The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-17

III,
at any time, We are TO sit down aud have general
settlement Of agitating questions omnibus paci
hcation--l must insist upon including this
among the rest AT all events, SO long such laws
remain upon the statute books of the slave States
they cannot, with much propriety grace, arraign
us for want of fidelity to the Constitution.
have thus contrasted the principal grounds OF
complaint on both sides, far the action of the
General and State governments is concerned.
There are other, lesser, of disturbance OF
good feeling; such the periodical utterance OF
needless harsh Legislative resolves back and forth;
the elimination of southern men for the sin OF slave
holding, and the recriminative abuse OF the charac-
ter of the laboring free population OF the North,
But these are words-mere broadsides OF words,
which are regularly discharged at intervals. They
are, like the clouds OF Lilputian arrows, well cal
culated to irritate but not likely TO prove danger
Gus, and are not worthy of place in the discussion
of grave matters OF State policy. There are men
AT both ends of the Union, whose whole vocation
seems to be the stirring up of unkndly and hostile
feeling; but the good of the great mass will
be sufficient corrective for that vice.
Thus much for what has been done; and am
now brought to the consideration of the measures
which are proposed to be adopted, and which are
the more immediate sources of excitement, namely,
the question Of the admission OF California as a
State and of legislation for much of our acquired
territory as is not included within its limits
have already announced my determination to
favor the admission Of California and shall strenu-
ousy oppose any attempt to embarrass or compli-
cate that question, by uniting any other with it.
committee. Let proceed to discuss it, and all
other matters that members choose to talk about,
for any reasonable length OF time, and then settle
il in quiet and business like manner OF the re-
suit can have no doubt, if we thus keep ii free
ffsm improper membranes.
And then, sir, as to the Territories ! have al
ready traced the history of events which have led
the whole North to unite in firm resolve to oppose
the extension of slavery into them. That resolve
will stand, and be enforced by votes, whenever
votes arc necessary to carry it out This Is what is
which it is by no entitled, but which mod
ern circumstances have given to an old and long
sanctioned principle. The principle itself, and the
words in which it is embodied, are older than the
Constitution II had its origin in the celebrated
ordinance of 1857, and ii has been recognised and
acted upon under almost every administration Of
the Federal Government, from that day to this.
am not now about to go into discussion of the
abstract question whether the Constitution
tains any express grant of power to prohibit sa-
very from going into the Territories. know it
has been disputed, and still is disputed by large
portion of the South, and by many of their able,
intellectual, and upright statesmen. And know
also, that some of them fully and freely concede it,
while at the North there can hardly be said to be
difference of opinion about it. The application Of
this proviso was first attempted in connexion with
the Mexican territory, when Mr.. WILMoT moved it
as amendment to the three million treaty bill. /
voted for it then, because knew it would stop the
in six weeks Ii would have killed the appe-
tte for acquisition outright, and with it the
! fever would have disappeared II failed, however,
and we have got the Territories, and the question
| now is, shall slavery go into them! 1t was abol-
shed there by the Mexican laws before we acquired
the Territories, has been most satisfactorily de-
monstrated by Colonel BENTON, and it cannot go
there now If TIT to'restran it. We called
upon to act in relation to it under the circumstances
as they present themselves, and freely admit
that they are much changed within the past year
There Is reason for cheering hope that the people
of those regions themselves only do not desire
to have slavery among them, but that they will
a
The example OF California has been most benefi-
cent, and gives great encouragement for the resi-
due. year ago there was a general belief that
slavery would find welcome in California, and
we were prepared to resist its extension thither,
with the same determination that now applies to
New Mexico. But the people of California have,
by unanimous vote, declared that it shall never
exist within their limits and We saved from the
severe struggle which settlement of that ques-
ton upon this floor would certainly have brought
upon US. And if we could now have the same sat
isfactory evidence in relation to New Mexico, the
necessity of contest upon that point also would be
averted. All that we want, and all that we insist
upon, is that slavery MUST NOT be extended there;
and if that result is accomplished by the action of
the people themselves, 70 much the happier will il
be for US all.
For myself, am free 10 declare, that do not
desire TO pass any unnecessary act Of legislation
which may tend to give offence, and create I'M
friendly feeling and il, to-day, California should
be remanded back to her territorial condition,
would not be disposed to insist upon imposing the
proviso upon her. ] am satisfied, beyond all pos
sbility of doubt, both from the geographical char
acter of the country, and the unanimous DECLARE
ton Of her convention, that slavery never plant
its foot there, and that is enough for me- Give me
the same unequivocal satisfaction as 10 New Next
co. and il will be enough. But / am not yet 80
entirely satisfied. New Mexico has, indeed, many
points of similarity TO California in its geo
graphical and natural characteristics Slavery
has been abolished there by the Mexican laws,
and cannot easily believe that a people, among
whom slavery docs
its introduction. The inclination OF my mind,
therefore, il 10 the opinion, and certainly my hope
IL, that, whenever the people of that region come
10 act for themselves, they will do California has
done, and put slavery under the ban forever.
am then asked, eff such be your opinion, why will
you enforce the proyiso, when II IL only calculated
| 10 give offence And l answer by question:
edo you agree with me in the premisesi" Will
southern gentlemen agree that slavery does not and
cannot exist there! On the contrary, are they not
earnestly insisting upon the right 10 carry their
slaves thther, a right Of great intrinsic value!
IL their opposition 10 the application Of the proviso
| is grounded upon point Of honor merely, and an
| idea that il would gratuitously wound southern
| feelings, then surely reasonable man could de-
sire TO impose II upon them. l do not belong to
that class Of politicians, Of whom there are too
many, whose vocation is TO infiame the angry pas
sions Of one section against another, and whose
| Importance will fade away with a restoration OF
harmony. Unnecessary legislation is always mis-
chevous; but when resorted to for the purpose Of
gratuitous offence, 1t Is criminal All that de-
sire, u Ia be sekure tbat slavery snail not DC cN-
tended into the Territories. Give assurance Of
that, and no more need be required. Nor do |
make IL indispensable condition that the assu-
! rance shall be put into n Territorial bill. II
southern gentlemen will Join US in dcclaratory
resolution, expressive Of the Of Congress sub
stantially 70 this effect, namely: THAT whereas the
power OF Congress 20 legslate upon the subject OF
slavery within the Territories s a disputed power;
and whereas its exercise would tend TO create alien
alton and discomfort in one portion Of our Union;
and whereas slavery does not now exist and in all
human probability never can exist in the Terrific
ries acquired from Mexico, therefore IL IL nexpe-
dent 10 exercise that power in relation 70 them;'
| If we agree 10 stand upon such declaration by
general consent, then, in my judgment, all diff-
/ Guilty would be removed; and would not be found
| among those who might desire, for the purpose OF
an empty victory, TO push this question TO a use
lcss, nay, an injurious extremity.
! know that there are many among the highly in
telligent statesmen Of the South, who do not believe
that slavery docs or can exist there, and who say
that the adoption Of the proyiso would be regarded
| only the ''assertion OF extreme right, which
is always odous;" and tending TO no practical re.