The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-02-22

and it declares that California, with suit
able limits ought to be admitted as a
member Of this Union. without the imPo'
sition OF any restriction, either to inter
dict or to introduce slavery within her
limits. Now, sir. is there any concession
in this resolution by either party to the
other2 know that gentlemen who come
from the slaveholding States say that the
North gets all that it desires. But by
whom does it get it? Does it get it by
any action of Congress? If slavery be
interdicted in California. is it done by
Congress, by this government? No, sir;
the interdiction is imposed by California
herself And has it not been the doctrine
of all parties. that when State is about TO
be admitted into the Union, that State
has right to decide for itself whether it
will or will not have within it's limits sa-
very} The great principle. sir, which
was in contest upon the memorable occa-
sion of the introduction of Missouri into
the Union was. whether it was or was
not competent to Congress to impose any
restriction which should exist after she
became a member of the Union? We,
who we're in favor of the admission of
Missouri. contended that no such restric-
tion could be imposed. We contended, e,
that, whenever she was once admitted
into the Union. she had all tho rights and
privileges of any pre-. existing state of the
Union; and that of these rights aud priv.
ileges. one was to decide for herself
whether slavery should or should moi ex-
ist within her limits; that she had as
much right to decide upon the intro
Iduction OF slavery or upon its abolition.
as New York had right to decide upon
the introduction or abolition of slavery;
and that she stood among her peers equal,
and invested with all the privileges that
any one of the original thirteen States,
and those subsequently admitted, had a
right to enjoy
And so, sir, thought that those who
have been contending with so much ear
nestness and with so much perseverance
for the Wilmot Proviso. ought to reflect
that even if they could carry their object,
and adopt the Wilmot Proviso, it would
cease the moment any State to whose
, territory ii was applicable came to be ad
, mitted as a member of The Union. Why
/ sir, no one contends now-no one be-
, Iieves-that with regard TO the northwes
tern States. to which the ordinance o
: 1857 was applied Ohio, Indiana, Hi
I nois and Michigan no one now believes
d. that any one of those States, if they tho
a propeFt TO do it,has not just as much righ
/ to introduce slavery within her border
3 as Virginia has a right to maintain tht
Y existence of slavery within hers.
}. Then, sir, if in this struggle of powe
s and empire between the two classes o
Q States, a decision of California has taker
IS place adverse to the wishes of the South
e ern States, it is decision not made b
t, the general government; it is decisio
1t respecting which they cannot complai
/. to the general government. 1t decl
n sion made by California herself,and whc
1t California had incontestaby right t
/. make under the Constitution of the Uni
h ted States. There is, then, in that firs
is resolution, according to the observatio
D. which l made some time ago, cas-
ID where neither party comedies; where tn
question of slavery, either of its inlr'
b. duclion or interdiclion, is silent as r'
r. spects the action ofths government, and
a. it has been decided, it has been decide
,e by different body, by different pov
IS. err, by California herself, who had rigl
v; to make tina, decision.
it Mr.. President the next resolution
If the series which | have offered. | be
d. gentlemen canddly now to look at.
if was aware, perfectly aware, of the pc
of severance with which the Wilmot Pr
%. viso was insisted upon knew that e
he cry one the free States Of this Union
on | believe without exceplion-had, by
n legislative bodies, passed resolutions
IN. structing senators, and requesting
ee representatives to get that reslrlcti'
lc. incorporated into any territorial bill tn
m. might be offered under the auspices
&c. Congress- knew how much-althou
ne | regretted how much-the free Stat
lat had-ifl may say so-put their hea
ito upon the adoption of this measure.
ed this second resolution call upon the
in to waive persisting in it. | ask the
of for the sake of peace, and in a spirit
lor mutual forbearance to the other membe
ish of the Union. to give it up, and no long
to insist upon it, to see, as they must Sc
in if ther eyes we're open,the dangers whi
er. lie under it, if they perseveie in insist
9se upon it.
hat Well, sir, when called upon them
ing that resolution to do this, was | r
20. bound to offer for the surrender of Il
sh. favorite measure of theirs sumo compt
to sation- not an equivalent by any mea
ap. but some compensation-as that spl
pe. of mutual forbearance which animal
aid the one side ought at the same III
Dns TO animate the other sidel WI
es. is it that is offered them? 1t
uld declaration Of what | characterize
ex- must style, with great difference
on. all those who entertain the opposite op
l. ion--l will not say incontestable, but
, to me clear, and | think they ought to
an. regarded as--indisputaOle truths. A
icb what are theyl The first is, that by !
I slavery no lopger exists in any port
ha, of the acquisition made by us from
ma. republic of Mexico; and the other
we, that in our opinion, according to all
anv probabilities of the case, slavery me-
Of