Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-03-15


cotton was raised there. England would
hardly say that now.
Mr.. Webster replied to Mr.. Calhoun's
objection that the operations of the gov
enment had been against the South and
was calculated to weaken her. He con-
tended that the contrary was the fact, so
far as the legitimate effect Of Legislation
was concerned. Indeed, much direct le-
gislation had been adopted expressly for
the benefit of the South. In support of
this proposition he recurred to the voting
of the admission of Louisiana and Ala
bama, and commented at great length upon
the admission Of Texas. He referred es-
pecially to the action of the democracy Of
the North, in relation to Texas, and Incl
dentally to the course persued by the same
party in the Senate. When at the COM
mencement of the war with Mexico, Mr..
Berrien introduced a proposition in the
Senate to the effect that it should not be
prosecuted with a view to the acquisition
of territory, this northern democracy failed
entirely to support it-thus indicating
clearly their opposition to such sentiments.
1t suited those gentlemen to bring into
the country world i'll the valleys and
mountains of California and New Mexico,
and to put upon it the saving grace Of the
Wilmot Proviso.
Returning to the question of the admis-
sion of Texas, he related his own posi-
ton thereon, quoting from his speeches
and acts, to show that ne had always been
opposed 10 it-because he knew that who
ever possessed Texas, it would be slave
territory, and he was unwilling to extend
that institution. He had time and again
expressed himself strongly opposed to the
introduction of any new slave States, or
the acquisition of slave territories Upon
that point he knew no change in his senti-
ments at the present time. He had, on
one occasion, he believed, expressed him
self against the acquisition of any more
territory-North, South, East or West.
He had expressed his belief in the Spartan
maxim-'. improve, adorn what you have
seek no farther" But what was our
present condition! Texas had been ad-
mitted with all her territory, with the insti
tuition of Slavery, and an irreparable law,
by which, if new States are erected out
Of any portion of her territory, they should
be slave States and lie wished it TO be
distinctly understood that he considered
this government solemnly bound by law to
create new slave territory out of Texas,
when she shall contain population sutfi
cient. Slavery was excluded from Cali
fornia and New Mexico by law of ma
ture, which had erected impossible bar
riers to its introduction there. This he con-
sidered fixed fact. That that country
was 10 be free, was settled by the arrange
ment Of Providence, and could not be
changed. Regarding this as fixed fact,
he would say that he would not vote for
the insertion into any bill giving territorial
governments TO the new territories, OF any
provision prohibiting slavery there-any
re-er aciment of the will Of God. He
would put into it no Wilmot Proviso-
nothing that was so useless and nugatory.
He meant to stand or fall upon the propo-
sition that every foot of the territory i'll
this country has q character, fixed and ir
rcparble, and which cannot be changed in
in any view. In this connection, he said,
that the proviso, in the case of Oregon.
was nugatory and senseless, and observed
that If there was any of the Northern de-
mocracy who now desired to put Will
mot ProyisO into an act giving government
TO California, he supposed that the same
man would feel it necessary 10 assert
the same principle for the purpose of
saving the snow-clad hills of Canada from
the foot of the slave, in case she shall be
annexed. The provision would be quite
as necessary and proper IN one case as the
other. In the next place Mr., Webster
proceeded TO consider the complaint made
by each section of the Union against the
other-beginning with the complaints ofthe
South, and passing over that in relation 10
the manner of collecting and dIsburslng the
revenue. lie alluded to the difficulty aris-
ing from the failure of the North to give
proper aid in the capture and delivery up
of fugitive slaves In this, he thought the
North in the wrong and the South right
1t was a cause of complaint upon the part
of the South, and one which the North
ought to remove. The duty was imposed
bv the Constitution, and il was not con-
sistent with morality, for Northern men
and Legislatures TO attempt to evade this
provision. Congress ought to pass some
law removing the evil. For one, he de-
signed supporting the bill (Mason's) now
pending in the Senate, having that object
in view. In connection with this point,
he made some remarks upon the proprlety
of Legislative instructions, objecting TO
them, and saving in effect, that if instruc-
tions should be sent to him in relation to
any matter affecting the interests OF the
country, he should pay no more regard to
them than he would if appointed an arbi-
ter to decide some matter in dispute be-
tween individuals, 10 the Instructions of
him who appointed him. Considering, IN
the next place. the agitation IN the North
cno,,l,inad of bv the South, he SAID he