Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-05-31
Tu1ayy-rIRsr coNGREss-IsT SESSION
TUESDAY, MAY Is, 1850.
SE\ ATE

TNIRTi-CIRST CONGfEsS-lsl SESsAo->'
TUESDAY, MAY Is, 1850
SENATE
IT., senate resumed the consideration of the Compromise
bJ lus question pending was on motion to amend the
6h section n follows n,
,aI I'M, words 10 introduce excude and insert after
tiir word slavery" the following:
tue That nothing herein contained shall be constrl-
81 l., ureycnt suid territorial legislature from passing such
laws as NAV bc necessary Tor the protection o the nights oil
rny Of every kiad which may nave been or may be here
rr c,n,rmaby the Constitution and laws ot the L.
S,,,es hell in or introduced into said Territory.
Mr NORWOOD addressed the Senate upon the bill.
H. examined al length the doctrine 80 oe nuN aesa ~ a'
Senate that Congress had no power Whatever over slavery
in the territories and that had no r! 10 prescribe rules
or regulations the property 81 c,zeh "hen carried
IA the territories the Union lie did not accord Win tis
op IIr believed that Congress had the whole sovereign
bower over territories on this subject As well as upon All
,r lie examined the various positions assumed BY Sc
,r, in the discussion on this subject and urged that the
n. rursr Ia pustc was leave the subject entirely IN he
hand oi the people the Territories 10 b. decided by them
He was opposed that portion oi me section relating 10
nraton III The powers of territorial legislatures lie ar
rcd that diffusion o slavery over an extended area would
benefit the slave and all attempts 10 connc II 10 It's present
area III accordance with the spirit VI
honropy If slavery curse and the people Of the
Territories desired take some portion Of il Ia the relief o.
nm, old States they ought 10 be allowed 10 do so.
II il were blessing, then IL would be improper and unjust
- thru Ia prevent them from Introducing il into their linn
lis The diffusion OF slavery was not an increase Of H.
There or two States which II = supposed
were in favor getting rid OF slavery entirely lit were al
lowed Ia be d,ed these States would be easily
bld carry their desires 10 get clear OF their slave po
uaon lie considered the best course to produce
emancipation 10 allow slavery 10 De dluSed over ue
greatest Of territory.
He opposed the amendment of the Senator from
Mississippi pending and was in favor OF striking out
the the prohibition upon the eglsi re from
sing law either 10 admit exclude slavery lie was in
leaving The territorial legislature free 10 act upon this
subject
and some conversation ensued Messs BERRIEN,
DAVIS of Mississippi, KING, DAYTON and CLAY, upon
the proprety Of taking the question al this time.
Mr. CHASE said that was desirable that all propositions
should be clearly understood and that there should be
mistake as 10 what intended The amendment of the
senator from Mississippi implicitly assumes that slavery
does now in the territory To have tho
the proposition clearly manifested lie moved as an aena
ment 10 The amendment that nothing herein shall be
srrued authorizing permitting the introduction OF
slaves or persons held as property into the said territory
Mr.. PRATT. That is the Wilmot Proviso.
Mr. DAYTON said that he desired discuss the bill and
discuss also the plan OF The Executive but did desire
10 do till the bill should have been amended BY its friends
In order that ali might be present when the this
amendment taken he moved that the bill be postponed
till al O'Clock, and the question being taken
decided in the negative-yeas -, nays 81.
Mr. HALE said that this doctrine that The South had
was very old date II heard of till the iay,
Isis The Senator from Virginia had told them yesterday
that he under instructions by his Legislature and had ~
Discretionary power this subject. Ii this the
rule he would like how would operate the discre-
ton Of those representing the free States. Fourteen
thr-iton Of them had instructed their representatives
vote ~. the ordinance OF =. II the North and the South
obey these Instructions how could there be a
promise! liz did believe Southern gem enan were sin.
cec in their opposition this bill nor could he believe that
single Of them would against it, They had got
all they required and the North had readily accepted
his they sorry that they had demanded more
They have got all they wanted non-nerventon over the
whole territory, and the whole free territory OF the United
States turned into hunlnggound for fugitive slaves
This bill il passed be passed and could only be pas
scd by Northern votes and he reminded gentlemen that
| b.fDr and
the Northern who voted Tor from that day
never heard 81 more.
Hampshire had said that fifteen States had instructed their
Senators the Wmot proyso; would the Senator
say whether he intended 10 include Iowa among them.
Mr. HALE said he had said fourteen person
adding Delaware he had then said fifteen lie did not in
tend 10 refer IL Iowa.
Mr. DODGE said that if the Senator did not include Iowa
and could include Michigan, how could he make ont
lteeen States, lie would say the that he was
NJ follower that H. scorncd rcpndatcd all
questions calculated 10 divide the country into sectional
parties that he scorned ani rcpuda,ed the idea that he
friend slavery because he against the
Wmor poyso He had always opposed the Wilmot proy
80 home here tho stump and every where, and h.
would oppose it in every shape and in phase i,
as~ume
The senator referred 10 the legislation of the country 10
show tina, the Wmnt prosiso thing, but that il
ha, handed down hy every administration When the
war with Great Britain wagng the Northwestern
frontier such thing the Wino proyiso Introduced
in Congress dampcn the feelings and ardor of the gallant
men engaged in that war Was then proclaimed in
thu Senate He opposed 10 The Wmo proviso and in
his State he had opposed II, and that too, when tho
,ritn the present Chief Magistrate had it inscribed on
their banners He had opposed because IL tendency
he formation Of sectional parties which could produce
goods ends
lie then alluded the fugitive bill and said ha this
question with him, whether the ordinance Of 81
should BE- adopted not bat whether stick 10 tin
Constitution and carry ont its obligations, in the spirit in
which originally adopted The opposition 10 proper
bill On subject nothing less than an attack
on the institution 81 slavery III tie States.
lie personally opposed 10 slavery but h. favor
Of carving 81" the Constitution and as far the Consu
ton required he would cocriuy support slavery He was
mission being separate But in the hope that this
-uhec, Of slavery be forever disposed Of he would
for the compromise II had Objectionable parts but to &c,
rid OF thu negro question he would vote for it,
Mr. HALE replied and Mr. DODGE rcloincd
Mr. DAYTON said that he understood the provision Of
the l0th section a. reported, To mean nothing than
that the territorial Legislature should pass law respecting
African slavery, and not precuded thereby from pass
ing such police regulations necessary ii slavery was
in The Territory He understood the Senator from entuc
Nv agree with him. The Senator from Mississippi thinks
otherwise, and proposes this amendment
Tho Senator from Ohio thinks the amendment implies
the existence OF slavery in the Territories In this differ
opinion he thought hazardous take the chan.
what might be- the proper meaning and would there
vote against the amendment OF the Senator from Msss
Mr BERRIEN said that it was held by one party that
party that not The section Of the bill left this question
open decided By the II restricted The Icpisl
,ure passing any law either admitting excluding sla
II Ia.
end but lit decided that slavery was
not excluded by the Mexican laws then certain laws and
regulations required Tor the preservation and procc
ton of that property and under the of the bl a il
now stands the Legislature prohibited from passing
such laws This difficulty, which would amount in effect
prohibition OF slavery intended 10 be obyiaed by the
amendment oi the Senator from Mississippi 1t nothing
than giving the local legislature case il was decided
that slavery did exist there power laws necessary for
its protection.
Mr. DAYTON replied. and then, on notion
The Senate adjourned
WEDNESDAY, May 20 1850.
SENATE.
Among the memorials presented were several Tor the n
ration Of the tariff and protective duties on IRON
The bill 10 establish branch of the mint of the United