Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-07-04
EXTRACT
FROM THE SPEECH or
MFR. BINGHAM,
OF MICHIGAN, ON THE
Admission OF California.

Admission OF California.
Delivered IN The House Of Representatives., June
A, 1850.
MIR. Chairman, having shown satisfactorily.
truSt' that In proposing TO exclude slavery from
these new possessions acquired on our South
west border, we are only walking in the foot
steps oil the patriots and statesmen who have pre-
ceded us, why should we hesitate to act? Eve.
ry southern man voted to exclude slavery from
the Northwest Territory Why should we In
ger against guarding the Southwest from its in
truslon! Is 1t because we are alarmed at the
threats Tor the dissolution of the Union Was
1t TO propagate human slavery that this Union
was formed? ESouthern men should under
take to carry out their reasonable designs, what
would be the record of their wrongs upon which
they would ask the judgment of the world?-
me people OF tIeNorth refuse to acknowledge
that slavery is geat blessing-a blessing to
the master, and Blessing to the save'-and re-
IuSe TO ad us IN Its extension; therefore we de-
clare this Union to BE dissolved" This would
De the summary of heir wrungs-for this they
would dissolve the MON. Sir, does it become
Northern statesmen TO stand here trembling in
thelr Shoes at these croakings and bullying
threats of desperate brayadoes? Are we, the
representatives of the great free North so, weak,
OF so tlmid as to be frightened from our prlncl"
PIES ana our purposes because treason Is rife IN
tLe iahd' Shall wesubmt to sllvery dlctatlon!
onall we encourage them in their lnsoIence, by
Puollshlng to The world our fears? No, SIT, let
tile same spirit animate US which was so noby
expressed BY Gen. Cass two years ago, when
our country was involved in foreign war, and
inc patriotism of our people was invoked to raise
'Ile "ieh ana the money to bring 1t to an honor
aoe conclusion. Then he thus spoke
Mr. Presiden, it gives me great pam to hear
any alluson TO the dissolution of this Conteder-
acy, and OF all the places in this Republic, this
nigh place should be the last, in whchlhey should
DC expressed. The Constitution is IN do danger.
1t has survived many shock, and it will sur
wye WI many more. 1t Ryet fresh in Its strength
NO lnhrmlty has Come to tell us, that its dlssolu-
lloh Is near 1t is no longer an experiment, but
experiencing longera promise, but perform
ance' 1t has fulfilled all, and more than all its
most sahgulne advocates dared predict. 1t is at
this moment stronger in the affections of the A.
merlcan people, than at any other period of its
existence. Like the chr feternal granite which
oVerlooks the ocean, and drives back the count
less waves that assOiI its base, so will the Con-
stllntioh resist the assault that may be made up
on leone how, or when, or whence they
may"
These were the eloquent, courageous words OF
a statesman, which ioand a ready response IN
the hearts OF the people, They were uttered at
q time when q StrOnp ma, orro nizotiOn was on
posed to the prosecution Of the war. Now that
the war is over when nohing agitatesthe coun-
try but the simple question of organizing govern
menls Tor the acquired Country, cannot the Con-
stltutlon stand as rude shock? And was not
the same distinguished Senator frightened from
his PFoprlety, and does he not tameIy surrender
to the dlctation of an insolent minority, when he
lowing;
! whatever impressions may prevail elsewhere