The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-25

y
one here suppose that the Congress OF the United States
in its present disposition this subject in any dispo
son in which il likely be. would disapprovs
ernmsnt mel prohibiting slavery Never sir You must begin
at the foundation. That is the only way you can eve
fix It. cannot why, then. there should arise any OBJ
lection to this provision On the contrary, far from
amounting to the Wilmot Proviso has been stated,
think that the omission of it would be to amount To
the Wilmot Proviso
AS to the first amendment Mr. President was not par
ticularly in favor Of il Sill would have voted for the
amendment Of my honorable friend from Mississippi Mr.
DAvIs] and will vote for the amendment Of the honora
Bile senator from Maryland, Mr. PRATT but to dispense
with the provision altogether never consent; and
did not suppose that there was single from the
South who would not regard some such provision as in.
something OF the kind II is immaterial what form OF
words the amendment is The great point is that the
Legislature OF the Territory shall not have the power
colleague. in his argument Of yesterday, based on
the bill il is, consider that his argument that
slavery must have in its favor, in order 10 exist,
not only constitutional provision. but other more
immediate guards, is not a sound one, in any point
OF view. | do not think that such guards are es-
sen,ally necessary. He speaks Of police regulations.
My honorable friend states that il is necessary to have
police regulations in regard rights in slave proper
ty. Now, ask the senator if il is the custom in all
species Of property 10 have special laws TO regulate the
lights OF property and to guard against injuries in
spect TO that property' Slavery is species Of property
In there special laws applicable 10 il and
in other cases there not But there laws in New
also in regard to this species has been stated repeat
edy, after the introduction Of slavery, there
special law OF any kind authorizing or prohibiting it.
ask, where the statute regulations authorizing sla
very in Virginia, when the first importaons made
there doubt very much whether there are statute
provisions in Louisiana in Florida No doubt, for
years after it introduced, there such pro-
vision, because slaves understood to be property
And the very idea Of the existence Of slavery carries
tain rights with it. We do not provide certain laws
against depredations in regard to oxen Sheep hogs and
other kinds OF cattle and yet they species Of prop
ery: Therefore, where is the necessity for making
special provisions being absolutely necessary for this
species OF properyl do not see, them why any such
amendment should be made 10 that language 1t is not
just what like but adopted il because il had been set
tied upon in former bill; and therefore considered
that no easonble objection could be made TO it. twas
what was agreed upon beiore and what supposed there
was little disposition to disturb again.
Mr. President, think it is premature to enter into the
discussion Of The merits OF this bill preliminary
question, and am sorry TO see that II has been done
But inasmuch as it has been commenced-nasmucha as
the welfare OF the country, in my opinion, requires the
bill to be amended, as hope will be doneinasmuch
do not wish TO have it killed prematurely, before it is
perfected by calling hard names, and as hard names
have been applied 10 il upon some grounds which think
are without foundation choose at this early stage OF
the proceedings TO reply to some OF the arguments made
against it.
One OF the arguments made by my colleague and
others was, that although there nothing the bill
which amounts to the Wilmo Proviso, recognition of
the principle contained in the second resolution OF the
senator from Kentucky, yet the bill itself is Of such
that this inference might be drawn, especially when
taken in connexion with the speeches made the SUBJ
ject and the report OF the committee Now. think the
speeches made upon the subject of the report OF the com
mee have nothing to do with the Interpretation OF this
bill Why, my colleague says this bill must be inter-
preed according the speech OF the senator from Ken
lucky the other day. proving the existence OF the Mexi
can laws in these Territories. | should like TO know
why it is to be interpreted according to the senator's
speech any than according TO the opinion OF my col
league upon the same question. For my part consider
the able argument OF my colleague this point Infinitely
superior that of the honorable senator from Kentucky
believe that would be SO considered IN any court oil
JUSTICE and that the scale would be turned in favor
Al any rae the one has much TO do with the ntepe.
ation OF this law the other But the truth is as II
often happens, vote for the thing for different
reasons-reasons which satisfactory TO their own
minds but which have nothing 10 do with the bill itself
report is made here IT is not acted by the Senate
il does not have the appreciation Of the Senate you are
most all the provisions in that report had not the unan
nous concurrence Of the committee that many things
concurred in for different reasons and that il was
mere statement OF by the majority Of the commit
who concurred in the several points reported upon. IL
Is n OF acted on by the Senate, and It has no material
bearing upon the question Bat u TINS were not NE
construed according TO this report, would be willing TO
base il upon that and TO say that there u sufficient rea
in that report to satisfy the South OF the existence Of
slavery there mistake has gone abroad as TO this re-
port We constantly told that the report places the
exclusion of the Wimo Proviso on the grounds which
are objectionable TO the South and that Is reason Why
should vote for this provision OF the law That
is mistake. The given on this subject IS very
brief II is clear and il contains everything that the
South has ever contended for Give what this report
contains upon this particular subject and we will ask no
Ii takes exactly the position the democratic party
have coniended for, which maintained by the hon
orable senator from Michigan, tMr. CAss.l and which
advocated by the South and beyond which we never
wish To 60 wish to call the attention OF the Senate TO
this provision OF the report II Is very bnef, and be-
eve great deal OF unnecessary speaking has been made
about it, because il is not sufficiently separated IRON he
sentiments Of the honorable chairman, contained IN his
speech:
observed oms Wimot Proviso the one hand, aud,
on ohe makes provision for the Introduction Of
slavery into any the Territories That Proyiso
been the fruitful ol distraction and agitation
cease any obligatory force as .oon as such Terri
tory admitted State into the Union Ihcre was
ne any occasion for H. accomplish the proissed ob'
iec with winch IL originally offered Ihs has oeen
ciea,ly by the current OF events California
of ali the territorial acquisitions from MEXICO was
thai An which. III withn them, the lntrodac
Of slavery was most key 70 iaKe pace eno e co
stiuon Caiiornis, by the unanimous vote o. het con
ysoon has expressly inerdctcd II. There ~ the highet
degree OF probability that Utsh and New Mexico VIII
when they be admitted as Sa,e follow ihe exam
mere abstracon Why should It be any longer insisted
on Totally desttute tits, ofany praccal import nSs
nevertheless, had the pefnicous elect 10 excite serious,
alarming, consequences. It's hgn umc VIZ. ane III
that avoid, In all future me the agatons whch mus
produced by the conflict OF opinion on hu slavery ques
ton as this psutton does ~ some o. he o'es
prohibed IN others, the true pfincip'e Wnon
ouyb 20 regulate OF Congress in forming terrific
rial each newly acquired domain ls 20 re-
str, from ali the subject In the Territory ac-
qacd so long IL retains the teitt9fiai oih y
nsnieaving the people OF such Territory, when 'hey
nave attained condition which entities tnen 70
son a. STATE decide for themselves the question OF the
allowance prohibition OF domssuo savoy hne !, so,. ~