Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-21


iforna herself. And has it not been the
doctrine of all parties, that when State is
about 10 be admitted into the Union, that
State has right to decide for itself whether
it will or viii not have within lis limits Sla-
very! The great principle, sir, which was
in contest upon the memorable occasion Of
the introduction of Missouri into the Union
was, whether 1t was competent or was not
competent to Congress to impose any re-
striction which should exist after she be-
came a member Of the Union! We, who
were in favor of the admission of Missouri
contended that no such restriction could be
imposed. We contended that whenever she
was once admitted into the Union, she had
all the rights and privileges of any pre-ex-
istng State Of the Union and that of these
Fights and privileges, one was to decide for
herself whether slavery should or should not
exist within her limits; that she had as
much right to decide upon the introduce
ton of slavery, or upon It's abolition, as New
York had l.ahl to decide upon the intro
ductinn or abolition OF slavery and that
she stood among her peers equal, and inves-
ted with all the privileges that any one of
the original thirteen States, and those sub
sequehtly admitted, had right to enjoy.
And 50, sir, thought that those who
have been contending with So much ear
nestness and with 50 much perseverance for
the Nilmot Proyiso, ought to reflect that
even ii they could carry their object, and
adopt the dlaut progiso, it would cease
the moment an, State 10 whose territory 1t
was applicable came to be admitted as
member of tie Union Why, sir, no one
contends now-no onc belleYes-ihat with
regard TO the northwestern States, to which
the ordinance ofllS5 was appled--Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, and Michlgan-no one
aoW believes that day one Of those States,
ithey th0ugat proper TO do 1t. has not Just
as much ri5.; to nirodlce slavery within
her borders as Virginia has a right to main-
tain the existence OF slavery within hers.
Then, sir, II IN this struggle of power and
empire between the two classes of States, a
decision Of California has taken place adj
verse to the wishes Of the southeren States,
II is decision Ha, made by the general
z.,ernmei1 a is decision respecting
). I!ch they clnnoi complain 10 the general
-tefnment. Il is decision made by Cali
l,fnia herself, and W lica California had III
g u!eatabIl tisnt % make under the con-
tuition Oh the Unied States. There is,
ten, III that first resolution, according to
tie observation which made some time
ago, a case Where neither party comedies
v iere the 6 se-.i.n II slavery, either OF lis
iutfGd cile..1r iaiefdicl!on, Is silent as res
poets re ao..... 81. lie government; and if
Il las been 1e..-e4, It has been decided by
j different -,l,, H., d different power, by
California herself, VINO had II ,ht to make
;h3t dr1lsie7.
Nh Pre>ideai tire next resolution Of the
series UuicA ane oilered, beg gentle
man mildly ROW to look at was aware,
4,rieciy aware, Of the perseverance with
ahich The Wilmot Proyiso was insisted up
"a kl,es ihst every one ofthc free Suites
o. this Uui.n-l believe without exception
lind, by lis legislative bodies, passed res
o.uuou5 insuuot.ng rs senators aud request
irr is ropr, --..;..'.,s to get that restriction
incnrp rateu iata any terrIoTIa! b.i that
.si5ht oe o.l-teA n1.iar the auspices fCon-
-fcs-. aHeN hny mnch-aythough | re-
..e,ted hos. l.Icl-,ne lrse/ States had
II may say s.-r.; tae.r hearts upon the
adoption @. lis .ael>ure. In this second
sc-s.nti5n ~4ne pcrslstng IN II. ask
.acni, ipr III sake cd peace, and IA Il spirit
ol mutual iof1eIraace 10 the other members
Of The Onion, 10 give 1t up, and no longer 10
iasist aPon Ito see, as they must see, If
thcIr eses are open, tao dangers which lie
onier II, If they qerscycre n insisting upon
It,
Well, sir, when oallel upon them in
ihdt res luton 10 d, tl.:s. VS. | not bound
10 o.Ier ior iae Surrender OF that flvorite
::icasuFa of tueirs, some compensaiion-not
AZ equivalent 10y aAy means, but some COM
iersation---is HAT spirit Of mutual forbcar-
mce whIch tpi..,aics the one side, ought, at
90. SINE tin, TO ANIMATE the otter side =
y lat IS II s.i..g is ri.cied lhemi 1t Is 4 de-
81 ration OF What l characterize and must
siyle VIII great dclereuce to all those who
entertain The opposite opinion VIII not
Say incontestable, but to me clear, and |
think they ought to be regarded as-indis-
putable truths And what are they Tie
first Is, that by law, slavery no longer exists
II any portion of the acquisition made by
US from the republic of Alexico; and the
other Il, that III our opinion, according to
all the probabilities of the case, slavery new
er viii beinlroduced into any portion OF the
territories 50 acquired from Mexico.
Now, sir, hive heard it sad that this
declaration of what | call these two truths
IS equivalent to the enactment Of the vii
mot provlso | have heard this asserted,
but is that the case II the Wllmot Pro-
yiso we're adopted in territorial governments
established III these countries acquired from
Mexico, it would be positive enactment, i
prohibition, an introduction, as 10 the INTRO
ductlon OF slavery within them. But with
regard to those opinions, | had hoped, and
stl indulge in the hope, that those who re-
present the free States viii be inclined not
10 insist that we shall giye-and indeed it
would DE extremely difficult 10 give to these
declaraiions-thc form Of d positive enact
ment. | had hoped that they would be sat
SIZED with the simple expression oithe oplnl-
on of Congress, leaving it upon the basis Of
that opinion, wlthou, asking for what seems
to me almost impracticable, if not lInpossi-
ble-ior any subsequent enactments to be
Introduced INTO the bill by which Terrific
rial Goyernmeuts shall he established | can