Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-03-15
Mr.. websser's speech.

MIR. w TESTERS great speech upon the slavery ques-
ton. Although there are many points in Mr.. WEB
STEERS speech from which we must dissent altogeth
er still the effect of its delivery cannot be but good
Mixed up with considerable amount of partizan-
ship and sectional feeling, it is, nevertheless
distinguished by SO much strong manly sense--so
much devotion to the country at large-that We feel
but little inclined to dwell upon its defects.
Mr.. WEBSTER regards the subject with the eyes
of Northern man, and many Of his views at
rance with those held at the South and which we
believe to be right but nevertheless, he talks like
an American statesman, without undue excitement
or sectional bitterness, and his position, much
favorable to the South than the public had been
led to expect-and, indeed so much in opposition to
the universal voice of his party at the North-has
given very general satisfaction and infused feeling
of renewed confidence in the peaceable settlement of
this most exciting question. The first part of Mr..
WEBsTERs speech is occupied in review of the pro-
gress and history of the slavery question, in the
course of which he takes occasion to reflect very
verely upon the Democratic party for the annexation
of Texas and other measures. We regret that we
cannot give the whole of Mr.. WIS remarks. The
extract which give however contains the gist Of
the whole matter, and explains fully the speakers
views upon the various questions discussed. That
portion in regard to the admission of States to be
formed out of Texas and also in regard to the resto
ration of fugitive slaves cannot be too highly praised
But now that, under certain conditions, Texas is
in with all her territories, slave State, with a
solemn pledge that she is divided into many States
those States may come in slave States south of
81 deg 80 min, how are we to deal with it :! know
no way of honorable legislation, but when the pro-
per time comes for the enactment, to carry into eff
feet all that we have stipulated to do. do not
| f1RoIE
see, Mr.. BELL, that as soon as the time comes
when she Is entitled to another Representative we
should create new State. The rule in regard to
1t take to be this that when we have created new
| States out OF territories we have generally gone
upon the idea, that when there population enough
| to form State-sixty thousand, some such thing
| we would create State but it may be thought
quite different thing when State is divided, and
two more States made out of it. It does not fol-
low, in such case that the rule of apporton-
ment should be applied That, however, is a mat
ter for the consideration of Congress when the pro-
per time arrives. | may not be here-I may have
no vote to give on the occasion but wish it to be
distinctly understood to-day, that according to my
view of the matter this Government is solemnly
pledged, by law, to create States out of Texas,
with her consent, when her population shall justify
such proceeding, and far as such States are
formed out of Texan territory lying south of sc deg
5O min, to let them come in slave States. That
IS the meaning of the resolution which friends
the northern Democracy, have left to fulfil and
for one mean to fulfill it, because will not violate
the faith of the Government.
Now, as to California and New Mexico, I hold
slavery to be excluded from those territories by law
even superior to that which admits and sanctions it
IN Texas mean the law of nature physical ge-
ography-the law of the formation of the earth That
law settles forever with strength beyond all terms
OF human enactment that slavery cannot exist in
California or New Mexico. Understand me, sir-I
mean slavery regard it; slaves in the gross of
the coored race, transferable by sale and delivery
like other property. shall not discuss that point
leave it to the learned gentlemen who have under
taken to discuss it but l suppose there is no
slave of that description in California under
stand that peons, sort of penal servtude, exists
there; Or rather, voluntary sale of man and his
offspring for debt it is arranged and exists in some
parts of California and New Mexico. But what
to say is that African slavery, as we see it
mong us, is utterly impossible to find ITSELF Or to
be found in Mexico any other natural impossible
/ ity California and New Mexico Asiatic in their
formation and scenery. They are composed OF vast
ridges of mountains, of height with some
times broken ridges and deep valleys The sides OF
these mountains are barren-entlrely barren-thelr
| tops capped by perennial snow There may be IN
California, now made free by its constitution-and
no doubt there are-some tracts of valuable land
But it is not in New Mexico. Pray, what is the
evidence which any gentleman has obtained on this
subject, from information sought by himself or COM
municated by others have inquired, and read all
could, to obtain information this subject. What
is there in New Mexico that could by any possibility
induce any body to 90 there with slaves There
some narrow strips of tllabe land the borders of
the rivers but the rivers themselves dry up before
mid summer is gone. All that the people can do is
to raise some little articlessome little wheat for
their tortllas-and all that by irrigation And who
expects to see hundred black cultivating to-
bacco, corn cotton rice anything else, lands
in New Mexico made fertile only by irrigation!
look upon it, therefore, fixed fact to use
preston current to the day. that both California and
New Mexico destined to be Free far they
settled at ALL which believe, especially in regard to
New Mexico will be very little for great length
of time-free by the arrangement of things by the
Power above have therefore to say, in this
speet also that this country is fixed for freedom to
many persons shall live there, by as ire
pealable and more irrepealable law than the law
that attaches to the right of holding slaves in Texas
and will say further that if a resolution law
s before u.s. to provide territorial govern
G prohibition into it whatever The of such pro-
hibtion would be idle, as respects any effect il
j. would have upon the territory and would not take
Q pains to reform ordinance of nature, to re-
- enact the will of God. And would put in no VIII
mot provisO, for the purpose of taunt reproach
would put into it evidence of the votes of supe
g ror power, to wound the pride, whether JUS
r PRIDE rational PRIDE an irrational pride-tt
s. wound the pride Of the gentlemen who people tn,
6 Southern States. | have such object-no sucI
d purpose They would think it a taunt-an digni
ty They would think it to be an act taking ava,
4, from them what they regard proper equality o
privilege; and whether they expect to realize an,
benefit from it not, they would think it theoret
{, wrong-that something more or less derogatory t.
"a their character and their rights had taken place
H. propose to infct such wound upon anybody, un
less something essentially important to the country
IL and efficient to the preservation of liberty and free
DOM is to be effected Therefore I repeat, sir-an