The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-27
E Rms
SPEECH OF
Hon. 8. w. IS0E. Of Alabama.

SPEECH OF
Hon. s. w. ug0E, al Alabama.
IN HOUSE OF REPREsENTArIvEs, vEsRuAas II, 1850.
Mr.. INGE next obtained the floor, and
said:
propose to discuss. the policy Of the Adj
ministration in reference to the Territories
of New Mexico and California, the consti-
tutional rights Of the South therein, and the
probable consequences Of their violation.
Admonished by the history Of this Gov,
eminent, which Is narrative Of aggressions
by the North upon the South of faith bro
ken and compromises disregarded in the ON
ward career Of power do not feel that III
is, incumbent upon q Southern Representa-
I've to offer any measure for the adjustment
Of existing difficulties | have no more,
Offerings to lay at the feet Of power, To-
be indignantly spurned. If . returning
sense Of Justice should at any time actuateH
the majority to propose settlement consis-
tent with our rights and honor, they cannot
doubt its ready acceptance. Until that
time, the appropriate discharge OF my duty
will lead me to expose the devices Of fraud,
to resist the assaults Of power, and to de-
fend the South, by whomsoever assailed.
The message Of the Executive distinctly
announces the policy OF the Administration.
This policy has been adopted after the most
thorough investigation, and is presented to
US as the final result of long and anxious re-
Election. Coming from the highest func-
tionary known to the Constitution Of the
country, it claims from this House candid
and dispassionate consideration. The in
huence Of an executive recommendation is
usually all powerful; like the whistle Of
Rhoderic Dhu, it rallies a whole clan to its
support. But, in the present case, ominous
signs Of discord are already apparent on the,
other side Of the House; and its seems that
the present Executive is doomed to the fate
Of the unfortunate Actaon, who was torn to
pieces by his own hounds. Whatever may
be the fate Of his author, however, or the
views of members in regard to the details Of
the policy suggested, majority of this
House will concur in its most important re-
commentator.
This message changes the aspect Of
sectional question; it supersedes an old is
sue and presents a new one. The "Wilmot
Proyiso" is no longer the question Of the
day; it has given place to the 3California
Proviso,n which is presented to this House
and the country with the unqualified en-
dorsement of the Executive It is impor-
tant that the people interested should be adj
vised If this change and the motives which
prompted it. The open defiance Of the
South to the Wilmot Proviso," and the
sternly expressed determination to resist il
Sat I'll hazards and to the last extremity
have awakened the Union-loving propensi-
ties Of this administration and its Northern
supporters. The representatives. Of the
North, with the exception Of few "dis-
tinctive Free-Soilers, = are willing to aban-
don--nay have already abandoned--the
UWilmot Proviso,'' and all are coming, III
unbroken phalanx, to the support Of the Elk
ecutive Recommendation believing the
South will resist the Wilmot Proviso, with
characteristic discretion they recede. On
the other hand, the South are not committed
against the present admission Of California
as State, and it is believed that, with the
whole power Of this Administration exerted
in its favor, and by an invocation to the
party prejudices Of our people, the Aminis
tration party every where will support that
measure; and thus, by division Of our
strength, (Which was irresistible, when
united against the Wilmot Proviso, the
South will be powerless, and submission to
the California proviso inevitable. am for
the union Of the South, in support of the
Constitution and Of the rights which descend
ed to us by Inheritance; but there is only
one basis Of union for Southern men-op-
position to the declared policy Of the pre-
sent Administration, which seeks to build
up an imperishable power on the ruins Of
the Constitution and the South.
No argument is necessary to show the
identity of these two measures. The VIII
mot Proviso excludes the citizens ofthe South
with their property from emigrating to the
Territories of the Union, and appropriates
the common property Of the several sover-
eighties composing the Union to the exclu-
sive use and occupation Of thepeople Of the
non-slaveholding States, and is enacted by
Congress primarily. The California Pro-
viso is the same thing, literally and in SUBJ
stance, Incorporated into so-called consti-
tuition, and Congress is recommended, BY
the present admission of California, to enact
it secondarily. The message clearly as
sumes that the people Of the slaveholding
States have no rights in these Territories,
and recommends the latter measure, from OBJ
vious reasons Of political expediency, as the
preferable mode Of exclusion. In the opin-
lon Of the Administration, the question now
is, not whether the South shall be excluded
but in what manner it shall be done.
must be permitted to decline the discussion
Of false issue to insist upon my right to
be heard upon the merits Of this question,
and to protest, in the name of the Southern
people, against this prejudgment Of their
claims.
The origin Of this policy may be seen in
the movements Of General Riley early in the
preceding year. His first act was the issu-
ance Of proclamation declaring the Next
can law to be in force laying of the coun-