The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-27

| u.
! justice to any one. l remember that the gentle
man from Illinois, Mr.. McCLERHAND,) and, per-
haps, two three others that side Of the House,
dissented from that manifesto; but their number
was quite too small 10 impair ia any degree the
| force of the fact which ! am presenting. When
the gentleman from New York read his manifesto
the storm, which had been SO long and so furiously
| beating upon me, ceased.
+ The Wings of the northern States also defined
their position They proclaimed that they were
opposed to extending the limits OF the United States
opposed TO the acquisition OF territory north or
south; but, said they, il we are overruled-i,
against our counsels and votes you insist upon &C
curing territory, will co operate in preventing
the introduction OF slavery therein.
When we of the South were thus iorewarned by
the Wings and Democrats of the non-slayeholding
States, my friend from Georgia (Mr. SrEPHENs)
introduced resolution, declaring the legitimate
objects of the war with Mexico, and restricting the
discretion Of the President, by nhibitng the ac-
| QUESTION of territory. When ! made the speech
from Which have ventured to read an extract,
had in the drawer of my table resolution, similar
To that offered by my friend from Georgia, which
/ intended to offer at suitable time. he antci.
patcd me in the execution of my purpose had
hoped when those developments should be made to
which have referred, that the Democratic members
~ Mis House nom the southern States Would cooperate
ruth The Uhgs 10 preoent The acquisition Of territory
| was disappointed in this reasonable expectation.
When the House voted on the resolution offered by
my friend from Georgia, every northern and south
ern Wing voted FOR II; every northern aud southern
! Democrat uoted against IT,
MIR. STEPHENS, No; MIR, Cobb, OF Alabama,
voted with US.
Mr.. GEsrny. friend informs me that Mr..
Cobb, Of Alabama voted with on the question to
which ! referring II my friend is correct in
his recollection, must do the gentleman from Ala
! blma the Justice to say that he stands SOLITARY
and alone, - honorably isolated from his political
party. In the Senate, Mr.. BERRIEs introduced a
resolution similar to that introduced here, and the
vote upon il was precisely like that in this House,;
every Wing from the North and the South, with
perhaps one exception, voted for il; and tUery Dem
oerat from The North and The South voted against IT,
| Mr. Chairman, what causes have produced the
| present state of things! What policy! Who is
sponslbe2 Is it the President? The ncontroverti-
bic truths Of history which have presented vindi
cate him from that false and unjust imputation,
and Tx the responsibility where an honorable gen
| tleman from Mississippi, MIR. THoMpsoN,) more
candid than most of those who have spoken on that
| side OF the House, says it ought to rest.
| That gentleman, IN speech which he made few
1 days ago, claimed for the Democratic party, of
which he is member, the glory of annexing Tex
as; the glory OF the which followed that event;
and the glory OF adding to the Territories of the
United States California and New Mexico. And
he admitted, that all the responsibilities resulting
| from these achievements rested upon the Demo
cratic party; and that, therefore, that party is
bound to come to the rescue and extricate the Re-
! public from the difficulties and dangers in which
! Democratic measures have involved il.
1t has been my aim TO prove the correctness Of the
admissions candidly made by the gentleman
from Mississippi, and TO show, beyond the POSSIBLE
|
/ opposed by this side of the House, and supported
and carried through by that, have brought the
] country into Its present dangers. Come what may,
our skirts are clear. If the political equilibrium
! between the slavcholding and non slavehoiding
States Is lost, never to be regained if the property
of the southern States is thereby rendered insecure;
/ IT faction and discord reign where patriotism and
wisdom ought 10 rule; the Union, and the liberty
and happiness which il guarantees, are imperiled
| the causes which have produced these evils are
manifest, and tire good sense of the country will
correctly decide where responsibility rightfully
rests.
But though, as | have shown VIC can, on this side
of the House, justly claim TO be free from all re-
sponsibility for the present state OF things hold
that every patriot is equally bound to exert himself
to the country from the dangers by which it is
now environed. The Wimot proviso, which reared
| its front in this hall whilst the war with Mexico
was raging, has reappcared at every period since
the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdalgo, when an attempt
has been made to redeem the Obligations which this
Government assumed by the stipuatons of that
| treaty, and the faith which solemny plghted
to Mexico yet stands unredeemed. Meanwhile, as
II TO prepare the hearts of the people for bloodshcd,
civil war, and dissolution Of the Union, agitators
fanatics, and actionists in the northern and south
ern States have been busily aud successfully en-
gagged IN infianing and rousing into activity sec
tonal prejudiccs, passions, and hostilties, whose
loud roar, borne To our ears by every breeze thai
comes from the North or tire South BODIES nothing
bat evil TO the republic. Six months Of the session
Of Congress have been spent in angry debate as Il
what measures of legislation shall be adopted with
respect TO the Territories which have conquered
from Mexico. and there Is now little prospect OF
union and harmony on that question at the be-
ginning Of the session; and il has been distinctly
threatened that, in certain specified contingencies
faction will display tself here defeat the APP
preparation bills, and thus arrest, if not destroy the
government.
MIR. Chairman, this il a dcplorable, Illuminating z,
and dangerous state Of Affairs calling impcriously
upon us all 10 bold our passions and prejudices in
strict subordination TO patriotsIn and rea.on that
Ntfaf alxaa
the service Of the country. What shall we do
To what remedy shall resort Where IL the
path that wisdom bids IA tread? What line of poll.
| cy will shield the country, and il harmless
from impending dangers' What measure, founded
in justice and wisdom, can adopt that will har-
monize conflicting interests and prejudiccs, and
give quiet and tranquility 10 this great family OF
Statcsg Tho consideration of Cong and the at
tention Of the public have been for time directed
to three propositions lst That recommended by the
Presidents 2d, the Compromise bill reported by the
| committee Of thirteen in the Senate; and Sd, the
Missouri compromise line.
The last mentioned proposition il supported
chiefly by those gentlemen from tho southern States
who have heretofore been most jealous and vehe-
ment IN insisting upon the constitutional right Of
the savcholding States 10 unrestricted partici-
patton ia the territories acquired from Mexico; and
who have denied the power Of Congress 10 prohibtf
or establish slavery. or otherwise egisac upon that
subject In the Territories Of the United States
have never, IN the course Of my experience. known
30 garing exhibition Of Inconsistency by intel
lgcnt public men. To understand the effect Of ID
plying the Missouri compromise 10 the territory
acquired from Mexico, IL must be remembered that
slavery existed by Law in all the louisiana terrific
" acquired from France, and that the Missouri
compromise abolished and prohibited slavery in all
that territory north Of 36o 80 Of north latitude and
permitted saDey south OF that line Il literally
the enactment oftbc WilmO proyiso north of the line
3b' 80, aud nOn-intcrvonton south Of that line II
was distinct and most effective assertion and c1-
crcisc by Congress Of the power ~ legislate upon
the subject Of slavery la the Territories OF the Uni
ted States. To extend the Missouri compromise
line through our recent acquisitions 20 the Pacific,
would be TO enact the Wlmot .proyiso in about
four hiths Of the territory, and leave the residue,
south Of that line, subject To the operation Of those
Mexican laws which abolished slavery previous W
our conquest, and which, according 10 the opinion Of
large majority Of jurists, remain in full force and
effect ana aware that gentlemen distinguished
for legal learning bold that the Mexican laws are
null and void; but whilst THE question il undecided
by competent Judicial authority, slavery IL as ef.
ectually excluded II Congress had prohibited il
| by express provisions Of law Noslayeholder would
take bis slaves into that country with the certainty
Of sulJcoting himself TO long and expensive law.
suit, that wyuld most probably eyentuate in the
emancipation Of his slaves. Bot no one believes
that u u possible for such proposition 10 pass in
either IloOsc Of Congress and therefore IL waste
| Of limo la dtscuaa A fair or