The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-23

holding Offices under this, Gen Cass had laid the
foundation Of his honors and his fortune. His
declaration, therefore, against all Introduction Of
slavery, made under circumstances so extraor-
binary and in contradiction of the whole tenor OF
his past life, was hailed with reclamation by the
South, and he was unanimously declared, at Bal
timore, TO be the accepted candidate Of the
Democracy, for the office Of President. The CON-
mon notion is that man shows his love for a
cause by the amount of sacrifice he win make for
il and rs consist ency honor and truth are the most
precious elements in character, who could sacri-
fee more than he
To the honor of the Wing party be it said,
there was not a Northern man TO be found, who,
TO gain the support Of the South, would espouse
its pro-slavery doctrines, invent any new read
ing of the Constitution to give them a semblance
Of law. Hence, at the Philadelphia Convention,
no Northern Wing received even so much as a
complimentary vote The judicial eminence OF
Judge Mclean, the military eminence of Gen.
Scott, were passed contemptuously by; and Mr..
Webster, Acknowledged to be the greatest states
man of the age, received but fourteen votes out Of
almost three hundred: and twelve of these were
from Massachusetts, Mr.. Webster had spoken
more eloquent words for Liberty than any other
living man, and this distinguished neglect was
doubtless intended to teach him the lesson,
that the path to Presidential honors did not lie
through an advocacy of the rights of man. Gen.
Taylor was nominated and chosen. He was I'M
derstood to take neutral ground. Discountenanc-
ing the veto power yet, If the House Of Repre-
sentatives, who are chosen directly from and by
the people, and the Senate who are chosen by
the States, will pass territorial bill, either with
Or without a prohibition Of slavery, he will APP
prove It, This is the common opinion, and have
no doubt of its correctness.
Under these circumstances, q most desperate
effort was made at the close of the last Congress
to provide Government for the territories, with
no prohibition of slavery. Had Gen Cass been
elected no such effort would have been necessary,
for he was pledged TO veto q prohibition. Gen.
Taylor was supposed to be pledged to an opposite
course; and hence the struggle. The facts must
be so.Sresh in the recollection of az that they
hardly need to be recounted. TIE House per-
formed its duty to the country and to freedom,
by sending territorial bills to the Senate, contain
ing the prohibitory clause The Senate, eqlalling
the Northern by its Southern votes and far out
numbering the Wings by its Democrats, left those
bills to sleep the sleep of death upon its table.
But during the closing hours Of the session, il
foisted provision for the Government Of the ter
ritores into the general appropriation bill and
held out the menace that this bill should not
pass at all unless the territorial clause should
pass with it. The righteousness of this proceed
ing, it is difficult to comprehend and impossible
to describe The appropriation bill is one on which
the working, and even the continuance of the
Government depend. Without it the machinery
of the State must cease to move Contracts by
the Government to pay money must be violated.
Officers cannot obtain their salaries Families
must be left without subsistence IL long con-
tnued, all judges would resign and courts be
broken up; and when justice should cease to be
administered violence, robbery, and every form
of crime would run riot through the land.
Besides, an appropriation bin and bill for the
government Of Territories, have no congruity
with each other; they are not relevant; neither
is germane to the other. Every one knows 1t to
be a common parliamentary rule that when q
proposition is submitted which is susceptible Of
division, any one member has right to demand
it. All bills, too for raising revenue, must, by
the Constitution, originate in the House and the
House has as much right to interfere to prevent
the Senate from ratifyipg treaty, as the Senate
has to obstruct the passage Of q revenue bill, by
adding to IL extyAneous provisions IL was this
effort on the part Of the Senate to incorporate
into the appropriation bill q provision most I'M
righteous in itself and most odious to the free
sentiments Of the North, which led to the pro-
tracted session on the night of the Sd of March,
ls49 The course of the pro-slavery leaders, on that
occasion, resembled that Of a mailman who should
seize torch, and stand over the magazine of
ship, and proclaim that he would send men and
vessel to destruction, unless they would steer for
his port portion Of the House confederated
with the majority of the Senate in this unprin-
cipled machination; but the larger number stood
undaunted, and after perils such ~ so precious
an interest never before encountered the pro-
slavery amendment was stricken out, and it's
champions were foiled Through that memorable
night, the friends Of freedom wrestled like Jacob
- a a. Al.
not close until the sun Of q Sabbath morning
shone full i 10 the windows Of the Capitol, yet
holier work never was doue on that holy day
II was with joy such as no words can ever ex-
press that saw the Territories rescued from the
clutch of slavery by the expiration Of the Thr-
tieth Congress. | fel, confident that when the
Thirty first Congress should assemble, IL would
be under better auspices, and with stronger
phalanx on the side Of freedom. In regard TO
California, those hopes have been fulfilled bot
proceed to state how they have been nearly ex-
tiuguished in regard to the residue Of the terri
tory.
Our first disaster was the election OF q mos,
adroit, talented and jealous pro-slavery Speaker.
A better organ for the accomplishment OF thu
purposes the friends Of Slavery could not have
found, nor the friends Of Freedom a more formi-
dable opponent Whilst the pro-slavery cham
pions of the South, almost without distinction OF
party, exulted over this triumph, il has been the
occasion of most lamentable criminatiors and re-
ordinations mt the North. They abandon all
distinctions of Wing or Democrat for the cause
of Slavery would to God we could do as much
for the cause of Freedom.
The choice of pro-slayery Speaker was imms-
disteiy followed by the appointment Of most ultra
pro-slavery committees. Some FREQ Soil men,
bers. it is true, were placed upon these commit.
- -. al 70 tka bar mil lad mi
more fully his own purposes and those of his
party, by putting what they considered as insane
men into close custody, instead Of letting them
run at large He showed, however, either want
of courage in himself or OF confidence in his
chosen guards for, on the District Of Columbia
Committee he detailed file of FIVE, on the Judi
ciary Committee file of four, and on the Terri
torisl Committee file of six strong pro-slavery
men for the safe keeping Of one Free-Soiler.
Within An hour after the House was organized,
MIR. Root of Ohio submitted resolution, instruct
ing the Committee on Territories to report Ter
ritorial bills, prohibiting slavery Many true
friends to freedom believed this movement to be
i,l-timed and unfortunate; and though the House
then refused by handsome vote, to lay the reso-
luton on the table, yet when II came up for con-
sideration again. the first decision was reversed
by about the same majority. There is abundant
proof that the latter vote did not express the true
sentiment of the House. Not few voted against
the resolution svowedly because Of its paternity
thus spiting noble son on account OF its obnox-
ious father Others repented of their votes as
soon as they came to reflect that the record would
20 where their explanation could not accompany
IL.
But unfortunately, 1t was too late. There
stands the record to survive through all time, and
to be read Of all men. The champions OF slavery
seized upon this vote as propitious omen They
derded and secuted the Proviso with ferceness
unknown before They shouted their threats Of
disunion with a more defiant tone, should any at
| tempt at what they called its resurrection, be
made. A speech was delivered, in which mas
sacre Of majority Of the House was distinctly