The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-03

der the 18th section, the prohibition would re-
main in force. Various amendments were pro-
posed with the view of preventing that result
Among Others the senator himself proposed an
amendment in these words:
After the word inhabitants" insert the fol-
lowing but shall not be subject to the restrc-
!, ton expressed in the sixth article of the COM
pact contained in the ordinance of seventeen
hundred and eighty -seven, for the government of
the territory of the United States northwest of
4 the river Ohio"
Now, this was practical legislation upon the
subject of slavery. II was a distinct provision
+ for the protection of the inhabitants" from any
restraint upon the free tenure of slave property.
, 1t was more it was prescription to the terri
torial government that they should not have
power to disturb the right of shareholders to
settle in the country with their slaves. But
, will not press this.
1t being concluded that this amendment would
? not answer the purpose in view--which was, in
the language of the senator, "to nullify the obi
Gus feature of the 18th section"--he withdrew
it, and his colleague Mr.. DAus] offered an
amendment in its stead, which will read
Provided That nothing in this act shall
be so construed as to authorize the prohi-
biton of domestic slavery in said territory, whilst
it remains in the condition of territory of the
!, United States.
The object of this amendment was ato nulli-
fy" the Oregon anti-slavery law. The substan-
tial question upon which the whole excited and
angry debate Of the session turned was, whether
this anti-slave law should be allowed by Con-
gress TO remain in force not. Certainly there is
no distinction between this instance and the ques-
J ton whether the Mexican anti-slave law would
be allowed by Congress to remain in force The
amendment offered by his colleague was certain
ly direct and positive Legislative protection Of
slave property, and an annulment of an existing
law or rule in Oregon. No vote was taken upon
: it, because the whole subject was soon after re-
! ferred to the select committee Of which Mr..
, Clayton was chairman. But there can be no
mistake how the senator stood upon the ques-
ton; and the withdrawal of his amendment, to
be substituted by that Of his colleague, evil
dences his approval oft a
But will now bring home to the senator still
more direct proof of his approval of Legislative
provision for the protection of slave property in
, the territories. se a4as.5a .rsa.n ama
Mr.. FOOTE. Will the honorable Senator
allow me for a moment! ] am willing that he
should read !; but If the Senator will give way,
, will save him great deal of trouble by a con-
fession. confessed this morning before, that
|, my original opinion upon this subject was such
J as to lead me painfully to doubt upon the sub
ject, until had a fair opportunity of examining
[ the luminous, irresistible arguments addressed
to the Senate and the country by distinguished
gentlemen to whom have made alusion. AT
ter the session of Congress closed, had fair
opportunity of examining the arguments, from
, beginning to end of the honorable Senator
from Georgia, [Mr. BERRIEN,l and the honora-
t BILE Seuator from Maryland, Mr.. REvERDY
Johnson and other gentlemen, and then made
o. up my mind most conclusively upon the subject.
If he wishes to convict me of what have con-
fessed he can go on. That, then, was the Opin-
ion in my mind formerly. | am happily now
removed from all doubt Whereas | was
!, ! once blind, now see' Laughter q
! Mr.. YULEE. The Senator aludes to diff
! ferent subject from that which am proceeding
to bring into view. He says that, believing
there was doubt whether the Mexican laws were
abrogated by the transfer, he was in favor Of
E repeating them, but that his doubts have now
I passed away Well, the object of this amend
q ment is to remove doubt from the minds of
his and my constituents, and to place them in
/ the same easy state of feeling which he now
= enjoys. Surely he ought not to deny them this
i satisfaction. But was bringing forward diff
1 ferent matter. | was about to show that the
senator had once expressly advocated distinct
. provision to protect slave property. He saw it
was right ut that time And whereas he once
saw, trust he will not now be blind.
a Mr.. FOOTE. Will the gentleman bear with
me again? Doubling what the law was at that
time thought some special Legislative protec-
ton would be necessary. Not doubling now,
do not conceive it is necessary. f7 ta ~. +,
Mr.. YULEE. Well, the fact that the sena-
tors mind has at different times held different
views as to the effect Of the Mexican laws shows
that the question is one of doubtful issue, and
| ftof,.y OH hl ao
lation. Although he may not doubt the public
: still doubts; and not the state of his mind but
! of the public mind, should govern our legisla-
ton. But will proceed with my purpose, be-
; cause think that the circumstances which now
mark this issue between the two sections, ren-
der it expedent to do so. The country should
! know that the senator once felt himself con-
strained, in discharge of his duty, to insist upon
the same description of Legislation which we
now urge in behalf of the Southern States, but
against which he now throws his whole weight,
and which he denounces as not only unnecessary,
but as inconsistent with the doctrines of the
\ South and with her true dignity. m
When the Clayton Compromise bill was be-
! fore the Senate, the senator in express terms
declared his advocacy of the Missouri Compro-
mise with the Underwood amendment, and pre-
ferred it to the Clayton Compromise. These
in speech he then made. After specifying one
or two plans which We're first in the order of his
choice, he said, t" Thirdly, he was in favor of the
Missouri Compromise, as proposed 10 be amended
by The senator from Kentucky, Mr.. UNDERwooD.
This he preferred to the present Compromise"
Now, that we may more clearly understand what
he was in favor Of, will again read the Under
wood amendment. 1t was to be added to the
4 Missouri Compromise amendment, and was in
these terms; And provided shat citizens of the
United States, emigrating with their slaves into
any of the Territories of the United States south
of said parallel, shall be protected in their prop
erty in their slaves SO long as the Territory to
which they emigrate continues under a territorial
government" This plan of adjustment he IA
vored, and the Clayton Compromise he opposed.
i Mr.. FOOTE. There is portion of the bill
now under consideration which is not to be
found in the Clayton bill. speak OF the clause
which extends the Constitution of the United