The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-31
I H E R E 2 U BLIC.
SPEECH
OF THE

HON. IL. @. WINTHROP, OF MASS,
On the Presidents Message, transmitting the
Constitution Of California; delipered IN Com
mittee cftte WhoLe in the House Of Represe,i-
sentatiUes ofthe United States, May s, 1850.
The House being in Committee of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, the Presidents Message
transmitting the constitution of California:
Mr.. WINTHROP said: When had the honor Of
addressing the Committee of the Whole the state
OF the Union some weeks ago, intimated my pur-
pose TO take another opportunity, at distant day,
to express, somewhat more in detail than was able
to do on that occasion, the views which entertain
in regard to what have well been called the great
quesfs0Ns Of The day.
The eager competitions for the floor which have
been witnessed here almost without intermission
from that time to this, have postponed the accom-
plishment of this purpose much longer than could
l rise now, however, at last, to fulfil it. And
most heartily do wish, Mr.. Chairman, that in do
ing 80 could see my way clear to contribute some
thing to the repose of the country, and to the har
mony OF our national councils. yield to no one
In the sincerity or the earnestness of my DESIRE
that every bone of contention between different por
tons of the Union may be broken, every root of
bitterness removed, and that the American Con-
gress may be seen again in condition to discharge
its legitimate functions of providing at for the
wants OF the Government, and for the interests of
the people IL there be example in history which
would gladly emulate at such moment as this,
1t s that Of an old Swiss patriot four hundred years
ago-of whom have recently read account
who, when the Confederated Cantons had become
so emblttered against each other, by long success
sion OF mutual ordinations and local feuds that
the dissolution of the Confederacy openly pro
posed and discussed, and the liberties Of Switzer
land seemed on the very verge of ruin, was sud-
denly found rushing from his cherished retirement
into the Assembly of Deputies, and exclaiming,
Concord, concord, coNcoRD!" and who, it is re-
corded, by his prudence, his patriotism, and his
eloquence, brought back that Assembly, and the
people whom they represented, to sense of the in
estmable blessings which at stake upon the
issue, and finally succeeded in restoring his dis
tracted country to a condition of harmony, tran
quillity, and assured union!
Sir, there is sacrifice of personal opinion, of
pride of consistency of local regard, of official po
stion of present havings, or OF future hopes which
Iwould not willingly make to play such part
this.
Perhaps it may be said that it has been played
already. Perhaps it may be said that voice, or
voices have already been heard in the other end of
this Capitol if not in this, which have stilled the
angry storm of fraterna dscord, and given the
grateful assurance that all our controversies shall
: be peacefully settled
At any rate, sir, whether this be not, ! am
but too sensible that it is not given to me in this
hour to attempt such character. And let me add,
that there is one sacrifice which could never make
even for all the glory which might result from the
successful performance OF SO exalted a service-l
mean the sacrifice of my own deliberately adopted
and honestly cherished principles. These must
avow, to-day and always. These must stand to-
here and every where. Under all circumstances,
in all events, must follow the lead of my own
conscientious convictions of right and of duty.
assume, then, to-day, Mr.. Chairman, no char
acter Of a pacihcator. i have new plan of adj
justment reconciliation to offer for the difficult
ties and dissensions in which we are unhappily in
volved
Still less sir have sought the floor for the pur-
pose of entering into fresh controversy with any
body in this House elsewhere. Not even the
gratuitous imputations, the second hand perver-
sions and stale sarcasms, of the honorable mem
bcr from Connecticut, (Mr. CLEvELAND,) n few
days ago, can tempt me to employ another hour of
this session in the cut and thrust of personal
encounter. i pass from that honorable member
with the single remark, that il required more than
all his vehement and turgid defamation against
others, who, as he suggested, were shaping their
course with view to some official promotion or re-
ward, TO make me, or, as ! think, TO make this
House, forget that the term Of one OF his own Con-
necticut Senators soon about TO expire, that
the Connecticut Legislature just about to
sembe, and that the honorable member himself
well understood TO be a prominent candidate
for the vacancy
And shall be equally brief with the distinguished
member from Pennsylvania. (Mr. WnMoT,) who
honored me with another shaft from the self-same
quiver on Friday last will certainly not take
advantage OF his absence TO deal with him at any
length But cannot forbear saying, that as 1
heard him pouring forth so bitter invectivc, so
ptiless philippe against southern arrogance and
northern recreancy; and / observed the sleek
complacency with which he seemed to congratulate
himself that he alone had been proof against all the
seductions Of patronage and all the Establishments
name historical name more than a century
ago, and the lines in which a celebrated poet had
embalmed il for Immortality came unbdden to my
lips:
"Shall parts various aim at nothing new?
He'll shine Tully and Wiimot tool'
My object to-day, Mr.. Chairman, is the simple
and humble one Of expressing my own views on
matters in regard 70 which have in some quarters
understood and msrepresented The end of my
hour will Ind me, fear, with even this work but
half accomplished; and must rely on being judged
by what shall be printed hereafter rather than by
what may succeed in saying now. ! will not,
however, make my little less by wasting any more
Of my time in an empty exordum, but will pro-
ceed at once TO the business in hand
And in the first place, sir, desire 10 explain, at
the expense Of some historical narrative and ego
tistcal reference, the position which ! have here
tofore occupied in relation 10 certain anti slavery
proviso, which has been the immediate occasion Of
most Of those sectional dsscnsions by which
domestic peace has been OF late seriously dis
turbed
need not say, sir, that ! am no stranger to that
proviso, though, during the whole Of the last Con-
gress was precluded, by my position in the chair
Of the House, from giving any vote, or uttering
any voice in regard TO It,
There are those here to-day-and might single
out, in no spirit of unkindness certainly, the pre-
sent chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means, (Mr. BAyLy,) as one of them-who have
often taken pains TO remind the House and the
country that this proviso was formally proposed by
me TO bill for establishing government in the
Oregon Territory, before the honorable member
from Pennsylvania, whose name il now bears, (Mr.
WrLMoT,) had entered upon his Congressional
career.
have never denied this allegation. have never
desired TO deny it, The fact is upon record; and
would not erase alter that record If II were in
my power TO do 40 But, sir, have often desired,
and always intended. whenever ! should again be
free TO take part in the discussions of this body TO
recall TO the remembrance Of the House and OF the
country the circumstances under which, and the
views with which, that proposition made
II was made, Mr.. Chairman, on the LIST day Of
February, ls45 And what the condition Of
the country, and Of the public affairs of the coun
try that dayl
Oregon was then disputed territory. We were
engaged at that time, sir, in negotiations with
Great Britain, In respect TO the conflicting claims
of the two countries TO that remote region. Those
negotiations had been long protracted, and had en-
gendered spirit of restless impatiencc on the sub
ject in the minds Of great portion of the American
people The question, too, had been drawn--as, I
regret 10 say almost every question in this country
seems destined TO be drawn-into the perilous vor
tex of party politics; and Democratic Presiden-
tisl triumph had Just been achieved, under a ban
which were legibly Inscribed the well-rc-
membcred fgurcs $40 40. and the we'll -remem