The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-23

convention interdicting il unanimous--neary one.
third OF the delegates themselves being from savehod
my nlaes Ia 80 deciding Ior themselves, ihey acted IN
perfect conformity with every sound principle Of the
theory and practice which have ever prevailed in this
country, and in entire accordance with the highest south
ern authority. asked ihem ii there blame, who
was 10 be reproached for the exclusion OF slavery in Cali.
forna, New Mexico, and Utah! Not Congress, most
assu,edly The reproaches must be directed against the
people oil California tor the exercise OF their nconesa-
BILE right and against Nature and Natures God for
lrreyocabe decree against the introduction OF slavery
into the mountain barrens and most unprotable regions
| OF New Mexico and Utah. II these nsurmouniable
obstacles can be overcome. the people OF these Terrific
rles are lett free to introduce slavery il they think
proper but candor obges me TO say that think It never
will be introduced there
The most difficult, complicated and embarrassing ques
tion which engaged onr dehera,ion was that OF the
boundary Of Texas. Three different opinions in regard
10 il PREVAILED and were entertained BY respectable
bers According TO the western limit OF Texas is the
Nneces, and not extending beyond it another opinion
maintained that stretched beyond the Nueces the Rio
Del Nore and that river IRON its mouth to the south
en line OF New Mexco the third opinion held that il,
embraced the whole country east Of the Rio Del Nore,
from its mouth TO its head including nearly all New
Mexico. All these opinions were maintained with great
pausibty, il not ability The southern members almost
unanimously and with great zeal and earnesness, urged
the last opinion II appeared to me il ever there was
case upon earth In which disputed boundary should he
settled and amcably adjusted by compromise, that Of
Texas We offered, it is true, very large sum
Of money ten millonsor the exclusion OF her claim to
the territorial limits of New Mexico; but then we were
previously bound 70 the extent Of nearly half that
States having in virtue OF the resolution OF xaon,
appropriated 10 themselves all the duties foreign inn
ports receivable in the ports Of Texas whilst independent
which had been previously pledged to their creditors
Texas, therefore, does not in fac receive more than
about five millions OF dollars for the REIMBURSEMENT Of
her territorial claims voted with great pleasure for the
appropriation OF the money because hoped and be-
lieved It would be honestly applied to the extinc-
ton OF her public debt and to her consequent relief from
all pecunary embarrassments And Mr. Speaker, fwish
that we had some legitimate ground TO advance 10 every
debtor State in the Union sum sufficient 10 pay of its
debts and restore its credit wherever that credit has been
tarnshed We are all members OF the glorious
federation, and should be most happy every State
stand upright and honoaby in the general coniederacy
commanding the esteem the confidence and the approba
ton OF the whole world II any State acts unwor
hiy in reference to her public debts. her conduct brings
more or less reproach upon the whole confederacy.
will at present say nothing, though may hereafter
have occasion to something's in respect TO the fugitive
slave bill except that it was the aim OF the provisions
which are embraced in j to give fair and fuller efficacy to
the constitutional provision for the surrender of ugi
tives No one hardy enough upon The floor Of The
Senate TO deny the rights OF owners of fugitive slaves, in
virtue OF the constitution. TO recover their property
The only difference oil opinion was as TO the mode OF ef
fectipg the object. But the moment the constitutional
right conceded everything is yieded and all will ad
should be faithfully, escuay, and not exclusively and
inadequately performed
The last measure in the seriesthat of abolishing the
slave trade in the District OF Coumba-has lost much OF
its extent by the retrocesson of Virginia. and that por
lion OF the District of Columbia lying south OF the Poto
mac and by other events 1t is reduced, think was in
deposited. These slaves were not in the District, but
brought chiefly from Maryland and Virginia Il was
trade IN which the inhabitants OF the District had sort
OF interests on the contrary they wished abolished The
southern governments, years ago, expressed the opinion
that il ought to be abolished Il sometimes exhibited the
institution of slavery in OF lis banefu and
pleasant forms. have myself seen not often lately,
gangs OF slaves. chained together drawn through Pennsy
vania avenue What human person contemplate such
spectacle without painful feeingsi The existence OF
the trade gave rise TO great camor and great exaggera
ton the North Why should it be continued in the Dis
10 prosecute his business 20 TO Alexandra, TO Richmond
10 Annapolis, Baltimore IL the States OF Virginia
and Mar, land will not allow him TO go there, that
why he should be tolerated in the District IL is
within the clear and indisputablc power OF Congress TO
abolish the trade in putting end 10 It,. Congress
has done no more than Kentucky IN iorbidding trading
in slaves as merchandse-than the State oi Mis-
sour has done which inserted in her constitution SIM
liar prohbitionthan many other slaveholdng States
affect in the slightest degree The institution OF slavery
exists within the DstrIct does not prevent the
inhabitants from selling otherwise allevaiing their
the District 10 purchase slaves and bringing them in for
their The law is mere regulation OF police,
called Tor by all the considerations which can uniie-in
the passage OF which, in the absence OF all passion
cilement and agitation, all impartial would
Such, Ms. Speaker, is brief account OF the system
of measures recommended by the Committee oil Thirteen.
That committee thought ii expedent 10 unite in one
bill all those kindred measures which relate TO recent
territorial acquisition they thought that. considering the
actual state Of opinion in Congress- IL best TO unite
them that, when thus combined, each party might
see what il lost and would be- sure that in the passage
OF tho common measure would find its losses eompen-
sa,ed by its gains Moreover. there unhappy sec.
tonal feeling between the parties as 10 what might be
the result OF the several which separately
proposed. One said, IL pass what you want having
got il, you will afterwards refuse TO give what we
want BY the combination OF these measures, wonld
and know the extent o what they conceded and be
ing passed. there would be risk OF bad faith The
friends oil the Compromise in favor OF all the
ures, either in the aggregate the detawedded 10
no part OF form-actuated by pride of opinion
they animated by other desire than the peace
and harmony o the whole country. The opponents OF The
Compromise. with some exceptions, against the
measures In the aggregate aud detail and their objection
ston months before the separate bills passed Happily,
the whole system OF measures as originally proposed
finally prevailed in both houses oil Congress The pro.
preiy oil the union of some OF these demonstrated
in the House OF Representatives by the fact that when
the Texas boundary question presented separate
measure, IT was refused by majority OF more than
forty, and when afterwards II united with the bill
for establishing territorial government Tor New Mexico
without the Wmot Proviso, il was carried by decisive
majority.
And now, Mr. Speaker, let for moment pause, and
consider what the actual losses and gains BY the two
sections OF the Union in the adoption of this system oi
measures think, 10 California, neither party, "a
far the action OF Congress s concerned be truly
said TO have gained or lost What has been done there
has been done By competent aud admitted auihonty,
without the inteposionof Congress As to the Territories
of New Mexico and Utah. The wishes Of the South have
prevaed-he Wimol Proyiso has been epudiaied and,
although do not believe that slavery will be tolerated
IN either OF them, both allowed 10 admit OF exclude
II, according to their own pleasure.
In regard TO the Texas boundary the South has been
rendered secure all the terrioy lying west oil the