The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-27

Rssolpsd That long the constitution OF The United
States provides that all persons held 10 service labor in
State ping another State SHALL Ia pslvsRrn
ur the claim Of the party whom ho or abor
ay r. ans and e long as members Of Congress
solemn aud religious duty To pass all laws necessary 10
Rssoipsd. That viii stand or ia by The America,
Union and ts constitution with all s promises with
glorious memories OF the past and precious hopes OF The
future" .# f.eHh A4aIH E.#
The city council having nulGed the law, and do
nounced me and all other supporters Of as traitors
Benedict Arnolds, and Judas lscarois, MIR Morris III
iered the following resolution, which also adopted
RESOLVED That we the people OF Chicago. ,eoud.,.
the resolutions passed by the common Chengo
upon the subject OF the tugiIivesave law passed by Con-
gress at lis last session.
1t only remains for 10 state that the city coun
Gil assembled the night and repealed their nuI
| flying resolutions by vote OF Twelve TO one.
Now, Mr. President. | have given you detailed &C.
count OF my III relation TO the fugitive law |
have no comments TO make upon H. | submit the facts,
and leave the Senate and country to draw their
illusions These facts not now submitted tor the first
time They contained in the pamphlet copy OF the
Chicago speech, which | hold in my hand, and which,
repeat laid the table OF every senator and repre-
sentative than year ago, and nifty thousand copies
distributed by senators and representatives 10 every
portion OF the Union may also be permitted TO add that
SO far as my knowledge or belief extends, this the
first published speech made in free State in defence
oil the fugitive law, and the Chicago meeting the first
public assembage IN any free State that determined 10
support and sustain it, At Chicago the reaction
menced There rebellion and treason received their first
check the fanatca and revolutionary spirit rebuked,
and the supremacy OF the constitution aud laws asserted
and maintained. claim credit for The part acted.
did more than my duty as citizen and senator.
claim to have done my duty, and for that was entitled
TO exemption from the repeated charges by the special
of the admnisra and other partisan prints of
having lodged the question. never dodge question.
never shrink from any responsibility which my position
and duty justly devolve upon hesitate TO
give unpopular vote, to meet indignant
nifty, when know right My political opponents
in my own State have never made such charge against
me, and feel that upon this point appeal to the
Senate with perfect safely Tor unanimous verdict in
my favor. t
Mr. President while am engaged in the work of self
defence, will rcer other point. have recently
it stated several papers that al time, and
OCCASION had been the advocate and supporter of
the Wilmo poviso This charge, upon investigation,
will be found TO be unjust and unfounded that
gard to the fugitive law In order 10 put the uestion
10 Test and beyond dispute forever will take brief re-
view OF my course the whole slavery agitation, and
show clearly and distinctly the principles by which my
action upon the subject has always been governed It's
part OF my purpose on the present occasion TO vlndi
cate The correctness Of my views and principles but sim
ply to show what they and what my official acts have
been, in order that the public may Judge Tor themselves
have always opposed The introduction OF The subject OF
slavery into the halls OF Congress Tor any purpose
either for discussion acon-eXcep in the sIec
fed and enoined by The constitution OF the United States
the OF The reclamation OF fugtives from labor
The first important vote ever gave in the House OF
Representatives in favor of the rule excluding abo
petitions and my stands recorded against its
peal at the time it abolished My action here since
have been member OF the Senate has been gov
erned BY the same principle Whenever the slavery
agitation has been forced upon u.s. have always met it
fairly directly and iearessiy and endeavored 10 apply the
proper remedy. Whether the remedy proposed by has
always been the and most appropriate fair sub
lect of discussion and will doubtless give rise TO wide
diversity Of opinion When the stormy agitation arose
connexon withth annexation of Texas, originated
and first brought forward the Missouri Compromise
applicable TO that Territory and had the qualification TO
see incorporated in the bill which annexed Texas 10
The United States. | did not deem it matter Of much
moment, applicable to Texas alone but did conceive
sion Of New Mexico and California My preference
Tor The Missouri Compromise predcated the
sumption that the whole people Of the United States
would be easily reconcled 10 that than TO
any other mode OF adjustment and this assumption rested
the fact that the Missouri Compromise had been the
means oil amlcsbc settlement OF fearful controversy
in 1921, which bad been acquiesced IN cheeruy and
cordially by the people for than quarter OF CEN
fury, and which all parties and sections OF the Union
proessed 10 respect and cherish Affair." just and hon
orable adjustment | could discover reason for the
application OF the Missouri line 10 all the territory wned
by The United States in 1921 that would not apply with
equal force 10 It's extension to the Rio Grande and
also to the Pacific, we should acquire the
country. la accordance with these views brought for
ward The Missouri Compromise at the session OF ls4445
as applicable to Texas and had the satisfaction 10
adopted after the war with Mexico
had commenced, and when, August, 1916, Mr. Will
moi FIRST introduced his proyiso, proposed TO extend the
Missouri Compromise to the Pacific substitute for
the Wimot provso When The provso voted into
the two-mon bill in opposition TO my vote. voted
against the biil-whch would otherwise have support
ed-because The proviso there Again. in ls47, when
the provlso was voted into the three million bill voted
against the bill for the The next time
bad the opportunity Of voting the poviso was in the
spring OF 1885, the Senate, pending the ratification OF
the treaty of peace with Mexico when was offered as
an amendment TO the treaty, believe by senator from
Connecticut, now not member OF this body. The
record shows that here again voted against the
This the last vote taken the Wilmot pro-
vlsothe last that could be taken upon appli-
cable TO the country acquired from Mexico for The
that by this treaty acquired the country without
any such condition that proposed by Mr. WIlmot. II
should be borne in mind that the Wmo provso not only
proposed to prohibit slavery in the Territories while they
remained Territories but also further and proposed
TO insert stipulation in the treaty with foreign power
pcdglng the faith OF the nation that slavery should
exist IN the country acquired, either while II remained
ia the condition OF Territories after IL should have
been admitted into the Union States on equal foot
ing with the original States denounced this provso
being unwse, improper, and unconstitutional never
voted Tor II, and publicly declared that would
vote for H. even under the pressure of instructions The
Wmot proviso being thus disposed of forever and CALI
lorna and New Mexico having been acquired without
any condition stipulation in respect TO slavery the
question TO what kind OF territorial governments
should be established for those countries domestic
affection suddenly called from the capital and detan.
ed me several weeks On my return found pending be-
lore the Senate the known the Clayton bill
Its provisions not such would have proposed
chairman of tho Territorial Committee had been present.
Yet II had the high merit OF having been reported with
great unanimy by special committee OF the emf
Dent and distinguished members of the Senate. fairly
representing all the different sections and interests of the
Union This fact afforded for the hope that the
bill might receive the sanction OF both houses of Con
gess and thus pu, end to the controversy Under the
influence OF these considerations, the bill received nv
cordial support, and passed the Senate by an over.
w Inn ms Int r.