Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-11-28

During the session of 1878, violent de
bate sprung up in the Senate of the Unite,
States. which was conducted with unusual acrI
mony, in regard 10 the right of the citizens o
the Southern States to carry their slaves int
the new territories. On the part of the north i
was affirmed that the territories were Fret
Soil" by the Mexican laws, which, it was main
tanned still continued TO exist, and would remain
in force until abrogated by the power of Con,
gress or the erection of State governments with
IN the territories. On the part of the South il
was commended that the right to enjoy slave prop.
eriy within these limits was a necessary conse
quence of the acquisition obtained by the CON.
mon blood and treasure. These clashing opin.
ions were waged with consummate ability on
boil, sides, and especially in the Senate, Of which
was at that time member. Threats of disun-
ion often rang through the halls of both branch
es OF Congress, arising out OF this conflict oil
opinion. ! did not participate in that debate
but exerted myself to hold position midway
between the contending parties, lise ,ae Stale
represented, and to seize the FIRST oe<Asion upon
which could move effectualiy to ailsy the sgl.
tation, and, it possible TO settle the controversy
did not design to buy peace, or 10 add new ell
ements of discord by the Introduction of other
topics unconnected with the immediate question
before me; and thought then, as l believe
now, that the Constitution itself presented the
natural and proper mode to terminate the strife
and maintain the integrity Of the Union. Ap
paose-
While the storm was at its highest, proposed
to both the contenJing parties to settle the ques-
ton by obeyng the mandates of the Constitution
In the organization of new territorial govern.
ments over California and New Mexico without
The Wl,mot Proyiso but with the positive provisc
TO bring the subject Of the right to hold slaves
under lis laws they existed, before the Su-
preme Court of the United States, the tribunal
appointed by the fathers of the Republic 10 de-
eide between the contendng parties Of the con-
federacy. Applause.
This proposition was met in the most cordial
spirit, and approved, with a few exceptions by
the great body of the Southern members o: Con.
gress IN both branches and after an executing
and pro'racted debate, bill to that effect, re
poriedb by Committee of which was chairman
passed the Senate of the UniieJ States by ma
JorIiy of two thirds Of all its members. Durng It's
passage through that body a fierce opposition
was excited against it in some of the Northern
States, where political purposes could best be
subserved by the continued agitation of the ques-
ton of slavery. hlr. Van Buren, becams
The leader OF new party organized up
on the principle of opposition 10 this or any
other plan of adjustment without the Wilmot
Pfovlso, and for this measure of peace, which,
shall die in the belief was better calculated
to compose the distractions and divisions of the
county than any other which has yet been or
fcred, was met by the North by the 6ercest
spirit OF denunciation. 1t was Immediately an
nounced that fifty thousand mel had assembled
In the Park at New York, TO express their oppo.
s'tIon. and to utter their execratious against
what they were pleased TO call The "Cllyton
Compromise
The friends who stood by me in the North in
my anxious efforts to restore harmony TO the
country. were denounced as having been sold to
the South and amid the din and clamor of these
party combatants, reason and argument werf
either unheard or lost their proper influence
in this stale Of things, the bill having passed tbs
Senate. after weeks of discussion and one pro-
iracted session of twenty-five hours, during
which Mr. Dix of New York, and Mr.. Niles, oil
Connecticut, both members of the new free soil
scnool, distinguished themselves. IN opposition to
The measure. not less by their ability than by
their un measured zeal, it presented 10 The
House of Representatives for concurrence aud
there without one word of debate, without a SIM
gle reference 10 committee, without, as l am
bound to believe, any proper knowledge ap-
probation uf lis true character. 1t was Immediate
ly strangled by motion to lay 1t on the table
=
than two hundred This measure which met
the hearty cooperation and concurrence of the
distinguished Statesman of South Carolina. John
G. Cath un now more, and received the votes
not ony of both The Senators, and all Of The Rep
resentativcs of that State, satisfied and secured
at the same time the acqulescence and the adhe-
sion of the South generally. The defeat Of the
measure was considered as indicating, on the
part of he North, determination to refuse ia
abide by The decision of the common abiter, ap-
pointed by the con. titulon itself to settle the
question. | deeply regretted il a. the time, and
have not ceased to deplnre it. The defeat added
fuel TO the flames al'eady existing In the South ;
and /, with others, conscious Of that fact, imme-
dia,ely looked with anxiety for some other nea-
sure OF pacifica,ion, which, like that ! had pro-
posed, would not compronit the principles or
outrage the feelings OF either section Ut the con.
federacy.
There seemed TO be but one measure left
which could effectually secure the same object
and when Mr.. Folks message on the CON-
mencement OF the next session Of Congress, sug-
pested, in terms not TO be mistaken, that Cor
gress might safely leave the question undlsturb-
ed until the people of California and New Mex
leo should apply for admission as sovereign
States of this Union, there seemed 10 be gen.
eral wish. during the session of lS4S-9 that the
peODe WltDin tuoSe iliiiits, III the hCS cASiS'Se
OF their right of self government, should, upon
the admission of these new States, settle this and
all other questions of domestic policy 10 sui
themselves. Bills to admit the States were In
troduced INTO both branches of Congress. ane
the prospect for paci6cation and adjustment
frightened as il became known that the Presi
dent elect favored the same policy. Mr.. Cal
houn, The acknowledged leader OF the Sou herr
section, had proclaimed the right OF self govern
ment in the people of those territories, IN IN
celebrated resolutions of 1917, in the following
ternis:
Reseced That fundamental principle in poit
cal creed that people forming constitution, have thu
right form and the which
they NAV think THEN liberty
pe,ity and happiness and conformity thereto, oihe
condition is imposed by Federal Cvnsti uon State
in order To tbs Unou except that It's consii
luton shall republican, and that the imposition Of
by Congress- would Only be violation OF the Con
st,ution but 10 direct conflict with the principle which
our political system rests"
AIR Polk, IN his message OF Dec. ., 1915, In
cu,cated the same doctrines.
The said he lis believed to be rather abstrae
than PRACTICAL whether slavery or would exist M an
ppr;,on of the acquired Territory it left at tn
optiou of the slaveholdng themselves From the
tune of the climate objections much the larger proper
tion Of it. il is certain that it could never exist
And again he says:
organizing these territories, no du
by Congress by the that the