The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


WEDN 10DAx mOhN lNu, ma y % AoOvs
Vns Late Ex-Prssidsns Folks upon the Ter
rttorfal Question.
Such OF the wings Of the South as have been in
;ned to sever their allegiance to their native section Of
he Union, preference 10 the sevenng OF their alliance
with the abolion-whg party Of the North, have. in JUS
LITIGATION Of their course referred to the fact that Mr.
Polk. during his presidential term, abandoned the cause
Of the South by signing bill establishing territorial
government for Oregon containing the Wilmot Proyiso
The enemies OF that ustrous man have frequently cited
this act Of his evidence Of his abandonment OF the
rights Of the South under the constitution and IN apol
ogy for their own course That they have malgned the
memory Of the departed exPesident will be seen from
the following article which copy from the Nashville
Union embracing extracts from his private papers, show
ing his intention and purposes with respect TO the passage
OF any bill establishing governments for Territories
south OF the Missouri compromise line, and embracing
the Wilmot Proviso
From the Nashville Union April %.
THE LATE PRESIDENT QUESTION OF SLAVERY IN THE
TERRITORIES Although the message oil the late President
Polk Congress- explanatory Of his for signing the
Oregon BILL with the Wmo Provso attached TO Il. was en-
ey satisfactory the South, we YET find his action in that
matter held up by the southern defenders OF the northern
Povsoss as precedent justify the interference OF Con-
gon massage Mr. Polk stated expressly that he signed the
bill giving that Territory government with the Proyiso
attached because lay north of the compounds line For
thirty years the South had sacredy regarded that compror
mise, and he unwilling southern man, 70 disturb
it, and give the North the advantage of charging that the
South had violated H. and that II was no longer binding
Yielding the North what yielded by that compro-
mise, Mr.. Polk distinctly announced that he would claim
for the South, the question presented TO him, her por-
ton of the benefit OF the compromise, and promptly veto
any bill excluding sla yehoders from participation in the
territory United States south OF that line His
almost unanimously approved at the South; and the
fact that lew small politicians IL prece-
dent detection southern rights proof only
OF their facility at perversion
The last time the late President Polk had
long and, to exceedingly interesting conversation
with him upon this subject. He stated the circumstances
under which the Oregon bill approved contained in
his message, and reiterated his determination have
toed any bill excluding slavery from portion Of the terri
Tory south OF the Missouri compromise line. He kindly
granted permission refer his papers this subject;
but he almost Immediately afterwards seized by the
disease which proved fatal to him, and we him no
more The permission then extended has however
since been renewed by Mrs Polk and during visit
to the where the papers of her ustrious
filed with all that method and order for which he was
distinguished, copied the very important which
will be found below.
Most of readers will recollect that the close
the session of l89, Mr. Walker, from Wisconsin,
introduced amendment to the civil and diplomatic APP
preparation bill giving territorial governments California
and New Mexico pfhost attaching thereto the Wilmot
Proviso generally supposed that the Pfovlso would
be attached in House, and the of the Provso would
have been the entire appropriation BILL the last
moment Of the session. Mr.. Polk did not hesitate mo.
in coming determination. He drsw w mes
sage and in the office OF the Vice President firmly
determined the BILL il presented TO him with the
Proviso attached the territorial portion of
This message preserved among the papers of Mr. Polk
and OF the documents which he referred to in his
conversation with us We read II through,
visit the where he kept bis papers, and with in
creased admiration of his talents and exalted patriotism
bears. in his own handwriting, the following endorsement:
March, 1871 took this message with me to the Capitol
the night of the 3D. Of March, lS49 intending return
civil and diplomatic bill 70 which an amendment. odssed
by Mr.. Walker OF Wisconsin, had been adopted in the
Senate for the government Of California had been
Provso. The bill with the Wimot Proviso attached did
pass, and twas therefore unnecessary The
sage. X. p.
Wenow make extract from the message referred to,
not doubling will general attention. and e
fectuay silence the talk about the PRECEDENT set by Mr.
Polk in approving the Oregon bill:
cannot consistently with my opinions and welset,ed
of duty the constitution aud country
sanction, by approval Of this BILL the provision which
contains My opinion. upoa This subject were officially
the l4h August last announcing TO that body my approval
and signature OF the bill 70 establish the territorial govern
Congress- recommending the establishment OF governments
over the Territories Of New Mexico and California acquired
interference with the subject OF slavery by the federal gov.
eminent have doubted the dontrne The
people who nhabii may inhab the acquired Terrific
es have alone the right TO decide for themselves what
their domestic institution shall be, without the ntefven
ton interference OF Congress In signing bill
and In expressing my opinions last annual re
felt myself constrained to yield my original convictions
had this been an open and original question: and
form in my action the compromise established when
Missouri admitted into the Union. was thus con.
strained yield, because the Missouri compromise in re-
pect slavery had been recognised and acquesced In
by the saveho ding and non-savehoaing States for pe
rod OF nearly thirty and had only been acuu
esced In, but had been distinctly recognised affirmed
without serious opposition, IN the resolutions by
State Of the Union. was unwilling, by my action, 10
attempt 10 reverse what seemed TO have been long
so well settled.
misc and undertaken 10 enact law which only abro
but in effect destroys the equality of the
States and the equality Of rights which belong their
citizens The bill reduces nehaf OF the States
and their citizens condition OF n'eoriy as 10 their po
ltical rights, under the constitution tho other hall
States and their citizens. The equality Of the
States political conmuniiies and tbs equality OF rights
their pectvr citizens, constitute fundamental prci
pie, which hes nj the foundation OF federal Union
and the distinct recognition OF which Is well
known the conede.acy could never have been 70 med
TIE territorial possessions acquired by treaty Of peace
with Mexico were purchased by the common blood and
Of citizens OF all the and non.
slsvehoding belongs equally and alike all the States
exclude the of the saveholdug from the en-.
loyment OF equal rights in with the of
savehodng states, other than that
lists In the fomc and that the later the majority Of
population fthe Union and the majority the
sentaion In Congress- would be TO inlet vital wound
upon the constitution ITSELF and to destroy
design Of the confederation, of which all the States
der the constitution members Sureiv the,e !.
xa ovef faf