The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-25
SPEECH

MIR. III. w. HILLIARD, OF ALABAMA,
On the Presidents message IN relation TO
the government of the Territory acquired
from Meriro by the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo-dehvered in the House Of Rep
resentatiyes of the United States, Fe6r-u-
arg IA, 1850
Mr.. HILLIARD addressed the committee as fol
lows:
Mr.. CHAmMAs: rise, sir, to discuss the recon-
mendations Of the President in relation to the gov
ernment of the territory acquired from Mexico by
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. His views are
expressed with great frankness and direcness, ,and
they ought to be treated by us in the same spirit
That the course which the President has thought
proper to pursue towards the inhabitants OF that
extensive and distant territory has been adopted
under sense Of duty, and that his recommenda,
condition of its people prompted by patriotic
motives, no one can doubt, however widely some
may find it necessary to dissent from the policy
which he advises 1t is his desire, to use his own
language, "to afford to the wisdom and patriotism
of Congress the opportunity Of avoiding occasions
of bitter and angry dissensions among the people
: Of the United States" He informs US that the
people of that part of California which lies On the
Pacific have formed plan OF State constitution,
and will soon apply for admission as Stat; and
he recommends that they shall be received, ilheir
proposed constitution, when submitted to ConSress,
shall be found to be in compliance with the rfulsi-
tons of the Constitution of the United States He
further recommends that Congress shall forttar to
establish any government over that part OF tip ter
ritory which lies eastward of the new State oiCali
fornia, or over New Mexico, leaving to the ieople
the privilege of governing themselves in the mean
while as they may deem best, and trusting the
great question which now excites such hinful
sensations in the country to the silent eject OF
which will settle it, independent OF thetction
Of Congress.
This is the policy which the President ecom
Il A 49,. x.,ts
dom and patriotism of Congress. Never Il any
time have these qualities been in higher dImand
than they at this moment; never hasai par
liamentary body had greater interests confted TO
it than those which to-day engage US; neyeI have
men acting for their country been appealed to by
nobler considerations than those which fdress
themselves to the Congress of the United ltates
Sir, have bestowed upon this great questbn the
most earnest reflection; have studied 1t thopugh
ly and with the most sincere respect for tie mo-
tives of the President and the best wishes pr the
success of his administration. l find it impossible to
give my support to the policy which he fcom-
mends. / shall discuss that policy with erfect
freedom. hope that the friends Of the Prfident
will ever merit the tribute paid by Tacitus 70 the
Britons III PARENT nSn DUN ut serviomt." They
know how to respect power, but they do not know
how To serve. +.
The plan recommended by the PresidentIleaves
the great question which now excites sucitangry
diiasensions throughout the country open; least
90 far as the territory embraced within the Bunda-
ry claimed by New Mexico and Deseret hs con-
cerned. ! desire to settle the question-nd part
of the question, bvt the whole TO set
tie it completely. partial settlement would leave
the great controversy still open; the agitation
would go on, and would prove fatal alikI TO the
tranquil action Of the Government and TO tt inter
ests of the southern States.
The state of the country demands that he sub
ject should be disposed OF by adjustmentso com
plete as to insure repose. Never since thenoment
| when the Government was established has it been
exposed TO dangers such now threatenit In that
| great contest which grew up from the APPLICATION
Of Missouri to enter the Union, and from the at
| tempt which was then made TO impose onher re-
striction affecting her domestic institutions Mr..
Jefferson wrote to friend that he REGARDED IT as the
most momentous question which had evlr threat
ened the Union and that in the darkest hour of the
revolutionary struggle he had never fetsuch ap-
prehensions as then oppressed him. Theaspect OF
affairs is darker to-day than it was in the soomiest
hour of that contest. The whole strength of the
North is put in array against the South, and II Is
announced as their settled policy that slavery shall
be confined TO the limits which IL now occupies in
the United States. The North-the popuous teem-
ing powerful North-oouhdent in its strength, for
getting the early struggle through which IL passed
in common with the South; forgetting the spirit
which animated those who formed the Constitu-
tion-a spirit which existed when the South was
the stronger and the North the weaker party-the
North. planting itself upon what 1t calls great
principle, announces its purpose 10 limit slavery
henceiorth and forever; deny the South any share
of the lately acquired territory In the scqusi-
tons which the Government OF the United States
may hereafter make, whether by purchase, by con-
quest, or by any other mode OF annexation. A
spirit equally determined prevails at the South
throughout that entire region there exists single
purpose in regard this threatened aggression and
that is, TO resist il TO the last.
At this moment then, sir, when the North and
the South thus confront each other-when the
danger of collision is so great that men scarcely
know how long il can be averted-when one o
the most experienced statesmen Of the country,
whose long and brilliant career, affording him the
opportunity of taking part in all the great afiairs
OF the Government for more than quarter of q
century, declared but the other day, in the Senate
chamber, that he rose every morning expecting u
hear of some public disaster growing out OF this
alarming question-at this moment, sir, We are ad-
monishcd by our regard for the welfare Of the peo-
pie of the United States to settle the question
promptly, decidedly, and completely.
To admit California, and 10 leave New Mexico
and the country now known as Dcseret without
agreeing upon their forms Of government, would
merely shift the ground of the controversy. II
.oud not end il. Slavery excluded from California
by the constitution Of that State would leave no
field for any further exertion on the part OF its enc
mics, but they would enter upon the task Of ex-
GLIDING il from the remaining territories, with a
zeal quickened by their late success. The Presi-
dent, in recommending delay, supposed that the
softening influence Of time would operate favor
ably on the question by restoring harmony TO our
councils, ana rcVlNlng paulouC spHlb tnfOugnOut
the country; while can see no prospect of rcposc
but in prompt and complete adjustment Of the
source Of our dissensons.
IT, sir, the tranquility of the country demands a
settlement of this alarming question, il is equally
demanded by the interest Of the slaychodng States.
II we should admit California into the Union as a
State with the boundaries now claimed by its in
habitants, without receiving guarantees for the pro-
lection Of rights in other portions Of the terri
tories belonging to us, should transfer the sccp
ire Of political power at once and forever into the
hands Of the enemies Of our institutions, and the
slaveholding States would enter upon a fixed,
dreary, hopeless minority in the face of a growing
aggression which threatens our very existence
To-day we hold balance in the Senate Of the Uni-
ted States, but the entrance Of another slave
holding State into the Union would turn that bal
ance against us. We shall never be stronger than
we are to-day. So far as we can read the future,
we must expect the disproportion against us to
grow. To-day, then, IL is our duty TO ascertain
and fix the future policy Of this Government
The time is come when the savehoding States
must throw up barriers against all future aggres-
sions unless they ready 10 surrender all weight
in the Confederacy of which they form part, and
tamely submit to any policy which an overwhem-
ing majority may impose upon them. The time
is come not only 10 resist the measures which now
c.