The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09


occasion he expressed his determination that il he were
President he would veto the Wilmot Proviso II am
mistaken in this statement and he has any friend in the
Senate-and know he has many hope he will correct
me, and point TO the evidence OF my error. Nor do
mean TO impute to him the least improperly in having
withheld the expression OF bis purpose upon this point
On the contrary his was Just such as would have
expected OF him. and such as have already declared to
be the dictate OF wisdom and patriotism. Sir, his objec
uon to the Wlmot Provso being founded on his opinion
OF what the constitution authorized and not upon any
opinion favorable TO the extension Of slavery, il would
have been an act OF unusual bodness to have declared
that he would disregard the former practice of govern
men and give weight TO the precedents OF ihe Mis-
souri, Compromise and the Oregon territorial acts.
But after ALL Mr. President, what the value OF these
specuatons as 70 what course Gen Taylor at any
time. disposed TO adopt ia regard to the Wmo Proviso,
or TO what he would now do were he brought to the
teE No question that ever was raised has had more
fictitious importance attached TO il, which has
better illustrated the blindness and nfauaton into which
the interests of party beray its voaries have heard
grave senator's with solemn nlen and apparently after
which they have arrived One his solemn be-
lief that Gen Tayler would sanction the Wmot Proviso
gentleman, belonging TO another body has said in
speech that he will vote TO apply the Wmo Proyiso in
territorial bill, that he is in favor OF himself but
he wants TO compel the President to show his hand 1t
has also been given out that il the before
the Senate is defeated territorial bills containing the Pro-
vso will be passed. presume with the laudable
object Now, sir. 10 illustrate the sageness Of these
before the Senate defeated the application OF California
be admitted into the Union State rejected suppose
what might have happened but cannot happen that
California had formed no State constitutions made ap
picauon to DO admitted as State, aud there had been
Committee Of Threen and suppose further, territorial
bill for California, with the Wimot Proviso attached
and insisted upon by an unreenng majority, passed, and
the bill then presented to the President and petosd:
what would follow What would be the condition of
posed to anarchy and boodshe tempted TO rebellion aud
separation. And what would the counrywhat especially
would the Southgain by such state OF hingss want
to know, sir. want distinguished senator TO en-
tighten this point III there should be
giving way IN the North the South would have the con-
ISOLATION Of knowing that no Wilmot PIoyiso had been
imposed upon them And how long would they enjoy this
consolatoni During three years OF agitation and anar
chy and until the next presidential election should roll
would veto the Proviso But let suppose the
verse OF this case let suppose that President Taylor
should sanction territorial bill containing the Proviso
what would then follow Extreme agitation in the
South, doubtless. The intrepid and excited champions
of southern rights their part, would then haye
issue they could stand upon and the issue would be
fairly presented whether the South would submit to
sist the majority power OF the North in thus imposing
direct restriction upon the extension of slavery Ii
rorai bill should be passed now and sanctioned by the
President we should have the issue instead of three
years hence for would at last But who desires
such an issue now or at any time hereafter Some al
the South may upon patriotic grounds according to their
General Taylor may be brought to the bar OF public opn
ion-may be coerced 10 declare who chedted' IN
scorn" which the concealmen OF his opinion upon this
question in the late election deserves Well sir let those
who charge that General Taylor has had no other or
higher motive in the policy he has pursued in relation to
these Territores-his non action pocy-than to
himself from personal responsibility and exposure in
sst upon bringing him to the test they desire let them
present the question of the Wmot Proviso let them
make the issue between the North ond the South which
either the Presidents sanction his veto will inevitably
raise and shall where and upon whom the results
oil such issue will rest Sir any man--Gen Taylor,
the senator from Michigan, IMr. CAssl If he were
Presdent-might well desire, upon the highest prin-
cipes that inspire statesman or patriot, shun
~ FrsDonsibiV of bringing such In issne
country.
Sir will pursue this part Of the subject no further
have said enough TO show that Gen. Taylor has been in
uenced in his upon this subject by the highest
and noblest motives OF duty and patriotism.
must now turn to another branch Of the subject un.
der onsdeaton-namey, the provisions OF the bill
which relate TO New Mexico And upon this branch OF
the before the Senate am sorry TO have to
say that the OF the discussion has been such as to
present the question lar otherwise than in that simple
point OF view, unembarassed by any consideration o
party political nature not ntrinsically connected with
IT, in which had hoped to see il presented Especial
pains have been taken by senators TO hold the anago
nsm the plan OF adjustment presented by the Commit.
tee OF Thireen and that OF President in way TO pre-.
sent the issue between the Executive and Congress
The honorable and dlsng senator from Kentucky,
Mr. CLAY,] 10 my infinite regret, led the way in this
OF discussion The honorable senator shakes hIs
head II do him any injustice, will retract the stale
meut referring 10 what has passed in debate upon
this subject and IL is far from my intention TO make any
statement that is not strictly rue or which would be IN
any way unpleasant the honorable for he must
know That he is the last man with whom would wish
10 have centroyersy OF any kind,
Mr. CLAY Will the honorable senator from Tennes-
see permit me to interrupt him for moment
Mr.. BELL. Certainly
Mr.. CLAY Ii will be recollected by the Senate and
am sure by the senator from Tennessee, that il
week only, about eight or ten days. prior TO my dev-
cry Of the speech to which he refers, that | made
speech conciatoy towards the administration as II
possible for TO find language to put In mme-
dlatelyI believe il the very day after the delivery
OF that speech-the editor OF the Republic, the organ OF
the President out with the declaration that the
President adhered 10 his plan. Shortly after this
those editors dismissed, among other be-
have document now before which shows that in
Santa Fe so far back in April last II was known that
the administration opposed TO any territorial govern
ment. What mean is, that my speech of the 2ist OF
May was defensive against prior attack, and medi.
tated attack, the part OF the administration and its
friends against the compromise proposed By the commit
tee .and not attack upon the Administration, further
than necessary to defend measure and TO con-
ras the two together before the country Sir
II, when presented plan, which did not neceeA-
ry contain any antagonsm to the plan OF the President
the Executive had adopted one Of two courses-either to
have recommended silence, permitting Congress TO ac
according 10 its Judgment had signifed his plea
in the adoption OF the plan OF the committee, any
other plan for the settlement of these questions But
war, open war, undsguised war, was made BY the ad
minsiraon and its parisans against the plan OF the CON-
mittee; and the speech to which the honorable senator
ton OF the plan OF the committee.
senator thought at the time he made the speech alluded
to- listened with asonshment to the sentiments the
honorable senator then delivered and witnessed with
pain the manner in which they delivered and con-