Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-25

sted with the formation OF this Co.
vernment IL has disappeared in the six States OF
the Northwest, and is lingering only in MARYLAND and
virginia. and probably in Kentucky and Missouri, to
disappear there at no very distant day Ii is ns
ton relation of force recognized by habit and pre-
scripton, which must later disappear wher
ever 1t exists under the progressive operation of heng
nant causes Like many other evils IL must
later correct ITSELF And may not ask whether it was
not IN the spirit OF this divine truth that the holy Apos
tie oil Christ Taught the familiar precepts
Servants be obeiu them that your according
the flesh"
''And things INTO them, orbearing
there respect Of persons with him.
think sir, may safely say that our experience has
verified the wisdom OF these admontons. 1t certainly
has proved beyond reasonable doubt, that the best
friend of the bondman is he who nculcates order and
cultyates raterna feelings and intercourse between the
different sections of the country and that his worst
envy is he who breaches dscord and fomcnts sectional
Jealousies and determinations. This is notorious fact
and should confound and condemn the political Adolf
tioniss of the daythe pseudo friends of the slave II
proves that they are guilty of the very charges which
they have rceklessly heaped upon others.
But, sir, to approach the question still more nearly
what has the proviso in fact done present
territories against slaverya Has it done anyhinga
maintain On the contrary has done infinite HARM
and good and appeal to authentic facts for the
truth of this assertion. First after having been moved
by the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA, under the crcum
stances, and with the effects already stated, it
moved next by lhe gentleman from New York, (Mr
Preston king) This was In January, 1S47, when 1t
defeated all attempts during that session of Congress TO
extend civil government to the territories then conquer
ed from Mexico and held by arms. Next, it appear
cd to defeat all similar attempts for the object
1913; and unfortunately it still survives thwart
efforts in the seventh month of the present sessions for
the object. As perturbed and damned spirit. it
still haunts the public mind, and paralyzes public
councils 1t refused the people Of California perms-
sion 70 erect that territory into State under the plea
that slavery would be tolerated by it yet California,
applies Congress for admission into the Union,
prohibiting slavery 1t has refused and continues
fuse to the people of the territories civil government
without the antslavery nterdct while il that
which contains that interdict II decaims against
"mans inhumanity to man" while it unblushingly
fuses government to the territories and leaves el
low citizens inhabtlng them prey to savage warfare
and cruelty. Every courier from New Mexico and Cal
orna brings intelligence of incursions made,
sacked, herds driven off, murdered, and and
children carried into captivity yet the Wimot provso,
as an incarnate demon, stands unmoved, and even
gloats, with demoniac Joy, at the moving tale.
But, sir there is another actor, of mean protein
sious in this angry drama, who deserves he noticed
whom it would be ungracious if did not notice. re-
fer the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr. Winthrop.) offer my respects to that gentle
man, with the more promptness now because, during
the last session of Congress- the then Speaker of the
House refused all opportunity to do so; and with
still promptness since in the change of circum-
stances favors, however small may be acceptable
to him. What ask, are the eraces of that gentle
mans part in this anti-slavery DRAMA and how did he
bear them! 1t may not be Improbable to inquire In
February, 1845, while the bill establish territorial
government in Oregon under consideration, he of
fered the following amendment, which adopted in
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union and
afterwards concurred in and passed by the House:
rored hOcere That there shall neither be slavery nvo
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted
This amendment was moved under extraordinary cir
cumstances, which stamp it with most significant
character 1t moved when the British Hudsons
Bay Company had extended their settlements over the
northern half of Oregon quite to the Columbia river
and had armed their trading posts and extended their
forts throughout the whole territory apparently for the
purpose of restraining overawing the American set
Elements, and in violation of the spirit of the treaty of
Joint occupancy, renewed with England in 1927 1t was
moved when the American settlers and traders were
without law and were LETT at great disadvantage with
the members and of the Hudsons Bay Compa-
ny, whose organization and discipline eff
cient and admrable-when brethren in Oregon who
had planted flag upon the distant shores OF the Pa
cic had often asked for law but in van and were ex-
posed the sanguinary cruees of savage hordes for
the want of governmental protection. Yes, it was
moved under these urgent circumstances and for the
very purpose of defeating the Oregon bil The gen.
tleman dare not deny it-he admits it,
Next, in June, 1896 the Oregon treaty was conclud
ed and the parallel Of north latitude adopted
the boundary between the possessions of the United
States and Great Britain in the northwest and with the
treaty, the President transmitted a message urging
Congress to organize government in Oregon without
delay But the storm was now up and it could not be
quelled, the fire kindled and it could not be
quenched. bill was brought forward to establish
government in Oregon in conformity with the recon
mendation of the Presidents but the provso-the Win
throp provso was fastened upon it in the House, and
strangled it in the Senate. The same thing re-
CURED in lS47, and would have REQUIRED again In
1913 with the vote of the gentleman from Massachu
Sets but for the almost superhuman efforts of
the distinguished Senator from Missouri (Mr Benton ;,
who, amidst of the exciting and memorab,
parliamentary record marshaed its wa,
through the Senate, almost in the very last moment
the session expiring on the l4th of August, lS4S
This, sir, is the history of the Winthrop proviso,"
which the gentleman from Massachusetts boasts that h
is the author. And thus that it cruelty withheld
from the people of Oregon the protection OF our law
and arms for than three years. and in TRUTH unit
the exigency Of an Indian and a courier crossn!
the Rocky Mountains and the intervening pains mor
than two thousand miles, amidst and ice, brough
the startling and urgent intelligence of that event
And then the pathetic and bleeding appeals of GU
fellow citizens In Oregon, were only answered after
contest, in which the gentleman from Massachusetts
bore very heroic part, and which shook the Capto
to its very foundations.
And what good did the provso do after it was passed
None, sir The gentleman has argued though it KEEP
slavery of Oregon; but he is mistaken. The law
God kept il out; said Colonel Benton and others a
the very time they voted for the Oregon provso and
declare common sense and common experience. Ant
what is more, and should have been known the gen
teman from Massachusetts, the people of Oregon them
selves acting in conformity with these Dictates had pro
hibed il by voluntary law-rst in 1S41, in I843
and again S45 by their territorial constitution after
ward ratified by Congress in August, 1913. So, sir thu
gentleman from Massachusetts stand forth unexcuse,
for his proviso. Like its baefn offspring the 90 Wilmo
prOvsO was uncalled for either by or neces
sity, but was condemned by both History will recor
its mschiefs while the Affections of people in Ore
gon and the Acknowledgement Of that territory togethe
with its abortve puerty to prevent slavery will for
stamp its real character. Let this, also, tn
gentleman from Massachusetts says, stand in perpeu
| am memoram rel i"
Again: if il be true, contended by the gentleman
that the Mexican law surviving the conquest of
rtores, nbbits slavery in those territories, why doe
he not abide by his opiniona Why would he superflu