The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-11


be to destroy that great domestic institution upon
which 50 much Of the prosperity of our Southern
country depends
al will only add, that II Texas should not be
attached TO the United States, she could not main
tain that institution ten years--and probably not
half that timer
Mr.. Calhoun succeeded in the Department Of
State, and in his first letter to Mr.. Pakenham,
the British Minister, taking up the correspond
ence where 1t was left by the untimely death Of
Mr. Upshur, after detailed statement Of the his
tory and condition Of slavery in the United States
he says,
That what is called slavery is, in reality, a
political institution, essential to the peace safety
aud prosperity Of those States Of the Union in
which it existsn
And, after the treaty was concluded, in dis
patch communicating the fact to the Mexican Gov
eminent, he assigns as q reason for anne xatiOn-
That the step WAS forced on the Government
of the United States, in self-defence, in conse-
quence of the policy adopted by Great Britain in
reference to the abolition Of slavery in Texas.
1t was impossible for the United States to witness
with indifference the efforts to abolish slavery
there" Sand that, If accomplished,
it would lead to a state of things dangerous in
the extreme to the adjacent States, and the Union
itselfD
These extracts, Mr. Chairman, from volu-
minous correspondence carried on in secret-all
knowledge of which was entirely excluded from
the American people, and which never saw the
light of day until the veil of secrecy was removed
~st~~ 'NN -"'ae. : ,va 'Ss treaty-are sufficient
trusN establish the fact that the Southern slave
holders desired the annexation of Texas, princi-
pally for the purpose Of strengthening and perpet
uating slavery
These reasons for the annexation of Texas
II, l.,t l..
North, different language was held; and the
Hon. Mr.. Walker, late Secretary of the Tressu-
ry, in public letter. extensively circulated at the
North, after stating deliberately the public bene-
fits which would be gained by annexation, thus
refers to slavery:
"The question is asked, Is slavery never to
disappear from the UnionP This is startling
and momentuous question but the answer is easy
and the proof is clear. II Mil certainly disappear
II TEXAS is yedmered TO the Uaioa-net by aboli-
tion-but slowly and gradually, by difnsion,' as
it has thus already nearly receded from several
Of the more northern of the slaveholding States !;
and as it will continue thus more rapidly TO re-
cede by the remuneration of Texas, and finally,
in the distant future, without shock, without
abolition, without convulsion, disappear into and
through Texas into Mexico and Central and
Southern America
This plausible theory, which WAS also presented
in speech by Mr.. Buchanan, in the United
States Senate, was intended Exclusively for the
Northern eyoN no eaAre negotiation, and the
correspondence, were known only to Southern
men, and conducted exclusively by tbep The
public never would have seen il, IT, lopg after, a
majority of the Senate had not removed the in
junction of secrecy. Indeed, sir, | believe that
nearly every man who voted for the treaty siren
ulously opposed and voted against the publication
OF the correspondence. Texas was annexed The
people of the North who supported it were gov
erned, trust by motives far higher, and far more
worthy, than any which related to the question of
slavery. The joint resolutions which passed both
Houses of Congress contained an alternative,
which was dictated by the wisdom of Mr.. Benton,
and which was intended to avoid any misunder-
standing or collision with Mexico, and to the
adoption of which, the faith Of the outgoing and
incoming Administrations were solemnly pledged.
That pledge was broken, and we were soon hur-
ried into mar. do not say that that was an un-
justifable war. | have no desire to condemn it, |
much less to detract from the well-earned fame of
the brave men who fought and won the battles
comforting imperishable renown upon their coun-
try. think il might have been avoided. But ask
any dispassionate man to look at this matter hon
esty and say, If he can, that the acquisition of
additional territory, which was contemplated at
the beginning was not intended to be made slave
territory, and to strengthen the slave power
Why the precipitate, not to say dishonorable |
abandonment Of that clear and unquestionablen |
title to Oregon, which was asserted in the Balti-
more Convention, which was coupled with Texas
throughout the campaign and which was repeat
ed in the inaugural addressl Would not the
same objections apply to q free border State be-
yond Texas, which were urged with so much zeal
in favor of annexation7 Do we not daily hear
them urged now2 Why, sir, this very thing was
w tha ciaio NJ hop
orable Senator frow New Jersey, Mr.. Dayton,
in the debate upon the annexation Of Texas, used
the following language:
"Can we believe for an instant that the South
will be contended with the Rio Grande2 No,
sir; no, sir As certainly as when the time shall
come when she has filled up this wide area, the
South win again demand extension at our hands.
Sir, If this country hold together, | put this
prophecy on record-I stake my reputation with
posterty-that our Southern States will walk
with as step by step, and side by side, TO the
Pacific ocean"
Sir, know not what conclusions others may
arrive at, but my own convictions are clear, that
the Wilmot Proviso was both expedient and
proper, and that the Northern man who preferred
freedom to slavery would have proved recreant
to the high trust conferred upon bim-recreant
to the cause of civil libertyrecrean to the rights
and interests of the free labor Of the North--if
he had failed to vote for it and sustain it. Sir,
what is this Wilmot Proviso," which has been
by every cpprobrious epithet, which
has been denounced as an abolition scheme as
a vile abstraction" 4" frebrand of discord -
which the Democratic editor of the Pennsylvania
as the invention Of some "wtty and
cunning political juggler (which the editor of
the Union denominates "pestilent heresy ~
Sir, it is nothing more nor less than the PROPOSE
tion of the noble Virginian, applied In 1877 to
the country have in part, the honor to represent
and by which 1t was declared, that "there shall be
neuher Slarery nor Involuntary servuude, otherwise
tim for the punishment of erimss" Sir, the five
great States northwest of the Ohio, with their
millions Of people, with their teeming cities, their
thriving villages, with thousands of happy
homes-made happy by the industry Of prosperous
their churches, and colleges, and
schools with all the elements of present wealth and
future greatness owe debt of gratitude to the
memory of Thomas Jefferson, for that honored
and celebrated "Prouiso" which will stand in the
undying records of his fame, second only to that
of the Declaration of independence.
Mr.. Chairman, we are bound by the obligations
of justice and good faith, to protect these feeble
territories, conquered by our arms, from the
encroachmens of slavery. What was the nature
of the proclamation furnished by Mr.. Polk,
through the War Department to General Taylor,
anu puohsheu W the people OF NEW MEXICO
"We come to make no war upon the people Of
Mexico, nor upon any form of free Government
they may choose to select for themselves"
This was thelanguage Of General Taylor's pro-
clamstion Did the people there select " any form
of free Corsrrrsssi?n Sir in petition presented
to the United States Senate, from the people of
New Mexico assembled in convention, Is this
declaration:
We do NOT desire 10 hare domestic SLAVERY wlhia
om borders; Gs1 until The tims shall arrte for our
admission ido the Uaica as a State, rs desire 10 be
projected by Congress ng0i1ff rs intTodssioa among
usn
And yet, sir, with this cry for protection coming
up from the people, Congress hesitates and falters