The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28

----------a FIRST RESOLUTION.
/. This proposes the admission of California
as State, without the imposition by Congress Of
any restriction on the subject Of Slavery, and
"iruh suitable bomdariesD These words imply
that the present boundaries are unsuitable, and
must be altered. Let me now call your attention
to the true for this reservation about boun-
DIARIES, and respecting which the resolution is
silent. During the war, and before the cession
of any territory, the House of Representatives
passed the Wilmot Proviso, prohibiting Slavery
in all the Territory that might be acquired. On
this, the South, with voice, declared that they
would not submit to the exclusion Of slavery south
of $50 co. The Legislature of Alabama resolved
that they would not recognise I" any enactment Of
the Federal Government which has for It's object
the prohibition Of slavery in any territory TO be
acquired by conquest or treaty, south Of the line of
the Missouri Compromise At a public meeting
in Charleston, and at which believe Mr. Cal
houn was present, it was resolved that it would
be debasing aud dishonorable to submit TO the
prohibition Of slavery "beyo2d what is already
yielded by the Missouri Compromise" and in
Vulnerable have been the offers and efforts of
Southern politicians 10 extend the Compromise
line to the Pacific Hence 1t is not the exclusion
of slavery in California to the north Of that line
that offends the South and to admit this Anti
Slavery State, bounded on the south by $50 30, :
is doing no more than what the South has con-
scented should be done, and is in no sense CONS
promise. But the free State Of California ex-
tends sonh Of this line, and hence her southern
boundary Is unsuitable and hence Mr.. Clay's reso-
luton makes tacit provision for depriving the
State of 30 much Of her territory as his Southern
frjends have resolved shall not be consecrated to
freedom. Mr.. Foote Of Mississippi observed, in
relation to this very resolution, see objection
to admitting all California ADORE the line Of $50
30 into the Union, provided another new slave
State be laid of within the present limits Of
Texasn To this laying of another new slave
State, Mr.. Clay's compromise opposes no obsta-
Gle Had Mr.. Clay proposed the admission Of
California with otis present boundaries,n his
offer would so far have been compromise as to
conccde something to freedom, as a consideration
for the surrender of the Wimot Proviso.
SECOND RESOLUTION.
.. The next resolution declares that "as sla-
ueyy does not enit by Tan, and Is not likely 10 be IN
fyodpc.dp into any of the conquered territories,
they should be organized under Territorial Gov
erpments, without any restriction on the subject
of slavery. The proposed assertion by Congress
that slavery does not exist By lac in the Terrific
ries Il hailed as an a-suficient balm TO the con-
sciences of those who recoii with horror at the
idea OF being In any degree responsible for the
extension Of human boudsge. And what, let me
ash, is this declaration, but the enunciation Of
bald truisml We all know there 10 no law, Mex-
loan or American Recognising slavery In the Ter
ritories4 Mr. Clay adroitly avoids drawing any
inference from this Acknowledged fact, but expects
that the good People Of the North will draw for
themselves the Inference, that because slavery
does not exist by law therefore IL 10 prohibited by
law Properly in elephants does not exist " iHw
ia New York, but still 1t exists because 1t Is NOT