The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-21
REVIEW OF THE WEEK.
THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE.
RESPONSE TO Mr. WEBSTER.-Since the is
sue of our last number, we have bad the pleas
ure of seeing full report of the speech OF
the Hon. Grin Fowler of Massachusetts,, deliy-
cred ia the House of Representatives, on the
nth inst Being the first voice from Massachu-
sets after the great effort of Mr.. Webster, we
were curious to learn how far it would respond to
his sentiments Some of the Representatives
lIcz1 that State, we knew womb 1ot sustain him,
,s,ya x Is quite 1unsertaia w&zther anyr1r ,&c,a
will
The speech of Mr.. Fowler is sound, sensible,
and vigorous, and it is obvious that parts of it
are intended to furnish a reply to certain por-
tons of MIR. Webster's argument Mr.. Webster
had said that the Proviso incorporated in terri
torial bill for New Mexico would be a taunt to
the Southland that New Mexico needed no
Proviso to keep her free Mr.. Fowler does not
appear to be in the least convinced by such
authority He says
"The complaint, that by applying it to New
Mexico we taunt the South comes with no good
grace from the councillors of free Republic.
am resolved to apply the Proyiso to that ter
ritory-not to injure any ones feelings, nor to
wound any ones pride-but because it is consti-
tutional and right, and, as Judge eminently a
prudent and practical measure. The application
of this principle to the Northwest Territory was
prudent and practical measure believe its
application to California and New Mexico will
be no less So Without the application, Illinois
noble Illinois-would have been slave State.
She did but Just escape being so, with the Pro-
yiso upon her. If it be not applied to California
and New Mexico, in my opinion, they, in no long
time, will be slave States. | will, therefore, vote
to apply it to both Of them, and to all other free
territory, whenever, and as often, as the occasion
occurs.
"The syren song Of no Wilmot Proviso for
! New Mexico is calculated to bring in that Ter
ritory as q slave State. The only hope of free
dom there, is in the application of the Provso
in the first organic law. The idea that slavery is
limited by mountains or plains, by soil or climate,
! by occupation or by latitude, is an absurdity
| Were slavery allowed in California New
| Mexico any one conversant with the history OF
the last sixty years will that those countries
would be overrup with slavery in a twelvemonth
The honorable member from Virginia, Mr.
Meade, frankly declares, in his speech
80 But for the fear of robbery under the forms
/ of law there woad he at least fifty thousand
slaves in California by the first of December. II
is the best field for such labor now in America
: and it would be invaluable to us as means o.
thinning the black population. When people say
that the climate and productions are unsuited tC
slave labor they are either endeavoring to deceive
or are deceived themselves
al am wilIing-yea more | am resolved-tC
use the first, the second, and every occasion, tC
apply the Proviso Of 'S7 to every acre of free
territory we now possess, or may possess.
wosld apply it to territory, lie where it may
to Greenland, Nova Zembla, Cuba, Yucatan, The
! Arctic and the Antarctic regions and to the Tor
rid Xone-to any and every part of the earth''
surface, if it belong to the United States.
off bill for organizing any territory is re
ported to this House. without the Proviso while
have the honor of seat in it, | will move and
vote for its insertion
Every member has right to his own judgment
| This right belongs TO others-it belongs to me.
have formed my judgment of the value, and neces
sity and constitutionality of the Ordinance o.
'S7, deiberately-I have avowed it frankly. And
now, alone or not alonc-sink or swim-live or
die-let who will abandon it, will adhere to it
| | will adhere 10 it in all places-at all times
under all circumstances In no case will partici-
pate in extending the slave power into free ter
ritory No, neverl In no case will participate
in Withholding the Ordinance of 'S7 from free
territory. No, never! !"
REAcrloN-Mr w. A. GoRMAN, a Democratic
member from Indiana the next day in the House
delivered a speech very different from that just
noticed His great theme was, Non-lntervention
This was the doctrine on which the Democratic
party had gone into the contest, the last Presi
Dental election; and, he might have added, the
doctrine on which it had been defeated. There
was some truth, however, in his remark that all
parties with but few exceptions were now giving
| in their adhesion to this policy. Some truth, We
say-for certainly it is the policy now insisted
upon by General Taylor Henry Clay, and Dan
iel Webster On this fact Mr.. German made an
appeal to the Democratic party to rally as one
man in support of the Baltimore Platform. w,
| doubt not the appeal will be responded to by toe
many. True, the Democracy in nearly all the
free States stands committed by legislative re
solves, and the declarations of State Conventions
to the Wilmot Proviso, but we observe in every
direction signs of wayering. For time the
prospect was fair of regeneration of the entire
Party at the North, but Hunkerism is regain
ing its ascendency The spirit of reaction il
busily at work.
The Democrats in the Pennsy lvania Legislature
have openly renowned, as we understand it, thu
policy of Slavery Restriction. In the Michigan
Legislature they abstained from re-atlirmine
their resolves. The Democratic State Conyen'
ton of Connecticut not long since formally re-
jected the Wilmot Proviso, as did the Ohio State
Democratic Convention last January. These are
signs Of detection and apostacy not TO be mista'
ken How far the political leaders who are devo
ted to this work of reaction, will be sustained by
the masses, remains yet to be seen. Meantime
they find co-workers in Congress, among whom
Mr. German seems anxious TO obtain some notor
ETY., His speech was small specimen Of STUMP
oratory, characterized chiefly by devotion to thu
South. and hatred of Free Soil. The following
choice morsel was received with n smile almost
from some Of the few Southern men who listened
to him
IL said to my constituents and | say here TO-
day that this Proyiso was conceived in sin, and
brought forth in iuiquity,' by Martin Van Buren,
through deep-seated desire to avenge his disap.
pointed ambition. II was intended TO defeat
Lewis Cas- and the Democratic party. Yes, Mr.
Chairman, this son or York that the great
Democratic party had nursed, reared, and ca.
ressed, and into whose nostrils they had breathed
tho braa,h Of nnlitical lifa wban ha oan.a 40 gu