Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-02-02

tendency, dangerous the slave States and that the abo
ton of slavery in the District of Columbia would be just cause
of alarm merely Virginia and Maryland, but to all the
slave States. And why What it that abolitonss then
proposed II abolition without compensation It was to
take the slaves without paying for them And would Il not IN
that form have been just OF alarm to the other Staes OF
the Union owning property Of that description The ASSET
ton therefore, of opinion which made then was, that by
the and objects of the cesson of the by
Virginia and Maryland 1t could not have been ancpa'ed D
either of those States that the conveyed to the General
Government the would be so exercised
as to abolish slavery within those States respectively and
further that slavery continuing in Virginia and Maryland,
such an abolition take place in the District OF Colnm-
bia and without compensation the Shareholder would be
as undoubtedly would have been just cause OF alarm 70
the of that description Of property, wherever situated
Now, sir that was my doctrine in 1885, and that my doc
trine still.
Sir do regard the phraseoogy Of the resolution
will substitute the word Unconstitutional for the word
inexpedient " for do not believe to be unconstitutional
cannot believe it. If power to egsate in all cases what
be granted Congress- does comprehend the power
egae the subject of slavery well as upon all other
subjects The power there but there an implied faith
connected with the power resulting from the circumstances to
which have REFERRED imposing on Congress the obgalon
to exercise the power long slavery in Virginia and
Maryland exists And, that Virginia has separated from
the District such abolition may not take place without the
consent of people ofhe District and Of Maryland and also
without what conended for in 1888, compensation to the
Of the slaves for their property thus liberated
extremely sorry hear the Senator from Mississippi
say that he requires first the extension of the Missouri
with that but requires if understood him correctly, posi-
tive provision for the admission of slavery south of that ne
And now, sir, coming from slave State, as do owe 1t to
myself it to TRUTH owe il TO the subject, to that
earthly power could induce me TO vote for specific
for the introduction Of slavery where bad before
existed either south north of that line Coming do
from slave State, it is my solemn, deliberate and well ma
tured determination that power earthly power shall
compel vote for the positive introduction of slavery
either south north of that line Sir, while you repoach,
and Justly too British ancestors for the introduction of
this institution upon the continent of America for one,
unwilling that the posiery of the present inhabitants OF Ca
ura New Mexico shall for doing just what
reproach Great Britain for doing to the citizens Of
those Territories choose establish slavery and if they
here with constitutions establishing slavery, for admitting
them with such provisions in their constitutions but then
will be their own work. and not ours and their poserity will
have to repoach them, and not for forming constitutions
allowing the institution of slavery to exist among them
These are views, sir and choose to express them and
not how extensively universally they known.
The honorable Senator from Virginia has expressed his opn-
ion that slavery exists in these Territories and have
doubt that opinion is sincerely and honestly entertained by
hm and would say, with equal sincerity and honesty that
believe that slavery nowhere exists within any portion Of
the territory acquired by from Mexico. He holds direct
ly contrary opinion to mine, he has perfect right to do
and will not quarrel about that difference Of opinion
But sir, sincerely regret, have before stated, dis
cusson upon these resolutions this time for could show,
and proper time would show, that the proposition which
make Of leaving the subject Enacted upon with regard to
savey-wilhout any declaration either for or against it
is much better proposition far the interests of the
South concerned than that of extending the Missouri
line the Pacific unless you should couple with that which
the Senator from Mississippi knows TO be impossible, de-
caraon provision for the Introduction of slavery south Of
that lne .
Mr.. DAVIS. The Senator from Mississippi knows that
Mr. CLAY. And Isay, sir, in my place, that consider
is much better for the South that the whole subject should
be open both sides Of imaginary nefor instance the
line of $50 30han that slavery should be inerdced posi-
lively north of $50 30 with freedom to introduce or eab
ish slavery south Of that line according to the will of the
people; and the proposition that have made is infinitely
better for the South than the proposition which the Senator
has suggested unless he could persuade Congress adopt
his proposition declare positively and absolutely the right
introduce slavery south Of that line. Now, all this
could have shown and would have shown necessary the
progress Of the argument if Senators had not entered into
discussion, and committed themselves upon the question:
they had chosen TO wait and give full and fair consideration
to these resoluonsto view them SYSTEM and to view
them independently of each other But they have chosen to
anticipate the argument and could not remain silent in JUS
tice to myself.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi The Senator from Kentucky
with that he wanted to know my time
for meeting him in argument and have told him that my
time is Several times has he regretted this premature
discussion but pray, sir who introduced The Senator
submitted his resolutions discussed them seriGm and then
concluded with set speech Are understand that all
this done without intending influence opinion Was
voey of blank cartridges that he firing in order
that he might up under of the SMOKE and make
charge upon us before saw him Why, sir, at the
door Of any other might lie the charge Of entering pre-
maturey upon this discussion properly than mine.
He it who began the discussion and the last to
engage in it. But he his conviction, his de-
termned purpose resist the introduction Of slavery any
part of California Sir his opinions may have been very
deliberately formed He may have been all the time making
up those determinations that he has been preparing these
solutions for certainly language of mine have
duced the determination of the Senator have proposed
to compel Shareholders to take their slaves California
to revive the African slave trade Neither the construc
ton warranted by my having used the word upon which he
hangs his argument. did the word introduction
suggest the idea of compuon The Senator has set
his own cobhouse to show how skuly he could knock it
down. 1t is no fabric of NINE We maintain that it is the
right of the people of the South carry this species of pro-
perry any portion of the territories of the United States
that rests under the constitution. upon the basis
other property but, when speaking of compromise it
the utmatum announced 1t is strange that the Senator
from Kentucky should be much surprised certainly
not question with him, with his colleague, with
whom, former occasion, similar proposition originated
It is partial recognition of right claim be extern
sve with the territories of the United States but
willing in spirit of compromise, and in compliance with the
past acquiescence Of the States restrict extension by
the parallel Of 800 30 north
Now, this is conceding great DEAL If the line
established upon any great principle arising from climate
productions would be different then the line would not
extend upon the parallel Of latitude If il line
would 60 north of that parallel Of latitude II is out Of
spect the past and from anxious desire peaceab adjust
most vexatious and dangerous question: that agtee
adopt this arbitrary ne And this compromise, upon which
most Of his fame rests originated under like circumstances
with the Senator who with such settled purpose de-
cares his opposition to fair application of its principle to
the present Then all the territory involved, that Of
Missouri slave territory; the compromise act prohibited
slavery in part Of the territory. Now according to the
position of the Senator slavery is excluded from the whole
Territory ofCalfornia and New Mexico. What them would
the application Of the spirit Of the Missouri compromise
que Clearly that in running the line the question should