The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-24


the prosperity Of the present. and ~ brilliant hopes Of the
failure must impress every psi'oue heart with deep love
and devotion for ne Union Who thar i now citizen
oil this republic, extending from the st Lawrence to
the Rio Grande and IRON the Atlantic to the Pacific does
shudder the idea OF being transformed into citizen
oSs q - S,0Esn Jealous End hostile
blood Than the thirty brilliant which
float proudly upon our counirys flag, amid The battle and
as s ass, Ss Sf Ss
Rest assured that all The patriotic emotions Of every
true hearted Pennsy yanaD. in favor OF the Union and
the constitution, shared BY The southern people What
battle field has not been illustrated BY their gallant deeds
And when, in our history, have they ever shrunk from
sacrifices and suerings in the cause OF their country
What then, means the muttenng thunder which wehear
from the SOUTH The signs OF the times are truly por
tentous Whilst many in the South openly advocate the
cause OF secession and dsunion large majority, as
firmly believe, still ondy cling TO- The Union awaiting
with deep anxiety lhe action OF the North the Com
promise lately effected in Congress. Should this be dis
regarded and nulled BY the citizens Of the North the
long farewell, TO our blessed Union am alarmst;
but brave and wise man looks danger steadily In the
lace. This y the best means OF avoiding IT, am deeply
impressed with the conviction that the North neither SUI
hcenty understands nor appreciates the danger For my
own part have been steadily watching its approach for
The last fifteen years During that period have often
sounded the alarm but my feeble warnings have been
disegarded soemnly declare, as the deliberate
conviction Of my Judgment that Two things are necessary
to preserve this Union from the most imminent danger:
/. Agitation in the North the subject Of southern
slavery must be rebuked and put down By strong
getic, and enlightened public opinion.
The iusitIve-saye law must be executed in its letter
On each Of these points shall offer few observations.
Those are greatly mistaken who suppose that the tenn
pest which is raging in the South has been raised
solely BY the acts or omissions Of the present Congress
The minds Of the southern people have been gradu-
ally prepared for This explosion by the events OF the
last fifteen years. Much and devOtedy as they love
the Union, many Of them are now taught 10 believe
that the peace OF their own fresdes and the security
OF their families cannot be preserved without separation
Sr.n INF abr
domestic peace and security commenced 10 1885 General
in his annual message 10 Congress 10 December
Of that year. speaks Of il IN the following emphatic Ian,
guage must also invite your attention 70 the painful
excitement produced in the South by attempts TO crcu
late through the mails inammatory appeals addressed
TO the passions Of the slaves in prints and various sorts
oil publications, calculated 10 stimulate them 10 Insurrec
ton, and produce all the horrors oil servewar From
that period the agitation in The North against southern
has been Dy means Of ns q STATE
tures and every other method which fanatics and dema
gogues could devise The time OF Congress has been wasted
in violent harangues on the subject 81 slavery milan
matoy appeals have been sent forth from this central
point throughout the country, the inevitable effect o.
which has been TO create geographical parties SO much
dreaded by the Father OF his Country, and to esrange
the northern and southern divisions Of the Union from
each other.
Before the Wimot Proviso was nterposed, the aboli-
ton Of slavery in The District OF Columbia had been the
chief theme OF agitation. Petitions for this purpose, by
thousands, from men, women, and children, poured into
Congress, session after session The rights and the
boldly disiegarded Slavery was denounced as national
sin and national Disgrace which the laws Of God and
the laws OF man ought % abolish, cost what = might i
in the District would convert into citadel IN the midst
Of TWO savehoding States from which the abononists
could securely scatter arrows, hreoands, and death az
around 1t maltered not 10 them that the abolition OF
slavery in the District would be violation OF the spirit
of the constitution and Of the implied faith pledged to
MARY land and Virginia. because the whole world knows
that those States would have coded II to the Union,
had they imagined could be converted by Congress
into place from which their domestic peace and security
might be assaed BY fanatics and abolilioniss Nay the
abolilionists still further They agitaed Tor
the purpose OF aboshng slavery in the fors arsenas,
and savy yards which the southern States had ceded to
the Union, under the constitution for the protection and
| Thus stood the question when the Wilmot Proviso
intsrposed 10 add fuel to the fame, and to excite
| the southern people TO madness.
j President Polk was anxious TO bring the war with
i Mexico to honorable conclusion with the least pos
sble delay. He deemed i highly probable that an APP
preparation by Congress OF 0oo to be paid 10 the
Mexican government Immediately after the conclusion OF
peace, might essentially aid him in accomplishing this
desirable object He sent message to this effect to Con-
gress in August 1916 and whilst the bill granting the
appropriation pending before the House, Mr. Will
offered his famous Proyso as an amendment which
was carried by majority Of nineteen votes. TINS
amendment had it even been proper IN ITSELF was out OF
time and oui oil place. because had not then been as
certsned whether should acquire any territory from
Mexico and in point OF fact, the treaty OF peace was
not concluded until eighteen months thereafter. Be.
SIDES this Provso by defeating the appropriation. was
calculated. though cannot believe it was intended, to
proong the
The Wllmot Provso until the termination OF the
last session OF Congress- defeated every attempt to form
territorial governments for our Mexican acquisitions.
Had such governments been established at the proper
time, California would have changed her territorial into
State government, and would have into The Union
naturally young enters upon bis civil rights
at the age Of twenty one, producing scarcely ripple
| upon the surface OF public opinion.
What consequences have resulted from the Proviso /!
II placed the divisions OF the Union in hostile
The people OF each instead OF considering the people Of
the other BRETHREN began TO view each other deadly
olutions nsructng their senators and requesting their
representatives TO vote Tor the imot Proyiso and for
laws to abolish slavery in the District OF Columbia.
southern legislatures and prompted and
tanned by the indignant and united voice Of the southern
people, were passing resolutions pledgng themselves 10
measures OF resistance The spirit OF fanatcsm was IN
the ascendant To such height had II mounted, that
bill introduced into the House OF Representatives by Mr.
Gddngs during the last session Of the last Congress-
horizng the slaves in the District OF Columbia
the question whether they themselves shosld be free men,
was defeated, the motion OF my FRIEND Mr. Brodhead
OF this State by the slender majority OF only twenty
i votes.
i Thus stood the question when the present Congress
assembled That body at st presented the appearance Of
Polish Diet divided into hostile parties, rather than that
of the representatives Of great and united people,
sembed in the land OF Washington, Jefferson and Jack
son. TO consult and together brethren promoting
4 the common good OF the whole republic.
i II would be The extreme OF dangerous infauaon to
suppose that the Union not then in serious danger
Had the Wimot Proviso become law, or had slavery
been abolished in the District Of Columbia, nothing short
o special nterposiion OF Divine Providence could have
prevented the secession Of most IL not all Of the slave