The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-07
Origin OF the WiIlnot PrOvisO.

| logic the factS stated by us on w edneSday
going to show, quoting its own language, that
the Democratic party is responsible for the
Wilmot provlso, and the mischievous agitation
which has flowed from it,.
Let us see how false il is
We stated that the acquisition OF territory
from Mexico was the result of Southern Demo
cratic policy, and that the Wilmot proviso it
self is the legitimate offspring of that policy.
''How that conclusion is drawn. and by what
sequence of logical deduction it can be sus-
,ained," the Union charges us with emitting to
state. Why, we stated it with such brevity
and precision that no intelligent mind can pos
sibly misunderstood it. We stated
l. That the annexation of Texas, in its orr
gin. was eminently 4 Southern Democratic
measure.
2. That on party grounds, and for party pur-
poses merely, the Democratic party of the
North lent that measure an unwilling, but ulti-
mately successful support.
3. That having thus contributed to the ac-
QUESTION of large extent Of slare territory
when they saw further acquisition of terrific
ry would inevitably grow out of the Mexican
war, to save themselves at home the Demo
cratic members of Congress deemed it necessa-
ry to take ground in advance Of its acquisition
and to declare that, when acquired, slavery
should be forever excluded therefrom.
t. That it was Northern Democrat who
introduced the provlso.
>. That upon its introduction, every North
ern Democrat, save three, voted for it.
Upon the fact stated under the third head
the Union joins issue. After quoting the state
ment, it says:
This statement 10 not true. Individuals, we
admit, did make such statements-we can call to
mind one or two cases-but we deny that the
Democratic members from the North made any
such declarations Many of them might have
saved themselves at home from the allied forces OF
Federalism, Free soilism, and Abolitionism, had
they done And the Republic knows that many
Of those against whom it brings this unfoundcd
charge have opposed the Wilmot proviso from the
day it was offered up to the present hour"
The statement is true. as the Union must
know, if it has not sunk into hopeless imbe-
cility.
In speech made by Mr.. GENTRY, in the
! House of Representatives, on the 10Th Of June
/
causes which have brought the country into
its present difficulties, and TO fix the respon-
siblity for the existing state of things where
truth and justice require it to be fixed" he
said
'On the morning Of June 9TH, 1871, that gentle
{ man [Mr. PREsToS KINCl entered this Hall with
a roll Of manuscript in his hand, and obtaining
{ the floor, proceeded TO define the position of
the Democratic party of the Northern States with
Z respect TO the war with Mexico. Want of time
will not permit me to read that important paper
Z but if make misstatements with respect TO it,
{ will thank the gentleman to correct me In sub
stance il said: The Democrats of the non slave
holding States intend TO vote men and money to
any extent needful, for the vigorous and success.
: ful prosecution of the with Mexico. They
are in favor Of acquiring territory to indemnify
the United States for the expenses Of that war;
but it is with them fired principle, settled p,rr
pose, not TO permit the existence Of slavery in any
{ territory that may be acquired"
"Mr. McCLERSAND. beg leave TO say that /,
{ for one objected to the manifesto of the gentle
{ man from New York, and urged him not TO offer
/ it
"Mr. G. resumed 1t is not my purpose to do
injustice to any one. ! remember that the gen
tleman from Illinois, (Mr. McCLERsASD,) and,
perhaps, two three others on that side of the
House. dissented from that manifesto; but their
number quite too small to impair in any dc.
gree the force Of the fact which am present
ing"
Mr.. McCLERNNSD, for one, objected 10 the
manifesto Of Mr.. King. And how many more
Northern Democrats objected to it Just hco
others-Nlr. Wick of Indiana and Mr.. FIcKLrN
Of Illinois. Every other Northern Democrat,
as the record will show, in the House, where
there was Democratic majority of fifty or
sixty, r0ted for the provso--thus declaring, in
the strongest and most solemn manner they
could declare, that when the territory was ac-
CURED "slayery should BE- forever excluded
therefrom." And yet the Uaion, in the face
Of these recorded and we'll known facts, has
the unblushng efroniery to assert that " the
Republic knows that many Of those against
whom it brings this uniounded charge have OPP
posed the Wilmot proviso from The day il ,oas
altered mp 10 the present h0ur :"
Has the editor Of the Union wholly lost his
memory, that he should thus attempt 10 falsify
the congressional record? Or will he seek r..
fuge behind wretchcd bubble, and assert
that although, with three exceptions the North
ern Democratic members Of the House all
roted for the provso, they did not rise in their
places and declare, in terms, that slavery
should be forever excluded from any territory
thus acquiredl
The same statement. in substance, was made
by Mr.. GENTRY, as we have seen, in The
House Of Representatives in june last. And
was its general truth denied Not at all. Ne
member of the House undertook to deny it
For himself, Mr.. MoCLERNASD stated that he,
for one, had objected 10 Mr.. kISG's Wilmot
proviso manifesto at the time it was made, but