The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-23

anu CdtttI consideration Of the TeSolutIOnSs LllS
would appear TO be carried out.
In the first resolution il was said that California
should be admitted into the Union without any
provision either prohibiting or admitting slavery.
But gentlemen from the south say, thati in this the
north get all they that slavery is already pro-
hibited there, and the ends and purposes Of the
free States have been accomplished This isytfue.
But by whom has tbeen doue? Hasit been done
by Congress, or by any net Of the Goyefnment?--
No, but by the people of California themselves;
and is it not the doctrine Of all parties that the peo
pie of every State should be left free either to adj
nit or prohibit slavery, as they should deem prop
er? The question involved in the admission of
Missouri was whether after state had formed
constitution, and was organized as State Of the
Union, Congress had the power to control the ac-
ton of that State the subject of slavery. Those
of the south who favored her admission into the
Union held the doctrine that once q State, she
stood among her peers equal all respects to them
and that her rights and powers over that subject
were as clear and unquestionahle those of any
one of the thirteen orignal States and that Cong
ress has authority power to control her action
in the least respect.
He thought the friends of the Wimot Prssiso
should be wei satisfied with his declaration. and
with what had taken place in California. They
should remember, that if the Wilmot Proviso was
enacted, its operation would cease when the State
contend for moment that if the States formed out
Of the Northwest Territory, and to whom had been
applied the ordinance of 1787-Illnois, Ohio. In
dana and ohers-chose to alter their constitutions,
and permitted slavery to exist within their limits
they had as much right aud power to do so as had
Virginia within her limits.
No one would contend that the exclusion Of sla-
very by the people Of California was the act of
Congress-, or of the Government of the United
| O.. - 4 = = l. L Al
people of California, by California herself, who
alone had the right to decide it.
The second resolution of the series was an inn
portant one, and he begged gentlemen to look at
| it calmly. He was aware, when he prepared II, OF
the perseverance with which tue Wilmot Proviso
was pressed by the north; he was aware that ev-
cry free State had expressed opinion in its fovor
and had instructed its Representatives in Congress
/ to secure its adoptiem; he was aware that the
northern people considered it as favorte measure,
and had set their hearts on it. He was aware that,
I by asking them for this resolution, he call
ed uoon them to abandon the Wimot Proviso, TO
give it up; to open their eyes to the danger to the
country in pressing it when there was no necessity
I whatever for it.
In thus calling upon them to abandon their fa-
vcrite measure he offered them the assertion, in his
resolution of TWO clear and indisputabfe truths
They were: First That slavery does not exist IN
any part of the territories acquired from Mexico;
and, secondly, that, in our opinion, slavery. never
win exist in any portion of it
He had heard it stated that the assertion of these
truths by Congress was equal to the enactment
of the Wilmot Proviso He did not think j: was.
If the Wlnot Proviso be passed by Congress, there
is solemn enactment, and it is positive interdic-
ton of slavery there but, by this assertion, we say
nothing more than that at the present time it does
not exist there, aud that in opinion, it never
viii.
He hoped that the free States would be satisfied
with this expression Of opinion, and not require any
, enactment on the subject
/ This resolution would have been more sccepta-
bic to him without the assertion of these two truths
than with them, but he had thought. that some
! thing should be given as a compensation for the
surrender and compromise Of feeling on this point
/ lie had no desire to make a speech on each of
the resolutions but would detain the Senate for
while in the examination of the truths forth in
those resolutions. As to the first, that Slavery
does not exist in any of the territories acquired by
the sapreme government of Mexico whereby sa-
very was abolished in that nation, and the general
acquescence of all the States of Mexico in that ab-
clifton of slavery, down the time of the treaty
ceding those territories the United States This
act of the government of Mexico said to have
been irregular, and not binding; but ii was not
our province-a foreign power-to inquire into the
validity OF the municipal acts Of any government,
I particularly when the people OF Mexico had acqui
I esced in it.
4 Mr.. c. also read an extract from the corras-
pondence Of Mr.. Trst with the government on This
point. The discussions on former occasion, when
this territory FIRST ceded, had left the general
) impression that slavery was not in existence in
Mexico those territories prior TO their cession to
the United States. Nor could he account for its
existence there now, unless at the moment the
treaty cession was concluded the constitution was
extended every part Of the territory and took
slavery with it.
Such doctrine was irreconcilabie with his views
and feelings There were at the time Of that treaty
fifteen free and fifteen slave States in the Union
institutions of both were recognized by the con-
); stituton. How could it be possible that the
sttuuon, extending these territories could
carry the principle of slavery and could not carry
the principle of freedom established in half of
, the Union? By the laws of Mexico, there was 20
slavery in these territories at the time of the
ion: and as no action had been taken to introduce
it there he thought he had sufficient reason for say
ing it did not exist there now.
r The question of slavery was divisible into two
branches: slavery in the States, and slavery With
: out the States Congress has no powers over sla-
very in the States except in the three particulars
mentioned in the Constitution That is. the power
to regulate representation the power to levy tax,
and the powers relative the fugitive slaves. Be
yond this, Congress has no power over slavery in