Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-28
SPEECH OF MIR. CLINGMAN,

tlnS 10 the MEXICAN territory. hat SUBJECT WAS 'c
garded by the whole country as one OF such immense
importance that he offered no apology for debating It
To prevent misconceptions (said he,l say in advance
that have great confidence in the Judgment ntegy
and patriotism of the President | further admit iuly
the right OF the citizens OF each State to settle lot teh
elves all such domestic questions as that referred 10 III
the message. But who the people entitled SO 10 de-
eide, well the time and manner OF ADMISSION anu
boundary of new States themselves questions Tor
the Judgment of Congress- under all the circumstances Oh
each case The territory of Louisiana, our first foreign
acquisition was retained nearly ten years in that condi-
ton before she was allowed to form State constitution
In the case of Texasher people beng composed al
most entirely of citizens of the United States and hav
inc had State government of their for ten years
she was admitted at once State into the Union In
the present case there are considerations OF the greatest
importance connected directly and indirectly with our
action on this subject. While adverting them as full
ly as the time limited by rules will admit ask the
attention OF the House.
With reference to this matter, was placed at disad-
vantage before the country by publication made some
time since. 1t Is generally known that there was on the
Saturday, evening before the time for the assem-.
bling OF the House, preliminary meeting or caucus OF
the Wing members; The proceedings Of such meetings
have usually been kept private Contrary. however,
the former usage in this respect some individual pre-
sent furnished to OF the New ork papers what pur-
ported to be report OF the proceedings This report,
being in respects authentic, was copied into other
papers. The writer gave fully the speeches OF
those persons whose views conceded with his own; but,
though he made reference to my position, he did not
think proper to set what did say make that
those present that OCCASION that at the very outset
OF my remarks stated that had that morning had a
very full and free conference with the gentleman from
Georgia. MIR Toombs) who had moved the resolutions;
that there was in relation to the whole subject embraced
in it, well with reference to the mode OF action
proper be adopted by the South an entire agreement
between that gentleman and myself In fact, that there
not as far as knew any difference OF opinion be-
tween us, except to the expediency OF making the
issue at that time and that thought il preferable to
await legislative action and stand the defensive pure
|
request the withdrawal OF the resolution. Nisproper
that should say that in my interview that morning
with the gentleman from Georgia. and with his col
league, {Mr. StephensD gave my reasons at length,
founded chiefly my recent observation OF the state OF
pupc sentiment in the North, we believing that COLI
sion was inevitable, and that the sooner it came the
better for all parties; but that to enable to make
demonstration in the most imposing and successful
mode it would be better to await the organization OF
the House. expressed the tear that ii we moved with
the at the outset Of majority OF the
southern members we might place ourselves at a dis
advantage before the public, and prevent our uniting the
whole South such course OF action as II might be
found expedient to adopt
Looking over the whole ground, however, | am not
at all dissatisfied with the course which things TOOK
There has been no such DIVISION at the south as would
From the tone OF the Southern PRESS as we'll as from
other Indications it is obvious that the South will at
early day. be sufficiently united to insure the success Of
whatever it may be necessary to adopt to pro-
tect ourselves from the aggression menaced by the
North As to the election OF Speaker in the present
condition of the House and the country have never
considered it of the slightest moment to either political
party, to either section OF the Union Speaker with
majority of the House would be OF no advantage
to the Administration, nor could any mere arrangement
OF committees materially affect now the action on the
slave question.
Those Mr. Chairman, who have observedmy course
heretofore, know well that have MOI sought to produce
agitation on this subject Six wears ago when first
took seat on this floor believing that the famous TWEEN
first rule had been gotten up merely fancy NATTER
which productive only OF l-teeing and irritation
between different sections both voted and spoke against
it, and then regarded responsible great extent
tor its defeat then stated during the discussion, that
it without kept up stale OF hostility between
the North and the South until practical question arose
like that presented when Missouri was admitted, (or
| then the Texas annexation in the tuture3 the
| greatest possible mischief might ensue" | went on
also in the course OF my argument to say that slavery
could not be abolished in this district without disson
| ton OF the Union. Two years since, when II had be-
come certain that were at the close OF the then
istng war 10 obtain territory endeayored to place the
question on grounds where the North might meet
concedng, for the sake OF argument that the Govern
had complete jurisdiction over the territory en-
deayored to show, that while it might be justified in
dpiding the territory, could not exclude us from the
whole without papabe violation OF the Constitution.
am sorryo say, however, that my effort though well
meant, did not produce the slightest effect upon the
action OF any gentleman OF my party from the
North On this side of the House they regularly voted
that the North should have the whole OF the territory
and went against any compromise regret TO be com
PEELED TO say that instead OF showing themselves in any
respect conservative, as used TO consider them, the
Northern Wing members proved theuselves on this the
| great question, eminenty destructive.
| TO those gentlemen from the North who aided in
| an attempt 10 settle the question in manner not
dsgracetul destructive to u.s. tender my thanks In
standing by the rights OF the South they have shown
themselves friends OF the Constitution and OF the Union
Sir, the force and extent OF the present ntslavery
movement OF the North not understood by the South
Until within the last few months had supposed that
| even if California and New Mexico should come in as
free States, the agitation would subsde TO produce
further action. A few months travel in the inferior
othe North has changed my opinion. Such is now the
condition OF public sentiment there that the making OF
the Mexican territory all free, any mode, would be
regarded anti-savery triumph, and would acce-
crate the general movement against u.s. 1t is not diff
cult perceive how that OF public sentiment has
been produced there. The old abolition societies have
done good deal to poison the popular mind. By cir
culang an immense number OF intiammatory PAM
phles, filled with all manner OF fasehood and caiumy
against the South, its institutions, and its men, because
there was no contradiction in that quarter they had
created high degree OF prejudice against AS soon
as it became probable that there would be acquis
ton OF territory, the question at once became great
practical one and the politicians Immediately took the
| matterin hand. With view at once OF Strengthening
their position, they seized upon al this matter which
in the strugge) had furnished from time to me and diff
fused and strengthened as much possible, and there
by created an immense amount OF hostility to southern
| Institutions Every thing there contributes to this
movement; canddates are brought out by the caucus
system, and if they fail to take that sectional ground
which deemed strongest there, they are at dis
carded The mode OF nominating candidates, as well
Of conducting the canvass is destructive OF any thing
like indepen dence in the representative They do not
as gent emen often do in the South and West take
ground against the popular clamor, and sustain them
selves by direct appeals to the Intelligence apd reason
of their constituents Almost the whole Of the north
em press co operated in the movement; With the
cepton OF the New York Herald (which with its large
circulation, published matter both sdes) and few
other liberal papers, every thing favorable to the South
has been carefully excluded from the northern papers
By these combined efforts degree OF feeling and pre-
judice has been gotten up against the South which
| most intense in all the interior
| was surprised last winter 10 hear Northern Sena-
tor say that in the town in which he lived would ex-
cite great astonishment if were known that northern
lady would at the time OF the meeting OF the two
Houses, walk up to the Capitol with southern Senator
that they had been taught consider southerners ee
neraly as being and ruffanly manner that
lady would not trust herself in such presence This
anecdote, sir present too strong picture OF the
condition OF DOltiODS of