarks in regard to the legislative instructions
had been conceived and expressed in the spirit OF kind.
and respect and trusted that they would be received
and viewed in that light.
He now came to the examination of the slavery ques
ton connected with the Wmot Proviso and the egs
latye instruction Of the last session. He should give
brief history OF that question, so far as it was connected
with his action in the two houses Of Congress- with the
view Of showing how Tar ne had been and by
been opposed to the slavery agitation IN Congress in all
its forms and shapes He equally opposed to north
and southern ,s iaGassT upon that subject Hs Ss
false and erroneous Impressions to its objects and IN
tentons He believed that this unfortunate Of things,
disastrous TO the Of the Union and tia. ira
people, was brought about by class OF politicians for
selfish purposes. by advocating extreme and adverse
doctrines, which were supposed TO- be popular in their
respective sections By this system Of agitation the North
arrayed against the South the sayeholdng States
against the saveholdng sectional prejudces
excited unounded fears and grounde.s alarms aroused
until each section had been worked up to perfect
frenzy, believing that the other urging lawless in
vason Of its rights. Each aborng under false i'm
pressons in respect to the intentions Of the Other pro-
duced by those who supposed that their political for
might be advanced by msrepresentng the facts
and misleading the people.
He was opposed to the whole system Of agitation, and
directing H. Slavery was domestic institution, local in
character, and confined 70 the limits OF the States in
which il existed and the people Of other States will not
it, either by their action. through their represent
sdves in Congress These were bis opinions deliberately
& oS
They were well known to the people Of his congressional
district before he was elected to the House of Represent
atves, and to the whole State before he entered the
Senate. He deeply impressed with the honor which
the people OF Illinois had conferred upon him, by eleva
ting him TO many high and responsible posts under the
Stale and national governmental and was profoundly
grateful for the consistency with which they had sustained
him with their confidence during fifteen years OF public
service and still anxious to retain and deserve that
confidence provided could be done without the sacrifice
OF principles or honor With this view he had thought
that due to the members OF the legislature and to
the people Of the State 10 make public exposition OF the
principles by which his public action upon this ques
opportunity OF determining whether he was proper per-
to represent them in the councils Of the nation The
entire delegation in the Houses OF Congress- whose
term OF service commenced in 1s43, members ;
neither OF them having been in either House before
About the first vote, If not the very FIRST which they
called upon to give in the House under the yeas and nays
(for he spoke from recollection having the Journal
before him) related TO this slavery agitation upon the
floor of Congress II upon the question whether the
twenty FIRST subsequently, the twenty fifth rule, prohibit
ing the reception Of abolition petitions, should be retained
among the rules OF the House. This entire democratic
delegation from this State voted unanimously in favor OF
retaining this rule. and thereby TO suppress and exclude
the whole system OF slavery agitation in and from the
halls OF Congress- and refer II back 70 the States interest
ed, where Il properly belonged.
In 1s45 the question arose again in new shape upon
the proposition TO establish territorial government in
Territory while il should remain Territory, and leaving
the people to do they pleased, when they should be
called upon TO form Stale constitution preparatory
their admission into the Union brief discussion took
place upon this branch Of the subject eicng very little
interest and creating excitement for the reason that Il
was well known that the people Of Oregon had already
provisional government, in which they had
prohibited and excluded the institution OF
slavery and for the further that the whole OF the
territory was situated lar north Of the line known
as the Missouri compromise" The Missouri com.
promise had then been in practical operation for about
4 quarter Of century, and had received the sane
lion and appreciation OF men of all parties, in every
section OF the Union. II had allayed all sectional
eaousies and istions growing out Of this vexed ques-
lion, and harmonzed and tranquilzed the whole coun.
champion. the proud sobrquet of the ''Grsn
and BY that title and for that service, his political friends
had repeatedly appealed 10 the people 10 rally under his
standard presidential candidate, the man who had
exhibited the patriotism and the power to suppress an
nnhoy and reasonable agitation and preserve the Union
Ia r~os hat