Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-17
REMARKS OF MIR. SEDDON

The question then recurring on the amendment of Mr..
Seldom
Mr.. S. said AS expect, Mr. Chairman, to propose
several amendments to this bill may as we'll saw once
tor all that shall bring forward that do not am
bona tide, eitherto improve the bill or TO illustrate
principle which we should act in adopting or reject
ing it. The amendment offered, conceive does both.
1t would justify the amendment of the gentleman from
Missouri, Mr. Greenl by the assignment OF strong
reason for its adoption, and serves to illustrate firm
ground of the claim Of the South for the adoption of the
Missouri compromise line. Sir in its original adoption
that line was intended, and has since been recognized
practically partition between the slavehoding and
savehodmg States of the territory of the Union
to the uttermos ex ent OF its western limits That sirf
created just expectation that when the territories
the Union were extended, particularly under then ex
isting claim as was the case with Oregon that line,
originally contemp lated, would go with them even to
the Pacific Such sir the result practically by the
Presidents recognition of the Missouri lne as to that
| territory. When Texas was annexed, the same line
was again recognized and incorporated into the COM
pact OF annexation That justified the expectation
that in the acquisition OF new territory the prin-
cple OF partition would be adhered to- and carried out
But, sir, the gentleman from Tennessee MIR. Gentry
who addressed she committee few days SINCE strange
ly enough contended, that before the acquisition of the
territories acquired from Mexico, and during the penden
OF the war; adequate notice was given by the North
that the event OF new territories being acquired slavery
should be positively prohibited and thus the South ex
cluded from all participation in them file referred par
culary to the declarations emphatically made on this
floor years since by the honorable gentleman from
New DIRK, Mr.. Preston King, in sort Of manifesto
which, under the guise of personal explanation he in
rodueed here against the extension of slavery, and
favor of the Wilmo provso should territories be
acquired by the existing war. Sir, before such et.
feet is to be imputed to the declarations of the genS
teman from New York, however pointed or posi-
tive reference ought to be had to the action and decara-
ton OF Others | was, sir an humble member of that
Congress- and having participated deeply in the feeling
that the course of the gentleman from New York and
others, then excited among Southern representatives.
have vivid recollection OF the whole Sir at the ear
Hest possible moment after the declarations of the gen.
teman from New York that the rules of the House
would allow, an able and influential friend from the
South hen for the sake of his section more than for
himself, wish he were now, member OF the House,)
Judge Dargan, of Mobile, and myself replied to and
denounced the positions of that gentleman. distinctly
declared, that the purpose and principles of the North
were such that gentleman declared the South ought
not, and in my opinion would not furnish dollar or
man tor the prosecution OF the and for one humble
as was, so help me God, with that understanding and
expectation never would have given vote for either
But sir in the Of the debate that followed on
the Wilmo provso, well recollect that at least one
distinguished gentleman from the Northwest rMr.
Dougas who enjoyed largely the confidence of the De-
OF that secton openly repudated the doctrine
Of the gentleman and declared he would in the event
OF ACQUISITIONS, adhere 10 and carry out the Missouri
were other northern Democrats at least who concurred
In the same sentiments; but surely the gentleman to
whom referred Is at least an adequate osett to the
| insisted on by the member from Tennessee But sir
apart from this House, there not throughout the
whole country at the time OF the acquisition the ter
rtores by the treaty OF peace general expectation that
the Wmot provso would not be enforced to the ex-
clusion OF the South, but that some fair adjustment
either on the principle othe Missouri compromise line
or OF nom Intervention in lis Just of no invidious
discrimination by our common Government against the
property ofany section State, would be secured 1t
was expected that fair chance of participation would
be allowed to the South Sir, had not the Wilmot pro-
viso been rejected in the Had it not been en-
phacally declared by the then President that he would
veto it? Was not the great Democratic party, whose
triumph in the coming presidential canvass was san
guinely expected, pledged through its candidate and
Its solemn resolves to the reputation of the provso and
the settlement OF the sectional controversy fair terms
SIR, general expectation OF adustment-oi partcipa-
ton on the part OF the South, entertained. The
principle OF non intervention unfortunately not I'M
dersood alike in both sections 1t cannot be resorled
to without disappointment and mockery to one section
or the other. The Missouri compromise remains
commendeby past precdedent-by the peace it once
enthusiastically the long acquiescence and consent
OF the country Is it not reasonable expectation
should be again adopted and made forever permanent?
The question was then taken, and the amendment
was rejected
Mr.. Seldom proposed as an amendment to the amend.
men OF the gentlemen from Missouri, Mr. Green,] to
insert after the word territory ;" in the 18th line the
words as BY The past action OF the Government the
non slavehelding States"
| Mr. Seldom said
The amendment, Mr. Chairman, presents another
song ground OF reason and justice for the adoption of
the Missouri line As have said sir and no fair
minded man has denied or conrover it, the Missou-
ri line was adopted and designed as COMPROMISE by
partition between the slaveholdng and non slavehoI-
ding States OF the whole territory of the United States
and intend to apply to the utmost western limits OF
such territory Sir the full benefit oftha line to the Pa
cine ocean has on the faith OF that compromise been re-
allied and Is now enjoyed by the non sayeholdng
States Sir as has been recently stated here when the
ordinance OF S7, the prohibition of slavery was first
mn by the gentleman from Massachusetts MI
Winthrop into the Oregon bill, it was based on a re-
MlSSOurl No
thereto, and on that ground many southern men voted
Tor It, When afterwards the prohibition was actually
inserted In the Oregon BILL is it not known-or was it
otsolemnly declared by the then President-that il
escaped veto and received his sanction only on the
faith and supposed obligation of the Missouri compro-
mise.
The nterdct of slavery in Oregon never could bava
been law but for that compromise-aboye that line TO
the Pacific the orh has undsputed possession and en-
1oyment The institutions and the rights OF the slave
holding States debarred and precuded therefrom-
We Of the South have acquiesced in ths-it was in the
bond and on the faith OF past legislationon the force
OF compact scarce less stringent than fundamental law
we nave rehed upon ana now claim our reciprocal
rghs-our proportion OF the territory south of that line
AS Just and honorable men, you, representatives of
the savehoding States, deny and exclude us?
appeal 10 your respect Tor the faith OF your honoed
reliance and trust we have reposed in your honor and
justice and call on you to allow to the saveholdng
States the enjoyment OF the territory south of the line,
in the full sense and to the full extent even to the ocean
IN which you ENJOY all north Oft The fact that you
have realized and are enjoying the full benefit ofhe
lne 10 That extent with men honor, be conclu-
slve against the denial reputation OF the reciprocal
rights secured by that line to the ocean to the savehod
ing States appeal from your preudces and aversions
TO your honor and justice.
The ATLANTIc.-The U. S. mail steamer Atlantic,
OF Collins line, made her passage from Liverpool to
New York, in eleven days and three hours, and per.
formed to the great satisfaction of her passengers Her
machinery worked admirably-her engines not having
once stopped from the time of her leaving Liverpool
unh her arrival. She averaged over thirteen revolu-
| tons per minute during the voyage
The Liverpool Courier says that the Atlantic was IL
sed by great concourse of pc rsous I'm to the TINA