The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-26

falsely claimed as fugyes and il seems to me sufficient
II fairly and honestly carried into executonas doubt
not it will be-o insure to those who are really owners
OF slaves that have escaped from the State IN which they
lived return Of their property to them and az ultimate
devouon il there be any doubt in the case, OF the ut
mate question OF freedom upon the tribunal that has
proper jurisdiction OF the subject and rghtful authority
to settle the question Il is to return this question: not
to set Of savagesnot collection OF heathensnot
10 people who insensble 10 the claims OF human
ty or to the powerful though gentle influence OF our
ligon, but to people as sensible TO such claims, as
ready TO acknowledge them, as prompt TO discharge
them, claim nothing more for them than for our friends
and fellow citizens who live in the northern portion OF
the Unon as any people on earth For all this which
we ask, we have the guaranty OF the constitution We
rest not our claim upon the generosity or magnanmty
merely Of our northern brethrenhough feel that we
might safely rely upon thsseba we rest i upon strict
rghwe demand It, and appeal to their OF justice
pledged to Us in the fundamental law OF the land II
seems to me that, upon every view OF the subject this
measure should meet with the decided appreciation OF all
friends OF the constuton-that there should be at
tempt TO clog the provision with such arrangements for
delay and expense must in the ordinary course Of
things render the utterly neicientuseless to
us Tor any practical purpose, and calculated only to r
tate and iniame the sore and excited feelings OF the
South by false show OF granting what is in fact de-
Mr. President. with regard 10 the Wmot Proviso, |
will endeavor TO reduce what have to say within
row compass
In the first place, i will remark that my own view
with regard to the proper manner OF arranging this diff
Guilty is and has all along BEEN that should adopt and
carry to the Pacific ocean the Missouri compromise line
have thought that in itself just and reasonable
settlement commended to besides, because it is old
measure--a measure heretofore adopted with practical
results OF peace and quiet 10 the country. and having
therefore as much Of that kind Of which be-
longs to old things well be found in nation of
recent origin ours
have preferred it also upon another ground believe
that our country is too large. was utterly opposed to
ratification of the treaty with Mexico did my best to
get that treaty so amended to exclude all acquisition
Of territory voted against its ratification because Of
the acquisition, and Tor no other reason And MIR Pres
ident, believing that our country is too argebeevng
that our danger lies IN indefinite extension OF our linn
itsa premature expansion OF our population weaken
ing OF all the central parts without adding real strength to
the circumference should delight in seeing that Mis-.
souri, compromise line applied because believe it would
close the account OF acquisition OF territory. on the part
Of our government forever II the character OF territory,
which might be acquired north south of any given line,
were fixed to tall in with the views interest OF eth
er one or the other portion OF the Union, constitutional
body for the acquisition of any territory, North, South
East, West And, sir, mention it because intended
10 state frankly my own views do not suppose It with
in the reach of possibility that any such be
adopted. have no ultimatum TO propose upon this
subject go for the adjustment OF this question, and
for moderatng and letting down the excitement upon
each and every topic connected with it, that If pos
sble, moderate men, those who are not extreme,
those who do not insist upon pressing their notions
In their ultimate extent TO actual adoption may meet to-
gether upon a common ground Now, it seems 10 me
that after what has been said upon this subject by SO
many able and distinguished gentlemen upon this floor,
and particularly after the observations made the other
day by the honorable senator from Massachusetts, Mr.
WEBsTER we ought to be able to unite upon PROPOSE
ton to drop the Wmot Proviso altogether The honor
abe senator from Michigan Mr. CAss is clearly in favor
OF having no Proyiso but he meets the Proyiso upon
the ground of want of constitutional power apply it
and others who may desire applied, do not
enter into and adopt his particular view upon the subject
OF the opinions and judgment which he gives do
not have upon this question the weight to which his
high and eminent character justly entities him. But
from the senator from Massachusetts, have reason
for dropping this odious Provso, which may be received
and acted by every man, whatever his views OF the
question OF power may be, without violating, in the
slightest degree, the notions OF legal right appearing
TO surrender constitutional authority. Now, sir, | am
one Of those who believe in the constitutional power
have had occasion TO say, and have endeavoed FAR
as was able, to prove il the floor OF the Senate
have sad i at nome; have said everywhere have
again. because have no conceament upon this subject
and believe that what aim at be best accomplished
have said, and say again, that Congress has the con-
sIutional power to apply the Wlmo Proviso to this
Territory and to all the Territories that belong TO the
United States. ! believe that Congress has entire
power and jurisdiction the Territories; that are
the supreme awgiver over them; may dispose oil their
institutions as think right, and let in and shut out
just whom and just what we please. But, Mr. Presi.
dent, when the power 10 adopt measure is admitted,
permit me 10 say that very little is done towards
tanning that il is proper that the power should be
csed An abuse even OF an admitted power is not only
Just ground OF complaint, but, under circumstances II
may be Just as fair and reasonable ground OF resistance
as il the power exercised usurped. II our gov.
eminent simple desposm, ii all the powers OF all
branches centeed in the hands oil single ruler
i, could be said any occasion that he usurped
power but If be abused the powers thus coRhded TO him
TO purposes Of oppression and njusce-if his admins
tralion rendered property insecure and life inioerable
beyond all doubt, there would be the same right OF re-
sstance as il the power thus unjusly and oppressvely
used had been usurped, instead OF having been con-
ferred. The is a of unjust seizure o power
the other is case oil wanton disregard aud violation oil
the confidence upon which the power was given. One
IS vloence the other is fraud One is open rapine the
other Is breach OF trust
Now, sir, il has been said, and well sad--truly and
sadthat the assertion OF extreme right
Is always odious" In political matters such asser
ton OF extreme right such resolution TO do whatever we
may lawfully do TO The utmost extent OF our power law
fully TO do it, ways ends in despotsm ltisa principle in
the private business transactions OF life that inevitably
terminates In dishonesty. He who sets out in bust
ness transactions OF life with the 6xed nhexIbe resou
ton always TO obtain to the extreme, everything that Is
tirey inconsistent with integrity, and he will end by
sezing things which belong 10 another No power IN
any government and especially in government like ours
should be exercised, the existence o which power IS
denied by many and the proprety OF whose exercise, IN
given case doubted by still more, unless under the
influence of strong reasons and fer the accomplishment
of justiabe and important ends II this proposition be
apply the Wlmot Proyso TO the Territories to- which we
hope TO give form Of territorial government What is
the important end which is TO be attained as conse
quence OF iti Gentlemen tell on all hands that, in
point OF fact slavery cannot be established these Ter
rtories. Many gentlemen tell that, in point OF law
slavery now stands excluded from those Territories
Well now, sir, have said, and say II again-for do