Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CLlNGMAN,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Oh, the UiImot Propiso, Slavery, &c

and published under an existing contract with that
body and other articles of commanding interest,
that it is not in our power, without encountering
expenses too heavy to be borne Ivy this Establish
ment, to publish at large all Debates which take
place in the House of Representatives. We are
obliged to select such as we suppose would most
interest our readers most crafty their curiosity.
Of this class have supposed would be the speech,
published to-day, of Mr.. CLINGMAN, of North Caro-
lima, the contents of which, should the reader not
have already heard any account of it, WILL think,
astonish him. Some Whg Speech in reply to this
speech from Whg, we shall not fail, when we meet
with fit opportunity, to spread before our readers.
hSusK OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JANUARY %, 1850.
The House being in Committee of the Whole and hav-
Ig under consideration series of resolutions proposing to
appotion the Presidents Message among the various
3Eniees--
Mr.. CLINGMAN said that the committee well
that had yesterday, mmated purpose to discuss the
questions involved in The propositions relating to the Mexican
Territory That subject regarded by the whole country
as such immense importance that he offered apollo
gy for debating it. To prevent misconcepion, said he)
say advance that have great confidence in the Judgment
integrity, and patriotism Of the President. further admit
fully the right of the citizens each State settle for them
selves all such domestic questions that referred to in the
message But who the people entitled to decide
The time and Of admission well the boundary OF
new States themselves questions for the judgment OF
Congress- under all the circumstances Of each The
Territory of Louisiana, first foreign acquisition
tanned nearly ten years IN that condition before she was al
lowed to form State constitution. In the Of Texas
her people being composed almost entirely of citizens OF the
United States, and having had State Government Of their
own yearsshe admitted at State into
the Union. In the case there considerations Of
the greatest importance connected directly and indirectly with
our action this subject. While adverting them fu
ly the time limited by rules will admit, ask the at
tention of the House.
With reference to this natter was placed dsadvan
tage before the country by publication made time since
1t generally known that there the Saturday evening
before the time for The assembling Of the House preliminary
meeting OF the Wing members The proceedings
Of such meetings have usually been kept private Contrary
however, the former usage this respect individual
present furnished Of the New York papers what pur
ported be report of the poceedings This report being
in respects authentic copied into other papers
The writer gave very fully the speeches Of those persons
whose views coincded with his but though he made
reference my position be did think proper set out
what did make that position at all understood
it will be remembered by those present that occasion that
the very outset Of my remarks, stated that had that
morning had very full and free conference with the gentle
from Georgia, r TooMBs, who had moved the reso
luton that there was in relation to the whole subject
baced in it. well with reference the mode Of action
proper be adopted by the South entire agreement be-
that gentleman and myself In fact that there
not far knew any difference Of opinion between u.s.
except the expediency Of making the issue at that me
and that thought preferable to await legislative action and
stand the defensive purely This, among other
then given, induced request the withdrawal of the
solution. II proper that should say that my interview
that morning with the gentleman from Georgia, and with his
colleague, (Mr. SrErHEss) gave my at length,
founded chiefly observation Of the of pub
lie sentiment in the North believing that collision
inevitable and that the the better for all
parties but that 10 enable to make demonstration in
the imposing and successful mode it would be better
await the organization Of the House expressed the
hat il moved without the at the outset of
majority Of the Southern members, might place ourselves
disadvantage before the public and prevent uniting
the whole South in such of action it might be
found expedient to adopt. @ s
Looking over the whole ground, however, am at all
dissatisfied with the which things took There has
been such division at the South would be at all likely
impair efficient action hereafter From the tone Of the
Southern press well from other ndcltions, i obvious
that the South will at early day, be sufficiently united to
the Of whatever be necessary
adopt protect ourselves from the aggression menaced
the North. As the election Of Speaker the present
condition of the House and the country, have
sideed OF the slightest moment to either political party,
either section of the Unon Speaker without major
y of the House would be of advantage to the Admins
ation could any arrangement Of committees mate
rally affsc the action on the slave question.
Those Mr. Chairman, who have observed my here
tofoe know well that have sought to produce agitation
this subject Six years ago. when first took seat
this foor believing that the famous twenty first rule had been
gotten up merely fancy matter, which productive
only of i'll feeling and irritation between different sections,
both voted and spoke against it. and then regarded
responsible great extent for its defeat then stated
during the discussion, that without kept state
Of hostility between the North and the South, until pacti-
cal question like that presented when Missouri ad
.nted (or then the Texas annexation in the future
the greatest possible mischief might went
aso in the OF my argument that slavery could
not be abolished in this District without dissolution of the
Union. Two years since, when had become certain that
the close of the then existing to obtain terri
tory endeavored to place the question grounds where
the North might meet concediDg, for the sake OF argu
en that the Government had complete jurisdiction the
territory. endeavored to show that while il might be jus
fed n dirding the territory, it could not exclude Us from
the whole without pspable violation Of tie constitution.
sorry say however, that my effort, though well meant,
did produce the slightest effect upon the action Of any
gentleman my 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 be compelled say that instead of showing them
selves in any respect conservative used to consider the
the Northon Whg members proved themselves. this the
great question, eninently destructive. s.-
To those gentlemen from the North who aided in
attempt settle the question not dlsgaceul
destructive u.s. tender my thanks In standing by the
rights of the South they have shown themselves friends of the
Constiniion and Of the Union. E@
Sir the force and extent of the present ansavyry
nent OF the North is understood by the South. Until
within the last few nths had supposed that Cali
orna ard New Mexico should in free States the
agitation would suhside produce further action.
few months travel IN the interior Of the North has changed
my opinion. Such IS the condition Of public sentiment
there, that The making of the Mexican territory ali free,
mode would be regarded an-sayery triumph. and
would accelerate the general agsins II is
difficult perceive how that state of public sentiment hos
been prodoctd there The old abolition societies have done
good deal to poison the popular mind BY circulating
immense number OF inhanmaory pamphlets, filed with all
Of falls shocd and caumny sgainst the South its
stations and its men, becane there contradiction in