The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-21

West the valley Of the Mississippi one and indivisibe
from the Gulf TO the Great Lakes, and stretching on the
side and the other to the extreme sources Of The
Ohio and Missouri, from the Alleghanies 70 the Rocky
Mountains There, sir is the hope OF this nation--he
resting place OF the power that is not only TO CONTROL but
10 save the Union
We furnish the water that makes the Mississippi, and
we intend to follow, navigate, and use IT, until il loses it.
self in the briny ocean So with the ST. Lawrence. We
intend keep open and enjoy both OF these great outlets
10 the ocean. and all between them intend to take
der especial protection and keep and preserve
ree happy, and united people. This is the mission OF
the great Mississippi valley the heart and soul OF the
ZION and the continent We know the responsibilities
selves equal to them. We indulge in no ulraisms, no
sectional strifes, no cTusades against the North the
South. Our aim will be to do justice to ALTO all men,
cations under the constitution is, and determined to
maintain and preserve il nvioae in its letter and spirit
Such is the position the destiny, and the purpose OF the
thus clearly discrmnaled in bis printed speech, as he
intimates, that he did not intend TO include my
section in his denuncations Of the northern democracy
should have eit my political friends from the northeast
to have made their own yindcaton. But, sir when he
told that there about fifty northern votes in the
House OF thirteen in the Senate for the
annexation resolutions, and then went on 70 parcularze
how many of them were from New England and the
residue from the other free States Of the Unon could
doubt that he intended TO include the whole OF the
ss T among q ae oss and said viii
senator from Illinois allow me TO interrupt him for very
few moments wish TO read brief extract of speech
of prominent and able democrat from the northwest
Hon. Robert Dale Owen, of Indaaa illustrative Of the
grounds upon which the democracy OF the free States
placed their advocacy Of the annexation Of Texas and
particularly to show their reputation Of one of the
promsent reasons assigned by the distinguished senator
from South Carolina Mr CALHoUN for his support OF
that great measure.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Certainly. a,5
Mr.. DODGE then read from the Congressional Globe,
first session wenyeghth Congress- page 699 follows
sBut assent to annexaon It may be argued is asked
upon false grounds We made the apologsts the alb
cabinet Declares eonnexon with this question, that
hern slavery not lamentabe though a. present
regard that opinion with uaeiened Difference and deep
respect for the man. but freely and boldly say H. rs the
posed by ntrod uc,ion TO make this repnblc the
head Of league Of nations having Tor its object perpeu
freedom will find echo in the free States, at least,
Of this Union many supporters, truly believe, even in
the South Some Of slave States, unpromped by
their own deliberate convictions, would already, in all hui
probability, have taken measurest rid themselves
gradually Of what they feel to be an increasing evil had
the uneacuatng spirit of modern aboltionism by her
blind precptancy dashed down the growing purpose
slavery as blessing to be cherished and perpetuated
MOI will invioaby respect the State rights Of the
proserty and station whence that property might be
find additional why Texas should
become part and parcel of the Union but, euloaize sa
very, aid in plans for its We cannot
do by any one annena'on ION should Se defended 81 upon
reason for doing good thing"
Mr. DOUGLAS. / could occupy the attention OF the
Senate until tomorrow morning in reading extracts from
the speeches OF northern democrats in favor OF the an
nexaton of Texas upon national grounds totally discon
necied with and independent OF the question OF slavery.
But deem unnecessary thus to respass on the time of
the Senate The fact that such was the tenor of all their
In immediate connexion with this there is another por
ton of the speech of the senator from Massachusetts,
which deem il my duty to notice. Speaking OF the
nexation of Texas, ne said:
tIa
Of Texas fixed, pledged fastened decided
be slave territory forever by the solemn guarantees of
law"
In reply to this must be permitted to tell the senator
that do not understands does the act read II
he had made this statement without referring TO the reso
lutions OF nnexaiion should have supposed that his
recollection had failed he had been misnformed
mistaken, deceived in the matter: But SIR, when this
statement is made with the resolutions before him. and
the particular one bearing upon this point being read and
incorporated into his speech know not what conclusion
10 draw refrain from expressing any opinion upon the
subject will content myself with reading the resou
ton itself from the gentemans own speech;
New States OF convenient size, exceeding four in
number in addition said STATE OF Texas, and having
cent population, may hereafter by the consent OF said
State e iormsd out Of the Territory thereof which M shall
ha. portion o. said Territory lying south Of ahIy:s de-
the Missouri compromise ine shall be admitted into the
Union with without slavery, the people o each State
as shall be formed Of said Territory north Of said Mis-
souri, compromise ne slavery or involuntary serude ex
cept for crine) shall be prohibited"
In the face Of this fundamental law we told that
rom here to the western boundary OF Texas fixed
pledged fastened, decided 70 be slave territory forever
by the solemn guarantees OF lawp Was there such
iorturing OF language-such pcrverson OF meaning
There is no guaranty, pledge, ntImation OF
the kind The very reverse is the fact While Texas
remained independent power II was all slave territory,
from the Gulf OF Mexico TO the 42d parallel OF latitude
BY the resolutions OF annexation, i've and half degrees
Of this slave territory, to wit, all between Sei and the
42d parallels, TO become "hxed pledged, fastened,
decided 10 be- FREE, and not fsave territory forever by
the solemn guarantees of law" Here is territory,
stretching across five and half degrees OF latitude,
withdrawn from slavery and devoted 10 freedom by the
deride as the work OF the northern democracy Nor is
this ALL That part OF Texas lying south OF SO deg 80
min is not pledged TO slavery as stated by the senator
from Massachusetts
Mr.. WEBSTER said that every acre Of that terri
tory which from its and character is susceptible
of slave cultivation fixed and pledged, morigaged
and hypothecaed TO slavery by the resolutions OF annex.
alton did not OF course, refer TO the mountain coun
try, deficient in its character, and where slaves cannoi
exist
Mr.. DOUGLAS Yes, sir, there is mountainous
country not only north but south OF 80 deg 80 min, where
slave cannot live. That country, which. from its nature
and character is not susceptible OF slave cultivation, Is
into which Texas may be subdivided by the resolutions
OF annexation. And when the northern democrats are
aagned and condemned for having contributed 10 the
extension OF slavery, the 1--WE and hail degrees of
latitude north OF 80 deg 30 min for which provision was
made to be converted from slave into free territory aoso-
utey and probably double that amount south OF that line
by the action of the people themselves when they came to
form State constitution, ought to have been brought TO
the notice OF the public and put to credit in the state
ment OF the account