Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-06


for the expenses attending the intercourse
between the United States and foreign ma
tions." The bill appropriated 0.0oo"to
enable the President 10 enter upon negoti.
atoms for the restoration OF peace with
Mexico" and further provided lin the
terms ofrhe Wilmot Proviso, and the Or
dinaace of 1872 'that there shall be nei-
they slavery nor involuntary servitude in
any territory which shall hereafter be ac-
CURED by, or annexed ,oihc United States
otherwise than in the punishment Of crimes
whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted" The leave was not granted
but the vote was one Of alarming closeness,
IS to 50.
On the following day, Mr.. King, under
leave to make personal explanation. de-
livercd long speech, in which he plainly
proclaimed and gave warning that the
North would insist upon the application Of
the Wilmot Proviso to any territory that
NIGH be acquired from Mexico. His re-
marks produced no little excitement, and
led to a warm debate Of the sectional ques.
ton touching the Mexican territory, the
matter before the House being a bill for
the increase of the army. This debate
might be proftably analysed, but we have
not space to do so here. 1t forms an i'm
portant part Of the history ofthe Oregon bill
1t may be clearly shown from the speeches
Of Northern members that the extension
Of the Wilmot Proviso to Oregon was NOT
recognized by them as in conformity with
the Missouri COMPROMISED but was preiaccd
by an admonilion that the North meant to
apply it to all territory whether South OF
North Of &c, 80. We return then to the
Oregon bill.
The army bill after the debate referred
to had been finished, was passed on the
1lth January. On the same day. the Ore
gon Bill was taken up. and what it contain
ed may be learned from the following ex.
tracts from the Globes report:
JANUARY II, 1Sl7.-The House, on mo
ton of Mr.. Douglas. resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole on the state o.
the Union, Mr.. Hopkins of Va. in the
Chair, and proceeded to the consideration
ofthe bill to establish the Territorial Gov
eminent of Oregon.
The bill having been read through wa.
taker up by sections.
Mr.. James Thompson said: Mr.. Chair
man. rise to make an inquiry of the hon
orable gentleman who reported this bill. 1
Will be recollected that at the last session o.
this Congress; had the honor TO offer ,c
the bill for the organization Of the terrific
ny of Oregon, an amendment to provide
against the introduction of slavery into SAID
Territory. / desire to know what provi
sion this bill contains on the subject; wheth
err it contains the amendment then offered
If not | desire 10 renew the amendment
Mr.. Douglas replied by reading the l2tl
section Of the Bill, which extends the provi
sion of the Ordinance of 1887 to the Ore
gon Territory, and said he presumed the
gentleman would find slavery expressly
prohibited by that ordinance
Mr.. Thompson said he knew this to be
so. If that Ordinance was as he had no
doubt it was in force at this time, he would
reflect on the subject until the section came
before the committee.
Mr. Douglas in reply read the follow
ing portion of the 18th section of the bill
which he thought would fully satisfy the
gentlcman's inquiry. viz:
"SEc. l2.-And be it further enacted,
That the inhabitants of said Territory shall
be entitled to enjoy all and singular the
rights and privileges and advantages grant
ed and secured to our people of the terri
tory of the States northeast Of the Ohio
river, by an article Of compact contained
in the Ordinance for the government of
said territory, on the 18th day of J uly 1887
and shall be subject to all the conditions,
and restrictions, and prohibitions in said ar.
ncles OF compact imposed upon the people
of said territory"
The second and third sections were pass
ed over without amendment.
Other sections of the bill were consider
ed. and the committee of the whole rose
without concluding the subject.
Jan. l2rn. The House again took up
in committee, the Oregon bill.
Mr.. Burt moved to amend the 18th sec
ton, nthe 7th line, between the word land
and the word shall" by adding the fol
lowing words:
'lnasmuch as the whole of the said Ter
ritory lies north of &c deg. 30 min. NORTH
latitude, known as the line of the Missouri
Compromise"
JAN. 18TH. The House adjourned t.
attend the funeral ex-senator Pennebackcr
JAN. 14Tm. The consideration of the
Oregon bill was resumed, and Mr.. Bur
spoke at length in favor of his amendment
The main point Of Mr.. Burt's argumen
was, that if the North refused to adopt hi
amendment it would be tantamount to /;
declaration that slavery was restricted i,
Oregon because the Northern majorit,
claimed the light generally to restric
slavery in all the Territories, and meant t.
exercise it. Mr.. Petit of Indiana. no
Free Soller, replied, accepted Mr.. Burt
issue, and advocated at large the Wilmo
Provlso. Thus, before the vote on MI
Buris amendment, Southern men were full
~ warned Of the consequences of rejectin.
1t. Again we cite the record.
Jan. 15lh.-Thc Oregon bill was agai
taken up in the committce. theques,ion be
ing on the amendment, of Mr.. Burt. Tn
vote was taken Immediately, by tellers, a
usual in committee of the whole, and III
tellels reported in favor of the amend
ment 20, against it. 72. SO the amend
mcnt was not agreed TO-"
The different sections ofthe bill Lein.
gone through with,
The committee then rose, and the chair
man reported the bill to the House.
MIR. Douglas moved the previous qucs
ton. but withdrew at the request of
Mr.. Burt, who moved to amend the 12r
section in the 7ih line, by adding betwce
the word "and" and the word shall" III
words:
"Inasmuch as the whole of the said ter
ritory lies north of Sc deg. and 80 mi
North latitude, known as the line of tn
Missouri Compromise"