The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-11

intervention other words, do nothing, leave things
suppo-e. sir. that IL tha, learned committee had
discovered any gromnd o ccmproisef they had found
any intermediate station between these two points on
which they could place themselves and harmonze
and reconcile this matter they would have given that
but they must have with the same difficulty which
has presented itself 70 my mind aud they appear to Dc
4 lhe only remedy that they can suggest
to Congress upon this subject
And what SIR is the effect OF non intervention Why,
believe it leaves this whole thing untouched and unset
ted stand, II can stand, upon the law as il is
upon the law AS II exists IN these Territories And what
is that law Let understand what we vote about, if
we vote establish the law as il is.
The honorable chairman OF the Committee OF Thir-
teenand one respect his opinion more than do
and have been accustomed 10 do all my lifehas an opn
ion upon this subject which s entitled to great difference
and respect Other senators have opinions which coin.
eide with him These opinions that the laws ia these
Territories such that slavery cannot be sustained
theetha they free, and that they must remain free
But, sir, do not see precisely opposite opinions ex .
pressed by senators Of equal dtincton-by learned pro-
fessona gentlemen in this chamber Of the highest re-
speclabiliiy who have occupied high judicial stations
Their opinion il, that il things left they are, sa
very will go there These opinions, then, stand opposed
each other and each Ia sustained by gentlemen Of great
learning and great resectabhy 10 this state OF things
my honorable friend from Connecticut Mr.. baldwin,
not being able to satisfy himself what construction this
law will receive IN the courts few days ago proposed
TO make il plain lie oiere, an explanatory amendment
and how was il received There was cry immediate,
iy, that is the Wimo Proviso in disguise" This was
elected by simple attempt to say, by explanation that
the present law does exclude slavery, which comedies
exactly with the opinion Of The chairman OF the com
mlec When this amendment was 50 offered. an hon,
orabe the other side Of the chamber and
said that he believed. from the manner OF the honorable
senator from Connecticut, that the gentleman was Sc
rous, and, believing thar, he offered amendment ,o
the amendment which had been submitted Thereapon
another gentleman on the other side oil the chamber
and begged that the amendment 10 the amendment might
be withdrawn, that the Senate might stamp upon the
amendment OF the senator from Connecticut The repoba
ton which It deserved Yes sir, that they might stamp
Eeprobaion upon attempt 10 show what the law IL !
THIS mystery is The only thing which recommends the
bull Under such circumstances, am warned that
cannot safely say what the law decide the question
whether slavery would go INTO this ierrieyi provided
this intervention policy s carried out; IL i were
certain that the law excludes slavery the bill would Ian
to get much support which it now commands: II were
clear that il admits il, then the bill would sink by its own
weight
But, sir, without dwelling upon this scheme OF non
think the committee have failed TO carry
out that view oil the subject On The contrary, they
have put provisions in this bill which very Tar from
emitting the character Of bill OF non-intervenion
They have denied 10 the people OF the Territories the
right of settling This question al all The bill lakes
from the people of the Territory the power OF legis
la,rg upon the subject OF slavery, although il gives
them legislature. think tins is avery stringent prop
os,ton, especially when we cannot shut our eyes to
the ac that for years has been contended IN this
chamber, bys many learned and able senators, that
the people OF the Territories were the only proper rlbu
nal 10 decide this question; and think That opinion IS
this bill with this provision II the people be the only
proper tribunal to decide this matter the only proper To-
rum which should be referred, this is very srn-
gent the part OF Congress, which denies to
them that right and which retains Congress the whole
leg lsalive power upon that subject In such Stale OF
facts might well ask, how can bill, with provisions
like this stop agitation and dscussiona bill denying 10
the people OF the Territories the right to settle tins quee
ton and in other respects doing nothing except that It
the whole power to Congress TO manage th,s
matter as II may see I'll How can II heal the oIoody
rJr that hava he frnnp
speech OF senators2 How II tranqulllize the agi.
iated public How calm the distracted country II
the whole subject IS to be left open Tor future discussion
and future s.rugglelf things TO be left IN stdtu
quo, what is hinder the community IRON agitat'ng
tne question hereaiter' What tendency will such a
have to uanquiilize the public mind ana put
stop The agitation which exists see nothing IN This
measure which, in my judgment, renders II at all prooa
bic that /, will putt stop TO the discussion IN the press,
shut the mouths OF the people on this subject Inc
door left open and left open In such manner that the
question will be discussed hereafter, and agitation go on
Is heretofore. All you gain. all you accomplish by ms
bill give territorial governments TO these lefhto-
res ihou, the ordinance II does not settle tins ques-
lion 1t leaves il where it was. II leaves II open TO Ia
ure discussion but gets rid OF the prohibition OF slavery
Now, take leave to say, that you would have com
promise, the first place you must have subject that
capable OF being compromised IN the next place, You
must have parties that competent TO enter INTO com
promise and lastly, You must have parties who can
and will be bound by the compromise when II IS made
ask has this bill any of these elements in say.
/ see m il nothing OF the kind which recommends IT to
favor
Th. Compromise. confess, to me, so far as my
observation has gone, 10 have been rather
matter than liberal view harmonlzng different opin.
ions lido no, complain OF II a. such only speak oil
its character as has been developed This proceeding
has been somewhat one.sded from beginning to end.
Those who have not chosen 10 arquesce IN II are called
extfemists" II they were men who have h''c Judg
menl and less understanding, and who know ll'tle OF
their duties here Whatever may have been the purpose
there has been little OF the urbany that usually chafac-
erizes conciliaory spirit The raising OF this COM
ml,,ee shows little what the temper OF the Senate y
rhs had been very long under discussions nad
been considered very ably and fully before we reached
this point OF raising the committee. And when II was
ordered, how many votes were gwen Tor the gentlemen
composing it, Of the sixty which belong 10 this body
They carried in BY naked majority The records
II believe, will show that fact All the world knows
that the slave territory of this country contains but MI
norty OF the inhabitants of the couniybu about one.
third ui the free population And yet when we come 10
make up the committee. the friends OF compromise being
left TO their own to take whom they pleased. put
seven majority of the whole, from the slave States,
upon the committee. 10 compromises question wn'ch
divides the country and which is sectional IN s charac-
ter And then who compose The committee! say.
with great respect, and mention 1t only as iaci maj
most of the members Of that committee were selected be-
cause their opinions known to be favorable 10 the
wishes of The southern country There are doubtless,
aome executions bu, the most OF them manifestly
selected for that reason. The committee, though made
up of gentlemen of the highest respecaby and II yon
leaders OF the Senate, were not an exponent OF
The opinions prevalent in that body but were raised oy
"a bare majority 10 accomplish a fixed object
And what element of compromise is there IN this meas
ure formed by committee raised IN that manner, ana
substanally the exponent OF but one OF tne paruesf
tha, contains concession on put one side
and that does not amount TO compromise lhe bl the
whole proceeding my Judgment aims at but one th'ng
Ii aims to get rid Of the ordinance of s7. That is the
|purpore that il the object 80 Tar able to COM