The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-07-10
REMARKS OF MR. WEBSTER.
On Me Compromise BH-In Senate, J.ne /,


Mr.. EBsrER. Oo tie h of March,
sir, declare d any ppn.on TO be, That there
IS not square rod Of territory belonging 10
the United States, the character of ~hich,
or slavery or no slavery, is not already 6.cd
by sone irrereslabie law. | ,emain OF tia,
opinion. The opinion, SIR. has en- a goad
deal canpassed m the country, ana there
have been complaints respectful
and decorous, aud sometimes 80 loud and g,
empty as TO become mere camor. But
have heard no argunen, upon any question of
law embraced IN that opinion, Shich shakes
( he fitmness with which hold il, nor have
heard any discussion upon any matter of rac,
as to that part ol the Opinion which rests or
facts, which leads ne TO doubt lte sccuracy
Of my conclusions as to that part Of the opin.
ion which regarded The true construction, OF
! might ~''b more pfoofie,y say, slmosl lhe
literal meaning, Of the resolutions hy WHICH
Texas was admitted ino nc Union have
heard no argument calculated, in the slieh,
est degree, 20 alter that opinion. The CON
mi,ice, believe, with one accord concu,red
init. 4 great deal of surprise, real or afie,.
ted, has been express ,ed in The country al the
announcement by me Of tina, opinion, as il
fhara soo,otb,nc :,
haod hsve been no surprise, for there vas
lnohIng hew in IL. Ohcr gentlemen have
expressed the same opinion more than oncf !;
and myself, in speech made here on the
23i day Of March, ls4s, expressed The same
opinion slnost in the same word. Nth which
nobody here found ans fault shic nobody
he'e cav''lcd or made question: and nobody
in the country.
With respect to the other ground on which
my opinion is funded, that is, The hsh i'm.
probability, 10 point of fact, that Af,ican sl.ve
~ could be introduced and established in any
OF the Territories acquired by VA n pursuance
Of The late treaty with MeScn, have learn
ed nothing, heard nohing from thai day {,
this, ,ha, has not entirely confirmed lha! epin
Ton. This being NY Ju |gment 90 the matter
voted very readily and cheerfully 10 escud,
what /. called the Wimot Pfoviso from ,lest
Territorial bills, OF to keep i, out, rather
when motion was made 10 Introduce IT,
did so. upon very full and deep conviction
tha, 90 act Of Congress, no provision Of Is "
vas necessary in any degree COR ths, purpose
tha, there we're natural and sufiicien, reason
aud causes excluding forever African SLAYER,
from those regions. That was nv Judgment
and acted. on IL; aud i: is my iIdgnrn
stll. Those who think differently, will Q
course, pursue di1eten, line Of conduct, i,
accordance with their own ijgmen's. Tha
ass my opinion thea, and II has been strena,h
ene1 by every thing that | have lea,he,
since, and have 90 more apprehension TO
day of the introduction or establishment o
African slavery IN these Territories, than
have Of its introduction into, and establish
ment 10 Massachusetts.
Well, sir, have voted not to place in lhes
Territorial bills what is called the Whine
Proviso, and by that vote having signti d
disposition to exclude the prohibition, as
thing unnecessary, | am now called upon Il
. vote upon this amendment, moved by the hon
orabe member from Louisiana, (Mr. Soule,
shich provides that the States formed ou, Q
New Mexico and Utah shall have the rieh
and privilege Of making their own coDsiltO
,ons to Congress conformaby to the Cons'I
b tuition Of The United States, with or withou
: a prohibition against slavery, as the people o
y those Territories, about to become Safes
may see e. to declare. have no, seen muc
u practical utility in this amendment, agree
" Nevertheless, If should vote, now that II
presented to ne, aga,ns, il, it might leave IN
u open to suspicion Of intendn or wishing L
see that accomplished in another way here
after which did not choose to see accom-
plished by The introduction of the Wilmc
Proviso, That is to say, it nigh, seem as I
voting against that form of exclusion or pra
g hibilion, nigh. be willing sull that th..'
should be a chance hereafter to enforce II !
!, some o.her way. Now, think lha, ingeuu
!. business and s,eadness Of purpose, under thes
:, circumstances, compel me to vote for The
'e mendmcn,, and shall vote for it. | do il e'
- ac,ly on the same grounds iha, | voted 1
m ga ins, tho introduction Of the Proviso. An