Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-01
SPEECH OF Mr.. DOWNS,
OF LOUISIANA,
On the Pending MeasuresFof Compromise.
In SENATE, NAY 81, 1880.

The Senate having under consideration the special order
being the bill sdm California State into the Union,
Ia establish Territorial Governments for Utah and New Mex-
CO. and making proposals Texas for the establishment Of
her western and northern boundaries
Mr.. DOWNS said: regret the which the debate
on this bill has taken from the time Of the introduction the
report of the Committee of Thirteen. have anticipated
from The first that there would be animated debate upon
the subj which is before the Senate but did not
anticipate that would up in the and shape
which has. should have much preferred that the Wmot
proyiso which all know to be offered should have
moved and that the discussion should have taken place upon
the direct issue offered by that should have
greatly preferred that the main contest should have taken
place that way its coming up upon issues relation to
which there be much difference OF opinion among
Southern Senators themselves.
However sir since these matters have come up proper
that should the views which entertain and the
ves which have aciuated in the hitherto pursued
in relation to them.
Mr. President when the question which involved in this
bill arose, three years ago, it Moth
ing of the kind had then occurred the history Of the Gov
of the United States In all previous of
QUESTION OF territories, there any doubt the
question of slavery. II known and recognised that
slavery did exist in them. We have made acquis
ton OF territory from Mexico in relation 10 which there
doubt and difference Of opinion betweea the different por
tons of the United Safes The people of the South contend
that under the constitution of the United States they have
the right these Territories with their slaves and
they complain that The effect Of the agitation which is kept
up the subject while the question is unsettled is to
clude them from the enjoyment of that right
try have devoted much attention this subject The wisest
and best of the South have devoted much attention
any other question which has in the
of history and far know, they have arrived
any solution better than that of leaving the Territories
the condition. respects the question of the existence of
slavery, in which they actually are-that question be
decided by the tribunals of the country when il regu
lary before them We have professed willingness to
abide by such decision, whether against in favor
We have insisted only that there should be legislation
affirming the laws of Mexico prohibiting from entering
tnp
such they may be under the constitution of the United
States the laws of Mexico, modified by it.
Now, Mr. President for the three years past dur
ing which the subject has been agtaed, has continued
have known of single Southern who has in
sisted upon asked for any positive legislation in favor of
slavery in the Territories for any other plan than this
1t is true, there have been notifications proposed
Some have been and desrous that the Missouri
promise should be sppied these Territories, with i'm
piled permission that slavery should into portion of the
territory for the Missouri compromise, its liberal terms,
does not establish slavery recognise is existence IN any
portion of territory having been applied to territory differ
emily situated; but generally the principle of non nterven
ton has been adopted and promulgated by the South and
that in which have almost unanimously concurred as the
Just and most appropriate claim of the South.
This, Mr. President, the principle with which we be-
gan ls4s, in the celebrated compromise bill OF that time
That the only position upon which could stand to
make any available opposition the pretenscns of the North
The South willing take it. 1t that they
entirely satisfied with il, that they ought not to ask any
thing but, Mr.. President, it cannot be denied that
when that compromise defeated by the aid of South
votes here, but elsewhere there loud and long
complaints by the constituents Of those members who had
been instrumental in defeating it, believe that that
promise entirely satisfactory to the Southern people,
placed position to obtain security for such rights
actually possess and which have Obtained since What
has been the consequence of the rejection OF that
promise What position with respect to the State
of California We have lost all oothold there; and we
have lost in consequence of the fact that that compromise
defeated ".~." !
Now, Mr.. President what have believe t1at
shall gain any thing In the South by defeating this
promise We lost by lust such heretofore
and shall lose by now, persist in it Our prnc
pie is it then Time changes truth.
We are in minority. We have at time had avora-
bic compromise Offered us this If we reject it, will
be utterly impossible that should ge. far again to-
wards fair and reasonable compromise this subject. The
compromise is undoubtedly less than, in my opinion, would
be entirely just the South but compromise is, in its
very nature, mutual ceson of supposed rights in part in
order the remainder supposed that every South
member of this house would accept reasonable
promise this the whole of what they would derire
but the oest which they could hope to obtain compro
mise ard cannot believe that Southern here
their influence for the defeat Of these brought
forward under such circumstances and home to their
stuen without receiving rebuke than fell upon those
who instrumental in defeating tie compromise Of ls1S
For myself have placed myself and do not intend TO
place myself in condition to meet with that rebuke
Mr.. President, members Of the Senate, and my hon.
orabe colleague (Mr SouLE) among them, to be ex
emey surprised with that provision of the bill under
consideration which prohibits the action of the Territorial
Legislatures upon this subject of slavery. My honorable
colleague here at that time, (s4s he would not
have expressed much surprise at provision which is
csey the that which contained in the Clayton
compromise BILL and approved by every member from the
South. This is precisely the provision in its
literal terms. II thought .heu most important prov-
sion for the safety Of the South thought them now
that the public opinion of those Territories against the
institution of slavery. We have certainly abundant reason
to believe that the transactions which have
occurred in California, and after what know Of what is
likely to occur in New Mexico. .
Mr.. HUNTER, (intaposing) My friend from Louisiana
originally introduced had these identical words. II is equally
true that they stricken amendment Instead of
them the words wcre "prohbit establish slavery"
Mr. DowSs. ! have printed bill, which supposed
the corrected BILL 1t is however, entirely imma!eria
whether the Language amended not The idea is still,
materially the 1t amounts indeed, to precisely the
thing The idea there, and the idea is here do
not all how is expressed do what form
OF words made of convey it. The principle was,
that the Territorial government should prohibit slavery in
the Territories. That the whole Of it. But when
wanted TO obar the admission Of that principle, it very
natural that should Northern frierd that they
should not the other hand have the power establish it.
Amended or not, the principle there thought il
was expressed IN the identical words but matters not whe
ther that be or not. IT,.
Now, Mr. President there any reason TO believe ha, the
subject is less important than il then Is there
any believe that slavery will be favorahly re-
garded in those Territories now than then Do YOU no,
hear continually from New Mexico that the inhabitants
there much opposed slavery they have shown
themselves 10 be CslifoIns Have you not seen within
the last few days. eloquent appeal from the delegate from
that Territory to his constituents advising and urging upon