Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-28

ib,t was proposed at the last SESSIONS action
q north of that line, and non-action as regares
slavery south of that line-its Introduction upon
, the one side, with no corresponding provision
tor its admission upon the other side oil Inc line
of SO deg. 30 min
, Now, sir when came TO consider the SUBJECT
and to compare the provisions OF the line OF 81
deg. 30 nin-the Missouri compromise line -
with the plan which have proposed for the &C.
communication of this question, said to myself.
if offer the line OF 30 deg. 30 min. to interdit
the question of slavery north of it, and TO leave
it unsettled and open south of il, | offer that
which is llusory to the South offer that which
will deceive them, If they suppose that slavery
will be received south of that line. 1t is better
for them-I said to myself-it is better for the
South that there should be action, as TO sla-
very, both north aud south of the lne-far better
that there should be non-acion bo.h sides ot the
line, than that there should be action by inter-
dictlon Oh the one side, without action TOR the
admission upon ihe ether side of The line. Is it
not So? What is there gained by the South, if
the Missouri line is extended to the Pacific, with
the Introduction of slavery north of it? Why,
sir, the very argument which has been most Oft
en- and mos; seriously urged by the South has
been this we do not want Congress TO legislae
upon the subject of slavery at all: you ought
not to touch 1t. You have no power over It. |
do not concur, Is well known from what have
said upon that question: in this view of the sub
jecl bat that is .he southern argument We
do not want you, say they, 10 leglslate upon the
subject OF slavery. But if you adopt the Ms
souri, line, and thus nterdici slavery north of that
line, YOU do leg!slae upon the subject OF slavery
and you legislate for its restriction, without
corresponding equivalent OF legislation south OF
tina; line for its admission, for insist If there
| ha ni hai
line, then the pFnci. PIES of equality would re-
quirc that there should be legislation admitting
slavery south OF the line.
| Sir | have said that | never could vote for il
myself, and | repeat that never can, and never
will vote, and no ear,hiy power will ever make
me vote, TO spread slavery OYER territory where
it does not exist. Still, 1t there be majority
who are for inierlictng slavery north of the iile
there Ought to be majority, II jnslice is done
to the South, TO admit slavery south of the line.
And If there lie ma 1rity to accomplish both
OF these purposes, although canoot concur In
their action, shall be OF the last To ere ale
disturbance; shall be % the first to aca H.
esce in that legislation, although 1t is contrary to
my Judgment and to my own conscience
hope then, sir, to keep the whole Of these
matters untouched by ny legislation of Con-
gress upon the subject OF slavery, leaving il open
aud undecided. Nm action by Congress is beS;
Tor the South, and best tor att the views which
the ) Dah have disclosed 10 is from time to Il ne
a. cores bonding to the,r wishes | know il hrs
been said with regard to the territories and es-
pecially has 1t been said with regsrd 10 Ciiifar-
ma, that non Legislation upon the part OF Con
Iress implies the SINE ting as the exclusion OF
slavery. That We cannot help. That Congress
is not responsible for. Il nature has pronounced
the doc Of slavery IN these rerrIturies-I: she
a &c ral hv Har /, IL.
cannot und shall not be Introduced ihere-4 no !
can you reproach but n tufe anI Natures God i:
Congress you cannot. Congress abslains Con /
gress Is passive, Congress is non-dcting south
and north OF the line; or rather If Congress a. /
grees to the plan which propose, extending 10 /
line, It leaves tie entire theatre OF the whole |
cession of these Territories untouched BY ems
lailve enaclments, either to exclude or To adm
slavery. We'll, sir, | ask sgain, If YOU Will li,-
ten to tbs voice OF calm and dspassi )nate reason
i ask of any man Of the South, to rise and tell |
me if it is not better for that section of the Tn.
ION, that Congress should remain passive upon
both sides OF the ideal line, rather than that we
should lnlerdcl slavery upon the one side of that
line, aid be passive upon the other side of that
line?
Sir, am taxing both the physical and intel
lecluai powers which kind Providence has be-
slowed upon me, TOO much, and | will enieav1r
soon 10 Conclude: for do not desire 10, ..-.s
upon The time and patience of the Senate
Mr.. Mangum having offered TO make d motion
10 ad Journ,
Mr.. Clay said No, sir no, sir; if the Sena'e
VIII bear with me, think can 60 through with
II better today than could tomorrow.
Sir, this Union Is threatened with suhversnn.
| wanted, Mr.. President, TO take A verv rand
glance at the course of rubc measures in this
Union presently. | wanted, however, before
did that, to ask the Senate 10 LOOK back I'D N the
career which this country has run fiom he adop
Ton OF the Constitution down 10 the present DAY.
w as there ever nation upon winch the sun of
heaven has shone which has exhibited so much
OF prosperity our own; At the Commence
menl OF this government, our population amauat-
ed 10 about four millions. 1t has now re .cheG
upwards OF twenty m.iilnns. Our territory was
limited chiefly and principally TO that bordering
upon the Atlantic ocean, and that which includes
the southern shores of the interior lakes of our
country. Oui territory now extends from The
northern PROVINCES CT Great Britain to The RIO
Grande aud the Cuff of Mexico; fion The A.
lantlc ocean the one side to the Pacific on the
other-tha largest extent OF territory under one
government existing upon earth, with only two
solitary exceptions. GU tonaage, from beinr
nDthlhg, Has arisen to D'agnlu dc and amount 10
rival that OF the natIln winch has been proudly
called the mistress of the ocean We have
gone through many wars; one with that very
natlon from whpin in ZIG, we broke off, as weak
and feeble colonies, when we asserted our lude-
pendence as member Of the family of nltions
And, SIR, we came out OF that stTugrle-unennal
as II was, armed as she was at al points in CON
sequence OF the lonr struggles of Europe, and
unarmed as we were at all points, IN consequence
oil the habits and nature Of our country and It's
instilutions-we came out of that war withou,
tie loss OF any honor whatever; we EMERGED
from 1t gloriously. In every Indian war-we
have been engaged in many of them-our arms
have been triumphant. And without speaking
at all as 10 the Causes OF the recent war with
Mexico, whether they were right or wrong, and
abslaining from the expression OF any opinion as
to the justice or proprety OF the war when it
commenced, all must unite in respect to the gal
lsntry OF our armies and the glory Of our fri
umphs. There IS no page-there are no pages
OF history which record more brilliant successes
w nth respect 10 the in command of an I'M
portant portion OF ouf army, need say nothing
IN praise Of him who has been borne by the
voice OF his country to the highest station in il.
manly on account OF his glorious military ca
Ieer. But OF another military commander, less
fortunate IN other respects, must take the op-
sft of -.