The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-11

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seems plausible support OF the opinion which they ss
lerlan; but is more plausible than sound. 40 saA
presently show, when come to no'ice H. Ihsy say t"s'
this ancient ordinance OF i7s7 which mas aoae us woa
wherever il has been applied faithfully and 20 enccu
ally, Is an abstraction.
Mr. CLAY The committee did not speak thus oil 'he
ordinance OF 7s7 ~,
Mr. DAVIS No. sir but they spoke so OF the Vii
mo, Proviso, which the thing verbatim Tue Wi
mot Proviso merely copy OF the ordinance OF ISL
nothing else. WE'LL what is an abstraction ia ro,-
ties heoretic iea a speculative opinion shallow, a
thing OF Importance practically ms Sool ou on'
nance which applied TO the Northwest Territory
and which has answered the purpose Tor which II was
designed wherever has been applied is pronounced TO
be an abstraction might add that this ordinance ~
though deemed abstraction at this day. received 'ne
unanimous appreciation of The old Congress at The tme
passed Il received then and afterwards the support and
appreciation of great men 10 and out OF tha poay INC
principles it contained had the sanction OF sqca great
names in the slave States Washingon, as JeieTson
as Henry, as William Pinkney, and many others:
might add that those were days when diierenl view
taken Of slavery from that which now prevais ~
was then considered moral evil.
But might stop and ask. it this be an abstracuoD now
it should happen that southern gentcmen OF great re-
spectaly Of great intellectual gifts ana experience as
statesmen should meet in this chamber some TWO years
ago, and address the people Of thai portion OF he country
public document the purpose OF which was 10 call
their attention TO the sentiments when Were lheh pre-
yang in Congress- and 10 excite their alarm and their
because of the peril and the danger when
would grow out of the adoption OF that same absracton
BY Congress! And now lmay be permitted % ASK, also,
means which employed to excite alarm and apre
henson should created such strong sense OF peru
that nearly every State Legislature in the southern coun
try have had this subject under their consideration
believe all those that have met since the address was
delivered have taken this subject up, gravsiy responded
to. and expressed their opinions upon t. Ana, 50 'ar
know, they and all hostile to this ProViso
One of the States OF the South has seen MT TO resolve
that if California with provision IN her constitution
couched n hs language OF the ordinance ,h 1aon
would be aggressive act against the rights OF the
South think that in the debate OF this very day pa
per Of that description has been read Al any rate has
been in the public papers Another State makes the
duty Of the governor in the contingency OF the adopon
OF this Wllot Provso by Congress, to call the State
consde eration aud to deal with il as becomes State
These legislatures also provided Tor the assembling
the which has been recently held at NASH
Vile That convention has assembled and 1t has had
this subject especially under its consideration and evil
IDENTIFY considers the expulsion OF the ordinance IRON
Congress as paramount 10 all other considerations
Moreover, Mr. President, how does 1t happen II THIS
be an abstraction theoretical idea that we have
been debating IL here SIX or seven months, ana doing
nothing else! How is il that abstraction clogs the
wheels of government and puts stop to the business OF
the coun,ry' All have TO say this point is COM
prsed in very brief remark. II II DC an abstraction IL
has done work very etiectualy wherever has been
nterposed has answered the purpose designed Tor II
and except for consistency il is maeg OF no consd
Grafton with me what name you give II, provided II ac-
compshes the object in view. ;,
This brings to another consideration. II is SAID
that there law of Nature which precludes slavery
from entering these Territories just eiieclualy as
could be done BY legislation II could entertain lhe oe
lief that this view was well founded, would be one OF
the last persons inlerpose any objection whatever be-
that would supersede the occasion OF al regua
tons on the subject II the law OF Nature IS enecual 10
regard to this SUBJECT that all dcsre-al ask can
expect to obtain nothing more by any enactment which
may be made But, after besowng the greatest care and
attention upon thus subject am Obliged ~ CANTOR 10
confess that unable TO bring my mind to that concu
sion know that it sustained by very great names
Tor which all feel Difference and great respect
hnd referring to the annual message OF the late rres
|deni is4s. tina, this doctrine was there substantially
nay fully advanced, though perhaps not quite to the
same extent which il has since been carried have
seen the opinions OF other gentlemen OF equal eseo.a
bilty, who occupied high places in the last adminsra
on and also the opinions which have been advanced IN
lns chamber and out of it by others. II could bring
my judgment to sanction that view OF ,he saolec',
should be most happy TO do so as IT, would relieve me
from all embarrassment But am constrained. alter be
slowing upon the most careful consideration, 10 adopt
another conclusion II is said that slavery goes only
where there is demand for slave labor Now, would
like to know where the place inhabited by men IS, 10
which there not Tor labor, and such labor a.
slaves perform Slave labor may, in things be an
Improbable labor to employ But We find slavery scat
tered throughout the world. The history OF mankind
shows beyond all question, that has existed in all ages.
in all countries all climates, and upon all kinds OF soil
| That may be sad substantially a, this day. II may be
maintained a historical truth. And whoever turns
his attention to the history OF mankind will find that no
peculiarly OF climate is necessary TO the maintenance oil
slavery Nor any particular product necessary TO give
to support You lind IN Delaware and Texas you hnd
Maryla and IN LOUISIANA you IND 1t III Missouri and
South Carolina, in Kentucky, in Georgia, and IN Ala.
barna Every gentleman who hears knows very well
that there great diversity OF pursuits and occupations
in these slave States as well AS OF climate and produc.
ton But slavery formerly spread nearly every
State ia New Engand--over New York and New Jersey
II existed there and how long has IL taken to upoot II IN
The States OF New York. New Jersey, and Connecticut
do not know whether nj this day ~ entirely extinct
/ in those States.
Mr. BALDWIN II is altogether extnc, in Connec.
ticnt.
Mr. DAVIS The gentleman says II is altogether ex-
tnct in Connecticut Bat is a late thing II has taken
nearly half century to out OF those States, al
though the pursuits, the products, the population, and
The business OF the country might supposed to be about
unavorabe 10 the maintenance OF slavery any spot
which you could well select
Now - sad thai slavery will probably 20 into
these Territories IL s unnecessary for to repeat the
Arguments Of gentlemen the other side Of this cham
bef upon this subject bu, may say this discussion is
proof OF earnest diversity ol opinion upon it, This
ptlled by southern gentlemen and II must be perceived
that these gentlemen could have motive To
prosecute their objections to this bill II this law Of Ma
iufe exists. And yet we them earnestly pursuing
their object; and pursuing IL, they declare distinctly
and has sad to-day upon this noortha there
earthly why slavery should enter into This
tory SO sa'd By the honorable senator from Vir-
gina, Mr. MAsoS,l some time ago, that he neither
nor was able 70 comprehend any reason why slavery
should not into these Territories, and why should
not be pro6iabIy employed there
l. sir, way in which II may enter New
Mexico There is doubt that cotton is produced IN
limited quantities there now and the valley OF the Colo
RADIO ia said to be place OF great promise this respect
but though cotton should be raised yet slavery may
find It's way and be maintained by profits growing out o.
the traffic. | do not say IT WILL but II may assume
this form, which cons'der the most Objectionable OF al