Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-25
speech of the Hon. J. A. Mcclernand, of nli-

4
has ensued from the agitation OF slavery in connection
with government Tor territories; and did all in my
power, m the first instance, prevent the agitation
and have since strvenperseveringy strlven-to term
nate 1t in way that should be just and satisfactory to
all parties and all sections of beloved country. III
have been unsuccessful the fault is not mine but attaches
Others whose has had the effect not only to
keep the question Open but to aggravate us evils and
dangers And upon such persons call at this time, TO
forth and prove the sincerity of their professions
by aiding the Union from the pers that threat
it. Let them, and all OF us, elevate ourselves above
all pride of opinion above all party preudices above all
sectional eaousies and unite in common and con-
effort for this urgent and transcendant object
This my invocation-this patriotism and public duty
call for and trust the call will not be In VAIN Rome
had her Curtius leapcd into the yawning chasm,
noble sacrifice to save the State and have not We too
ardent patrots-many of them-who ready to emu
late the example of the heroic Roman-who are willing
10 Law down Office patronage, power, yea even their
lives If need be- to save their countryt Will believe H.
There are those however, Mr.. Chairman, whom do
not expect to reach by any appeal OF mlne-who like
Ephram Of old joined to theft IDOLS and devoted TO
the inquity of their To them offer persua-
son-I offer argument-I offer only the pity or rebuke
which their conduct deserves. And without wishing to
be all personal the first of these and one Of the most
conspicuous of the number which shall allude, is
the member from Pennsylvania Mr. Wilmot. And
what of him and his course2 He here few years
ago Representative from Democratic district IN
himself be Democrat, and
acting with the Democratic party; and such, he
hailed BY that party and received into their confidence
he called vote against the protective system.
and in favor Of a tariff He responded to the
call voting in the affirmative, for which he was much
applauded by those who approved of his vote But
what ollowedl The colleagues OF the gentleman from
PENNSYLVANIA voted oppostely to HIM upon the same
question: and his State understood to be opposed to
the policy of his He became alarmed for the
sequence will not say Tor his seat-and rushed upon
a new expedient to save himself. That expedient
the antisavery proviso in the noise and commotion Of
which he has found a temporary escape
Nor does the gentleman deserve any great credit for
the originality Of this exPedient for It part of the
tradition of this proviso that it the pestlerous off
spring of cabal OF pohtcal macontents wac, alter
projecting preparing it, placed 1t IN the hands oil one
Of their number who became agent well cOnspra
tor and moved il in the House OF Representatives
Other might have done the long before, but
they would rashy and needless endanger the
OF the country Jefferson had said that there was one
question above all Others which might threaten danger
to the UniOn-that siavery-which, when
stirred would excite the same alarms and connections
as the sound of re-be in the night time in populous
city; and prudent and patriotic entertaining the
opinion Orbore regously forbore, to agltate 1t
to fire this magazine of dscord and danger 1t
served for the gentleman from Pennsylvania to disregard
all these admonitons and considerations and sgnaze
his notorety by emulated, if not equaed by that
of the incendiary of the Ephesian temple.
But, sir what the circumstances under which the
gentleman from Pennsylvania brought forward this ia
NOUS proviso! and what the sanctions which pos
sesses either under the Constitution the laws of hui
manty entite it to the authority oil new political
a
factor2 This is the question propose now to consider,
and doubt my exposition of it will be curious
the unnitiated, it should be unwecome and over
whelming to the gentleman from Pennsylya What,
repeat the under which the proviso
was introducedl The President OF the United States,
after our armies had beaten the Mexcans and brought
them to feel the necessity of doing Justice asked OF
Congress, in August, 1916, appropriation of two
millions Of dollars to enable him to hasten the negotia-
zion of treaty which should the euson of blood,
and the United States such indemnity in terri
tory be acquired from Mexico might be just and
rght' To the bill which offered for this purpose,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania moved the following
amendment, which first adopted in committee of the
whole upon the of the Union, and afterwards
CURED in and passed by the House:
yOridd express and fundamental condition the
acquisition Of territory from the Republic Of Mexico by the
them and 10 the use by the Executive of the moneys herein
appropriated neither slavery involuntary serude shall
party shall first be duly conyicted"t
voted against this amendment, and 1 scarcely need
add, that defeated the bill to which it attached in
the Senate This was probably expected and desired by
many of those who voted for the amendment in the
House. II only defeated the bill to which it
tached but by introducing dlscord and division into ou
national councils it encouraged the enemy t.
prolong the And that prolongation of the wal
multiplied and aggravated the evils and horrors oil war
1t caused the battlefield be atted with blood and
nage-it doomed patriotic and aspiring perish by
lingering and wasting disease in foreign land-it rob-
wives of their husbands and children OF their lathe
1t realized to us the full measure Of
"Pelades' wrath whence on woes
Der the Achean's gathered host arose;
Her chiefs brave souls mltimely hurled from day,
And left their limbs to dogs and birds prey"
Nor was Its influence less permcious and hostile to th
cause of human freedom The slaveholding states ant
savehodng communities of the. Union, whilst left fret
obey the generous impulses of humanity unbiased b.
apprehensOns resentments, were moving on with ac
celebrated pace in the noble work OF ameiIoraon ant
enancipato Slaves well fed and well cad-op
portunites for alton and for acquiring property 10
themselves were allowed them. Schools and churche
flaf~
struction-unds furnished and colonization societies
authorized by the states for the purpose OF eevat
ing and relieving their condition. Such, In Short wa
the progress OF slave ameoratlon and slave emancpa
ton under the benign laws of God and humanitysucl
the trumphs OF human yoltlon-oi Christian grace
IN the noble OF philanthropy. But what has fol
lowed the officous and vicarous intermeddng of thu
gentleman from Pennsylvania In favor oil the slave class
He has reused sectional jealouses and provoked sec
tional recrninations-h has opposed tie motive of in
terest and the instinct OF selpfeseryaton to me char
ties of religion and the sentiment of berty-he has con
verified peace and concord into strife and hatredhe ha
armed the Shareholder defend with his life what ha
inspired ms sympathies and what he was almost willing
ready, surrender Alas he has converted the
of humanity and of religion into angry question @
political power and Of sectional and selpreseryaon
Lonor He has done all this and responsible beior
God and for it. Stand forth now, thou of tn
prcyiso and the charge brought against thee
Guilty guilty. Weigh in the scales thy noisy
frantic agitatons in regard slavery against the noun
tain weight Of thy evil doing, and behold aghast tn
But what sir would have been the legal effect of th
provis0, II any, if ii had been enacted by Congress
Certainly most pernicous. First, 1t would have crE
Piled and intrenehed upon the treaty making power
limiting and consranng the rghtful discretion of h
President and Senate regard to the terms and cond
tons of the treaty be madevirtualy declaring tina
treaty, such contemplated should be made
except according to the dctation of the law-makin
power. Second, il would have been fragrant attac
upon State sovereignty by nterdctng per throug
the agency Of the treaty-making power the olerato
of slavery any State to be formed Of the terrtor