The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-27

enjoy the privilege oftransporting slaves to either
California, New Mexico,or Utah but if eho never
can, whose fault is it? Not that Of Congress,
which has cautiously abstained from all prohibit
ton, and has adopted the principle OF non. inter
vention. 1t has left New Mexico and Utah per-
fecty Free when they come respectively to form for
themselves State governments, TO admit or exclude
slavery they shall deem best for their own hap
piness, and, whether admitted excluded by their
constitutions upon their being presented for nd
mission into the Union, they are 10 be received as
members of the Confederacy.
In regard TO California, she, by her constitution,
and not Congress, has excluded slavery. The vote
of her convention interdicting it was unanimous;
nearly one third Of the delegates themselves he
ing from saveholding States. In deciding for
themselves, they acted in perfect conformity with
every sound principle Of theory and practice which
has ever prevailed in this country, and in ontire
accordance with the highest southern authority.
I.ask, then, IL there Is blame, who was to be re-
preached for the exclusion Of slavery in Califor-
mia, New Mexico, and Utahs Not Congress, most
against the people Of California for the exercise Of
an ncontestible right, and against Nature and
Natures God, for irreversible DEGREES against
the introduction Of slavery into the mountainous,
barren. and most Improbable regions Of New Mex
leo and Utah. II these insurmountable obstacles
can be overcome the people of those Territories are
left free to introduce slavery if they think proper
but candor oblges me to say that think it never
The most difficult, complicated, and embarrass-
ing question which engaged our deliberations was
that of the boundary Of Texas Three different
opinions in regard to it prevailed, and were enter
tanned by respectable numbers. According to one
the western limit Of Texas was the Nueces, and
did not extend beyond 1t.
Another opinion maintained that it stretched be-
yond the Nueccs to the Rio del Norte, and up that
river from its mouth to the southern line of New
Mexico. The third opinion held that it embraced
the whole country east Of the Rio del Norte, fros
its mouth to its head, including nearly all Of New
Mexico. All these opinions were maintained with
great pausibty, II not ability. The southern
members almost unanimously, and with great zeal
and earnestness, urged the last opinion. II ap
pcared to me that ifever there upon car n
in which disputed boundary should be settled and
amicably adjusted by compromise, that Of Texas
was one. We offer, II Is true, q very large sum Of
moncy-ten millions of dollars-fOr the exclu-
sion Of New Mexico from her limits; but then we
previously bound TO the extent Of nearly one
half that sumto the creditors of Texas, in conse-
quence Of the United States having, in virtue Of
the resolution of annexation, appropriated to them
selves all the duties foreign imports receivable
in the ports of Texas, whilst independent, which
had been previously pledged to those creditors
Texas, therefore, does not, in fact, receive more
than about five millions of dollars for the relin-
quishment Of her territorial claim. i voted with
great pleasure for the appropriation of the money
because i hoped and believed it would be honestly
and bona fide applied TO the extinction Of her pub
lie debt and to her consequent relieffrom all pecu
mary embarrassment; and, Mr.. Speaker, wish
that we had some legitimate ground Il lament
we have no Legitimate &round) to advance %
pay all it's debts. and to restore it's credit wherever
that credit has been tarnisbcd. We are all mem
bcrs Of one glorious confederation, and should
be most happy 10 every State standing upright
and honorabiy in the general confederacy, and
commanding, the esteem, the confidence, and the
appreciation Of tho whole world.
II any one State act unworthily in reference to
her public debt, her conduct brings more or less
reproach upon the whole Coniedcracy.
| will at present say nothng-I may hereafter
have occasion to say something--in respect to the
the provisions which embodied in it to give fair,
full and efhcacious effect TO the constitutional
provision for the surrender Of fugitives.
No one was hardy enough upon the floor of the
Senate 10 deny the right of the of fugitive
slave in virtue Of the Constitution be restored to
his.property. The only difference Of opinion was an
TO the mode Of eiicctng that object; but tho mo-
uent the constitutional right is conceded, every
thing is yielded, for all will admit that a consti
tutonal duty on the part Of Congress should be
faithfully, eiiectuay, and not elusivey and made
quatcly performed
The last of the measures in the series was that of
abolshing the slave trade in the District of Colum-
ba. That trade had lost much of its extent by the
retroccssion to Virginia Of that portion of the Dis
trctlying south of the Potomac and by other
II was reduced, think was informed, to a single
prison or depot in which slaves Deposited.
Those slaves were not bought in the District, but
were brought chiefly from Maryland and Virginia
in to the District
IL was a trade in which the inhabitants Of the Dis
trct had no sort OF interest On the contrary, they
wished II abolished Southern gentlemen, years and
years ago. had expressed the opinion that il ought
to be abolished. Ii sometimes exhibited tho instit
tuition OF slavery in one OF Its most baneful and
picasant forms. ! have myself seen, not often OF
lately, gangs Of slaves chained together, driven
through Pennsylvania avenue and what humane
person can contemplate such spectacle without
painful fee,inGsf
The existence of the trade gave rise TO great
clamor and great ernggcration at the North. Why
should II be continued in the Diatrictl Why not
l1tt H. h.
cute his business, go 10 Alexandria, TO Richmond,
TO Annapolis, TO Baltnorei II the States Of vri
ginia and Maryland will not allow him to go there
that is why he should be tolerated in the
District ID WAS within the clear and indisputable
power OF Congress 10 abolish the trade.
In putting an end to il Congress has done no
more than Kentucky has done in forbidding tradin 4
in slaves merchandise; than the State OF Missis
sipp has done, which inserted in her constitution
n similar prohibition; than many other slaveholdl
ing statos have done, Tho Law which was passed
does not touch affect in the slightest degree the
institution Of slavery IL exists within the District
! IL docs not prevent the inhabitants OF the Dis.
| trict from selling Otherwise alternating their
slaves. II does not prevent shem even from going
out Of the District, purchasing slaves and bring
| ing them within il, for their The law
was a mere regulation of police, called for by all
the considerations which unite in the pessag
OF any law, and in which, in the absencc of all
passion, excitement, and agitation, all impartial
men would concur
Such, Mr.. Speaker, is brief account of the sys!
tenn Of measures recommended by the Committee
OF Thirteen. That committee thought II c1pedient
10 unite in bill all thoso kindred measures
which related TO our recent territorial acquisitions
they thought that considering the actual state OF
opinion In Congress, IL was best so 10 unite them
When thus combined each party would sec what
1t gained and what il lost, and would be that
in the passage Of the common measure il would
find its losses compensated by its gains.
Moreover, there was unhsppily dstrust ongcn-
dcred between the parties as 20 what might 10 tho
| result ii the several measures were sopa -Ate.
| ly proposed. One said 70 ,Le other Il we pass
what you want, having got it, You will afterwards
refuse 70 give US what we want. By the combina
! tion OF the measures, each party would sec and
know the exact extent Of what IL conceded and
| what was conceded TO itj and, being once passed,
| there would be no risk Of bad faith.
The friends OF the compromise were in favor OF
all the measures, either in the aggregate or in
detail. Welded TO matter Of mere form. sctu-
sted by no pride of opinion, they were animated
with no other desire than the peace and harmony
Of the whole country. The opponents Of the com
promise, with some exceptions, were sg anst tho
measures in the aggregate and in detail and their
objection, therefore, to their union not the true
and real objection. But, for their indiscrect and
| bitter opposition, the omnibus would have passed
A