Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-23
SPEECH OF Mr.. G. M. CONRAD,

SPEECH OF Mr.. c. M. CONRAD,
OF LOUISIANA,
ON THE TERRITORIAL QUESTION
In HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY %, 1850.
Mr.. CONRAD addressed the committee as follows
Mr. Chairman So many gentlemen have preceded me in
this debate and the discussion has taken wide range,
that do not rise with the hope expectation of presenting
any thing to the consideration of the committee But
the question before Is which my constituents feel
deeply interested and consider due both them and
myself to state briefly the principles by which
shall be guided. ,g -s
Before doing So however, be permitted to say that
in my opinion, the importance, Of the question ITSELF but
Of the action Of Congress upon it has been greatly exaggera
ted Any who would witness the heat and excitement
that pervades this assembly whenever this subject is before
would naturally conclude that the question whether slavery
should should exist throughout a time in that
gion Of country which acquired from Mexico would de-
pend upon the result of deliberations But such is
the fact Sir there awmakerwhose power is supreme
whose DEGREES cannot be controlled by human enacmens
That awmaker is Nature IT. from the nature of this
try, its climate, its SOIL its position its productions it
adapted to slavery, slavery will assuredy find its there
any thing may say do the contrary Notwithstanding
IT, the contrary it be not adapted to slavery-if slaves
would be unprof there, then legislation could perma
nenty establish it. II must be recoected that any laws
may enact 10 regard to this territory would become inopera
tive as the country ceased to be under CONTROL
and that State Governments organized there
they would in this in all other matters, be governed by
their own views Of their own Interests.
Now sir must canddly confess that have long since
reluctantly the conclusion that Nature has decided
this question against the South What is the general char
acter of This country Why sir, the map of the world
spread before YOU doubt whether you could place your
finger spot Of the habtable globe where equal
tent of territory there small proportion of fertile or
cultvable SOIL All in representing
land of rocks and of deserts of arid plains and
capped mounainsa large portion of which is utterly unin
hab tha,
the wolf with hunger and the remainder only be sparsey
inhabited. country remarkably deficient in water,
destitute Of animal and vegetable e that the hardy pioneer
that attempts it exposed every step perish
Tor want OF susenance and In order to show that this
picture not overcharged, allow to read brief extract
from work prepared, believe, under the direction Of the
War Department. and published by order Of Congress.
mean the notes Of military reconnaissance from Fort Lea
ven~orth in Missouri, San Diego, in California, by Lieut.
Col. w. H Emory. At PIP. " and SO of this work, we
read the following passage: a
"The country, the Arkansas this point, than
miles, in its adaptation to agriculture has pecuartes
nhabits it. All of North Mexico embracing New Mexico,
Chihuahua Sonora and the CALIFORNIA; far north the
Sacramento the best information goes the
in the ph, steal character of its surface and differ but little in
climate or products. @@ .,-l
n no part of this vast tract the rains from heaven be
relied upon any extent for the cultivation OF the soil The
earth destitute OF trees and in great part also OF any vee
taton Whatever.
GA few feeble streams aow in different directions from the
great mountains which in many places traverse this region
These streams separated sometimes by plains and some
and may be called deserts far they perform any useful
part in the sustenance OF animal life.
The cultivation of earth is therefore, confined those
strips of land which within the level Of the waters
OF the streams and wherever practised in community with
any success extent involves degree subordna
on and absolute obedience to Chief rpugnant to the habits
"Tie chief who directs the time and the quantity the
pesou irrgatns water must Be implicitly o1syed os The
OF WATER unjust distribution OF it, neglect to make the
endanger the OF subsistence
OF many people He must therefore, be armed with power
to punish promptly and Immediately.
profits of labor too Inadequate for the existence
der he q Which enables their master to get the
services Of the adult while in the prime of life without the
obligation OF rearing him in infancy, supporting him in old
age maintaining his family, affords data for estimating
the profits slave labor it exists in the United States
No who has visited this country, and who is
qanted with the character and value of slave labor in the
United States would think of bringing his slaves
here with any view profit much less would he purchase
,aiJ % Ip n nns naan 81 h; isy S'u .oo &c
wond never repay the cost of transportation much less the
additional purchase money"
This, sir is the opinion Of intelligent and scientific Off
GER formed upon observation of the country and
this opinion confirmed by all have read or heard Of
the country.
this opinion be correct would be about as easy to intro
duce the culture OF the cotton and plants pached
plains and the snow covered mountains Of this country
permanently establish slavery there. For these reasons
from the moment that the acquisition If this territory was first
suggesedom the moment that the cry s'of indemnity for
the past aud security for the future first went forth from the
White House. and caught up and reehoed as warcry
BY powerful party in this country satisfied that this
"indemnity would be indemnity this "securityn any
thing but security to the South and said then have
since said, and say now, that would willingly give
Mexico twice much to take back the country cost u.s.
Even the discovery of the gold region California did moi
concie me to the acquisition for experience has shown that
it matters little who the soil that contains the precos
metals, by whose hands they excavaed as they will
ultimately find their way where the eVerolng tide of com
carries them Ia fact the history SPAIN when she
possessed nearly all the gold and silver mines in the world
and in more modern times, of MEXICO hsses prove that the
country that owns the mines often gets the smaes, portion
Of their products.
The only portion OF this territory that we did need was
harbor two the Pacific, which might have been nur
chased at m ng cost and the government Of which would
not have exposed the country to oil the agitation and excite
ment which this question has produced.
But we are told by gentlemen from the North, as an
excuse for the per,inacy with which they adhere to their
purpose, that great proepe is involved in the question
True, sir there is principle involved in it an important
principles but is principle in the preservation Of which the
South Is more directly interested than the North That pn-
cpe is the aos ie exemption Of the subject Of slavery in oil
tvs snd under oil from the control Of the
General Governmsnta principle The rigid maintenance Of