The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-23

whlch nave offered, i beg gentlemen candldly
the perseverance with which the Wilmot proviso
was insisted upon. i knew that every one of
the free States of this Unon-I believe without ex-
cephon-had by its Legislative bodies, passed reso-
lutions instructing its Senators and requesting ts
Representatives to get that restriction incorporated
into any territorial bill that might be offered under
the auspices of Congress. knew how much-al-
though regretted how much--the free States had
If i may say so-put their hearts upon the adoption
OF this measure In this second resolution / call
upon them to waive perssting in il. ! ask them,
for the sake of peace, and in spirit Of mutual for
bearance to the other members Of the Union, to
give it up and no longer to insist upon ito see,
as they must see, If their eyes open, the dan
gers which lie under it, If they persevere in insist
Well, when called upon them in that resolution
to do this, was not bound to offer for the surrender
OF that favorite measure of theirs some compensa-
tion-not an equivalent by any means, but some
compcnsation-as that spirit OF mutual forbearance
which animates the side ought at the same time
to animate the other side' What is it that is offered
and must style, with great difference to all those
who entertain the opposite opinion--I will not say
incontestable but to me clear, and think they
ought to be regarded as-indisputable truths. And
what are they? The first is, that by law slavery
longer exists In any portion of the acquisition
made by US from the republic of Mexico; and the
other is that in our opinion, according to all the
probabilities OF the case, slavery never will be in
C.
quired from Mexico.
Now, have heard it said that this declaration of
what call these two truths is equivalent to the en-
actment of the Wilmot proviso. have heard this
asserted but ID that the case! II the Wilmot pro-
viso adopted in territorial governments estab
lished in these countries acquired from Mexico, it
would be positive enactment, prohibition, an in
terdicton, to the introduction of slavery within
them But, with regard to those truths, had hoped,
and still indulge the hope that those who represent
he ned mot IN i,oto hat
shall give-and indeed il would be extremely diff
cult to give to these decarationsthef form of posi-
tive enactment. had hoped that they would be
satisfied with the simple expression of the opinion
OF Congress, leaving it upon the basis of that opn-
ion, without asking for-what seems to be almost
lmpracticable, if not impossbe-any subsequent
enactments to be introduced into the bill by which
territorial governments shall be established. can
only say that that second resolution, without
the declaration of these two truths would be more
acceptable to me than with them But could not
forget that was proposing scheme of arrange
ment and compromise; and l could not, therefore,
depart from the duty which the preparation of the
scheme seemed to me to impose, while we ask upon
the one side surrender of their favoritc measure,
OF offering upon the other side some compensation
for that surrender or sacrifice.
Mr.. President, the first of these truths s that by
law slavery does not exist within the territories
ceded TO US by the republic of Mexico II is mis-
fortune in the various weighty and important topics
which are connected with the subject that am now
addressing you upon that any one of the five six
embraced in these resolutions would of itself furnish
a theme for heightened speech; and am, there
fore reduced TO the necessity, think, at least in
this stage of the discussion of limiting myself rather
to the expression of opinions than to going at any
great length into the discussion of all these various
topics. Now with respect TO the opinion here as
Serted that slavery does exist in the territories
ceded 10 the United States by Mexico, can only
refer TO the fact Of the passage of law by the SUI
preme government OF Mexico abolishing il, think
=, -. l..
law by the Legislative body Of Mexico-I forget in
what yearly which they propose-what il is true
they never yet carried into fun effect compensa.
ton 10 the owners Of slaves for the property Of
which they were deprived by the act Of abolition
can only refer to the acqIescence of Mexico in the
abolition Of slavery from the time Of this extinction
down TO the time Of the treaty by which we acquired
those countries. All Mexro, so far MS | know ac.
quiesced in the non-existeace Of slavery. Gentle.
men, am aware, talk abost the irrcgularity of the
acts by which slavery wassbolished; but does il be.
come US, foreign power, u look into the modes by
which an act was accomplished by foreign power
when she herselfis satisfedwith what is done, and
when she. too, is exclusively the Judge whether the
object, then local. municipal in Mexico, has or has
not been abolished in conformity with her funda-
mental law Mexico, upon this subject, showed 10
/ the last moment her anrDty. In the documents
which were laid before the country upon the subject
Il the negotiation Of the traiy BY Mr.. Trist, you
will fnd this passage conhined in one Of his de-
sFatches
Among the points which came under discusuion
wts the tSclusion Of slavery from all territory
Which should pass from Meiico. In the course OF
their remsks on the subject ] was told that If Il
were propoed 10 the pcoplepf the United States TO
part with aportion Of their territory in order that
the inqlisfon should be derein established, the
proposal could not excite srongcr feelings Of alb
horrcnco tim those awakened in Mexico by the
prospect Of DC introduction " slavery in any terri
tory parted nth by her. Or conversation on this
topic was pqecty frank, aid no less friendlyj and
the more elective upon their minds, inasmuch
~ was enahcd 10 say with perfect security that
although thei impressions rspectng the practical
fact Of slavery az Il existed In the United States
were, bad n'doubt, entirdy erroneous, yet there
was probably po difference between my individual
views and sentiments on slivery. considered In t.
self, and tboscThch they entertained. concluded
by assuring thm that the tsre mention Of the sub.
ject in any tr6ty 20 vhichlhe United States were
party, was IN absolute impossibility; that no
President Of = United States would dare 10 pre-.
sent any suchtrcaty to tlh Senate; and that IL Il
were in their pwer 10 offer ne tho whole territory
described in ouproiet, incrascd tenfold in value,
and In additio 20 that, dvercd a foot thick all
over with pure old, upon The single condition that
slavery sh0uldr excluded thcrefrom, I could not
entertain the Otr for n moment, nor think even Of
communicating Il 10 Washington. The matter
ended In their ring fully satised that this topic
wns not 70 be tdcbed, and Il was dropped, with
good feeling onboth Sides
Tbusyou fndfhat, in thevey act Of negotiation by
/
the country in oestion the diplomatic representa-.
tives Of the MeSan republic urged the adherence
with which Metco would view the introduction Of
slavery into antportion Of tie territory which she
was about 10 cer 70 the United States. Buta pro-
hibtion Of its iroduction vls not inserted in con
sequence Of tbcfrm ground taken by Mr. Trist
and his dcclarson that IL WIS an utter impossible
ity even 20 meion the subject. take H. then, for
grantcd-availig myself Of the benefit Of the dis.
cussions whichbok place upon this topic at a for
mer session, sich | think have left the whole
country under ,e impression Of the non-erissence
Of fslsvery In tbl ceded Tcrntories-I take IL for
granted that wit have said will satisfy the SEN
ate Of that first hlth-that slavery does not exist
there by law, utcss slavery vas carried there the
moment the trey was ratified by the two parties
10 the treaty, uder the operation Of the Consttu-
ton Of the Cnitd States
Now, really, lnust say tina, the idea that 90 IN
stonfi, upon the bnsummation Of the treaty the
Constitution Of e United States spread itself over
the acquired cOtsry, and carried along with Il the
institution Of slscry s irreconcilable with any
comprehension \ any reason which possess, that
hardly know w 10 meet II. Why, sir, these
United States cosst Of thirty States. In fifteen Of
them, there was avery; in fifteen, slavery did not
exist. How can be argued that the fifteen slave
States, by the oration OF the Constitution Of the
United States, cied into the ceded territory their
institution Of slary, any more than il can be ar
gued upon the otr side, that by the operation of