The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-08

ProHtaDly by slave LABOR was then &C.
cupied, and, as practical question, there
was an end of it.
In this connexion Mr.. WEBSTER al
luded to his own course, and that of the
Northern Democracy, on the subject of the
acquisition Of Texas. He had been OPP
posed to it from the start. In 1887 he
had opposed it in speech made before
the Wings of New York at Niblo's Gar
den, on the occasion, we believe, Though
MIR. WEBSTER did not then allude to it,
of dinner given in his honor.
He had endeavored, without success, to
awaken the Northern mind to the great
importance of the subject, for he was OPP
posed to the acquisition Of Texas on the
ground that he was opposed to the crea-
ton of any more slave States. Against
his will and that OF the Northern Wings,
Texas was annexed by Northern Demo
cratic votes, and it was annexed by reso-
lutions which authorized the formation of
four new States, with the consent of
Texas, within the boundaries of Texas.
This was the compact. 1t was well
drawn, stringent, and obligatory. 1t was
the legacy Of the Northern Democrats.
The work was thoroughly done, without
blotch or flaw in it. There was the COM
pact-and he was determined to fulfil il.
| Whenever Texas, under the circumstances
contemplated by the resolutions, called for
the formation of three new States, he was
bound to vote for their admission, for he
would never violate or sully the plighted
faith of the Government.
| But no sooner had these Northern Dem
ocrats admitted Texas than the war with
Mexico was set on foot with their concur
renee and assistance, and sustained by
their votes. He with the WHIGs had op-
posed the acquisition of territory contem-
plated by that war. But when his friend
from Georgia introduced his resolutions
repudiating the idea of acquisition, the
Northern Democracy opposed them, and
the new territory aoas acquired Califor-
MIA and New Mexico became ours by
their votes, and then they undertook to
hold us harmless under the perils thus
brought upon us by the saving grace of
the Wilmot proviso. The Senator from
liberty-loving Connecticut, (Mr. MILES,
and the Senator from New York, (Mr.
Dix, after doing what in them lay to in
volve the country in the evils and dan
gers resulting from these acquisitions of
Texas and portions of Mexico, went home
to make rousing and capital speeches
about Free-Soil.
This view of the question led Mr.. WEB
sTER to speak of the " Wilmot." On
this subject he expressed himself very dis
tinctly. He said that this slave question
had ceased to be practical question, with
the annexation of Texas. That disposed
of all the slave soil. When it came to
New Mexico and California, very differ
ent state of the case was presented. II
there were any question as to the terri
tory-if there were any practical good to
be effected by adopting the ordinance OF
1887 and applying it to new acquisitions
that would present different case for
consideration. But where it was an idle
or an useless proyision-where it would
answer no good end, and could only serve
to wound the feelings or the pride of por-
ton of his -citizens-he would vote
against its introduction into any terrific
rial BILL With regard to New Mexico, he
would not so disgrace his own understand
ing as to vote for the Wilmot." To
place il on territorial bill for New Mex
leo, would be to reaffirm an ordinance OF
Nature--to re-enact the will of God
| With regard to the charges of aggres-
sion made against the North for the for
nation of Abolition societies and the
establishment of Abolition papers, Mr..
WEBSTER regretted all this, but saw nc
way to arrest it. They had never, in his
Judgment, accomplished any good end.
They had only strengthened the bonds OF
the slave, and retarded the prospects OF
emancipation. There was no man now
in Virginia who would dare to discuss the
slavery question, in the tone and temper
in which it was discussed in her con-
vention in 1882. The reason of this
was, that the agitation of the Northern
papers and societies had aroused an
antagonist sentiment in the people which
could not be resisted. 1t united all
men Of all sentiments against the i'm
proper and impertinent interference Of
strangers. But for this evil there was nc
remedy. In the nature of things there
could be none. The press could not be
shackled any more than the debates in
Congress could be checked, and they had
exhibited as much violence and harsh Ian.