New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-18


which was not appointed upon party principles
in opposition to those who elevated him to Office
He was. therefore, instantly surrounded by ur.
paralleed embarassments and difficulties pre-
sentrg a new and untried occasion to test the
strength and success OF our republican system
after twenty years of virtual Acknowledgement
and prescriptions the great body of the friends
who had sustained him looked TO the return OF a
state Of things which should present them. at
least upon an equal footing with their political
opponents and, while among 4 hundred appi
cauts for office, only could obtain It, the impa
tienCe OF such as were disappointed was too often
sure to be succeeded by resentment that their
claims were not preferred. Such did not require
the promptings of others to induce them to swell
the ranks OF the opposition. both in and out Of
Congress. Superadded to these difficulties was
the peculiar state of affairs arising out of the re-
cent annexation OF the vast territories ceded by
the treaty Of Observation-Disclosures which threaten
ed the peace Of the country, and appalled, the
stoutest hearts during the continuance otthat ad-
ministration which had waged the war and in
cured the enormous expense OF the acquisition.
During the session of Congress which preceded
the Presidential election of 1913, the exertions of
the then existing administration were directed III
Win to the removal of the difficulties to which
have referred That administration had efectual.
ly reused the demon of discard but proved utter
~ impotent to allayi Yet, in my Judgment many
RECOMMENDATIONS
last annual message to Congress were eminently
wise, patriotic, and just, especially those which
suggested the admission OF the new territories as
States left to form their own domestic Institutions
without control, and without any Congressional
restriction in regard to the subject of Slavery.
Before proceed further with the history of
these events, permit me to recall to your recollec.
ton the course which myself pursued, while rep
resentiug you in the public councils III reference
to this subject
During the session Of 1878, violent debate
sprung up in the Senate OF the United States,
which was conducted with unusual acrimony, in
regard to the rights Of the citizens OF the Southern
States to carry their slaves into the new terrific
ries. On the part OF the North, 1t was affirmed
that the territories were " free soil by the Next
can laws, which it was maintained, still continued
TO exist and would remain in force until abroga-
ted by the the power Of Congress or the cree
ton OF State governments within the territories.
On the part OF the South it was contended that
the right to enjoy slave property within these
limits was necessary consequence OF the acqul-
stiou obtained by the common blood and treasure
These clashing opinions were waged with con
summate ability on both sides and especially i'll
the Senate of which | was at that time mem
Der. Threats of disunlOn often rang through the
halls Of both branches of Congress, arising cut OF
this conflict of opinion. did not participate i'll
that debate but exerted mysetto hold position
midway between the contending parties, like the
State ! represented and to seize the first occa-
sion upon which could move effectively to allay
the agitation and il possible, to settle the contto
yersy. / did not design to buy peace or to add
new elements of discord by the Introduction OF
ether topics unconnected with the Immediate
question before me and / thought then, as |
believe now that the Constitution itself pre-
scented the natural and proper mode to terminate
the strife aud maintain the integrity OF the Uhtoh
Applause.
proposed to both the contending parties to settle
tie question by obeying the mandates OF the Con-
stitution in the organization OF new Territorial
Governments over California and New Mexico
without the Wimot Proviso, but with the positive
Proviso to bring the subject OF the right to hold
slaves under its laws, as they existed before the
Supreme Court of the United States, the tribunal
appointed by the fathers Of the Republic to decide
between the contending members OF the Conted.
the most cordial spirit, and approved, with a few
exceptions, by the great body of the Southern
Members OF Congress in both branches. and after
an exciting and protracted debate, bill to that
effect, reported by q Committee OF which was
the Chairman passed the Senate OF the United
States by majority Of two thirds Of all its mem
bers. During its passage through that body,
fierce opposition was excited againstit i'll some OF
the Northern States, where political purposes
could best be subserved by the continued agita-
ton OF the question OF Slavery AIR. Van Buren,
became the leader of new party organized upon
tbs principle OF opposition to this or any other
plan OF adjustment without the Wimot ProyisO
and for this measure OF peace, which, shall die
in the belief, was better calculated to compose in
the distractions and divisions OF the country than
any which has ever yet been offered | was met
the North by the tercest spirit OF denunclatlon
1t was Immediately announced that fifty thousand
men had assembled in the Park in New York, to
express their opposition and to utter their execra
tons against what they were pleased to call "the
Clayton Compromise"
The friends who stood by me in the North IN my
anxious efforts to restore peace and harmony to the
country, were denounced as having been sold to
the.S0uth; and amid the din and clamor OF these
party cOmbataDts, reason and argument were
either unheard or lost their proper influence. In
this state of things, the bill having passed the Sen
ate, after weeks OF discussion and one prOracted
session OF twenty-five hours, during which Mr.
Dix, of New \ ork and Mr.. Niles, of Connecticut
both members OF the new Free Soil school, distin
guished themselves, in opposition to the measure,
not less by their ability than by their unmeasured
zeal, it was presented to the House of Represent
atiyes for concurence and there without one
word of debate, without a single reference to
committee, without, as am bound to believe, any
proper knowledge or appreciation OF It's true char
acter it was Immediately stranged By motion
to lay it On the table, by majority, Il think OF
four votes out OF more than two hundred. This
measure, which met the hearty cooperation and
concurrence of the distinguished statesman OF
South Carolina John C. Calhoun, now no more,
and received the votes not only OF both the Sen
aors, and OF all the Representatives OF that State
satisfied and secured at the same time the acqu-
essence and the adhesion OF the South generally.
The defeat of the measure was considered as in
dcating, on the part of the North, determination
to refuse to abide by the decision of the common
arbiter, appointed BY the constitution itself to
time and have not ceased to deplore it. That de-
feat added fuel to the flame already existing in
the South; and 1, with others conscious of that
fact, Immediately looked with anxiety for some
other measure Of pacificatiOn which, like that l
had proposed, would not compromit che principles
or outrage the feelings ofeither section OF the con-
federacy.
There seemed to be but one measure left
which could etfectuaLly secure the same object;