The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-19
Mr.. Soule 81 Ame ndnent.

Much comment has been made on the
adoption Of Mr.: SouLE's amen ment in the
Senate on Monday last, by large major
ity.
Its passage has been regarded as an evil:
dence that Northern members were relax
ing in their opposition to the admission Of
slave States hereafter What was that
amendment, and what the reasons assigned
by Mr.. WEBSTER for his support of it
The question was as follows:
Mr.. SOULE moved to amend the 5th sec
ton of the bill, relating to the establishment of
the Territory Of Utah, by inserting Sand when
the said Territory or any portion OF the same
shall be admitted as a State, it shall be received
into the Union with or without slavery, as their
constitution may prescribe at the time Of their
admission.
After discussion, the question being taken,
the amendment of Mr.. SoULE was adopted
as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Ben
ton, Berrien, Bright, Butler Cass, Clay, Clemens,
Cooper, Davis OF Mississippi, Dawson, Dodge of
Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Foote, Houston, Hunter,
Jones, King, Mason, Morton, Norris, Pearce,
Pratt Rusk, Sebastian, Shields, Soue, Spruance,
Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood, Wales, Webster,
Whitcomb, and Yulee-38.
NAYS.-Messrs. Baldwin, Chase, Clarke,
Davis Of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dodge Of Wis
consip, Greene, Hale, Miller, Smith, Upham, and
Walker-l2.
Mr.. SEWARD having paired off with his
colleague, Mr.. Dickinson, did not vote, bu,
emphatically announced his concurrence in
sentiment with the minority.
Mr.. WEBSTER, with his usual candor, de-
clared that he based his support of the
amendment on precisely the same ground as
that on which he had opposed the afflxing Of
the Proviso to the territories. He deemed
it unnecessary to re-enact the laws Of
Cod" The Proviso he deemed unneces-
sary, because, in his judgment, slavery could
never be introduced into those territories
For the same reason no practical result
could accrue from the recognition of the
right granted by this amendment.
Mr.. WEBsTER's words are as follows:
"That being the state of my own judgment upon
this matter, voted very readily and cheerfully
to exclude what is called the Wilmot Proyiso
from these territorial billsor to keep out rather
when motion was made TO introduce it. did
so upon very full and deep conviction that no
act of Congress, no provision Of law, was neces-
sary for that purpose that there were natural
and sufficient reasons and causes, excluding for
ever African slavery from those regions. That
was my judgment, and acted upon it. Those
yxxIIl of N
ferent line of conduct. That is my opinion. Ii
was my opinion then it has been strengthened
by everything have learned since and have
no more apprehension this day of the introdnc-
t uoh or existence Of African slavery in these
Territories than have of its introduction and cs-
ENLISTMENT In Massachusetts.
ell SIR, having voted not to place in those
territorial bills what is called the Wilmot Proviso;
and by that vote having sigh6ed disposition
to exclude the prohibition as a thing unnecessary.
am now called upon to vote upon this amend
ment moved by the honorable member from
Louisiana, MIR. SouLE,l which provides thai
States formed out Of New Mexico and Utah shall
have the right and privilege of making their own