The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-01

BLrsHrlM. lYirginia.l NAV ., lss0

10 il You ask my opinion upon the scheme Of eomPrc
mise before the Senate, and are pleased 70 attach
10 i much more Importance than il merits ! readily
yield however, under the circumstances, TO your request
and hasten to give you. very briefly and frankly my
views upon the important and exciting subjects that are
engrossing 80 deeply the public mind.
and reasoning Of the rporof the committee OF the Sem
ate. do not, you may well imagine, concur; and
shall therefore confne myself in what have 10 say 10
alone any legislative action can be founded Reports Of
this character like preamss 10 bills and resolutions,
never form the basis OF legislation and therefore, 10
he REGARDED as mmaterial and unimportant Able and
the report is yet fruitful OF conro
versy and well calculated to give rise TO conflicting opn,
IONS and ought not 10 be permitted to influence the maj
lime must say, that think il matter for serious regret
that the committee could not have agreed upon solemn
and express remuneration OF any right N the federal gov
eminent 10 legsate upon the subject Of slavery In the
Territories Of the United States 10 exercise any pow
err under the constitution for the abolition OF slavery in
the District of Coumbad disedimer IN facf 10 impose
upon anu nsv State coming into the Union any ltia.
lon or restriction NOT imposed upon any Of The original
States Such course would have had beneficial effect
al the present moment and would have carried with il
great moral power STILL do not regard It's omission as
forming an nsuperable objection TO the principles OF the
compromise embraced in The bills reported by the
mee for the reasons will state As understand the
scheme OF compromise i j. predcaed upon these bases
The admission Of California into the Union with her
present constitution and boundaries;
q The admission OF new States, (no exceeding four)
IN q
,sr ed into between her and the United STATES;
B The establishment OF territorial governments for
New Mexico and Utah, without any restriction or linn
4. The settlement OF the boundaries between Texas
and New Mexico and providing an equiyalentin money
therefor;
10 secure to the South the speedy recovery of fugitive
slaves under the provisions OF the constitutions and
g. and lastly Passing law for the abolition Of sla
very in the District Of Columbia, but preventing il from
being aape mart
Now the Justice and mopriety Tin all govenments) CT
every important public measure ought 70 depend upon the
circumstances that accompany and induce it. the mo-
Calculated 10 produce In applying these tests to The
scheme Of settlement proposed by the committee Of the
Senate, confess myself friendly 10 il and socitous for
It's success. With some notifications and amendments,
calculated to carry the basis Of the compromised
nothing in which ought 10 justify its rejection by
Congress the people; and am free to say, that
ax 'ns ~ snegas Of any o IL essential or
rights The whole subject Is one which must be dealt
with as practical question, involving il does high
and momenous consequences Its rejection, fear, might
lead to results that good could contemplate with
out anguish and despair. willing, therefore. to
make the experiment proposed BY the compromise, and
trust to results Il is quite true that have been
friendly to compromises of any kind upon constitutional
questions and especially those which have arisen within
late years between the national and State governments
was consequently opposed to the Missouri com
promise in $780, was Virginia; and do not believe
i. would have been acquesced in by the people.
hut to avoid the evils and dangers which threatened
the peace and security OF the Union; and yet how
republic than those which brought that gallant State into
our glorious Union But in q government like ours
there must always be inequalities and disadvantages in
its working and operation. Practically il cannot be
Otherwise Indeed, how can it be supposed that in 80
delicate and complicated association as that of thirty
independent States, or less various in their habits
and pursusn their productions, climates, and popula-
hon. and in feelings and Union could be
formed or continue to exist without spirit OF COM
promise and toeralion and with mutual balancing OF
advantages and disadvantages! The constitution itself,
we ought forget the result of compromise
and concession and without it, could never have been
formed
What them are the objections 10 the settlement Of these
important questions, upon the basis OF the proposed
promise Its avowed object, the first place, settle
the exposition OF the compact between the United
States and Texas, 10 the number OF States which
To be admitted into the Union lhayng the requisite popu
laion0 either sc or wltout slavery. the people OF
each State may finally determine, when authorized to
do 49,
Nor have the committee proposed. or intended saying,
that the territorial governments such, should have the
power of egslang upon the subject OF slavery, either
.o its admission exclusion, inasmuch as no such
power under the constitution y vested ether 70 Congress
no citizen of any State the Union be prohibited from
removing the Territories belonging TO the United
Safes with slaves or other property Upon the subject Of
he Mexican claims abrogatng slavery, have decided
opinion. regard the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidago and
The fact of conquest by the American arms, decisive
Of the question. The constitution OF the United States
extended to these newly acquired Territories, and repealed
all Mexican laws inconsistent with its arovsions con-
squenty no citizen removing into the Territories be
prevented by the laws OF Mexico from carrying his
slaves with him. regard the argument OF the very able
and distinguished senator from Georgia as conclusive
the subject Nor does il need any legislation by Con-
gress this right to the southern people This
can form valid objection, in my opinion, to the pro-
posed compromise.
The main objection, then, seems TO be in relation to
the admission Of California with her present boundaries,
and without having been first formed into territorial
government Now, under other circumstances, this OBJ
lection might be we'll ounded and have operated TO her
state Of things and in the manner proposed, 10 Keep her
out Of The Uaion7 think not have never doubted,
myself that California would be admitted into the Union
BY the present Congress in shape or other and
believing So prefer the mode suggested by me commit
lee that recommended by the Executive 10 the one
case she would come in alone and single. leav
ing the Of the territory acquired from Mexico wholly
unprovlded Tor by government whilst all admit tna
the United States bound TO provide governments fof
these Territories under the treaty spulaons with Mex
co. 1t also quired for the security OF the persons
and properly OF It's inhabitants; and then the boundary
between Texas and New Mexico was unsetted, me con,
sequences OF which, il permitted 10 continue. might lead
70 connection and civil war between their respective IN
habaDts.
We next have the recommendation for additional Sc
turty for fugitive sapes and intervention as to the
abolition Of slavery in the District Of Columbia NOW
what MORE under existing circumstances, and al such
asis could have been expected OF the commtteef Inc
question il not whether the South gain all they desire
bat WHISTLER i they reject The somprome, they WIN pct ,h.
soniederacy l-wheiher il s not better 10 avoid the
hazard OF dsunion and civil war and, by accepting h,
scheme show their devotion TO the Union, and sIl pre-
serve their essential rights Should the compromise bs
a G.sal mi