The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-25

" .tir- CLiNGMAN, 0I .VOyM C0r0ttnd, on
The Territorial Question; delipred in
the House of Representatives. on the 22d
instant. ts'e.3, s,,9ss asp fel
Mr.. CLINGMAN said, that the committee was
well aware that he had, on yesterday. intimated a
propositions relating to the Mexican territory That
| subject was regarded by the whole country a. one
OF such immense Importance that he offered no
apology for debating, II. To prevent misconcep-
confidence in The judgment, integrity aud patriot
ism Of the President, further admit fully the
right Of the citizens OF each State to settle for them
selves all such domestic questions as that referred
to in the message. But who are the people entitled
so TO decide. well the time and manner of adj
mission and boundary Of new States, are in them
selves questions for the Judgment Of Congress. un-
der all the circumstances Of each case. Tho terri
tory Of louisiana our first foreign acquisition. was
retained nearly ten years in that condition before
she was allowed TO form State constitution. In
the case Of Texas her people being composed al.
having had State government of their own for
ten years-she was admitted at once State into
the Union. In the present case, there conside
rations Of the greatest Importance connected direct
ly and indirectly with our action on this subject
While adverting 10 them az fully as the time linn
tied by our rules win admit, ask the attention Of
the House.
with reference to this matter, ! was placed at
disadvantage before the country by publication
made some time since. II is generally known that
there was on the Saturday evening Lefore the time
Sssnr s ss Of # The The WINS Ms y
proceedings of such meetings have usually been
kept private. Contrary, however, to the former
usage in this respect some individual present fur
nishcd to one of the New York papers what pur-
ported to be report of the proceedings. This re-
port, being in some respects authentic, was copied
into other papers. The writer gave very fully the
speeches OF those persons whose views coincided
with his own; but, though he made reference to
my position, lie did not think proper to set out
what did say as to make that position at all
understood 1t will be remembered by those pres
ent that occasion, that, at the very outset OF my
remarks, stated that had that morning had a
very full and free conference with the gentleman
from Georgia, (Mr ToomBs,) who had moved the
resolution that there was in relation TO the whole
subject embraced in 1t, well with reference to
the mode Of action proper to be adopted by the
South, entire agreement between that gentleman
and myself In fact, that there was not as far az
knew, any difference of opinion between US, ex-
cept as to the expediency Of making the issue at
that time, and that thought it preferable to await
Legislative action and stand on the defensive purely
This, among other reasons then given, induced me
to request the withdrawal of the resolution. 1t is
proper that should say that, in my interview that
morning with the gentleman from Georgia, and
with his colleague, (Mr. STEPHENs,) l gave my
reasons at length, founded chiefly on my recent OBJ
servation Of the state Of public sentiment in the
North, we believing that collision was inevitable
and that the sooner tcame the better for all par
ties; but that to enable US TO make demonstra
ton in the most imposing and succcssful mode, it
would be better to await the organization Of the
House. expressed the fear that il we moved with
out the concurrence at the outset of majority of
the southern members, we might place ourselves at
disadvantage before the public, and prevent our
uniting the whole South in such course of action
as IL might be found expedient to adopt.
Looking over the whole ground, however, / am
not at all dissatisfied with the which things
took. There has been such division at the
South az would be at all likely to impair efficient
action hereafter. From the tone Of the southern
press, well from other Indications, il IL OBJ,
vious that the South will at early day, be suf-
ficiently united TO insure the success Of whatever
measures it may be necessary TO adopt 10 protect
ourselves from the aggression menaced by the
North. As to the election Of Speaker, in the pre-
sent condition of the House and the country, have
never considered it of the slightest TO either
political party, TO either section Of the Union.
A Speaker without majority Of the House would
be Of no advantage TO The Administration, nor
could any mere arrangement of committees mate
rally affect the action ON the slave question.
Those, Mr.. Chairman, who have observed nv
course heretofore, know well that have not sought
to produce agitation this subject. Six years ago,
when first took seat ON this floor, believing that
the famous twenty-frst rule had been gotten up
merely as fancy matter, which was productive
only Of i'll feeling and irritation between different
sections both voted and spoke against il, and was
then regarded as responsible 70 great extent for
it's defeat l then stated, during the discussion,
that If without cause kept up state of hostility
between the North and the South, until practical
question arose like that presented when Missouri
was admitted, (for then saw the Texas annexa-
ton in the future the greatest possible mischief
might ensue.o ] went on also, in the course of my
Argument, 70 say that slavery could not be abol-
ished in this District without dissolution Of the
| Union. Two years SINCE, when IL had become
tain that we at the close Of the then existing
war 70 obtain territory, endeavored 10 place the
| question on grounds where the North might meet
US; conceding, for the sake OF argument, that the
Government had complete jurisdiction over the
| territory. ! endcavored 10 show, that while II
might be justified in dirdssg ~ t0vitoy, IL could
| not exclude us from the whole without palpable
| violation of the Constitution. am sorry 20 say,
however, that my effort, though well meant, did
not produce the slightest effect upon the action Of
any one gentleman OF my own party from the
North. On this side Of the House they regularly
voted that the North should have the whole of the
territory, and went against any compromise.
regret 70 be compelled say, that instead Of show
| ing themselves In any respect conservative, as
used to consider them, the northern Wing mem
bers proved themselves on this the great question,
eminently destructive.
| To those gentlemen from the North who aided ms
in an attempt TO settle the question In some
| not dsgraceful or destructive 70 us, tender my
| thanks In standing by the rights of the South
they have shown themselves friends Of the Consti-
tuition and OF the Union.
| Sir the force and extent Of the present anti
slavery movement Of the North is not understood
by the South. Until within the last few months ]
| had supposed that even II California and New
Mexico should come In free States, the agitation
would subside 40 as 10 produce no further action.
| A few months travel in the interior Of the North
has changed my opinion. Such Is now tho con-
| dtion OF public sentiment there, that the making
| Of the Mexican territory all free, in any mode,
would be regarded as an anti slavery triumph, and
would accelerate the general movement against us.
II is not difficult 70 perceive how that state OF public
sentiment has been produced there. The old abo-
lition societies have done good deal 70 poison
the popular mind BY circulating an immense
number Of inismmatory pamphlets, filled with all
| manner OF falsebood and calumny against the
South its institutions, and is men, because there
was contradiction in that quarter they had ere.
| atcd n high degree Of prejudice against us. As
soon as il became probable that there would be an
acquisition Of oftcrriory, the question at once became
| a great practical one, and the politicians immc-
distcly took the matter in hand With view at
once OF strengthening their position, they seized
upon all this matter which the abolition societies
| (whose aid both parties courted in the struggiel
had furnished from time TO time, and difnpcd and
strengthened Il much possible, and thereby
created an immense amount Of hostility TO south
crn institutions. Every thing there contributes 70
| this movement; candidates brought out by the
caucus system. and, IL they fail 10 take that sec
| tional ground which IL deemed strongest there,
| thew arc nj once discarded. The mode Of noani-