Washington telegraph., 1850-04-03

OF slavery recognised III the COllSlltutlOu.
Mr.. Webster thought that there were
three historical truths which must be
clear to all: first, that there was an ex-
pectation, formerly. that upon the sup.
preston or the importation of slaves. sla-
very would begin to run out. Second
that so far as there was any power in
Congress to prevent the spread of slavery
i'll the United States, il had used it in the
most absolute and decided manner; he
alluded to the ordinance prohibiting sla-
very in the northwest territory. Mr.. Cal
hOun had said, that this was the first OF
the series of measures calculated to weak
en- the South. He desired to say in re-
ply, that the ordinance was passed with
the unanimous consent of the South,
there being but one vote against it and
that one Representative from the North.
change in opinion, both North and South
Slavery is not now regarded by the South
as it then was; there had been contin-
ual and growing opinion in the North
against slavery, aud growing opinion in
the South in its favor; until it was at
length considered an institution of great
interest and value to her posterty. This
state of things had resulted from causes
which would always produce like effects
The change of OplulOn in the South
has resulted in a great measure from the
growth and increase of cotton raising in
the South; it was well known that in
ninety-four, The value Of cotton exported
from the United States did not exceed
fifty thousand dollars; while now, under
favorable circumstances, its value was
perhaps one hundred millions per annum
In those days there was almost ANYTHING
else exported from the South than cotton
Indeed he had been told that when JEFF.
ferson negotiated the treaty of '94 with
England. he did not know that cotton
was raised in this country at ALL and
when the first shipment Of cotton reached
a port in England, and was sought to be
admitted there under the provisions of
that treaty, it was objected to, upon the
ground that it could not be an American
product. England would hardly say that
now. Laughter.)
MIR. Webster replied to Mr. Calhoun S
assertion, that the operation of the gov
ernment had been against the South. aud
calculated to weaken her. He contended
that the boundary was the fact, SO far as
the legitimate effect of legislation was
concerned. Indeed, much direct leyis-
lation had been adopted expressly for the
beneit of the South. In support of this
position, he required TO the action OH the
admission of Texas. He referred espe-
ciaily to the action of the democracy Of
the North, in relation to Texas, and Incl
denlally to the course pursued by the same
party in the Senate.
When at the commencement of the
war with M Xico. Mr. Berren introduced
a proposition in the Senate to the effect
view to the acquisition of territory, the
Northern democracy failed entirely to
support 1t; thus Indicating clearly their
opposition to such sentiment 1t suited
those gentlemen to bring into the coun-
try world in the valleys and mountains
of California and New Mexico; and TO
put upon it the saving grace OF the Will
mot proviso. Laughter.
Returning 10 the admission of Texas,
he adverted to his own position thereon,
quoting from his speeches and acts to
show that he had always been opposed to
Ii, because he new that whoever possessed
Texas, it would be slave territory, and
he was unwilling to extend that insti.u-
ton. lie had :iine aud again expressed
himself strongly opposed TO the introduce
tiun oe any new slave States or the acqui-
If SIau h,t
he knew no change in his sentiments at
the present time. Sensa.ion.] He had
Oh one occasion, he believed, expressed
himself against the acquisition of any
more territory-north, south, east or west
He had expressed his belief in the Span
ish maxim: "Impr've, adorn what you
have: seek no further" But what was
our present condition? Texas has been
admitted with ali her territory, with the
institution Of slavery and an irrepealable
law, by which if new States are erected
out of any portion of her territory, they
shall be slave States Aud he wished it
to he distinctly understood that he consid-
cred this government solemniy bound by
law to create new slave States out of
Texas. whenever her territory Shall con-
tam a population sufficient therefor
Slavery was excluded from alifornia
and New Mexico. by the law OF nature,
which had erected impossible barriers to
its Introduction. This he considered as a
fixed fact thai that country was to be free.
That was settled by the arrangements of
Providence, and could not be chauged.
Regarding this as fixed fact, he would
say that he could not vote for the inser
lion into any bill. giving territorial gov
ernments to the territories, any provision
prohibiting slavery there-any re-enact-
ment of the will OF God
He would put inio it no Wilmot proviso,
nothing that was so useless and nugltory
He meant to stand or fall upon the pro-