The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27


ernment, We mean to annihilate it, and to rid
ourselves Of all responsibility in connection with
it and this was part Of our platform Of 1913.
We went for the abolition of slavery and the
slave trade In the District of Columbia, and, If
we could not get the South to consent to 1t, then
we were in favor Of the removal OF the seat OF
Government; and prospectively we were in favor
of aboishng it in all places where 1t exists under
the authority of the Federal Government. We
claim that having deprived ourselves ofthe profits,
bessings,n and advantages of slavery, the South
ought not to ask us to continue it under our joint
sanction. We ought to be permitted to relieve
ourselves Of the responsibility and SIN at once and
forever.
MIR. Chairman, do not feel disposed to aban-
don any one of these positions. Neither can
commit myself to the admission OF any more slave
States | do not know whether these can be con-
sidered the PRINCIPLES of the Progressive De-
mocracy,n of which we heard SO much this morn
ing from the gentleman from Mississippi MIR.
THOMPSON | have never had the honor Of be-
longing to that party it has been my good fortune
to belong to the Wing party, and that Is an honor
which | shall continue to enjoy. But l do not
understand that there are any differences upon
this subject between the body Of the people OF the
free North. The Northern people are honest /;
they are not arrogant, as the gentleman has said
they are peacesble, quiet rather timid than other
own strength, and have too 0flen qunled anu
covered before the threatenings OF the puny
South they are unsuspecting, and 1t happens
almost invariably that they are betrayed, too
often by their own friends, and fear they will
be now.
Mr. Chairman, entertain the highest senti-
ments Of respect for General Taylor his honesty
lar do ifaal IN mo q
the People Bot, Wing and Free-Soiler as am,
| cannot agree with the recommendation Of the
President, upon these subjects. cannot subscribe
to the policy of the order Of the Secretary Of War,
which consigned the New Mexicans to the tender
mercies Of Texas IL may be said that orders
still more favorable to Texas had been given by
the previous Administration and that MIR. Polk
had recognised in terms the claims of Texas, in
his official letter to the Governor Of that State
and that there was danger of civil war with Texas.
All this may be true, and yet cannot see why
this Administration should not have maintained
the "n0tn guo,n as between Texas and New Mex.
leo, until, by Judicial or legislative decision, the
question Of boundary had been disposed Of Texas
might at least have been restrained from extend
ing her jurisdiction at delicate period of the dis
pute, when these questions were 50 soon TO be
submitted, as they now are, to the consideration
OF Congress 80. ...
The protection of the military authorities, un-
der which tine crS1I srv,ernmcn,- exisrs, ~,xs -
right which the New Mexicans had every posi-
Bile reason to expect would not be denied them.
This state Of things, however, only increases the
necessity for speedy action by Congress, and the
immediate application Of a remedy. But the
action Of Congress about these days seems to par
take something of the nature Of suit in chan
cery-tardy.
have another strong objection TO the plan of
the Administration. General Taylor proposes to
the differences between the North
and South with reference to these Territories,
by admitting California, and leaving New Mexi-
co and Utah to adopt State Constitutions when
they get ready. cannot consent to this, because
we are determined to secure those Territories to
freedom, beyond the possibility Of a doubt and be-
cause ! cannot vote for the admission of those
Territories as slave States, should they hereafter
apply, as | should consider myself bound to do
should We adopt the Presidents plan. Yet we
expect to abide by this plan, rather from neces-
sity than choice.
Texas was secured to slavery by the South and
her Northern allies Of the progressive Democra-
cy o beyond even the possibility Of doubt and
they made arrangements moreover, to cut her up
into i've slave States, and they left her all of the
public domain in her bordersto pay her debts with
q privilege no other State enjoys. The main fea-
ture in this glorious example of the clean manner
in which "progressive Democracy and the
South protect and guard the slave interest, |
propose to follow. 1t is bright and illustrious
and intend to take pattern Of it, l
propose to secure strongly, as firmly, as irrev-
ocably, the three remaining States which are to
come out Of the Territories we have acquired Of
Mexico, to freedom They have done so by legis-
ative enactment. / propose to carry out North
ern policy by the same proeess-by the enact
ment of repealAble law-as binding in one case
as the other, and no more The South have
no objection to proviscs when they are to benefit
themselves, but they have other names for their
measures, which we never hear subjected to the
keen shaft of ridicule; and they are not Mt all
modest in the extent Of the application of their
provisos war at an expense of q hundred
millions is triAe, and their provisos cover FIVE
good States at one sweep Now, | am proposing
only to follow their excellent example. | am in
favor of securing those Territories to freedom by
Proyiso am in favor Of Territorial Govern
ments for Utah and New Mexico with Pro-
vison | care not whether you call it the Dane,
the Wilmot,n the Webster or Winthrop, the
Jeffersonian Ordinance of 1887, or John Smiths
Proviso-I am in favor of this policy at all haz-
ards aud to the last extremity IL we would Sc
cure those Territories IA irrevocably as that fl-
nous provso which "sticks outo in the Texan
resolutions Of Annexation secured the soil Of that
State to slavery we must be prepared to vote it
in without stopping to consider its political effect
There was no cutlery then about provisos. Sla-
very seems to be so much superior in its moral
aspect to freedom, that slavery proviso is swal-
lowed at once, while we are kept here six months
before we can persuade men to answer 1t to their
conscences to touch proviso for freedom, and
then it is done with the most undisguised reluc-
lance, and only for fear Of the people whose
frowns are apt sometimes to trouble the dreams
of ambitious politicians. For aught | know we
may be here six months longer, before that power
which controls Congress, and is omnipotent In
the Government, and has been for the last fifty
years, will allow us to record our votes upon
these measures.
Mr. Chairman, suppose we shall have thing
here shortly, called the " Compromise" designed
by its manufacturers as sort of pitch-plaster to
apply to the wounds, ulcers and sores of the body
polite, of which there are said to be FIVE.
think this is wrong count; my memory recalls
several not set down in this bill of particulars
There Is one small sore, If recolect right, which
certain people living in small district called
Pennsylvania would like to have these skilful
political doctors prescribe for. The old doctors
Of the progressive Democracy" o have attempt
ed it once twice but have often been prosecu.
ted for malpractice. One cause of their failure
probably is their too close attention to their
colored patients, which leaves them no time for
the mhae ones have remote suspicion that
this is the difficulty with those who are attempt
ing to apply this Compromise pitch plaster
they attend too closely to the black population.
California is the first item in this impractica-
BILE hodge-podgsofa Compromise The trouble
about her is, that the people of that State don't
want negroes; they object in toto 80 % black
population They are eaS honorable to wish to
make slaxss Of them to minister to a sordid lust
or goli-for undeservsd, because unpurchased,
wealth; aud they prefer leaving them with their
Southern friends to receiving them upon any
other terms, which might involve the ultimate
risk Of slavery. Had she presented herself as a
slave State, does anybody upon this floor believe
that there would have been the least difficulty
a hout her admission She would have been re-