The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-08

references 10 lis general provisions with regard 10 personal
freedom. Wegain nothing il we adopt the amendment,
and gain nothing ii we reject the amendment The
whole result TO throw the matter upon the admnisa
ton and the courts This Is called bill Of compromise
but with this amendment in IL il will settle nothing. but
throw everything into general discussion before the
public Now, hold thai the constitution extends TO
the territory OF the United States, in its provision OF
personal freedom and therefore vote that n the Ter
rtoIies, under the constitution, long they remain
under the constitution, no amendment shall be passed
which depyes Congress, or any power derived from Con-
gress. OF The power Of denying that liberty and slavery can
The question being then taken upon the amendment
submitted by Mr. YULEE, Catering the 2lst section as
suggested BY him. il was agreed toyeas 80, nays 2i
as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Atchson Bell, Bsrien, Borlsnd, Butler,
Cass Clay. Clemens Davis Of Mississippi Dawson, pickin-
Han Hun King, Msagam aasoa Morton. Pss,ce. Paa
kusk Sebastian, soule Sprnance, Surgeon Iuney, ana
NAYs--dessrs Badger Baldwin, Benton, Bright. Chase,
Clarke, Cooper Davis of massachusetts Dayion Dodge OF
Seward, Shields. Smith. Underwood Upham. Walker.
Webster, and Whitcomb-2i.
Mr. BALDWIN. Mr. President. move 10 add, 10 the
9th section, after the word slavery in the 9th line.
these words: "t being hereby intended and declared that
the Mexican laws prohibiting slavery shall be and re-
main in force in the said Territories. until altered or re-
pealed by Congress-" Mr. President, il seems to be-
Mr.. DOWNS. Will the senator allow me for mo-
ment wish to suggest 10 him, before he proceeds, that
bis amendment should apply equally to The 10th section
OF the bill make the two sections correspond, as
they relate to the different Territories.
Mr.. BALDWIN, accept the suggestion. The words
Of the amendment will come in at the same placeafter
Mr. President It seems to be conceded on all sides Of
the chamber that slavery was prohibited in all the Terri
tories which acquired from Mexico, and that II the
Mexican law is to remain in force that law establishes
Freedom and not slavery, as the law Of those Terri.
tories. @f
The distinguished chairman OF the committee who re.
ported this bill has himself declared TO the Senate that
such his understanding Of the law that il this
bill, the Mexican law will remain in force; and he has
for tnoHir that mt
not to be the law, he would himself be opposed TO
the bill for he would vote for any bill that would
have the effect Of extending slavery TO Territories now
free. My own opinions sir, is in accordance with that
OF the distinguished chairman OF the committee, that ii
pass this bill the Mexican laws will remain force
o slavery and that the territorial legislature
BY its own legislation. under the provisions OF this bill
But sir, that not the opinion Of other and distinguished
senators who have delivered their sentiments the
Of this debate The senator from Georgia. [Mr
BERRIEN1 for example, has, on the other hand, ex-
pressed the opinion that, by the establishment OF terri
will be abfogated, and that slavery may, under the
stuiion and laws of the United States which will then
be in force there, be carried into those Territories not
laws
Now, sir. this is subject about which, in my judg
ment there should Be no difference OF opinion as TO what
Congress intends We here for the purpose of making
law for the people Of those Territoresa law which
govern them and all of our citizens in relation TO those
Territories we are enacng law ior me american
relation to what may be the effect oil this bill can have
as Lawmakers but will and they require Of us to
express their will, by law which is susceptible OF but
legal construction. II il be the intention of Congress
to declare that the laws of Mexico shall remain in force
Il il be the understanding OF senators who have devised
This bill that such will be its effect why not frankly place
upon the face OF the bill language which will be subject
to misconstructon. The object Of my amendment is
declare expressly what the honorable chairman Of the
committee has stated TO be his opinion OF the effect OF
this bill agree entirely in the sentiments which were
advanced the other day by the honorable senator from
louisiana Mr. SoULEl that we ought not to pass law
which would be understood in different ways by those
who co operate In its passage. do not agree with
other sentiments advanced by that honorable senator in
regard to what in his opinion ought to be the law but
do agree with him fully in this, that in giving that law
to the people, there is but sound rule OF leglsla
tons and that is. 10 declare our meaning in clear plain
in regard 10 our Intention, ! regard this matter
which concerns Legislators; that it is duty we
owe to the people which we cannot otherwise properly
discharge. The people demand OF rule for their
conduct clear and Ineligible They do not ask Of us
give them response which may be interpreted in one
way by person, and in another way by another They
do not ask for law like those which said TO have
been promulgated by OF the Roman Emperors which
were written so egbly, and hung upon pillars so high.
that they could not be read The owner OF slaves he
wishes TO emigaie into those Territories, has right to
know before he goes there whether the laws will allow
him TO take with him his slaves and hold them there in
seryitude The freeman OF the North or OF the South,
who wishes to emigrate and make his home in those
Territories, has right know whether he will find, when
he arrives there, territory inhabited by slaves or BY
reemen.
The object Of my amendment is merely to declare
what we ourselves intend. We enactng law which
wish the people 10 understand How can expect
this when senators upon this side OF the chamber under
stand sense, and senators upon the other side OF
the chamber say they understand II in different sense
Let US, then, not deal with the people ambiguous
language but lei us declare plainly frankly what we do
mean and when we have intelligbly expressed what
majority OF the Senate understand the law TO be, If this
bill is passed. then the people oil these Territories will
know from what we intend to declare the will OF the
American people TO be.
Mr.. CLAY. rather think, sir, that the honorable |
senator from Connecticut, MIR, baldwin, installing /
what the people want who there or the emigrants
who are going there, states his want which, is 10
get another form of the Wilmot Provso introduced,
that II has been voted upon.
Mr.. BALDWIN. No. sir; il is the siatu quo that pro-
pose.
Mr.. CLAY Very well what is that aafu quo bui
the Wilmot Provsoi Is II not equivalent to the Wilmoi
Proviso And will not one expression OF this body salts
fly the senator from Connecticut himself, without pro.
longing the discussion day after day. lacking only little
variety of expression, upon substantially the same propo
MIR BALDWIN viii the senator allow me 10 put to
him question: wish to ask the honorable senator
whether he understands such be the effect OF the law
IL passed without the amendment | have offered !
Mr. CLAY. II the amendment offered by the gentle.
man prevails il will be exactly equivalent to the Wilmoi
Provso for il declares that the laws In force for
the abolition of slavery shall remain in force
Mr. BALDWIN. Will the honorable senator say
whether he does not himself suppose that such will be
the law IL the bill should pass 10 its present FORM with
out my amendment
Az m Ay The or,hIe sanator has chasaa ~ -