Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-07-26
SPEECH OF CHARLES DUIsKEE.
OF WISCONSIN


OF WISCONSIN,
In THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
In Committee of the Whole on the state of tn
; Union, on the Presidents Message relating t
California.
CONCLUDED.
Sir, if Congress properly appreciated the vas
consequences connected with this important c
vent, which marks an era in the history this con
tinent, it would pass the bill of admission at once
and take a recess that we might have day O
jubilee over the literal fulfilment of the prophecy
that nation should be born in day, and that, OF
the shores of the great Pacific, where darkness
has had universal sway for centuries past, tn,
vast wilderness which connects her with us i.
to bud and blossom, and at the rapid spread O
political knowledge. This is tremendous LEAF
OF that civilization which will soon reach the
Islands ofthe sea, and the vast expanse of the cas-
tern continent. We have only to call to mine
the fact that the experiment of ocean steam nayi
| cation has proved so successful, in connection
with American enterprise, to warrant the belle
that there will soon be hundreds of steamers run
ming on the Pacific, connecting the commerce oil
Australia, Pekin, and Nankin, with that of oul
own rich valley of the Sacramento. We have
already twelve or fifteen steamers running be.
tween Panama and San Francisco. We shout
bear in mind, too, that the Pacific is admirably
adapted to this kind navigation. Sir, it seems to
me that none of US can contemplate this sublime
| picture of enterprise rearing great State west
of the Rocky Mountains, without feelings ofpride
| that its founders were Americans Neither can
we be unmndful Of the highly important social,
| political ,and commercial advantages growing out
of this state OF things, ali tending to promote the
best interests of mankind. Shall we, then, re-
fuse to fraternze with this noble State possess
sing as she does, all the great attributes ola great
and glorious Republic "a State that has sprung
into being with magic genius and beauty far sur
passing Venus herself, as she sprung from the
foam of the sea. Then let us welcome her to
our halls oflegislation! Let us welcome her to
an equal participation in our commerce. and all
the blessing of our Federal Union Let us re-
ceive her as she is, that she may become one of
the brightest gems in the casket of the Confed-
eracy.
The time is not far distant, when there will
be a long train of States extending from Missouri
TO California, uniting together, by great railway,
the Mississippi with the gold-fltering rivers that
roll into the Bay of San Francisco Sir, in view
of these grand results, it would seem that our pa
triotism and our national Pride would stimulate
US to receive to our embrace this generous and
noble State Let, then, the bill be forthwith and
joyfully passed
Mr.. Chairman, the future destiny of New Mex
leo and Utah shall be alike glorious with Califor-
mia, if they share the parental care and kindness
ofthis Government. The one may be made instru-
mental in the redemption of our red brethren of
the Northwest while the other shall fix on Mex
leo, and all South America, the imprint of our in
stitutions. What grand scene to contemplate !
This whole continent swarmng with republics,
united in one great Confederation of States
We all know that New Mexico is now in
perlous condtion-that she is exposed to the
ruthless hand OF barbarien side, and GA.
envy that seeks to PROSTATE her, on the other, by
fastening upon her q cancerous ulcer that shall
gnaw to her very vitals. Sir, we have only to
advert to the history of the wrongs inflicted on
New Mexico, to have our sympathy and most
profound sense of justice deeply excited in her
favor. What pledges did we make to her at the
commencement of the Mexican war? We told
her that our object was to secure to her, more
fully, the blessings of liberty and higher civil
ization. On her first application to the Ameri-
can Senate, how shamefully was she repulsed
She had received our promises in good faith, and
had petitioned, in the most respectful manner,
for the organization of territorial government,
instead of the one we had wrested from her,
In this petition she prayed that all her citizens
might be protected against slavery. How was
she received by some of our Oldest Senators ?
Sir, she was repulse1 and insulted with offensive
language, and, to this hour, she has been una
Bile even to secure favorable hearing OF the
President She comes, now to the House OF
Representatives, Che popular branch OF our ma
tional legislature and demands that our pledg-
| es be- redeemed If we continue to refuse, un-
der all these circumstances, to do justice to New
Mexico and Utah. let us cease to call ourselves
Republicans. Sir, the idea is monstrous-that
l 81. II Ttot, choll ho yirNIo
ted.
know that some of our great statesmen say
that the Wilmot proviso, in connection with
these territories, is an idle abstraction. look
upon the proviso as neither more nor less than
one of the cardinal principles of the Declaration
of Independence hence it is proper to be urged
in the organization of civil government every
where. The determined opposition to 1t is the
best proof of its necessity.
We are as much opposed to Mexican and A
merican slavery as to African slavery. Hence
we 90 for protection to all As regards oul
sovereignty over these territories, it seems tc
me that there can be no doubt. One of two
things is certain: either Congress or the terrific
ries possesses the sovereignty. If the latter
they have right to keep off our jurisdiction alto
gether They can join any other power, II they
choose. have never been able to see the force
of the argument that seeks to make a dlstinCuoi
between property and political right, where
we purchased both from Mexico. We certain
ly could not maintain property right in the alb
sence of political one. Neither can see, az
some have argued, that the idea of sovereignty
over the territories existing in Congress conflicts
with the theory of self-government. conslde
the relation existing between the General Gov
eminent and the territories, the same as that o
parent and child. There is proper time wher
the territory shall pass the line of minority, jus
as in the case of the child, and be entitled to self
government. Ifyou carry the principles of self
government as far as some handful of people
unprincipled in character might step in and car
4 ~ on piratical sovereignty incompatible witt
5 the true interests of the country. nevery view
OF this subject, then, it seems to me that impera
tive duty requires that we should immediatel
organize such governments in these territorie
as will protect all the citizens thereof mea
in that term to include all, without regard to rae
: or color. My sense of justice and of right a
lows none of those narrow distinctions contend
/ ed for by so many around me.
!, pass now, Mr. Chairman, to another kindre
topic. alude to the question of the abolito
of slavery in this District. Shall this Congre:
shrink from its duty, because lash is held ov,
!. it? Has it no self-respects Has it none OF Il