North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-04

the presence of this assembly. was in this city In
the wear 1887 and long before left New York on
that excursion, in the course of which / went the
! South and returned here, my friends in New ork
were kind enough to offer public dinner tes
timony of their public gard for l went out OF
my way that occasion for the purpose of showing
" hat anticipated in the attempt annex Texas as
slave territory, and said that should be opposed
by me the last extremity. And in Niblo's Garden,
lin March, 1887, made speech. Well, there was
| the press all around me-the wing press and the
democratic press. Some spoke commendatory enough
of my speech, but all agreed that took pains to
step out of my way to denounce in advance the an
neXatlon of Texas as slave territory to the UnlteG
| States. | said that occasion: :. Gentlemen, we
all that, by whomsoever possessed, Texas is like
ly to be slaveholding country and frankly avow
my entire unwingness to do anything that shall eX,
tend the slavery of the African this contInentor add
other slaveholding States to the Union. When
said that regarded slavery great moral and po-
litca evil. only used language that has been adop
! ted by distinguished men, themselves citizens OF
saveholdng States. shall do nothing, therefore, to
extend encourage its further extension. We have
slavery already among us. The constitution found 1t
among 1t recognised it, and gave 1t solemn guar
antees. To the full extent of these guarantees we
all bound honor in justice, and by the consti-
tuition. All the stipulaons contained in the constl-
tuition, in favor of the slaveholding States which
already in the Union, ought to be fulfilled and, so
far depends shall be fulfilled in the fullness
of their spirit, and the exacness of their letter.
Slavery, it exists in the States, is beyond the reach
of Congress. II is the concern OF the States them
|
and Congress has no right or power over it, shall
concur tn ereore, in act, no measure, no menace
indication OF purpose which shall Interfere, or
threaten interfere with the exclusive authority of
the several States the subject of slavery, it
lists within their respective limits. All this appears
me TO be matter of plain and imperative duty. But
when come to speak Of admitting new States, the
subject assumes new and entirely different aspect.
Our rights and our duties then both different.
The free States and all the States are then liberty
! to accept reject, When ii is proposed to bring
members into this political partnership, the old
members have right 10 say what terms such part
ners to come in, and what they to bring along
with Them In my opinion, the people of the United
States will not consent to bring new, vastly extern
sive and saveholdng country, large enough for half
dozen or dozen States, into the Union. lnmy oPin-
ion, they ought not consent to it,. Gentlemen,
misa ken Congress did consent to the bringing
! in of Texas. They did consent, and was false
prophet Your own State consented, and the major
ty of the representatives of New York consented.
went into Congress before the final consummaon of
the deed, and there fought-hoding up both my
hands, and procaiming with voice stronger than it
now is, against the whole of IL. But you would
have it so, and you did have il so-nay, gentlemen,
will tell the TRUTH whether it shames the devil or
! not. Laughter.] Persons who have aspired high
as lovers of iberty-as eminent lovers of the Winot
Prcviso-as eminent free-soil men, and who have
mounted over our heads and trodden US down as IT
I we were mere slaves-they the men that brought
Texas into this country. That is the TRUTH the whole
TRUTH and nothing but the truth and declare it be-
fore you and in The presence of my God, that it was
! so. Look TO the journals. Without the consent of
! New York, Texas would not have come into the
Union under ehe. Of the original resolutions after
| wards But New York voted for the measure. The
two senators from New York voted for it, and turned
the question and you may thank them for the glory,
the renown, and the happiness OF having five six
slave States added to the Union. Great sensation.
Don't blame me for it. Let them answer who did
the deed. and who now procaiming liberty, and
using il for humbug and trading purposes. Gentle
men, who aided in bringing in Texas 1t was all
fairly told to You. You heard Moses and the proph-
els, laughter but if one had risen from the dead.
such your devotion to that policy, at that time,
that you would have heard him, listened him
for moment. Well, all that will now say is, that,
with the blessings of God, will not now, here
after, before the country the world, consent 10 be
numbered among those who introduced new slave
power into the Union. did all in my power to pre-
vent it. [Applause.]
And again, gentlemen, the Mexican war bruke out.
This vast territory was acquired, and the peace was
made; and much as dislked the war, disliked the
peace more, because it brought in these territories.
The territory was unknown. did not know what ii
might be. The plan came from the South. / knew
that certain southern gentlemen wished the acquisi-
ton of California, and New Mexico, and Utah,
means of extending slave authority and slave popu-
lation everything Was known about it. did not fa
into their idea much, but seeing quarrel,
celved-seeing how much 1t would distract the Union
Il voted against the peace with Mexico. L voted
against the acquisition. wanted of her terri
tory-California, New Mexico, Utah. They
were rather ultra American They were far from us
and that they might lead political disturb
ance. and voted against them al-agains the treaty
and against the peace-and am glad of it. Seeing
that it would be occasion Of disPue-hat by tire
controversy the whole Union would he agitated-
Messrs Berrien, Badger, and other respectable and
distinguished men of the South, voted against the
QUESTION and the treaty which secured II and if the
men of the North had voted the same way, We would
have been spared all the difficulties that have grown
: out of it. Applause. Now, there is no sort of
Doubt gentlemen, that there were some persons in
the South who supposed that California, if it came
in at all, would come in slave State. GU know
the extraordinary events that arose there. on know
that California received rush from the northern peo-
pie, and that African slave could no more live
there than he could the top Of Mount Hecla. Of
necessity it became free State, and that, doubt,
was a source of much disappointment to the South.
And then there New Mexico and Utah: what
was TO be done with them =! Why, gentlemen, from
the best investigation have given the subject, and
the reflection have devoted to it, of the opin-
ion that the mountains of New Mexico and Utah
could more sustain African slavery than the SHOWS
of Canada. saw it was impossible. thought SO
a then, and think so now. Therefore, gentlemen,
when it proposed in Congress to apply the Will
mot Proviso to New Mexico and Utah, it appeared to
me just absurd as to apply here in western New
York. l saw that the snowy hills, the eternal noun
ains and the climate of those countries, would
er support slavery. No could carry slave there
with any expectation Of profit. 1t could not be done
and the South thought that it was Irritating and
disrespectfu, was willing to do it and therefore
l saw no occasion for applying the Wimot Proviso
who doubts it now! The law admitting those Ter
rtores passed without any Proviso. Is there slave,
or is it likely there will be there? Why, there
is not in the United States stupid not to