The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-31


cognition of the admitted and familiar fact, that
there may be property in ''the service or la
Dor" OF man. il provides for the restoration of all
runaways aiike, white or black who may be SHIELD
to service or labor for life for years. indented
apprentices or otherwise, in any part Of tie coun
try, precluding all right on the part of any of the
States to inquire for any purpose OF discrimination.
in regard TO fugitives from other States, by what
tenure, OF temporary contract of hereditary
bondage, they are held to such 'service labor %
If by some emancipation act, like that which was
adopted many years ago by Great Britain in refer
ence to her West India colonies, the slaves in our
southern States should be converted into appren-
tees for term OF years. this article of the Const
tuition would be applicable to that state of things,
as II Is to the state OF things now existing. II has
no necessary exclusive relation 10 the existence
| OF slavery. But taking it, il was unquestiona-
bly, intended, as provision for the restoration Of
slaves as long slavery shall exist is there enough
| in this clause Of the Constitution to Justify any one
| In branding that instrument with the abhorrent
title of a pro slaUsry compact
Sir, the Constitution is to be considered and
judged OF as a whole The provisions which relate
to the same subject matter, certainly, to be ex-
amined together, and compared with each other
In order to obtain just Interpretation of its real
! character and intent. Let this clause then be
taken in connexion with that which has authorized
and effected the annihilation of the African slave
trade, as lawful trade, from any part of this vast
American Union. Let the few cases in which in
dividual fugitves may be renanded to their cap
tivity, in conformity with Of these provisions
be compared with the countless instances in which
rom their native soil and transported into slavery
but for the other; and then tell what is the best
designation OF the compact which contains them
DOTH suppose, sir, for moment, that the trainers
o the constitution had resolved to ignore the exist
ence OF slavery altogether; suppose that the idea
which have sometimes heard suggested as a desi-
raoie one, had been adopted by them at the outset
ana that all the existing rights of the States in
regard 20 slavery and all its incidents had been left
unrestricted and unaltered; would that have better
suoseIved the great cause OF human liberty We
should have had, indeed, no fugitive slave clause
but Tor every slave who made his escape we should
have had hundred slaves freshly brought over from
Africa, Brazil, the West Indies as LONG as
there was foot OF soil which they could be
have been counted not as three ffths but as =
whole man, TO swell the basis of that representation
by which the slave interest would have been rem
dered predominant forever in our land
Undoubtedly, Mr.. Chairman there are provis
IONS IN the Constitution which involve us in pain
iul obligations and from which some of us would
reJolce 10 De relieved, and this is of them But
there Is none, none, in my Judgment which in
wolves any conscientious or religious difficultv I
know no reservation, equivocation, or evasion, in
the oath which have often taken to support that
CONSTITUTIONS; and whenever any measure is pro-
posed to for fulfilling or enforcing anv one of rs
clear obligations or express stipulations l shall
give to 1t every degree of attention. consideration
ana support, which the justice, the wisdom, the
proprlety, and the practicabty of its peculiar pro-
visions may demand warrant. In legislating.
however, Tor the restoration of southern slaves
snail not forget the security of northern freemen
Nor, IN testiying my allegiance 10 what has been
termed the extradition clause of the Constitution
shall overlook those great fundamental PRINCIPLES
Oh an Tree governments-the Habeas Corpus and the
Trial by Jury.
But repeat, Mr. Chairman that am for Civ
ing separate and independent consideration to
separate and independent measures | am for
dealing with present and pressing difficulties by
as they arise.
The great questions which demand our consider
alton at this moment those which relate TO our
new territorial Acquisitions and to them and them
alone, am now for devoting myself. And the first
oil these questions is that which relates California
What Is California! But yesterday, sir, it was
colony IN embryo; But yesterday-to use the Ian
guage which Mr.. Burke once applied to America
ii was ga little speck, visible in the mass of
national interest; small seminal principle rather
than formed body" To-day it presents itself to
at our doors for admittance TO the Union as a free
and independent State. Shall il be turned away?
Shall IL be remanded TO its colonial Shall
we attempt to crowd back this full grown man into
The cradle Of infancy And that too in spite ofthe
express provisions of the treaty by which il was
acquired that, at the proper time, it shall be in
into the Union?'
Upon what pretence shall such a step be takens
Why Is not this the proper times Is ii said that
here has been some violation of precedents in her
preparatory proceedings? Where will you find
ion! When has such case been presented in our
Dast history! When may we look for another such
N our future progress. ''Who hath heard such a
hing! Who hath seen such thingsl Shall the
'arth be made to bring forth in one day. Or shall
nation be born at once?''
Is il said that she has not population enough
The best accounts which can obtain estimate
ler population at more than a hundred thousand
'ouls and these, be il remembered are nearly all
ull. grown persons. and a vast majority of them
men, and voters And what, after all, are any es-
imates OF population worth, in such caseS As the
aInc great British orator, whom have Just quoted,
aid OF the American colonies in IT'S: 'Such is the
trength with which population shoots in that part
II the world, that, state the numbers high as
vail, whilst the dispute continues, the exaggera-
ion ends. Whilst VIC are discussing any given
they grown to it,"
Is II said that her boundaries are too extensive
fou did not find this fault with Texas. Texas
With the boundaries which claimed by her, has
hree hundred and twenty five thousand FIVE hun
Ired and twenty square miles and, with any
boundaries which are likely TO be assigned TO her.
he will have more than two hundred thousand
quare miles. California, under her own constitu-
ion, has but one hundred and fifty five thousand
i've hundred and fifty square miles Of territory, Of
which one-half are mere mountains Of rock and
ce, and another quarter desert waste
DO you complain Of the length Of her coast
on did not find this fault with Florida whose
cast and gulf-coast together (if am not greatly
n California. And where will you divide the
yreat valley of the Sacramento and San Joaquin.
without the greatest injury and injustice TO those
Who dwell in il +? And for what will you divide it,
Except to make two free States where only one is
low proposed, and thus to double the cause of
outhern jealousy and sectional opposition
Ideclare 10 you, sir, that, in my judgment, il any
ault is to be found with the dimensions Of Califor-
lia IL is 20 be found by the free States, who might
reasonably look TO have two States. instead Of one
dded 20 their number, from so vast a territory
Is il said that her constitution has been cooked,
vho cooked itl That her people have been tam
ered with! Who tampered with them? As has
een truly said, We have southern President and
majority Of southern men in the Cabinet; and
hey sent southern agcnt-a Georgia member Of
Congress- gentleman, let me say, for whose char
ctcr and conduct have the highest rcspect-to
ear their dispatches and communicate their views
, the California settlers.
Il il said that these settlers arc n wild, reckless
eating population, bent only upon digging gold,
nd unworthy 10 be trusted in establishing gov
Sir, do not believe better class Of
migrants ever found hockng in such numbers
0 any new settlement the face Of the earth.
The immense distance, the formidable difficulties
nd the oncrous expense Of the pilgrimage 10 Cali
ornia, necessarily confined the emigration 10 men
{ some pccuniary substance, as, well TO men OF
nore than ordinary physical endurance. We have
II seen going out from our own respective neigh