The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-19

~As W oceonS S,rge an emancp patton. The men oi
that day we're not enthusiasts or ianatiosi lney ne
sta,.saien and philosophers. lhey knew s
n,.ncipation OF the black slave was not a iheI iu
aon between master and save-not q qusstt'pih ~
property merely--but question OF VIM. Ia a'u
hstween races: and what was 10 DE the CohSe-
,,,,,n. 80 each race from a large emancipation
And there the wisdom, not the PhilahuiioPy, VI
Virginia baked fifty years ago. IeIe 'ue
,h;cr,;on IN I'M. extension of savcry--to planting II
ina new regions where it does not now eAis'-oe-
slowing il on those who nave IL not. Inc lncuru
bilitv Of the evil is the greatest objection To the ex
,s;,n of slavery II ~ wrong for the legislator 10
inrict an evil whichcan be cured; how much more
10 niict one that is incurabe, aud against the Will
of the people who are to endure 1t forever quar-
rel with no one for supposing slavery blessing;
deem il an evil; and would neither adopt II nor inn
pose it on others. Yet ! stakeholder, and
among the few members OF Congress who hold
slaves in this District. The French proyerb tells
us that nothing is new but what has been forgotten
So of this objection To large emancipation Every
now that it is question OF races, involving
consequences which go To the destruction oi one or
the other; IL fifty years ago, ana the WIS
dom OF Virginia baked at il then. IL seems TO DC
above human wisdom. But there is wisdom above
human, and to that we must look; III the mean
time, not extend the evil.
In refusing TO extend slavery into these seventy
thousand square miles, act IN conformity not only
10 my long established principles, but also IN
conformity 10 The long established practice of Con
gress Five times in four years did Congress re-
iuse the prayer OF Indians for temporary suspen-
ST. On the 2d of March, 1903, Mr.. Randolph, of
Roanoke, as chairman OF the committee to which
the memorial praying the suspension was referred,
made a report against il, which was concurred in
by the House. This is the report:
THAT the rapid population OF the State Of Ohio
sufficiently evinces in the opinion OF your com
nittee that the labor OF slaves Is not necessary 10
promote the growth and settlement of colonies in
that region. That this labor, demonstrably the
dearest of any, can only be employed To advantage
4 IN the cultivation OF products more valuable than
any known to that quar- Of the Unite States; that
the committee deem it highly dangerous and mex
pedient To impair provision wisely calculated to
promote the happiness and prosperity OF the north
western country, and 10 give strength and curity
to that extensive frontier In the salutary opera
ton OF this sagacous and benevolent restraint, il is
believed that the inhabitants Of Indiana will, at
very distant day, find ample remuneration for a
temporary privation of labor and vi emigration"
This report OF Mr.. Randolph was in 1903 the
next year March, loOi-a different report, the
same prayer, was made by committee of which
Mr.. Rodney, OF Delaware, chairman. IL re-
commented a suspension of the anti slavery clause
for years it not concurred in by the
House Two years aitcrwards-February, 1906
"A similar report, recommending suspension for ten
years, made by committee of which MIR Gar
nett, of Virginia, chairman il met the same
fate non concurrence. The next year, 1907, both
Houses were tried. In February of that year, a
committee OF the House. of which MIR. Parke was
chairman, reported in favor OF the indefinite
pension OF the clause the report not concurred
in. And iii November of that year, Mr.. Franklin
the Senate, made report against the suspension
which was concurred in by the Senate, and unani.
mously, as it would seem from the Journal, there
being division called for. Thus, five times in
four years, the respective Houses of Congress re-
fused TO admit even temporary extension or
rather tension, of slavery into Indiana territory,
which had been before the ordinance of 81 slave
territory, holding many slaves AT Nincennes. These
five reiusals 10 suspend the ordinance Of 81 were
many combinations of it, All the rest of the
ton OF Congress on the subject was 10 the same ei-
was curtaiiment Of slave territory the Texas an
neXation resolutions the same the ordinance
OF 81 itself, go often confirmed 10y Congress,
curtailmont of slave tcrritory-in fact, its actual
aboliton for il is certain that slavery existed in
fact ia the French settlements Of the Illinois at that
time, and that the ordinance terminated IT, act
then, IN conformity To the long, uniformly estab-
iished policy of Congress, well as in conformity
Ia my own principles, in refusing 10 vote the
extension of slavery, which tho committees line
would involve.
ent day mistake the point Of the true objection to
the extension OF slavery. We look at it as il con-
Germs the rights interests of the inhabitants OF
the States. and not as It may concern the people to
whom II is 10 be given, and to whom it is to be
irrevocablc gift-to them, and posterity, Mr.. Ran.
dolphs report in the Of Indiana took the true
ground. IL looked TO the interest of the people to
whom slavery was TO go, and refused them evil,
although they begged for it.
return to the oint-the 20, 600 square miles OF
territory which the committees line would transfer
from the possession OF New Mexico to the possession
u Texas-and the question Of the extension OF sa-
very which grows out of that transfer. There IL
slavery ON il now, either in law in fact. II
Will he there 10y law If the transfer il made. This
leaves open bat one question, and that IL, eli
mate be- relied upon TO keep IT away! think not
There are two climates in New Mexico-one frigid
the other temperate; and these 10000 square miles
ln the temperate part IL Is long province,
stretching north and south, high aud noun famous
IN the north-lower, and with broader valley lower
down. Santa Pc has elevation Of $50 feet, III
PasD 500. The Rio del NOrtc il called in the up
per part OF its the above, (Ro Arrival
IN the lower part, river below, (Itio Abajo;) and
the climate corresponds with this structure Of the
country-ngOrous Santa F6, mild at FL Paso.
Humboldt thus speaks of them:
New Mexico, though placed under the same
latitude with Syria and Central Persia, has a eli
mate eminenty cold. II freezes there ia the mid.
die oi the month Of MAY, 10 Santa Fe, and a
littlr further north (under the parallel of the Mo
rea) the RIO del NOrtc j. covered sometimes several
wears IN succession with ice so thick that horses
and carriages pass on IL. We do not know the
elevation of the country in New Mexico but ]
doubt whether under the 30 Of latitude, the bed OF
the river may have more than seven or eight hun
dred metres Of elevation above the level OF the
srbe rnountains which border the valley Of the Del
Norte even those the foot Of which Is placed the
village Of Taos, lose their snow already towards
the commencement Of the month Of June. '-poi j,
,. 3O2
.,Thc enyirons of Fl Paso are a delicious country,
which resemble the most beautiful parts Of Anda-
lusis. The fields arc cultivated IN corn and wheat.
The vineyards produce excellent wines, which arc
prelerred even 20 the wines Of Parras and Of New
Bssay. The gardens contain. in abundance, all
the icuit-t trees Of Europe-hgs, peaches, poine-
yranates, and pears."-poi. !, p. BOG.
Humboldt u right, and recent travellers confirm
nov what he Wr0tc Ia l5Of. IL at the head o
the valley Oi the Del Norte, some three degrees
north OF Santa Re. that Colonel Fremont suffered
his great disaster--had 20 struggle through SHOWS
above the heads Of men and horses, and found II =
relief 10 tread the rivcr solid with ice for a road
At Santa Re- the 10Th Of February, hc found IL win
Ger; eight days Afterwards, ON the Rio AbsJo, hall
way to HI Paso, and having descended two thou
and Elk hundred feet, anu still one thousand ~,
hundred feet above the level II ~ Paso, he found b
spring-the farmers pioughing and seeding, tbs
early fruit in bloom, and the air 50 mild tina
he camped Of nights, and without tcnts, though
IN a settled and hOepitable country Hero, then
are two climates in New MeSico-one barrie
af,ainst the introduction Of African slavery, Ia
Other not; and II u that part which - not barrie
that h proposed 10 be transferred 10 Texas lhl
applies to the Del NOrte and its valley. Il u siil
more true Of the Pucrco and it, valley. Rsing u