The southern press., 1850-09-03


there' None, sir, none. There is one motive
common to them ALL and that is the admission of
a free State into the Union. The gentleman ex-
presses special wonder that we are found voting
with the Free-soilers. Can he give any other
reason than the one Just assigned why he and his
Southern friends voted with them on another
question:
Until the gentleman could assign some satisfac-
tory reason why he and his party, North and
South, were found in political fellowship with
every Free-soier and Abolitionist in the land for
the admission Of California, IL would be modest
to suppress his wonder at the accidental associa-
ton of Free -soilers and Southern gentleman on
the boundary Of Texas.
The difference between us (said Mr.. B. is this
we act with them from extremely opposite mo-
tives; you from concurrent opinions and senti-
ments; and we will leave to posterty and the
country to decide which sands most justified in
the eyes of all honest and impartial men.
But his main object in raising to address the
House was to say what were the demands Of the
South. She asks for an equal participation in the
enjoyment Of all the common property; and If this
be denied, she demands fair division. Give it
TO her, give it by non-intervention, by non-acton
or by any other means, and she will be satisfied.
This is her right, and she demands it. But if, in
stead Of doing this, the North insists on taking
away the territory and abridgng the rights of the
South, she will not submit to the wrong in peace,
nor meanly kiss the hand that smites her. He
uttered no threat, but it was his duty to say that
the South could neither forget nor forgive a wrong
like this. She cannot forget that these new Ter
rtories were purchased in part by her blood and
treasure and she will not forg i've the power that
snatches them from her. He had never under
taken to say what course the South would feel it
her duty to pursue on the consummation Of her un-
Just exclusion from these Territories, but he would
say, that the act Of her exclusion would sink like
poisonous arrow into the hearts Of her people,
and it would ranke there and in the hearts Of their
,lS;I lnpr tl,ap of thpaa Statn
tinued. The consummation of northern policy
may not produce an immediate disunion of these
States; but it will produce disunion Of northern
and southern hearts, and he left it to others to say
whether apotical union under such circumstances
could long be maintained, or whether 1t was worth
maintaining.
1t can excite no feelings Of gratitude that the
gentleman from New York [Mr. BRooKs says he
is opposed to the Wilmot Provso. He is for the
spirit of the proviso. lie would be for its letter,
if it was necessary for our exclusion. lie con-
sents to abandon it simply because it is useless.
There was a day when it was potential. Then
the gentleman was for it. Now, when he sup
poses our exclusion almost perfect, and the means
at hand for its entire ccnsummatlon, he magnani-
mously abandons the proviso. Wonderful llber-
allty Amazing generosity to the South! lft the
gentleman is not canonized as the most generous
man Of his age, surely gratitude will have failed
to perform her office.
We of the South well understand the means
employed for our exclusion. This proviso, once
80 much in favor with the gentleman from New
York, now so graciously abandoned, performed
its office. It was held in terrorem over Calitor-
mia: southern property; termed as property always
is, was keeps out of the country. The column of
Southern emf grafton was checked at the onset
whilst every appliance was resorted TO to swell the
, column of Northern emigration Every hieans
was resorted to which political ingenuity could
devise and Federal power make effective, to hurry
on this emigration, and then, with indecent haste,
the emigrants, yet without names or habltatlons
in the country, were induced to make pretended
State constitution, and insert in it the Wimot Pro-
vso. The gentleman need not be told how far
the Federal Administration was responsible for
, these things. He need not be reminded that he
' and his quandam Provso friends were prominent
actors in all these scenes. Need he be told that
the proviso was the sIIBBoLETH Of their power
1t was used so long as it was effective. Ii was
used for our prostration, and now it Is thrown
aside for better reason than that 1t Is useless
, that it is no longer necessary.
Does not the gentleman from New York know
very we'll that the California constitution is no
constitution until adopted by Congress' Does he
not know that that constitution contains the pro-
. vso, Does he not know that the proviso is pow
eress in that constitution until sanctioned by Con
, gressi And does he not mean to vote for thai
constitution, with the full intent and purpose OF
giving vitality to that proviso' With how much
of liberality-with how much OF justice to the
to assure us that he is against the provso? The
gentleman is opposed to migrating the provlso on
the territorial bills for Utah and New Mexico; and
, we thank him for his opposition. But what rea-
son does the gentleman give for his opposition
, The DEGREES of God Lave already excluded us.
He has no idea that slavery would ever penerae e
: the country lie is opposed to the Proviso, be-
cause it is unnecessary lfit was at all necessary
for our exclusion, the honorable gentleman would
be for it. He must excuse us if our gratitude
fails to become frantic for this singular exhibition
Of forbearance and lberallty.
, Mr.. 3. was willing to trust the rights OF the
South on the strict doctrine Of non-intervention.
, If God in his providence, had in fact decreed
against the introduction Of slavery into Utah and
New Mexico, he and his people bowed in humble
! submission to that decree. We think the soil and
climate are proptious to slave labor; and if they
are not, we shall never seek the country with our
, slaves. All we ask of you is, that you will not
nerpose the authority Of this Government for us
or against us. We do not fear the Mexican laws,
if you will in good faith stand by the doctrine OF
=, non-intervention. We will risk the protection OF
the Federal Constitution, and the banner of the
: stars and stripes for ourselves and property
All we ask Of you is, that you will in good faith
= stand neutral.
!, He had never announced his purpose of voting
against the territorial government for Utah. He
meant to vote for it, and he should vote for the
, territorial government for New Mexico if the
. of Texas He was opposed to the admission OF
California, because her constitution was fraud
fraud deliberately perperated for the purpose OF
excluding the South; but he was in favor OF Civ.
ing governments 10 Utah and New Mexico on the
ground Of strict non-intervention. He did not
want to he cheated in this business, and he there
fore proposed this question to the honorable gen.
tleman from New York Suppose we pass these
Utah and New Mexicans bills at this session with
out the Wilmot Proviso; and suppose the Southern
r people commence moving into the Territories with
their slaves, and it becomes apparent that they are
to be slave territories and ultimately slave STATES
and suppose that the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
RooT, at the opening OF the next Congress, offers
the Wilmot Proviso with view to check our emi
grafton and to exclude from us the territories with
our slaves, will the gentleman, if member o
Congress, then vote for the provisos
Mr.. BROOKS replied in the negative, as far as
he was heard
MIR. BROWN. Then if we take our slave
property into the Territories we are assured tina
we are not to be disturbed in it's peaceable and
quiet enjoyment by any act Of this Government.
al fDTgr - l