Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-02
and Iowa in Contrast.
A SCENE IN THE u. S. SENATE.


read to the Senate series Of resolutions
adopted by very large meeting held in
the city of Wilmington, wherein Presi-
dent Taylor's plan of proceeding in re-
gard to the New Territories, was emphat-
icalIy approved, and the Compromise
Plan as decidedly disapproved, and the
immediate and unconditional admission
OF California as State was called for.
Mr.. Wales spoke in approving terms in
regard to the resolutions. whereupon
there arose short debate between him
and Mr.. Clay. At the termination of
this debate, Hon. A. c. Dodge Of this
State got the floor, and the following
scene transpired:
Mr.. Dodge, Of Iowa. l desire most
respectfully 10 address an inquiry to the
Senator from Delaware, who has pre-
senied this morning the proceedings Of
this meeting. rise, in my place, to in
quire of that Senator, in his place, if the
State of Delaware has passed Wilmot
Proviso resolutions?
Mr.. Wales. They have not passed
Wilmot proviso resolutions in the sense
in which the gentleman puts the inquiry.
The Legislature did pass resolutions two
years ago against the acquisition of terri
tory, unless it could be made free.
Mr.. Dodge, of Iowa. My object is TO
arrive at the truth in regard to this mat.
ter. The Senators from Delaware have
sat silently in their seats during the pres.
ent session, and heard the Senator from
New Hampshire (Mr. HALEY and the
Senator from New York (Mr. Seward)
alledge that fifteen States have given
their Representatives instructions to vote
for this Wilmot proviso, = and at a
time. too. when. If there was particle of
courage or bravery in the sons of the
South, they were called upon as men to
stand up and "face the music" in this or
any other form in which it could chal-
lenge their resistance. *The decla-
ration has been frequently made here
also by the Senators to whom alluded,
and Delaware has been claimed as among
the number of States which have deci-
ded in. favor of what is called the free
side of this question. The fact has been
repeatedly stated here without coniradic-
ton, and | just wish to know the truth.
wish to know if Delaware, slavehold-
ing State, takes this position, when Iowa
takes her stand on the other side, and is
willing to confront the engines of dema-
gogueism? ] wish to know if Delaware
and her leading men take the opposite
side. and If we are to have her Senators
voting with the Abolitionists here, as
more than half of the political parry to
which the gentlemen belong hav lone
in time past! We were taunted the
other day by the Senator from Florida
(Mr. Yulee) with being unsound on this
question. | ask him what was the vote
of his State and of Louisiana, and other
Southern States, at the time when you,
Mr.. President, were a candidate, with
your well known opinions on this subject!
| refer to them in spirit of great kind
ness and regard, because entertain for
you high respect; but, sir, how did the
gentleman's State vote then? | take it
that if you were committed for any thing,
it was for The Wilmot proviso. Where
were the votes of the Southern States
then in reference to tins question. concer-
ming which they assail me and the peo-
pie of the State | in part represent!
wish the position of Delaware TO be un-
derstood, that we may know if she is
with those States which have threatened
united and determined resistance to this
Wilmot proviso.
Mr.. Wales. | have no recollection,
nor has my colleague, (Mr. Spruance,)
of any declaration made on this floor that
any resolution had passed the General
Assembly Of Delaware approving the
Wilmot proyiso. II had heard it, /
should have explained at the time the
history of the legislation Of our State
upon this subject. II is simply that Ger.
tain resolutions were passed by the Gen
eral Assembly instructing their Senators
to vote against the acquisition Of any new
territory unless it was made free. This
was the substance of them.
AsAi' 0S"0h Asio hOt Wei iiuPOIGluts
but | rise to correct what suppose to
be misapprehens,on, | have no rec
ollection that ! have at any time stated
in the Senate that there are fifteen or
any other number of State Legislatures
which have instructed their Representa-
lives to vote for the Wilmot proviso.
think the honorable Senator from Iowa
has Inexperienced me.
Mr.. Dodge. If have misapprehen-
ded the Senator will Withdraw my re-
mark. - should dislike to do inius-
tice TO the Senator from New York, re-
prehensible as think his course has
been on this question.
The Vice President. The Senator is
out of order.
Mr.. Dodge, Well, sir, as objectiona-
bic as his course has been. But the SEN
ator from New Hampshire, time and again
during this discussion, made the declara-
tion before the Delaware Senators. l
wish simply to bring the matter to
point, and to know whore abolitionsm
begins, and who is for il and who against
IL