Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-11

its constitution and no doubt there tracts OF
valuable land But it is notso in New Mexico. Fray
what is the evidence which any gentleman has obtain
I'd on this subject from information sought by himself or
communicated by others. have inquired and read all
could in order to obtain information on this SUBJECT
What is there in New Mexico that could by any pos
sibty induce any body to go there with savesi mere
are some strips OF llabe land on the borders oil
the rivers; but the rivers themselves dry up before MD
summer is gone All that the people can DO is 10 raise
some little articles some little wheat for their tortllas,
and all that by irrigation. And who expects to see
hundred ack men cuvang to acco corn cotton rice,
any thing else, on lands IN New eXco mace lerue
only by rigation look upon it, therefore, as liked
fact TO use an expression current to the day. that both
California and New Mexico destined to be tree SO
far as they are settled at all, which believe especially
in regard to New Mexico, will be very little Tor great
LENGTH of e free by the arrangement OF things by the
Power above us. have therefore to say this respect
also that this country fixed for freedom many
ne sons as shall live there, by rrepeaabe and
mere rrepealabe law than the law that attaches to
the right of holding slaves in Texas; and will say fur
Their that if resolution law now before us to
provide Territorial Government for New Mexico, I
would not vote to put any prohibition into it whatever
The OF such prohibition would be idle, as it
spects any effect would have upon the Territory and
would not take pains to reform ordinance of Ma
ture nor to re-enact the will OF God. And would put
in Wilmot proviso for the purpose OF taun
proach. would put into it evidence OF the votes of
superior power, to wound the pride, whether just
PRIDE rational pride an irrational PRIDE to wound
the pride OF the gentlemen who people the Southern
States. have such object, no such purpose. They
would think it aunt, an indgny; they would think it
be taking away from them what they regard
proper equality OF privilege and whether they expect to
realize any benefit from it or not they would think
theoretic wrong; that something less derogato-
ry their character and their rights had taken place
1propose to nct no such wound upon any body unless
something essentially important to the country and eff
Gent the preservation OIL liberty and freedom, is to be
effected. Therefore, repeat, sir, and repeat it be-
wish it to be understood that do not propose
to address the Senate often this subject. desire
all nv heart Dlaln DOSSlbe.
and say again. that ii proposition here for
Government for New Mexico, and it was moved to
insert provision tor prohibition OF slavery, would
not vote for it,
Now, Mr. President, l have established, so far as
proposed go into any line of observation to establish
the proposition with which set out, and upon which
propose to stand fall and that is that the whole
territory of the States in the United States, in the
newly acquired territory of the United States, has fixed
and settled character, now fixed and settled by law,
which cannot be repealed in the case of Texas without
violation OF public faith and cannot be repealed BY
any human power in regard to California or New Mex-
co that under other OF these laws every foot of
ceved fixed and decided character
Sir, if we are now making government for New
Mexico, and any body should propose Wilmot Pro-
viso, should treat it exactly as Mr. Polk treated that
provision for excluding slavery from Oregon. Mr. Polk
was known to be in opinion decidedly to the
Wlmot Provso; but he felt the necessity OF establish
ing a Government for the Territory of Oregon, and
though the provso there, he knew would be en-
tely nugatory and since it must be entirely nngato-
ry it took away no right, no descrbabe, esti
mabe no VEGETABLE tangible right of the South he
said he would sign the bill tor the sake of enactng
law 10 form Government in that Territory, and let
that entirely useless, and in that connection entirely
senseless, proviso remain, For myself, will say that
we hear much OF the annexation OF Canada and if
there be any man any OF the Northern Democracy or
any one OF the Free Soil party who supposes neces-
sary insert Wmot proviso in Territorial Govern
rnent for New Mexico, that will OF course be Of
opinion that it is necessary to protect the everlasting
l fh.F II
overpowerng wing OF an act of Congress. Sir, where
yer there a particular good to be done wherever
there is foot of land to be stad back from becoming
slave territory, ready assert the principle of the
exclusion Of Slavery am pledged to it from the year
1887 have been pledged 10 it again and again and
will perform those pledges; but will not do thing
unnecessary, that wounds the feelings OF Others that
does disgrace to my own understanding.
Mr. President in the excited times in which we live
there is found to exist state OF elimination and recrn
nation between the North and South. There are lists
OF grievances produced by each; and those grievances
real or supposed ALLEVIATE the minds OF portion of
the country from the other exasperae the feelings sub
due the OF raterna connexon and patriotic love
and mutual regard. / shall bestow little attention,
sir upon these various grievances produced the one
side and on the other. begin with til complaints of
the South will not answer, further than have the
general statements of the honorable Senator from
South Carolina, that the North has grown upon the
South in consequence OF the of administer
tn Government, in the collecting Of its revenues, aud
forth They are disputed topics, and have i'll
cinaton to ene. into them. But will state these
complaints especially one compliant Of the South which
has, in my opinion, just foundation and That is, that
there has been found at the North, among individuals
Nnd among the legislators of the North, dsnclna-
cn to perform fully their constitutional duties in regard
Is the return of persons bound to service who have es-
capped into the free States In that respect it is my
Judgment that the South is right and the North wrong
Every member Of every Northern Legislature is bound
by oath to support the Constitution OF the United Sates
and this article OF the Constitution which says to these
States they shall deliver up fugltlves from service,
binding in honor and conscience any other article
No man fulhls his duty in any Legislature who sets
himself to find excuses cvasions escapes from this con-
sttutional duty. have always thought that the cons
tuition addressed itself to the Legislatures of the States
themselves, or to the States themselves 1t says that
those persons escaping to other States shall be delivered
up and confess have always been of the opinion that
it injunction upon the States themselves. When
it said that person escaping into another State and
becoming therefore, within the jurisdiction of that State
shall be delivered up seems to me the import of the
passage is that the State ITSELF obedience to the con-
stituton, shall cause him to be delivered up That is
my Judgment. have always entertained it, and en-
terrain tnow. But when the subject, some years ago.
before the Supreme Court OF the United States The
majority of judges held that the power to cause ugi-
tves from service to be delivered up was power to be
exercised under the authority of this Government do
not know, ON the whole, that it may Tot have been
fortunate decision. My habit is TO respect the result of
judicial deliberations and the soemnity OF judicial dec-
sons But as stands, the business ofseeing that
these ugitlves delivered up resides the power of
Congress and the national udcaure and my friend at
the head of the Judiciary Committee has bill on the
subject now before the Senate, with some amendment
it, which propose to support, with all its provisions
to the fullest extent And desire call the attention
of all sober-mnded men, OF all conscientious men in the
North, OF all who not carried away by any IA
nacal idea or by any false idea whatever to their
stutional obligations. put it to all the sober and
sound minds at the North question OF morals and
question of conscience. What right have they in their
legislative capacity, or any other 10 endeavor to get
round this constitution embaass the fee exercise of
the rights secured by the constitution to the persons
whose slaves escape from them2 None at all none at
face OF the constitution they justified in my opinion
OF course it is a matter for their consideration They
probably in the turmoil of the times have not stopped
TO consider OF this; they have followed what seems to
be the of thought and ofmotves for the OCCASION
and they neglect 10 investigate fully the real question:
and to consider their constitutional obligations as am
sure, if they did consider, they would fulfil them with
aacrity Therefore, repeat, sir, that here is ground
OF complaint against the North well founded, which
ought be removed, which it is in the power the
1ar Of