The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13
capacity, must look at it, consider H. and decide
| IL az n matter of nolitical action ~ "

must look at IT, consider and decide
it as matter of political action"
MIR. WEBSTER On other occasions in debates
here, have expressed my determination TO vote for
no acquisition, or cession, or annexation North or
South, East or West. My opinion has been, that
we have territory enough, and that should fol-
low the Spartan maxim, "improve, adorn what
you have, seek no further" think that it in
some observations that ! made here the three
million loan bill, that avowed that sentiment. In
short, sir, the sentiment has been avowed quite
often, in as many places, and before as many as
sembhes, as any humble sentiments OF mine ought
to be ayowed.
But now, that, under certain conditions, Texas ID
in, with all her territories, slave State, with
solemn pledge, also, that if she shall be divided in
TO many States, those States may come in as slave
States south of 1862 30, how TO deal with this
subject ! know way of honest legislation,
when the proper time comes for the enactment, but
to carry into effect all that have stipulated to
do, do not entirely agree with my honorable
friend from Tennessee, Mr. BELL,) that, as soon
the time comes when she is entitled to another re-
preventative, we should create new State. The
rule in regard to it take to be this: that when
have created new States out Of Territories we have
generally gone upon the idea that when there IL
population enough TO form State, sixty thousand
or some such thing, we would create State; but il
Is quite different thing when State is divided,
and two more States made out of it. 1t does not
follow in such case that the same rule of appor-
tionment should be applied That, however, is a
matter for the consideration of Congress- when the
proper time arrives. may not then be here. I
may have no vote to give on the occasion, but /
wish it to be distinctly understood, to-day, that;
according to my view of the matter, this Govern
ment is solemnly pledged, by law and contract, to
create new States out of Texas, with her consent
when her population shall justify such proceed
ing, and 80 far as such States are formed out of
Texan territory lying south of 36o 30, to let them
come in as slave States. That is the meaning of
the resolution which friends, the Northern
Democracy, have left US to fulfil; and I, for one,
to fulfil it, because will not violate the faith
of the Government. What mean to say is that
the time for the admission of new States formed out
of Texas, the number of such States their bounda-
ries, and the requisite amounts of population, and
other things connected with the admission, are in
the free discretion of Congress- except this to w.t.
that when new States, formed out of Texas are to
be admitted, they have right, by legal stipulation
and contract, to come in slave States.
Now, to California and New Mexico hold
slavery to be excluded from those Territories by a
law, even superior to that which admits and sane
tons it in Texas. mean the law of nature, of
physical geography, the law of the formation of
the earth. That law settles forever with strength
beyond all terms of human enactment, that slavery
cannot exist in California or New Mexico Under
stand me- sir; mean slavery we regard it; slaves
In gross, OF the colored race, Transferable by sale
and delivery, like other property. shall not dis
cuss the point but leave il to the learned gentlemen
who have undertaken TO discuss it, but suppose
there is no slave of that description in California
now. understand that peonisp, a sort of penal
servitude exists there, rather sort of voluntary
sale of a man and his offspring for debt as il Is
arranged and exists in some parts ofCalifornia and
Mexico But what mean to say is that African
slavery as we see 1t among is utterly impos-
sible TO find ITSELF to be found in Mexico as any
other natural impossibility California and New
Mexico Asiatic, in their formation and scenery
They are composed OF vast ridges of mountains of
enormous height, with broken ridges and deep
valleys. The sides Of these mountains are barren
entirely barren; their tops capped by perennial
snow. There may be in California now made fr ee
by Its constitution, and no doubt there are, some
Rpt fo ,..N NJ.
Mexico. Pray, what is the evidence which every
gentleman must have obtained on this subject from
information sought by himself or communicated by
others. have inquired and read all could fiod
In order to obtain information on this important
question. What is there in New Mexico that could
by any possibility induce any body To go there
with slaves There some strips of tilla-
bic land the borders of the rivers but the rivers
themselves dry up, before midsummer il pona All
that the people can do in that region is TO raise
some little articles, little wheat for their tor
tillas and all that by irrigation. And who expects
10 see a hundred black men cultivating tobacco
corn cotton, rice, or any thing else, ON lands in
Ncw Mexico, made fertile only by irrigation? 1
look upon IT, therefore, a fixed fact, TO use an
expression current at this day, that both California
and New Mexico destined to be free 40 far "a
they are settled at all, which believe, especially
IN regard to New Mexico, will be very little for q
great length of time free by the arrangement of
things by the Power above US. have therefore to
say, In tins respect also, that this country is fixed
Tor freedom, 10 as many persons as shall ever live
IN II, by as irrepealabe and irrepeaable law
than the law that attaches 10 the right of holding
slaves In Texas and ] will say further, that if a
resolution, or law, were now before US to provide
a Territorial Government for New Mexico would
not vote to put any prohibition into il whatever
The use OF such prohibition would be idle as il
respects any effect II would have upon the Terrific
ry; and would not take pains 20 ro-affirm an or
dinapce OF Nature, TO re-enact the will of CoJ
And would put i'm no Wilmot proviso for ths, pur-
pose OF a taunt or a reproach. would put into it
no evidence oi the votes of superior power, for
purpose but TO wound the pride, even whether
a Just pride, rational pride, or an irrational
pride, 10 wound the pride oi the gentlemen
who belong to Southern States. ! have no such oh
Jse', no sucn purpose Ihey would think taunt.
an indignity; they would think il 10 be an act
taxing away from them what they regard a proper
equality Of privilege and whether they ex-
Pec' 70 realize any benefit from il or not, they
would think II theoretic wrong; that something
more or less derogatory to their character and
their rlghts had taken place. propose 10 iniiict
no such wound upon any body, unless something
essen tally important to the country, and efficient
70 the preservation of liberty aud freedom ia to be
effected. Therefore repeat. sir. aud I rcne,t Il
because wish 1t to be understood, that do not
propose To address the Senate often on this subject
desire TO pour out all my heart in plain a man
ner as possible; and say, again, that if a proposi-
ton were now here Tor government for New
mexlco. and II was moved TO insert a provision for
a prohibition Of slavery, would noi vote for it,
Now, MIR. President. have established, 50 far az
W ~ inpo iliit oi ODscrNatiOn TO
tabfsh, the proposition with which | set out, and
upon which propose 30 stand or fall; and that is
that the whole territory OF the States in the United
states, or in the newly acquired territory of the
u nited States, has fixed and settled character
now bxed and settled by law, which cannot be re-
pealed IN the case Of Texas without violation of
public faith, and cannot be repealed by any hu-
man power IN regard 70 California or New Mexico
lhat under one other of these laws every foot q.
territory in the States or in the Territories ba
now received a fixed and decided character.
. or, We were now making Government for
New Mexico, and any body should propose vii
mot proviso, should treat 1t exactly az Mr. Polk
treated that provision for excluding slavery from
oregon MIR Polk was known 10 DC In opinion de-
'idedly aversc TO the Wimot proviso; but be felt
nc ne necessity Of establishing government for the
erritory OF Oregon, and, though the proviso was
mere ne knew II woud be entirely nugatory; and.
'ince 1t must bc entirely nugatory, since IL took
away no tight, no describable no estimahle, no
Negnaole or tangible right Of the South he said he
would sign the bill for the sake ofenacting law 10
orma government in that Territory. and let that
entirely useless, and, in that connexon entirely
'enseless, proviso remain foc myself, will saw
that we hear much Of the annexation Of Canad,.
aud il there be any man, any of the Northern De
or any ono of the Free e-soil party. who