The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02

vi CohRress-a communication from him 10 the
Legislature, and the action of that body thereon
all denouncing the North, and threatening disco
luton, with it's attendant evils, even if California
should be admitted rs State. The same ceremo-
ny was gone through with by Alabama, by Mis-
sissippi and lastly, by Florida, where, believe,
was found man in the gubernatorial chair who
did not feel at liberty to unite himself or party in
this system Of intimidation to give it no harsher
name
For the purpose Of still further alarming the
North, and of thereby extorting from cowordice
what they feared could not otherwise be obtained,
the papers at the North in the interests of slavery
propagandists, were constantly filled with touch
ing appeals to the fears and cupidity of their
readers, until some weak-minded and selfish men
were ready to exclsim, Give up liberty Give
up the free soil of California, of New Mexico, and
Deseret, to save the Union, or to save few dol
lars which may be lost, if the trade of the South
is not re ainedN
those men have stood by and seen the game
played here as have seen it from the beginning,
they would have despised themselves for their
unmanly fears and unmitigated selfshness Du-
ring all this time, scarcely one man from the
free States had obtained the floor to meet or re-
pei these threats and expose these schemes AT
length, we had, by chance, an opportunity of
taking the sense Of this House upon the question
Of applying the Wilmot Proviso to the Terrific
ries and it was found that there was majority
of eighteen in favor of it. This encouraged the
friends Of freedom. II looked as though large
majority of the House were disposed to act in &C.
cordance with the wishes Of those who elected
them--to consult the interests of the nation, and
regard the rights of man, rather than take coun-
sci from their fears or hopes Of office But alas,
for poor selfish human nature! the slavery prop
agandists bid high for the support OF northern
men, regardless alike of former views upon TINS
subject and former party associations ms
brought to the capital distinguished aspirant for
Presidential honors, who seemed all ut once DIS
tressingy alarmed for the safety and stability OF
the Union, and these fears became contagious In
one mart of the House General Cass seemed to
have lost caste with his Southern friendships nom
intervention doctrines, which most certainly be-
longed TO him by right of discovery, or rather Of
invention, had been patented by General Taylor,
and they were repudiated as they now under
stood and explained by him, by nearly, if not all,
the leading men Of the South This abandon
ment by those for whom he had avowed senti-
ments which lost him the Presidency, seemed TO
leave the coast clear and the South at liberty to
- :yz ocasss: se ks.ir<nishSd genAss
man to whom have alluded proposed the Mis-
souri, line and great meeting, with, believe,
more names appended to the call than were at
tached to the Boston letter, was got up in Phla-
delphia, and, if remember rightly, some feeble
limitations were attempted in other parts of Penn
sylvania At all of these, the most hattering
encomiums were passed upon the shareholders,
and the most dsparaging epithets applied to
Northern fanatics, as they termed the opponents
of slavery extension; and these latter were boldly
charged with trampling upon the rights Of the
South
Having secured, as was supposed, the Demo-
cratic wing of the Northern army, they then
turned their attention to the Wing side and
when the question again came up, upon Mr..
RooT's resolution, 10, and behold many gentle
men had received revelations, or dreamed dreams,
and voted in direct opposition to the former
record or dodgTd the question. Among the latter
was the honorable gentleman from the Suffolk
district, in Massachusetts, Mr.. WINTHROP, who
had claimed great credit as a Proviso-man, from
the fact that he had manufactured the thunder
before the honorable member from Pennsylvania
had thought of using it. Had the honorable gen.
tleman from Massachusetts changed his views (?
II So why did he not UOte against 1t 1.-The had not
why did he not, rs he had a few days before, Uoie
for it! Why dodge question of such moment
the rejection or adoption of which was to save or
destroy the Constitution Of these States2 His
position, as the acknowledged leader of his party,
gave him great influence: was be doing his duty
in throwing away that influence He said,
in speech shortly after. that the action of Mr.
Roor was premature. Why, then, did he favor
it at first? Was il not quite as premature when
he voted for it as it was when, few weeks later,
he refused to do So for the reason, stated that
the honorable gentleman from Ohio Mr.. RooTl
was so foolish as to rush in where an angel, like
himself, dared not enter? He took occasion to
declare that he considered the vote laying the
Proviso upon the table as one of the last import
ance, and when he judged it safe he lodged his
responsibility. Is this the way that men orlina-
rily discharge important public trusts ] am
willing to believe that the honorable gentleman
really was governed by no other motive for the
course he pursued than to punish the honorable
gentleman from Ohio for not supporting him when
a candidate for the Speakership, or to take from
him the apology he would have for such neglect
in voting L. not the reason given for the dodge
an infinitely better excuse, if the gentleman from
Ohio needed one with his constituents, than n
vote against the Provso would have been 2
have dwelt longer upon this part of my subject
than otherwise should, from the fact that no
member of this House can be made to believe
that this evasion was the result of fear for the
stability of the Union for it will be remembered
that, after the House was organized, the honor
able gentleman sat by and heard the honorable
to the Skies for early, steadfast and devoted at
tachment to the Proviso and its principles. If it
was such mischievous thing, why did he not
correct the gentleman and why did he again
dodge the vote reaffirming the Declaration of In
dependence? Was he fearful of offending his
constituents, or the people of New England, or
any of the free States? What meant this sud-
den change? Does the honorable gentleman sup
pose his conduct will escape notice and criticism
because he goes out of his way to rdicule the
men who are guilty of the heinous sin Of be-
ing in favor of freedom rather than slavery, for
free rather than slave soil, who have fixed prn-
ciples and the manly courage to defend and vote
for them, and not skulk from their support in the
hour of trial | will call the attention of the
House to another remarkable fact connected with
the progress of this question Not content with
instituting nvidious comparisons between him
self and those in favor Of Free Soil in the House,
he turned aside to do his new friends kind turn,
rs much as PLATE did to the Jews when he left
Paul bound speaking of body of men in Bos
ton AS a {" nest of vipers,N because they are the
open opposers of tyranny in every form. be-
lieve this remark concerning the friends Of lib
erty in that city is not original with the honor
able gentleman. IL my memory serves, Lord
North spoke of that particular class in similarly
dignified manner, when he advised George the
Third to crush a nest of vipers in the same place
The attempt to carry out this advice was made
the result is matter Of history. cannot say
much in praise of the teeth of their descendants
if they have been destroyed as the honorable gen.
,eman represents do not desire 10 sit in judg-
ment upon the honorable gentleman from Boston
he Is accountable to his constituents, and enter
tain no doubt of his ability to obtain the sigma
lures of eight hundred of the wealthiest mer'
chants and mill-owners in Boston to letter en-
dorsing his conduct, and laudipg it as perfectly
consistent and wonderfully patriotic.
After this scene 10 the House, and the abandon
ment of the Provso by its father, or at least it,
grandfather, | confess to have entertained fears
for the result.
The next scene in this political drama il wor-