Democratic banner., 1849-07-30

eel o IIlSllUCtlOIl NoAAiS Wy SSkoAS 49, sNS
Legislature, there was but one course for
me to pursue, and that was in accordance
with my own feelings and what also knew
to be those of my constituents.
During the canvass, before the people OF
the county, l took positions which actuated
my course in the Legislature upon this as
all other questions, consulting the prin-
|ciples of right and justice, and acting with
ian earnest desire to advance the happiness
and prosperity of the people, I took a stand
against the "Wilmot Proviso," and now
think that at least nine tenths of the citi-
|zens of the county concurred with me in
From the time when first legislative &C
ton was invoked to prohibit slavery in the
territories, recently acquired from Mexico,
| have been inclined to regard it as a deep
and we'll matured scheme on the part of
needless enthusiasts, to give strength to the
non-slaveholding interests, and ultimately
to affect the institutions of the Southern
States. In this supposition | may be wrong,
but to no other motive could | ever ascribe
the u~nbending obstinacy with which some
persons have labored for the success of this
project. Itcannot be the irresistible impul-
.es Of humanity, for no possible settlement
of the question can make one slave more
nor less in the United States in fact it is
but reasonable to suppose that if the slaves
of the Southern States were diffused over a
more extended surface, the process of eman-
cipation would be much more certain and
rapid, and the ~itchings of their humanity
might thus be gratiied. 1t cannot be from
a conscious knowledge of constitutional
duty, for the power, exists rather in prece-
dents of compromise and mutual concession,
for the sake of harmony, than in any ex-
.pressly delegated authority. 1t cannot be
the urgent requirements Of patriotism, for
it is composed of a more conciliatory spirit,
and would serve to excite the passions and
embitter the feelings of one section of the
Union against another, regardless Of the
peace and prosperity of the whole Repub-
lie.
II is true that the passage of this mes-
sure would not directly affect the institu-
tions of the South, and it is true that the
Constitution protects slavery where it now
is; but it is also true that a few more non
slaveholding States having been admitted
into the Union, they could in the exercise
of their power, effect an alteration of the
Constitution, and entirely emove that
claue which originally cemented and gave
vitality to the Union. Whether they wOuH
exercise it or not, | have no means Of judg-
ing, except from the unfortunate examples
|of such q character afforded in the annals
|of the past. Power has never yet failed to
be naughty, daring, and regardless of the
right, and If exercised in this instance, each
one may Judge of the consequences for him
self.
With these vie VS. then, and having a sim
cere desire to put a stop to the dangerous
strife then going on, and to advance if pos.
|sible, the doctrine of non-interference, or
Ito settle this vexed question as it had once
before been settled in a spirit Of mutual
concession; to allay the heart burnings and
sectional jealousies which had been arous-
ed by what / conceived to be the proper
conduct of those who were heedlessly urg-
ing upon the country a law, which has since
been declared unnecessary; to give the aid
and moral power Of Missouri's voice to
those who had been faithfully laboring to
silence agitation and calm the waves of ex-
element from the first moment of its ORR
gin and more than all to strengthen and
bind more firmly together the States of the
Union, by inducing, if possible, OH the part
of Congress a proper regard for their &C.
knowledged rights and sovereignty; for
these reasons and none other, Sir, l cast my
vote for the Resolutions of the last Legis-
~lature, instructing our Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress to vote simply in &C.
cordance with the Missouri Compromise,
in the establishment of territorial govern
ments for California and New Nexico.
l do not design to weary you with a long
argument upon the spirit and principles Of
these resolutions, because they are familiar
to you-have been discussed again and a.
gain BY the people of the State, and but a
few months ago very few said aught against
them. And l should deem it particularly
under present circumstances,
to undertake a long and argumentive de-
fence of my course, for the reason that no
one of my constituents, to my knowledge
at least, has ever complained of my vote
upon these resolutions, and until this is done,