The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-30
poIitifal Department.
SPEECH OF HON. DANIEL WALLACE,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

In the House Of Representatives., April s, 1850
In Committee of The Whole on the state of the
Union, on The Presidents Message communi.
eating The Constitution Of California.
Mr. Wallace rose and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Among the political ques-
tons which now demand our attention, none
arc mo,c deserving the profound consideration
of the American people than the questions Of
the n0n.estenson, and of the abolition, of sl;l.
very. The bill now on your table affords me !,
it occasion to express my views on these sub.
jects, which now so feariulIy asitate ihc public
mind believe shall he able to show, that
non-exieusion is but the means by which the
abolition of slavery is intended to be accom-
pIshed. 1 shall therefore consider these sub.
j.cts together, with the view to show the ideuii.
ty of their object and tendency.
The agitation of these questionshas produced
state Of excitement in the public mind, unex.
amplcd in our history. Throughout large
section of the Union, deep discomfort prevails,
and u'cu calmly and stcrnly deliberate upon the
means Of saving themselves and their children
from the iatolerable wrongs which arc impend.
jag over them. Confidence in this Government,
70 answer the ends of its formation, is rapidly
giyia.; way. We cannot, without being c''mi.
"aIIv guilty, close our eyes to the FACT, that old
political systems are viewed with profound and
wcll-iounded distgust, aud the advantages of
naw ones, formed upon ther ruins, openly and
boldly discussed This want OF confideuce in
established syscms, is not confined 10 Europe.
1t is here in our midst also. The human mind
asserts its freedom, aud will no longer be delu.
dcd by the sanctity, which the hallowed associ.
ations Of the past have thrown around name.
The substance of things is now demanded, and
this demand must be satisfied. To draw faith.
iul picture Of the state Of the Union, in refer.
cnce to these questions, is the duty now before
me-
The first step towards the restriction Of sl,.
very, was the enactment of the ordinance of
1887, the sixth article of which reads us follows:
"Thcrc shall be neither slavery nor involunta'
ry se,vitude in the said territory, otherwise than
in the Punishment ior crimes, whereof the par.
t. shall have been duly convicted: Proridcd
ai,rays, That any person escaping in fhc same,
from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed
in any one of The original SlIics, such iugiiives
may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to
the person claiming his or her labor Or service,
rs aforesaid"
In the Federal Convention which framed the
Constitution, the Southern States prescribed the
terms upon which alone they would agree to
become parties to it. They demanded, that the
proviso in this ordinance, for the surrender of
fns olives from labor, should become Il part Of
the Constitution.
They also demanded, that persons held to
service, should be represented in Congress; and
to effect this object, the following clause was
inserted in the Constitution:
Representatives and direct taxes, shall be
apportioncd among the several States, which
may be included within this Union, according
to their respective numbers, which shall be de-
ternncd by adding to the whole number offree
persons, including those bound to service for a
term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
Mrcc.G6hs of all other persons"
These clauses constitutcthc guarantees which
the Southern States demanded before they
would consent to enter into the Union, and
without which the Union never would have been
formed. They arc fundamental conditions OF
the compact which was for,,.eu between the
North and the Scum, in reference to the great
cc33cslon now at issue between them. With
what fidelity the North have kept that compact,
| Twill now proceed to show.
The ordinance of l7S7 shadowcd forth The
policy which the North are now pursuing. The
intention is now atowed, to restrict slavery to
ITS present limits, with the view to ultimate ab.
clifton in the States.
lhe Missouri compromise was another act
IN the same draG"l-the accomplishment of an
other part OF the same scheme. In that COM
, r,:"omsc, the North agreed that the line OF 81
80 north latitude should forever divide the slave.
holding from the non.slaveholling States. This
compromise embraced all the territory acquir'
ed in 1903, by the treaty Of Paris. In this ter
ritory slavery prevailed everywhere, but was
abolished north of the compromise line. The
North now repudate that compromise, and are
inpatient to spread upon the record more con-
elusive evidence, if it were wanting, to estab
lish the fact, that no constitutions, no compro
misses, no compacts, or solemn engagements
into which they enter upon this questlon-nc
matter how binding in law or conscience, OF
how solemn the form and ceremonial of ttei
execution can bind them to the observance O
their obligations any longer than suits thel
own purposes.
The ordinance of l7s7 provided for the sur
rendrr of fugitiycs from service In the Con