The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-18

as shall best subserve the wishes Of the South,
and thereby save the Union. The State of Michi-
gan, in consideration Of the extraordinary conces-
sion made by the distinguished Senator from Mis-.
slssippi in consenting to postpone the day for the
dissolution Of the Union, humbly presents this as
her "peace offeringp This Mr.. Chairman, is the
substance Of the resolutions which the Union, in
prefaced with the remark that " the
language was as felicitous as the sentiments were
praise worthy In the county of Lenawee, one
Of the most populous counties in the district repre-
sented by my honorable friend Mr. Buel, Demo-
cratic Convention was held on the 18th Of Septem-
Der, 1s49, preceding the annual election, and on the
18th Of April, 1850, another was held preceding
the election of delegates to constitutional Con-
vention. The resolutions passed at the two con-
yentions Of the same party were somewhat dis
similar, and | will read them:
Resolutions Of me Lsnares county Democratic Con-
rentiOn, September 1911, lS49.
ResOlued, That, in common with all the free
States of the Union, opposed to the institu-
ton Of slavery believing it TO be adverse to the
great principles Of human freedom, while we
are willing to yield to the Southern States all
their constitutional rights, and are opposed to any
interference by Congress with the institution
Of slavery in the Southern States, where it now
exists.
ReSolUed, That we approve of the principles
of the Jeffersonian Ordinance, proposed in l7s4
and adopted in 1887, and believe that the unex-
owing to the benehclal influences OF its princi-
pies
4 ReSOiUtd, That the act passed by Congress to
organize the Territory Of Oregon, in which is a
clause to prohibit slavery or involuntary servi-
tude except for crime in that Territory, acknowl-
edged the power of Congress over the subject Of
slavery in the Territories of the United Slater
"ReSolUed, That we are in favor Of the exer-
else by the General Government of all their
constitutional powers to prohibit the introduction
Of slavery into the Territories of the United
States, and to prevent its extension into those
Territories
Resolutions ofthe LenQtpss county Democratic Con-
r>'uioH, AprR 18Th, 1850.
RESOLVED, That the efforts of our distinguished
Senator, General Lewis Cass, at the present SEES
sion Of Congress, TO preserve the integrity and
harmony of our glorious Union, guided by wis
dom and judgment and enforced by an eloquence
rarely equalled, deserve the warmest thanks and
Acknowledgements of every Democrat and friend
to his country, and are peculiarly gratifying to
the Democracy Of this county, who were the
first to present his name a candidate for the
Presidency in ls43, in this State
ResOlUed That those Democrats in our Legis-
lature whN VOTED - ssender Aheir thanks TO orr
Senators and Representatives in Congress for
their efforts in behalf Of the Union, and to re-
Ssr9 Ge2e-al Cass from the necessity of rssig9Sus
at present, wheh his continued exertions might be
most required to promote the nations best inter-
ests, deserve our warmest appreciation, and shall
receive our continued support
The comment which | wish to append to the
introduction OF these resolutions is the significant
fact that at the election after the passage of the
hrst, the county gave its usual Democratic ma
Jority, and that the ticket which was nominated
by the Convention which passed the last was
beaten by an average majority of $50 votes
Mr.. Chairman, this same Legislature of Mich
igan also unanimously passed resolutions in favor
Of the Immediate and unconditional admission of
the free State of California into the Union For
six months she has been knocking at the doors of
| Congress. The bill for admission has been retard-
ed, and loaded down, and embarrassed, by the votes
of Northern men The California representa-
tives would long ago have had their seats on this
floor, and this new sister from the Pacific coast
would have been welcomed among the constela-
ton of States, if its pretended Northern friends
had not been uniformly aiding by "their voices
and votes" and cooperating with the avowed OPP
ponents Of the measure. Sir, IL a vote could
have been obtained, no one doubts that Califor-
MIA would long ago have been admitted, and no
one, think, need doubt the judgment of dis
eliminating people, In fixing the responsibility for
STAYING off and preventing that vote in the proper
quarter
Mr.. Chairman, aside from the denial of the
constitutional power of Congress to govern the
territories contained in the Nicholson letter. and
which seems to have found but few supporters,
either North OF South, power which the distin-
guished Senator has recently claimed for Con-
gress, outside of the Constitution, and in relation
to which be said certainly, it is the moral duty
Of any country holding distant possessions, to in
stitute Governments for the preservation Of social
order and here and here alone is the foundation of
Government, as exercised by Congress"-there
was one other position taken, from which am
bound to dissent II is in these words: "The
question that presents itself is not question of
the increase, but of the diffusion of slavery
whether its sphere be stationary or progressive, its
amount will be the same. The rejection of this
restriction will not add one to the class of servi-
tude nor will its adoption give freedom TO single
being who is now placed therein; the same mum.
bers will be spread over greater territory and
go far as compression with greater abundance OF
the necessaries Of life is evil, so far will that
be mitigated by transporting slaves to new
country, and giving them larger space to occupy
Now, sir, If understand this proposition, il is
an argument in favor of extending slavery into
these new territories If that be its intent and
meaning, can only say that 1t contrasts strongly
with the views and opinions Of Jefferson, who
labored so ardently to reclaim the Northwest Ter
ritory from its encroachments, with a view to
its final extinction. But will the "difnsion OF
slavery not increase i'll There has been added
~ Sotes to this Confederacy since its formation,
exclusive Of the territories million of square
miles The population of whites has increased
from three to twenty millions, and Of slaves from
half a million to three millions Now, sir, does
any man believe that this unexampled increase in
population, whether Of slave or free, if they had
been confined to the original States, would have
| taken place? No, sir this continual assertion of
the right to carry their property into the new
territories is TO gain new markets for the sale of
slaves. The honorable gentleman from Virginia,
| Mr. Meade, in a recently published speech,
says, Virginia has a slave population of near
half million, whose value is chiefly dependent
| on Southern demandn The recent rise in cotton
Is said TO have increased greatly the price and de-
mand for negroes and the North Cqrolinan, pub
lished at Fayetteville, says that the number pass
ing through Wilmington for the Charleston
market averages twenty-f day This inhu-
man and barbarous traffic. the contemplation of
which ELECTED from Jefferson the exclamation that
he trembled for his country when he reflected
that God was just, and that his Justice would not
sleep forever" and which Lord Brougham, in the
British Parliament characterized as one Of the
most execrable crimes flor he would not designate
Ii by the honorable name of traffic. that could die
grace people, the being engaged in the sale of
our fellow creatures us increased by the "dign-
sion" of slavery. And the same gentleman from
Virginia, in view Of the restriction, says:
eff we intend TO submit to the policy Of con-
fning the slaves TO the present limits we should
commence forthmuh the work Of gradual enamel
pation-it Is an easier task for us than our chill
drenD- The gentleman from Alabama Mr.. Hill
lard expressed the same opinion awe must
Of the progress Of slavery, or to submit to an or
| ganic change In our institutions In these two