The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-29
CITY OF WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 49, 1850

sterzed to very baenness while this section stands as
LAS II would be impossible under its provisions to
ooain any support or protection for them either from
Congress or the local legislature II there neither be
law nor power pass any respect 10 African slavery
II TWO OF more persons there claiming the slave
how the right OF ownership to be adudicated between
mem slave runs away whereas there an anthori-
kidnapped and carried off how is his recovery to be
had II he strikes and wounds his owner, whence is
his redress He might indeed, be prosecuted and fined.
and imprisoned for the breach Of the peace; but that
would be rather oneroas reparaon; for, the owner
would have 10 pay the fine and costs from his own
pocket and lose the slaves services while the confne
ment lasted What them becomes OF all the boasted and
lauded forbearance OF this compromise in saving the
Souths equality and sparng her the fragrant injustice
and calling degradation OF the odous Wlmot Prosiso
section alike--we know that its import in different
minds amounts to absolhle antagonsm Every hour
Of this dehste makes this most obvious to eli who
pear hes Il We are not then, dsceiying one another,
Dut we are deceiviDg our constituents soltherner
reading this section, without any special care to
its precise import would be apt TO conclude that this
was well enough---hai there was no Wrimot Propiso
lurking IN this language; and that il fairly that in
The opinions Of norheners souheners might safely take
their slaves there, and that norheners admitted their OBJ
legation to receive these Territories into the Union free
should declare in their constitution.
, We well know that the northern gentlemen here
do not understand this section in such ways for, if
they did, the South would have nothing more to ask in
reference to these Territories Unhappily il is not So
We all know It Is not and that proviso to this
lon deciaratory OF such meaning, would hardly
mand IN this chamber live northern votes. may pui
this matter 10 the test by offering such provso myself
before this subject ID done with should no other gentle
man do So II therefore, the Senate sustans the south
cheerfuy and hopefully progress with the other proyis
ions Of the bill But if that proviso be voted down. you
can no more make that bill acceptable the South than
I you should ingraft the Wlmot Prouiso upon il in
Butt met BY the remark that the amendment proposed
BY the honorable senator from Mississippi, mr. DAvIsl
heretofore strenuousy advocated by the friends Of the
South II that be wish to be classed among
hose who feel disposed to vote it down, But l am
rne OF interference never could understand that
doctrine going beyond the power, either in the terrific
al legislature in Congress- to establish or abolish
slavery and surely the amendment imports no such
,ower and by no dexiery OF Interpretation, therefore,
ian II be construed into abandonment of the doctrine
of interference II were idle 10 tell that the free
nnder the constitution, and for the North 10 refuse the
South that protection TO her properly in Territory OF
he Union which she affords TO her property there.
Rights unprotected become nonentities, and. losing
Ill value are undeserving Of name and far from view
ng the amendment abandonment OF the doctrine,
conceive that il was devised shield to it from
litter annhllation, through that huru and disastrous
ION action which the 10th section enjons upon the ter
itorial legislature
The section OF the bill now under consideration is the
hopeful progeny oi the most remarkable and exceptiona
or from Kentucky. That resolution as follows:
2t Resofped. That SLAVERY does by aw, and
not likely 10 be introduced into aay of the TERRITORIES
imerpedisnf Tor Congress provide by law either
Is introduction into exclusion from any part OF said
ugh, o be sabsasd BY Congress % ia s Of said ie,o
assigned the boundaries OF the proposed State OF Cal
forna, whot the adoption of rssrieton condition
N the sShJecf Of slavery.
Every one remembers what outbreaks OF dissaisfac-
ion were pouring in upon US from time to time, from
III parts OF the South. as the profered concessions OF
his resolution spread altar her distant borders
L may be said without word of exaggeration that it
aroused universal opposition at the South and that
he honored name OF its distinguished draughtsman could
not save from the deepest and heaviest repoaches
md need not speak OF the harsh and hostile reception il
with in this chamber Now. the obnoxious features
,, this resolution plainly were that asserted BY ress
bic implication. that the Mexican laws prohibiting slavery
remained in active force in the coded Territories and shut
people migrating hithewards from the protection
,f that noble constitution which had accompanied flag
and armies through the heart and through the exirem
les OF Mexico and southerners could not reconcile
hemselves TO striking absurdty, that the
stuon which had accompanied and protected our sea
raft and their and properties TO every cme and
through every sea which all The hostile forces Of Mex
could not from our citizen soldiers thereihat
he same Mexicans, when peace has come and made us
friends when treaty has and made breutren !;
when cesson has come and made their territory ours
strip people OF the protection OF the consti-
ulion and alter ii has become as much heus as ours
'ur citizens may uPon Mexican territory and take tne
io1nan but the moment il becomes the constu-
ion is banished thence and il citizens migrate
hiher they must leave its privileges and its protection
,ehind them
Quite as exceponable feature OF the resolution, and
wen freely condemned, was the phrase that il was
nerpedenf to impose any restriction upon the Terrto.
hes, because the Mexican laws had already imposed that
estricton and that those laws still in force which,
course involved the obnoxious concession, which the
South had resisted strenuousy and unanimously from
he Threshold that there was power IN Congress TO I'M
,ose the Wilmot Proviso; and such ack nowedgment
coming from souherner and rendered on behalf OF the
South, not only public reputation OF all she had
)ften and deliberately asserted 10 the contrary but was
In avowal, coupled with representation Oh change OF
opinion and OF constitutional scrupes. which, in point OF
ACT was absolutely untrue
Such, then, being the reception which this reso,
uiion had met with from southern senators and
rom the South, II was hoped, II was expected,
hat when il came back to the Senate from the COM
nitiee, its obnoxious features would have been OBJ
iteraed and conciatory notifications have been sub
L is not indeed, what il was but the change lar from
improving it. has both increased and enhanced the ooec
ona which existed before II has increased them tor
whereas The resolution imposed the restraint upon Con-
gres not 10 pass any anti slavery restrictions upon Tue
Territories, the bill only imposes the restraint upon ,ne
pleases and reserving TO itself avso power over these
egslaiures, which would not only insure the nully OF
any acts thereof counensncng toerang IN any way,
he existence Of slavery there, but even any conseva
i've provisions which might afford Il mere police pro-
ecton Il has enhanced the objections Tor the bill not
he Mexican laws prohibiting slavery, but mas been
sustained by speech from the honorable chairman as
,er,ing that existence and supremacy in the most I'M
posing and unequvocal terms Moreover the BILL when
introduced into the Senate, was accompanied Dy an
elaborate report from the committee, which, ike the
<.f sxuht