The southern press., 1850-09-02

on the high ground of principle, and NOT on the
feeble assumption that il was unnecessary. To
oppose it on the ground that il not necessary
was TO say in effect, that ii would be sustained II
II was necessary.
I The gentleman from New York had just in
formed the House that he was elected as Wimoi
4 Proviso man, and now he rises AMI makes il his
boast that he is backing out from the position he
| then assumed.
Mr.. BROOKS (Mr. BRowN yieIding) said, that
| although thisproyiso made test, he had told
/ the people who elected him that he would not
pledge himself to vote for it; THAI Jie was willing
to remain at home, but that if he was elected, he
must go as an independent man.
Mr.. BROWN resumed. The gentleman from
New York had certainly taken high ground. But
II he was not mistaken, the gentleman the
editor OF daily paper in New York; (the Ex-
press,) and in that Journal unless he was also
mistaken here, the Wilmot Proviso had been sup
ported. The gentleman, therefore, had not left
much room for doubt to his real sentiments
There was very little occasion for him now to
come forward and to say whether he was now for
or against the proviso. But he desired to ask that
gentleman, whether he was for or against this
proyiso when the adoption Of that proyiso was
deemed necessary for the exclusion of slaves from
these new territores' If he was then in favor of
the proyiso, the fact that he is now opposed to it,
because he is satisfied that the South cannot carry
her slaves thther ON account of the hostility or
the climate and soil, one calculated to ex-
cite any feelings of gratitude in tina friends of the
South. @
Mr.. BROOKS (Mr BRowN yieIding) said, he
had not changed one principle, but he had been
converted to the genrleman's Is doctrine of nom
intervention, or non-action. II had always been
his opinion that the power of the General Govern
ment ought never to be exercised whether in
favor of or against slavery. If the South should
suffer from her inability to carry her slave pro-
pery into these territories the North would suffer
4 was narn, al m 10 100
her chfzens would not consent to go to these terri
tories If slavery existed there
Mr.. HOLMES. congratulate the whole coun-
try that the gentleman from New York has given
up his adhesion to the Wimot Proyiso.
Mo. BROWN, (resuming) The conversion Of
the gentleman from New York to the doctrine of
non-interyention had come about as much too late
as his abandonment Of the Wimot Proviso. They
We're both too late to do any good. IF the gentle
man hrd kept his hands off slavery before the last
PRESIDENTIAL election, then, indeed, the Southern
people might have had some reason for gratitude.
But, instead of doing that, the gentleman adheres
to the proviso until il is too late for non-interven
ton to do any good, and then he forsakes the
former and becomes a convert to the latter.
The gentleman from New York appeared to be
greatly horrifed at what he was pleased to call
political associations on this 1oor-at the strange
phenomenon OF the two great extremes of the
North and South voting together He would ex-
PLAIN. this apparent Inconsistency. The South
regarded the whole Of the territory to latitude AGO
and east of the Rio Grande as the property of
Texas, and was not disposed to permit any por-
ton of that territory to be surrendered for the
purpose of being made fee-soH This was the
position occupied by the Southern extreme The
Northern extreme considers the title Of the United
States to all this territory as clear beyond dispute,
aud therefore are opposed to purchasing il. Ths
Is the reason why the two extremes are acting to-
gether on principles apparently antagonisticai for
the purpose of defeating this bill
He however deemed that it would be found
quite as remarkable political phenomenon that
the gentleman from New York, and many OF his
political friends from the South, should be found
cheek-byio iowl with these same detested Free soil
ers on another question. We vote with them
from exactly opposite motives, as the gentleman
and the whole country very well know But
from what motive does the gentleman and his
Southern friend vote with then, for the admission
Of California; Is there any opposite motive
there None, sir, none. There is one motive
common to them all !, and that is the admission Of
free State into the Union. The gentleman ex-
presses special wonder that we are found voting
with the Free-soilers. Can he give any other
reason than the one just assigned why he and his
Southern friends voted with them ON another
question .a a3 Sa
Until the gentleman could assign some satisfac-
tory reason why he and his party, North and
South, We're found in political fellowship with
every Free-soiler and Abolitonist in the land for
the admission of California, it would be modest
to suppress his wonder at the accidental associa-
ton of Free-soilers and Southern gentleman on
the boundary of Texas.
The difference between us (said Mr.. B.. is this :
we act with them from extremely opposite mo-
lves; you from. concurrent opinions and senti-
ments; and we will leave to posterity and the
country to decide which stands most justified in
the eyes of all honest and impartial men.
But his main object in rising to address the
House was, to say what were the demands Of the
South. She asks for a fair division Of property
Give it to her by non-intervenion, or in any way
which may be thought best. She has right to
this, and she claims it. But if, instead of doing
this, the North insists on taking away her terri
tory and abridging her rights, she was not dis
posed to submit to the wrong. He intended no
threats, but she will not forget such an attempt at
tsurpation of power. She will not forget that
this new territory was purchased, in part, by her
blood and treasure, and she will not forgive any
attemps to snatch it from her, 1t can excite no
feeling Of gratitude to hear the gentleman from
New York say, that he is now opposed to the
Wilmot Provso, because the adoption Of it could
not bar the territory against the introduction of
slaves, that has already been done by nature. II
is well understood by the South, what scenes
have been enacted since the last presidential cleo
ton. She has seen the tendency of all the mea-
sures which have been carried on TO the exclusion
of slavery from these territories. We all know,
u
Government in California were all useless, until
they received the sanction Of Congress. Did the
gentleman from New York consider the Constitu-
ton Of Califprnia as anything, until it was sancy
toned by the approval Of Congressi The South
is now excluded from the Pacific 1t is at present
excluded by the Constitution Of California, which
contains the Wilmot Proviso. Some gentlemen
are very anxious to ingrah this Proviso on the
pending bills. They want something stronger
than the DEGREES of God.
He was in favor Of the bills for the admission
of Utah and New Mexico, because he knew that
the Southern people could take their slaves there,
He was opposed to the California bill, because
there, by the constitution adopted there, slaves
were excluded from the territory. But he desired
to put question to the gentleman from New
York Suppose that we should go to New Mex
leo and carry our slaves into that Territory; and
suppose that at the next session the gentleman
from New York, if he should be here, should be
asked to vote for the Wilmot Proviso, would he
not give his vote for it
Mr.. BROOKS replied in the negative, as far as
he was heard }