The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE AND SLAVERY.

We printed last week the resolutions on the
Slavery Question introduced in the Senate of
New York by Mr. Geddes, Wing member.
There was no WilmOt Proviso in them We
showed our readers that they entirely eyaded the
real issue with the South.
The New York Tribune did not choose to detect
this singular omission. If it did, we entirely
overlooked the paragraph in which it pointed it
out But il did find fault with the Democratic
members of the Legislature for causing unne-
cessary delay.
The resolutions were referred to a Select Com
mttee, which reported them back with the very
material amendment of the Wilmot Provso The
Tribune remarks that they were imnlataidily
amended
IL is impossible from the confused or INSULT
cient accounts given in the New York papers of
the proceedings upon the resolutions, to form any
idea of what really did take place The TTibVa@s
account seems to us to be one sided and to omit
sential facts The account in the New York
Erealg Post, while it enables us to supply some
omissions in the Tribune, is still imperfect.
We gather this much, that the positive instruc-
tiOns in regard TO the Wilmot Proviso were in
sisted upon by the Democrats, and that the amend
ment of the first resolution so as TO incorporate
the main principle Of the Buffalo platform was
moved by Democrats, and carried by a vote of "a
against SD Of the "a being Democrats, 10
Whigs-one of the s nays being Democrat, 7
Wings We shall be obliged to some one of our
Albany friends, for clear and correct account Of
the proceedings, so that we may know precisely
the relations Of the two parties in the Legislature
to the resolutions. These, as finally adopted, are
as follows
Resolred lif the Assembly concurl That, as
the Federal Constitution was formed and adopted
expressly to secure the blessings of liberty to the
people OF the United States and their posterity
Therefore, the Federal Government ought 10
relieve itself from all responsibility for the exist.
ence or continuance Of slavery or the slave trade
wherever It has the constitutional power over
these subjectsn
Yeas 90 nays g.
hesofOed, df the Assembly concur,) That the
ueeerlninaton indicated by the Governors mes
s"B. aho the resolutions of the yarious sIsyehold
ing STATES and by Representatives Of sncb States
Wehteha domestic slavery over the Territories
acquired IN the late treaty Of peace with the Re-.
Puole Oh mexico, we feel bound to oppose with
s-~~he@N---N'S"@' i"ooun huQ our Senafora In,
Congress are hereby. instructed. and on,11S IA
sentetiyes requested, to their best efforts -
prohibit by positive enactment the extens;or ~
slavery over any part OF such territory. howevor
small, and by whatever pretence of compromise
Yeas 20, nays 3.
Res0lred, df the Assembly concur) That our
senators In Congress be instructed 10 resist firm
~ and to the utmost Of their abilities, and by
such positive legislation as may be necessary, the
extension OF human slavery, the Jurisdiction Of
texas over any part Of New Mexico
Yeas %, nays 0.
The next three resolutions were adopted by
Tue unanimous and full vote Of the Senate
ResOlued, tif the Assembly concurl That we
nSFs learned with great satisfaction that the peo-
PIE OF California have adopted a Constitution
which lie entirely In accordance with the spirit Of
cue free institutions Of our country--and our
senators In Congress are hereby instructed. and
Vur Representatives requested, to aid in the pass