Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-09


the negotiation and that object was, first induce Mexico
acknowledge the independence OF Texas upon the ground
that she would abolish it, All these matters Of history
and where is the blind the Senator from
Massachusetts, is blindas not that if the project
Of Great Britain had been successful the whole frontier Of
the States of Louisiana and Arkansas and the adjacent States
would have been exposed the nroads OF British emissaes
Sir SO far as concerned, put exclusively upon that
ground never would into the folly Of annexation,
which always held to be absurd Nor sir, would put
upon the ground-which might well have put it-ot
mercial anu manufacturing considerations because those
not my motive principles and chose to assign what
so Tar as commeice and manufactures concerned
would not have moved in the matter that early period.
The Senator objects that many Northern gentlemen voted
for annexation. Why, sir it natural that they should
pc desirous Of fulfilling the obligations of the constitution
and besides, what at that time doubted that the Missouri
compromise line would be adopted, and that the territory
would fall entirely to the South All that Northern ask
ed Tor at that time the extension OF that line. Their
course IN my opinions emineny correct and patriotic
Now, MIR. President, having made these corrections,
must go back little further and statement which
think the Senator has left very defective, relative to the ord
nance OF l7s7 He states very correctly that it commenced
under the Old Confederation that it afterwards confirm
ed py congress that Congress sitting New York at
the time, while the Convention sat in Phlapepha; and
ha there was concert of action have not looked into the
ordinance very recently but my memory will thus far
that Mr. jefferson introduced his first proposition exclude
slavery In l7s4 There vote taken upon it, and think
on that vote every Southern Senator voted against but
not certain OF it. One thing am certain of that il
three years before The ordinance could pass 1t urdy
resisted down TO l7s7 and when it passed, had
good reason to believe il upon principle Of compro-
mise fs, that the ordinance should contain provision
similar to the put in the constitution with respect fu
gitve slaves and next that should be inserted in the
stuton and this the compromise upon which the pro-
hibon inserted in the ordinance of 1857 We thought
we had indemnity in that but made great mist AXE
Of what possible advantage has been to us Violated faith
has met US side and the advantage has been alto
gether On the other sde has been thrown
toa Northern population the entire exclusion Of the Southern
This the leading which destroyed the compo-
mise Of the constitutions and then followed the Missouri
promise which carried mainly by Northern votes although
now dsavowed and respected by them That
step and between these the equilibrium has been
broken.
Having made these remarks me say that took great
pleasure in listening to the declarations of the honorable Sena-
tor from Massachusetts upon several points He puts himself
upon the fumen OF the contract Of Congress the esou
tons of Texas annexaon for the admission Of the four new
States provided for by those resolutions be formed out
the Territory OF Texas All that manly, statemanlike,
and calculated to do good because just He went further
he condemned and ghtuy condemned and in that he has
shown great frmness, the Of the North relative the
stpulaons of the constitution for the restoration of fugitive
slaves but permit to say for desire to be candid upon
all subjects that if the Senator together with many friends
this side Of the chamber puts his confidence in the bill
which has been reported here further to extend the laws Of
Congress upon this subject will prove fallacous It's i'm
possible to execute any law Of Congress until the people of
the States shall cooperate.
heard the gentleman with great pleasure say that he would
not vote for the Wmot poviso for he regarded such
unnecessary, considering that Nature had already excluded
slavery AS far the acquisitions concerned
disposed leave them be disposed the hand Of Nature
shall determine 1t is what always have insisted upon
Leave that portion Of the country natural slave
holding population be filled by that description of popua
on and leave that portion into which slavery would
rally 60, to be filled bya slaveholdng popuaon-desoyng
artificial lines, though perhaps they may be better than
Mr. Jefferson spoke like prophet of the effect Of the Missouri
compromise line. am willing to leave it for Nature
free scope to enter and prepare themselves participate
their privileges. We want sir, nothing but justice When the
gentleman says that he is willing to leave to Nature,
derstand he is willing to remove all impediment, whether
real imaginary. II is consummate folly to assert
that the Mexican law prohibiting slavery in California and
New Mexico is in force and have always regarded
No man would feel more happy than myself believe that
this Union formed by ancestors should live forever Look
ing back to the long of forty years service here have
the consolation believe that have done which
would weaken it that have done full justice all sections.
And if have ever been exposed to the mputation of
contrary motive, it is because have been willing to de-
fend my section from unconstitutional encr0achments. But
cannot agree with the Senator from Massachusetts that this
Union cannot be dissolved Am to understand him that
degree of oppression, outrage broken faith pro-
duce the destruction of this Union Why sir if that be-
fixed fact it will itself become the great instrument
Of producing oppresson outrage, and broken faith No, sir
the Union be broken Great moral will break it
they 60 and can only be preserved by justice good
faith and rigid adherence to the constitution.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Mr.. President, q single word in reply
the honorable member from South Carolina My distance
from the honorable member and the crowded state Of the
prevented from hearing the whole of his remarks have
only two observations to make; and to begn first
notice the honorable members last remark. He asks
hold the breaking up Of the Union, by any such thing
the voluntary secession Of States, impossiblify know
sir this Union be broken up every Government be
and admit that here may be such degree Of oppression
will warrant resistance and orcible That is
revoluon. That is revolution OF that ultimate right of
revolution have not been speaking know that that law
OF necessity does exist Ifobear from going further because
Government The honorable member and myself have bro
ken ances sufficiently often before that subject
Mr.. CALHOUN. have no desire to do it
Mr.. WEBSTER. presume the gentleman has not and
have quite little. The gentleman refers to the occasions
which these great acquisitions made to territory on
lie men, having object to accomplish may take advantage
of occasions Indian occasion fear Of the
patton Of Texasby the British occasion but when the
occasion came under the pressure ofwhch under the ju
cation of which the thing could be done done and done
uy Let thing further; and that is thatfs slave
y abolished, as supposed to have been throughout
all Mexico before the revolution and the establishment Of the
Texan Government then, desirable to have possession
of Texas by purchase Of preventing its becoming
British possession, suppose that object could have been
secured by making it free territory Of the United States as
well as slave territory.
Sir in my great desire not to prolong this debate have
omitted what intended to say upon particular question
der the motion of the honorable Senator from Missouri pro-
posing amendment to the resolution Of the honorable
Der from Illinois, and that il, upon the popety and expe
dency of admitting California, under all circumstances, Just
she Is The general subjects involved in this ques
ton before the Senate under the resolutions Of the
honorable member from Kentucky will say that feel
der great obligations ha, honorable member for introducing
the subject and for the very lucid speech which he made
which has been much read throughout the whole country