The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12


forever.
/ now come to my third proposition that the
cession Of this .fny-sir thousand square nHes 10
| Texas is
THE CONVERSION OF FREE INTO SLAVE TER.
RIToRY
| have already shown that, by the law of nations,
the law of necessity the history OF this country ana
the facts in this cose the people of New Mexico are
now free and that every part of their territory is
also free. | now propose TO show, that TO grant II
to Texas is convert IL into slave territory. That
TO for this BILL as il now is Is TO dismemoer
free cOuntry 10 vote into slavery forever country
larger than five of the New England States; much
| larger than the State of New York large enough
when as thckly settled Massachusetts,, to hold in
the chains of bondage four millions Of men, women,
and children This, sir IL the measure, and these are
| the results we are asked TO support and secure
Shall vote TO send more than MY thousand
square miles of free territory into slavery, 10 extend
! the Missouri Compromise near two hundred miles,
and the people of the free States ten millions
! for the benefit Of Texas slavery1 Vote TO pamper
/ the cupidy of State that has already cost this
country thirty thousand lives, and more than hun
bred and fifty millions of dollars No. sir never.
While reason lasts, while one principle of justice re-
mains, while one chord of human sympathy vibraes
never-no, sir never
II is clamed if this bill passes il will be nstru-
mental of the admission of California Sir, there
Is truth in this declaration. IL there be anything
in il, let California pass first She has been wait
ing for nine months. She has large population,
ana hoIc ~ pressins neJ<t's. 80 a,.1,riS,te
Let not deceive ourselves DOR be deceived. There
is moi SODtherD DOT one Drolasnandist
VINO wlD vote Tor the admission OF California ii This
bill be passed, VITO viii NOT vote for IL any way. SiS
there is not one Southern who will say he in
tends to do so.
Mr.. McMULLEN rose and said, he could show
one Southern man.
Mr.. SACKETT. Will you vote for California if
this bill be passed
Mr.. McMULLEN. will vote for California if
all the measures in relation TO slavery shall be passed
Mr.. SACkETT: Oh yes-it is as l supposed
Ii California can be made the pack horse to grab
for Texas and slavery more than fifty thou
sand square males Of free territory, TO extend the
Missouri Compromise TO admit New Mexico and
Utah without the Proviso, and to secure the recog-
milton of slavery south of thirtysix thirty TO the
Pacific then, sir, and not till then, certain gentle
men will vote for California Sir, ] shall make no
such bargain; | shall enter into no such contract;
am for no such consummatlon. say TO this House,
TO the country, and TO the world as much as / am
for the admission Of California if she can only be
admitted on such terms as these-f she is to be
sisted as free State, and kept out unless she is
made the instrument of all this inquity, then sir,
| am opposed 10 her admission | am opposed to 1t
now, and upon such conditions am opposed to it
forever
"Ths wages of sin is death"
seek alliance with California, or any other por-
ton of the world, at the expense of human rights.
The iraternal embrace of States that trample upon
the slaughtered liberty of others is brotherhood
me TO give II my support.
There is pressure from without and from with
ill., TO vote for this bill, that is not usual in such
cases. What is the meaning of all this? The peo-
pie have never asked it, 1t is a subject that has
never ben submitted to their consideration. Ger
tain presses seem suddenly oppressed with haste on
this subject To all thsoe who are so aroused to
this ten million question, let me say, your nervous
ness VIII never induce me TO vote into slavery a
country six times large as Massachusetts, aud
thereby aid In securing to that institution the whole
country south of hirty-sir hirty--a country large
enough to contain more slaves than are now in the
whole Union.
Sir. present these truths to every Representative
from the free States-to every man who feels that
an honest, upright constituency is looking on
with an eye that never sleeps in the cause of human
ity. Tell me- you about to vote to bind the
chains of bondage on country as free az yours?
Ii So do i'll shall not go with you. The unborn
generations OF parents and children, fathers and
sons mothers and daughters, of that immense re-
gion shall never, with the uplifted hands of impre-
cation call down the curses Of God on me for rivet-
ing chains on them.
l hear it frequently said that by this bill we save
all north Of thirty-sx degrees thirty minutes to
freedom. Gentlemen must lot ease their consciences
by this pretence, for there is no truth in il. First
because Texas never owned foot of country with
in four hundred miles of there; and next because
by the express terms of The resolutions Of dnnera-
ton, Stduery can nerer erSt north OF that line. Ex
tract:
north Of said Missouri compromise line, slavery
shall be prohibited
So that by this bill nothing is gained to freedom,
even If the claim of Texas was valid. But for an
ether and broader reason, there is nothing gained
Texas never had any claim TO any part OF New
Mexico. In annexing Texas, as matter of course
the United States would let her put In any claim to
territory or even pretended claim she chose-the
compact expressly reserving to the United States
the right settle all questions Of boundary on Just
and proper terms, as we have already seen. And,
sir this is all the reason why anything whatever was
permitted in the resolutions OF annexation about
the New Mexican country.
This bill is but a part of the Missouri Compro-
mise project of the propagandiss and 1t well the
whole country should understand the length and
breadth of that plan. Every man in the nation,
who is in favor of extending slavery is in favor OF
thirty six degrees thirty minutes This appears
from their public prints, their resolutions, and their
addresses. The latter part of the eleventh resolu-
ton of the Nashville Convention, on this subject,
says:
awe are ready to acquesce in the adoption
OF the line of 80 degrees 30 minutes north latitude extended
the Pacific ocean, an extreme concession, upon con-
sideraon of what is due to the stability of or insfn'
fiOns."
And the resolutions of the Southern Congressional
caucus say:
I'D Resolred That will not vote for the admission
California unless the southern boundary be restricted
the parallel OF 30 degrees I'D minutes north latitude
| might introduce proof without end on this sub
ect but il is unnecessary. The slavehodlng inter-
est is for the Missouri compromise, and nothing
else.
This is not ALL Its all that appears on the face
of things, but not all the reality The conquest OF
Mexico and the subverson of her freedom Is part Ut
this slavery scheme All this could be easily shown
by proofs the most ample. And now, ask, Is IT
possible there is a Northern man on this floor viii.
ing to aid and abet plot like this by extending the
Missouri compromise two hundred miles, by giving
to Texas Uhe key of the whole plan) more than NJ
~ thousand square miles Of free territory, and zen
millions in money, and by taxing his own constitu-
ents
Sir if there is any Northern man for a scheme
like This for trampling the rights of the North
like this let the people understand H. let the press
proclaim it; let The world know who are ready to
offer up the freedom Of New Mexico as sacrince
to the power Of bondage.
THERE Is NO NECESSITY FOR THIS LAW.
All the hue and cry about the necessity for this
law is got up-it is manufactured by Texas bond
holders; it is stage efect-there is no reality In 1t.
IL is ttumped far and wide, that Texas Is raising
forces 10 invade New Mexico. Sir believe this to
be without foundation from beginning to end. New
Mexico, as was supposed by the Governor oil Texas,
was about 10 organize into State, had established
her line below the thirty degree, and he called
the Legislature of his State together TO consider the
boundary question between her and New Mexico;
perhaps ID issue new edition of customary threats
and to occupy an apparent hostile attitude. This Is
| the sum and substance of the whole matter. But
| 50 II has ever been-slavery has made the world
mig with its threats lite bravadocs, and its busters
| and doughtaceism has always yielded to fancied
necessity, To manufactured emergency, and granted
| TO the aristocracy of slavery all its demands.
| The old stale stories about dissolution of the
! Union are revamped TO order, and 10 signs
In the heavens at once. We IRE to buy a peace, by
granting all slavery asksyes ten times as much as
II ever thought of asking when we first came to-
| gether.
Sir the uneasy consciences of some seem TO seek
| vent through constant whisper about the House
mat the country this bill cedes TO slavery is poor
poor country. This excuse will not do. l deny