The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-25
No. 2I7.

tories, but it is merely delay The honorable gentle
man does not conceal his purpose, but with frank
ness which Is credtable TO him, he undertakes to
persuade the impatient advocates of the Wilmot
prpviso that the true mode of accomplishing their
object is to welcome California into the Union now
with her constitution excluding slavery, and to
deal with the territories hereafter Sir, nothing
can be wiser than this; the conception is an admit
rable one the great Frederick, the sti greater
Napoleon, neither of these successful commanders
could have projected more skilful plan for the
campaign. The gentleman comprehends that the
question, entire question, is too formidable to
be disposed of at In overrunning the terrific
ries which he would secure for northern dominion,
he would take California first, and then throw his
force into the remaining portions OF the territory.
For one, sir, am for offering battle at once. l
am for stalking every thing upon single field
We shall never be in better condition for contesting
it than we are now; and il we are hereafter to
struggle for foothold in Descret and New Mexico
prefer to struggle for ascendency in California
too, that we may bear our institutions with us to
the Pacific coast
1t is due, sir to the President to say, that, in
commencing the admittance of California and the
withholding governments from the remaining por-
tons of the territory, he believed that the tranquil
lity of the country would be preserved, and that
the interests Of the southern States would be Sc
self in the inhabitants Of the territories,
and believing that the very large increase Of Anne
rican population in California entitled 1t to admis
sion State, he recommended the policy to which
nave duFeTtcu, Dut, Ell, IL dPPdIcut tudt lHc
North will adopt only one part of the Presidents
policy. They will consent TO sustain his recon-
mendations as to California, but they advertise
in unmstakabe terms that they go with him no
further.
! shall then insist, sir, upon an immediate and
complete settlement of this whole question, and
earnestly trust that the people of the whole southern
country will insist on it; that they will hold the po-
sition they have taken; and that, merging cvory
other question in this, forgetting all differences
they will come up in this great struggle with the
compactness of Grecian phaanx and the resist
less tread of a Roman legion.
Before entering upon the consideration OF the pro-
per mode of settling this controversy, shall exam
Inc the relations which the North and the South
spectivey hold to it. And here desire to say that
shall not consent to argue this moral questions
this no place for such discussions; the question is
purely political one. This Government not
established to regulate moral questions, but to pro-
tect political rights Nor shall appeal to the be-
nevoent disposition of gentlemen to regard with
favor the exposed condition of our population.
This Government has no power to interfere with
internal affairs; feel no apprehension as to
intestine commotions; we invoke in our behalf no
sentiments but those which ought to animate the
equal representatives of free and kindred people;
insist upon great political right, resting upon
broad constitutional grounds. That we shall main
tain the right at whatever COST do not doubt.
The very question which now occupies us was
before the convention which framed the Constitu-
ton. IL engaged the attention of that great body
of wise and patriotic men; 1t was debated, 1t was
referred to committees, it the subject of long
and anxious sittings; and whenit came to be dis
posed Of, the extreme views of neither party pre-
vailed, but a perfectly definite arrangement
entered into, and, that il might be perpetuated, it
was wrought into the very body Of the Constitu-
ton.
A great mind of our own times, the expiring
CLEANS of which were seen in this hail. a mind
whose sympathies were all with the enemies of
slavery, admitted that the slavehodng lords of the
South, he styled them, demanded and secured
three provisions for their benefit, conditions upon
which they assentcd TO the Constitution-the ap-
\ portionment of representatives so AS to include
slaves in the estimate of population, the privilege
| of importing slaves for twenty years, and the stp
ulaton to deliver up fugitvcs from labor
| Ii will be observed, sir, that no power was as
serted by the convention over slavery they did
| not undertake TO control it; the contrary the
slaveholding States then asserted, as they now
assert that the right to hold slaves was ndepend-
ent Of the Constitution. II is true there were pro-
visions for the protection of the enjoyment OF this
right, the guarantee TO suppress nsurrection, and
/ the stpulatons TO restore fugitives from labor !;
but the first Of these is power never likely TO be
invoked, and the second, although 1t was adopted
without single dissenting voice, is day habitu-
| ally disregardcd
Tn, power 10 regulate imposts given 10
| Congess; and lest that power should be exerted
TO arrest the importation Of slaves, il restricted
in its application TO that traffic until the year lsOS.
Is it nd clear that but for these provisions of the
neutrality-suspicious. inserted 10 secure an in
crease # slaves to protect that property, and TO
enable nc southern States TO maintain their bal
ance in the Confcderacy-that they would never
have conc into the Union Turn ~ the debates
in convection, and you will find spread upon their
pages ample proof Of the determination OF these
States meier to consent 10 the creation OF govern
ment that did not contain the most explicit provi.
sons for he protection Of their property, then and
thereafter The pages Of the Fedcralist afford the
most unmistalable evidence of the same fact.
Alexander Hamilton, in advocating the adoption
of the before the convention of
New York stated that the provision enumerating
-ffhsof the slaves the basis OF representa-
tion, Insisted upon rcsolutely by the southern
States andthat but for this concession they would
have refusd TO come into the Union In the great
debate upot the admittance of Missouri one of the
ablcst advocates Of the restrictive measure which
! the North sought 90 impose upon that State, Mr.
SERGEANT, ,f Psnnsylyania,) y made the important
admission, hat the right OF the saveholding States
| 10 their prorrty is paramount TO the Constitution
itself; that here is no express grant in the Con-
sttution for limiting slavery upon the admittance
Of new STATE and that to preserve the balance , OF
I ffths was adopted.
Sir, let il h borne in mind that the balance be-
| tween the snthern States which were 10 continue
slaveholdinrnn planting States, and the northern
States, was n be preserved. We cannot now con-
sent TO aba1ion the ground which we have held
| from the establishment Of the Government. Any
policy which proposes now 70 lessen the security OF
our propertytto shake the guarantees by which we
| the Confederacy, will encounter on our part un-
compromising opposition.
The great question revived upon the appi-
cation Of Misoun 10 become State Of the Union.
| The territoryout Of which that State formed
had been acquired from France by the influence Of
the South. Under the northern policy, Louisiana
would have never been acquired; indeed, under
! the influence Of northern statesmen, treaty was
at one time nearly concluded, relinquishing the
right 10 nav gate the southern waters Of the Mis-
sissippi. M Pinckney, Of South Carolina, with
| the aid Of otter statesmen who took the southern
view Of the queston-who comprehcnded the i'm
portance Of bringing that extensive region un
der our dominion, and especially of securing the
mouth of the Mississippi and carried out
the great mosurc which acquired for us that mag
nificent accession 90 wealth and our power
Yet, sir, with Missouri applied for admittanco
into the Unin, the northern statesmen demanded
that the Souu should be excluded from all partci-
patton in theocnefts Of the acquisition which they
had made, aud they actually succeeded in subject
ing the Soutl TO a compromise. or rather capitu-
lafou which limited slavery within the parallel Of
thirty six degrees and half north latitude in all
the territory required from France.
That extensive region at that time n slave
holding rcgin; yet this Limitation Of slavery was
demanded by the North, and the line of S6o 30 was
stretched &C IL, cutting of the South from a