The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-04

in doubt and uncertainty. II settles nothing Now.
whatever should be asceained 10 be the condition OF the
law N respect to slavery il may turn out that while the
law y held % be one way the people OF the Territory are
unanimous the other way.
And sir is an institution to be fixed upon people, 10
Opposition % he,r unanimous opinion or sr are people
by action here, and they have no power 10 remedy the
ey sir. Tor one. think that such ought not 10 be the
wSs ha, iay viii viii be unSsr ha. provision But SIR
left to exercise my own Judgment to carry out my own
principles desire no provision whatever ia respect 10
the institution Of slavery in the Territories and wish TO
leave the people Of the Territories 10 enact just such laws
they please in respect 10 this institution On this one
point, sir am not left to follow my own judgment-my
which has been solemnly pronounced My vote will Be
in accordance with their instructions but sir. desire
that that vote should be given upon direct question that
comes fairly up to the Instructions and in this ndi-
rect mode which settles nothing whether be adopted or
Mr. DOWNS. wish TO notice an allusion to a remark
OF the honorable senator from Michigan male by the
senator from Illinois, mir. DoUeLAsl am very sorry.
sir to hear that say that there anything this
bill or IN the amendment OF this section by the commit
friend from Michigan mr. CAssl contended for ia the
last presidential campaign. think, sir, that il the
very basis, the ground which i was put upon As
tended the other day. think il is put precisely upoa the
ground OF the national convention i find, Mr. President,
that was not alone in this construction Of it. The dem
ocrate press throughout the country believe. universal
~ construed that provision OF the BILL as to the territorial
question precisely was construed BY The Nicholson
letter OF the honorable senator from Michigan, Mr. CAss
But sir If the meaning OF that letter is be rtteed away
IN this manner there have been some explanations du
ring this session which have taken away Of the
foundation which that letter was supposed 10 contain
when the canvass was going True, there OF
left but that also to be taken away should be
very sorry; should regret it deeply, because dwelt
much in the canvass, upon that letter. and gave very
different construction. regret, then, deeply, that the
honorable senator from Illinois cannot agree in the ex.
PLANTATION offered BY the committee upon this subject
was surprised, when the territorial bill was reported,
that the section reported with addition TO the
clause which contained in the compromise bill of
lSiS, and was surprised that that clause omitted
suppose that nadvertance rather than DELHI
crate intention to leave out what had been consid-
cred so important when the question up in ls4s.
nope. sir, upon further reflection, that the senator
will not persist in wishing this to stand il is; if be
does. he changes the whole foundation OF the report
he makes il a different thing altogether. | submit to
hmnow, reflection, whatever Impressions may have
been of this principle heretofore il he suppose after
twelve months, that the people Of Territory, any por
on OF them under the circumstances without any act OF
Congress, could form constitution and exclude emgra
lion from the South ask merely if il can be supposed
that the South likely calmly to acquiesce in principle
which will exclude US Task, if he strike out this provision,
when we'll known stated the other day. that large
majority Of the people OF New Mexico in favor
consider il different from the Wmot Provisoa LII is
be preereds 10 be imposed-impose here, but do not
authorize indirectly by section yet this would be an
tablish il they had the power know, sir, there is
desire to pass this bill No particular section pass
this bill there must be general concordance. II we are
to stand up here and vote against this bill because every
clause does not exactly square with the impressions OF
any one then, sir, this bill never can be passed
will not take up any longer the time OF the Senate to
discuss this question: but could not pass in silence
expression OF my extreme asonishment at the position
this subject
FRO BE Continued