The New York herald., 1850-01-28
THE TRRRIT0RIAL AND SLAVERY QUESTION.
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Speech Of Hon. Thomas L. Clingman,
in Congress.
TUESDAY. JANUARY % 1850.

subject was regarded by the whole country as one
OF such immense importance, tha ne onceo,,oo
apology for debating II. To prevent mlscohceP'ioch
(said he's say in advance that nave etedl conn.,
dence IN the judgment. integrity amo paulotsm OF
the President | further admit, tuIiy, 'he rl9ni OF
the citizens of each STATE 10 settle Tor themselves
all such domestic questions as that referred To IN
the message But who are the people entitled so
10 decide as well az the time and manner of admis-
sion and boundary OF new States are in themselves
questions for the judgment OF Congress, under all
the circumstances OF each case. The territory of
Louisiana, our first foreign acquisition, was re-
tanned nearly ten years IN that condition before she
was allowed 10 form State constitution. In the
case of Texas-her people being composed almost
entirely OF citizens OF the United States, and hav-
ing had State government of their own for ten
ysars-she was admitted at once as State into
the Union. In the present case, there are consi-
derations OF the greatest Importance connected d
rectly ard indirectly with our action on this sub
lect While adyerting to them, as fully as the time
limited by our rules will admit, ask the attention
OF the House.
With reference to this matter, was placed at "a
disadvantage before the country, by publication
made some time since. lt Is generally known that
there was, on the Saturday evening before the time
Tor the assembling ot the House, a preliminary
meeting or caucus of the whg members. The
proceedings Of such met iings have usually been
Kept private. Conuary, however, TO the former
usage In this respect, some individual present FUR
nished TO one OF the New York papers what pur-
ported 10 be report of the proceedings. This re-
port beng, IN some respects authentic, was copied
into other papers. The writer gave very fully the
speeches OF those persons whose views conceded
with his own; but, though he made a reference TO
my position, he did not think proper 10 set out
what did say, so as TO make that position at all
understood. II will be remembered by those
present on that occasion, that, al the very outset
oi my remarks. l stated that | had that morning
had very full and free conference with the gen
tlemsn from Georgia, Mr. Toombs,l who had
moved the resolution; that there was, In relation
10 the whole subject embraced In II, well
with reference To the MODE of action proper TO be
aoopttd by The South, an entire agreement between
that gentit man and myself In fact, that there
was not, as far as knew any difference of opinion
between us, except as Ia the expedlency OF making
the issue at that Tune, and that thought II prefera
bic to await legilalve action, and stand on the
defensive purely. This, among other reasons then
given, induced me To request the withdrawal Of
the resolution. IL proper that should say that,
III my interview that morning with the gentleman
from Georgia, and with his colleage, Mr. Ste
Phens,I gave my reasons at length founded chief
y on my recent observation OF the state of public
sentiment in the North, we believing that a COLI
SION was inevitable, and that the sooner il came
the better Tor all partles but that 20 enable to
make our demonstration In the most imposing and
successful mode, II would be better to await the
organization OF the House. expressed the fear
that ii we moved without the concurrence, at the
outset, 81 majority OF the southern members, we
might place Iselves at disadvantage before the
public, and pre- vent our unltlng the whole South in
dent TO adopt.
Looking over the whole ground, however, am
not at all dissatisfied with the course which things
South as would be all likely TO impair efficient
action hereafter. From the tone Of the Southern
press, as well from other Indications, il is OBJ
yious that the South Will, at an early day, b. suf
hcepty united TO insure the success OF whatever
measures II may be necessary 10 adopt TO protect
ourselves IRON the aggression menaced by the
North. As TO the election of Speaker, IN the pre-
sent condition OF the House and thu country, |
have never considered II OF the slightest moment
20 either political party, or 10 either section of the
Union. Speaker without a majority of the
House would be Of no advantage 10 the administra-
ton, nor could eny mere arrangement Of commit
tees materially affect now the action on the slave
question.
Those, Mr. Chairman, who have observed nv
course heretofore, know well that | have not
sought to produce agitation on this subject Six
years ago, when first took a seat on thls floor
believing that the famous twenty first rule had
been gotten ~ merely "a fancy matter " hi ch was
productive only Of all feeling and irritation between
different secnons, both voted and spoke against
II, and was then Tfgarfs d as responsible to great
extent Tor It's defeat. then stated during the dis
cusson, lhet If without we kept up a state of
hostility between The Norh and the South until a
practical question arose like that presented when
Missouu wss scmliied Uor then saw the Texas
annexation IN the iuture), the "greatest possible
mischief might ensue." went on also, in the
course al my argument. To say that slavery could
not be abolished m this District without dssolu-
non oi the Union. Two years since, when II had
become certain we were at the close of the then
existing war 10 obtain teTriiory, / sadeayor,d 10
place the question on grounds where the North
ment, that the government had complete lurIsdlc-
uon over the territory. ! endeavored 10 show that
Mhlle II might be justified in dividing the territory
4, could net exclude Us from the whole without
palPsbie violation OF the constitution I am sorry
70 cay, howe yer, that my effort, though wellmeani
OH not produce the slightest effect upon the action
ct any one gentleman of my own parry from the
North. On this side of the House they regularly
voted that the North shsuld have the whole of the
Territory, end went against any compromise re.
eret 70 be compe,d To say, that instead Of show
ing themselves IN any respect conservative, as /
used TO consider them, the Northern whie mern-
bers proved themselves, on this the great question:
eminently destructive.
To those gentlemen from the North who aided
us in an atempi to settle the question in some
manIer not disgraceiul or destructive to U.s. ten
der my thanks. In standing by the rights of the
South, they have shown ihemselyes friends of the
constitution and the Union.
Sir, the force and extent of the present anii.sla
very NOV, mrnt ot the North s not understood by
the South. | nul within he last few months, had
supposed that even n California and New Mexico
should come IN - free States, the agitation would
suhslde, 50 az TO PROD further action. a few
months travel in the Interior of the North has
changed my opinion. Such Is now the condition
of public s,ntuent there, that the making of the
Mexican territory all tree IN any mode, would be
regarded ss an anu-tlavery triumph, and would
accelerate the general movement against us IL is
not difficult To lerceve how that state OF public
sentiment has been produced here. The old abo-
liion Eocleties have done a good deal to poison
the popular mind. by circulating an immense
number Of lniianlnaiory pamphlets, filled with all
manner Of ialsehood and cilumny against the
South, he instituuons and ts men, because there
was no contradiction in that quarter. they had
created high degree 81 prejudice against us. As
soon az II became probable that there would be an
acquisition OF territory, the question at once be-
came great practical one, and the politicians inn
medlst,ly took the matter IN hand With view
Of Strengthening their position. they seized
upon all this matter which the abolltloa societies
(whose and both parties courted in the struggleJ |
had furnished from time to tIme and dlilssed and
strengthened u a. much as possible, and thereby |
created an immense amount II hostility 20 south
ern institutions. Even thing there contributes to
this movement; candidates are brought out by the
caucus system and II they fail 10 take that section
al ground which is deemed strongest there, they |
are At once discarded. The mode Of nominating
Candidates., as well ss Of conducting the canvass,
Is destructive of any thing like Independence in the
representative. They do not, as gentlemen often
90 IN the South and West, take ground against |