The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-30
BEFORE ELECTION.

VvOn VnaV SuOge nOmpson, MEM
Der Of the House from Pennsy vania, stands ready
to give up the Wilmot Proyiso, and to vote for
Compromise. This must be grievous SANDER.
People will take strange liberties with the repu-
tatiOn Of public men. Judge Thompson, we must
presume, is a man of character, of conscience of
consistency. We protest against condemning
him in advance Why, does not the world know
that in common with Mr.. Webster, he contests
with Mr.. Wimot the paternity of the Proviso
And is it to be imagined that he will be so unna-
tursl to cast off what he believes to be his own
darling offspring?
The following highly interesting letter from
Judge Thompson, written during the canvass Of
1913, shows the complete orthodoxy of the writer
on the question now agitating Congress:
HON. JAMES THOMPsON's LETTER.
ERIE, Pa. September s, ls4S
GENTLEMEN Yours of the 27th ult has Just
been handed me, and as | certainly recognise
your right to make the inquiries therein contain
ed, hasten to reply.
When the first territorial bill for Oregon that
was passed was reported, offered as a minority
report, the following as an amendmsat 70 &he 10Th
section of the bill
Provided that neither slavery nor involuntary
servtude shall ever exist in said territory except
for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted See Journals of goth Congress pages
1910 and 1915
This Provso of course voted for it passed the
ouse, but did not pass the Senate In February,
1Si7, the same bill being again under considera-
ton, containing section reGnactig the Ordinance
ofl7S7 which prohibited slavery in the territory,
voted against striking it out and voted against
an amendment recognising the Missouri Com
promise.
Al the session Of Congress which has just closed,
voted against the Clayton Compromise, and also
against the Missouri Compromise, and for insert
ing and retaining the above, re6nacting the Ordi-
nance of 1887, and making it applicable to the
Oregon Territory
You will therefore see have shown by votes
my belief in the power Of Congress to prohibit
slavery in the Territories. | have no doubts
whatever of the power and the right of Congress
to do so.
| have on all occasions voted to exclude slavery
from the Territories belonging to the United
States now and shall continue to do so. Convinced
that no compromise is necessary, either to preserve
the Union, or required by any constitutional man.
date, SHALL as have already done, vote against
all compromise, by which territory now free shall
become slave territory. | may add that this is
not new doctrine to mel have uniformly 80 voted
on all territorial bills and shall continue to do
and shall vote for the Ordinance of 1887, to be
made applicable to the Territories of the United
States, or Of any other words of prohibition that
may De equivalent thereto.
This dOctrme of prohibiting slavery il territories
mas first introduced by ,, after the acquisition of the
territory, and applied directly TO TINT territory yet
others do not nom hesitate to claim much for adopting
principle they necr suggested and forget those who
did do SO. Respectfully, yours,