Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-11

cola and ST. Marks were seized II was these acts and
not the desire for the extended cultivation of cotton,
winch led to the acquisition Of Florida. admit that
mere had been, for long time desire the part OF
the South, and Of the Administration believe TO ac-
qure FONDA but very different from the reason
assigned by the honorable Senator There were col
lected together four tribes of lndansthe Creeks the
Cnoctaws, the Chickasaws, and the Cherokees about
lhFy thousand warriors-who held connection, almost
tne whQe OF them, with the Spanish authorities in Flo
rloa ana carried on trade perpetualy with them 1t
was well known that most perncious influence was
tus exercised over them and it was the desire of pre-
Sehtng conflict between the Indians and ourselves in the
Florida
leone now to Louisiana. We well know that the
iIlinediate cause Tor the acquisition of Louisiana was
we suspension OF our right of depose at New Orleans.
Under treaty with Spain we had right TO the navi-
CATION OF the river as far as New Orleans and right
70 make deposltes in the port of New Orleans. The
1pansn au,oTes interrupted that right and that in,
errupton produced great agitation at the West, and
may say throughout the whole United States The
gentlemen then in opposition, highly respectable party
we olo edera' party, which have said word
OF dsrespect in regard to- mistake not, took the
ead IN desire to resort to acquire that terrific
y Mr. Jefferson, more prudent, desired to procure it
oy purchase purchase was made in order to remove
the dihcuy and to give an outlet to the West 10 the
ocean That was the immediate cause of the acolis:-
ton OF Louisiana. Now, sir, we come to Texas Per-
haps no gentleman had more to do with the ACQUISITION
OF Texas than myself land aver Mr. President that
would have been among the very last individuals in the
United States to have made any movement at that
time for the acquisition Of Texas; and 90 further if
Know myself was incapable of acquiring any territory
SIMPLY on the ground that it to be an enlargement
OF slave territory. would just as freely have acquired
1t II it had been on the Northern as on the Southern
SIDE; Nc, SIR, very different motives actuated me-
Knew at very early period-I will not 90 into the
history of the British Government had given encour-
agement TO the aboitionss of the United States who
were represented at the Worlds Convention. The
question of the abolition of slavery was agtated in that
atoIf hat Mr a 6aYyrS
informed him that it the British Government wished to
abolish slavery in the United States they must begin
with Texas commission was sent from this Worlds
Convention to the British Secretary of State Lord
Aberdeen; and it so happened that a gentleman was
present when the interview took place between Lord
Aberdeen and the committee, who gave me full ac-
count OF 1t shortly alter it occurred. Lord Aberdeen
tell INTO the project and gave full encouragement to the
abolonists. Well, sir, it is well known that Lord
Aberdeen was very direct, and, in my opinion very
honest and worthy man; and when Mr. Pakenham was
sent here 10 negotiate with regard to Oregon and incl
denay with respect to Texas, he ordered to read
declaration to this Government, stating that the Bril-
ts Government was anxious to put end to slavery
all over the world, commencing at Texas. 1t is well
Known turther that at that very time negotiation was
going on between France and England to accomplish
that OBJECT and our Government thrown by strata
gem out OF the negotiation; and that object was. first,
TO induce Mexico to acknowledge the independence of
Texas upon the ground that she would abolish it. All
these are matters OF history; and where is the man so
bind am sure the Senator from Massachusetts, snot
SO blnd-as not to see that if the project OF Great B
tam had been successful, the whole frontier Of the
States OF Louisiana and Arkansas and the adjacent
states would have been exposed to the nroads of Bril-
tsf emissaries. Sir, Tar as concerned put it
exclusively upon that ground never would run into
the folly OF remuneration, which always held to be
absurd Nor, sir, would put tupon the ground--whch
might well have put tot commercial and manuac-
turing considerations because those were not my mo-
principles and chose to assign what were. So far
as commerce and manufactures were concerseas would
not have moved in the matter at that early pssiSas
ptG thot ,aGn EaS@4f
voted tor annexation Why, sir, it nsfdra that
they should be DESTROYS Of fulfilling the Obligations of
the constitution; and, besides, what at that time
doubted that the Missouri compromise line would be
adopted and that the territory would fall entirely to the
South! All that Northern men asked for at that time
was the extension of that line Their course, in my
opinion, was emlnently correct and patriotic.
Now, Mr.. President having made these corrections,
must go back little further and correct statement
which think the Senator has left very detective rea-
tive to the ordinance of 1857 He states very correct
ly that commenced under the Old Considerations that
was afterwards confirmed by Congress- that Congress
was sitting in New York at the time, while the Conven-
ton sat in Philadelphia; and that there of
action. have not looked into the ordinance very re-
Gently butt my memory will serve thus far that Mr.
Jefferson introduced his first proposition clude sla
very in 1884. There q vote taken upon it, and ]
think that vote every Southern Senator voted against
it; but am moi certain of it. One thing certain
Of that it three before the ordinance could
pass 1t sturdIly resisted down 1887 and when it
was passed. as had good reason to believe, it upon
principle of compromise; first that the ordinance should
provision similar to the put ia the consti
tuition with respect to fugitive slaves and next thait
should be inserted in the constitution and this the
compromise upon which the prohibition inserted in
the ordinance of 1857 We thought we had an indcnl-
nifty in that but made great mistake. Or what pos
sbe advantage has been TO US! Violated faith has
every SIDE and the advantage has been altogether
in their favor. On the other side, it has been thrown
open Northern population to the entire exclusion of
the Southern. This the leading measure which de-
stroyed the compromise OF the constitution, and then
tho
mainly by Northern votes although now disavowed and
not respected by them. That was the next step, and
between these two causes the equilibrium has been
broken.
Having made these remarks, let me say that took
great pleasure in listening to the declarations Of the no.
norable Senator from Massachusetts upon several points
He puts himself upon the fulment of the contract of
Congress in the resolutions Of Texas annexation, for the
admission otthe four new States provided for by those
resolutions to be formed out OF the Territory OF Texas
All that was manly, statesmanke and cacuatedt to do
good, because just. lie went further, he condemned
and rightully condemned, and in that he has shown
great mness, the Of the North relative to the
stpulaons OF the constitution for the restoration of t
gtive slaves but permit to say, for desire to be
candid upon all subjects, that the Senator, together
with many friends this side of the chamber puts his
confidence in the bill which has been reported here fur
Their to extend the laws of Congress upon this subject
will prove talacous 1t is impossible to execute any
law OF Congress until the people OF the States shall
operate.
| heard the gentleman with great pleasure say that he
"ouu NV 'ote NJ o w 'oI Pio'lso, or ne reSdfueu
such act unnecessary, considering that Nature had
already excluded slavery. AS far the new acqus-
tons are concerned, am disposed to leave them to be
disposed of the hand OF Nature shall determine 1t is
what always have insisted upon. Leave that portion
OF the country natural to non-slavehodng popu-
aton be filled by that description of population and
leave that portion into which slavery would naturally
go, to be filled by savehodng population destroy
ing artificial lines, though perhaps they may be better
than none. Mr. Jefferson spoke like prophet of the
effect of the Missouri compromise line. am willing to
leave it for Nature settle and to organize govern
and prepare themselves participate in their privileges
We want, sir, nothing but justice When the gentleman
says that he is willing to leave it to Nature, understand
he is willing remove all mpedimeuts, whether real or
1t is consummae folly to assert that the
Mexican law prohibiting slavery in California and New
Mexico is force and have always regarded it So
No man would feel more happy than myself to be-
lieve that this Union formed by ancestors should
live forever Looking back to the long course OF forty