The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-25

n. Petersburg I.s.llassas.s v,rs,nl. ns.s-
Iutssss VI lsA7.
The Petersburg Iuellgence in its esgeraess 10 bring
undeseved censue the democratic candidate Tor gov
srnor Of Virginia. does pay sufficient Difference 10 the
record II overlooks the incendary sentiments uttered
by Mr. Summers Che wing candidate) in 1882; and yet
il petends 10 in Mr. Johnsons vote on the Oregon
bill grave and grevous offence We have already ex-
posed this point Of the wing tactics in Virginia by quo
aons from the recorded proceedings OF Congress, and
BY reference the state OF the slavery agitation when
Mr. Johnson gave the vote which the wings of Ym
GINA have raised such clamor, in order 10 compass
party object although they failed to condemn il at the
time Every one believed that the Missouri Compro
mise prohibited slavery in Oegon and the record shows
that the anti slavery restriction was introduced, mol by
Mr.. Wilmot, but by Mr. Winthrop. whom the wings
OF the South endorsed by aiding in his election to
the Speak eshp OF the 3oh Congress, and by attempting
10 elect him Speaker of the 3lst Congress. That re-
sction was deemed the time wholly imperative, and
was regarded by the southern democrats not an effective
blow, but as gratuous fling at southern institutions,
and by southern wings as harmless and inohcnsive
movement, which did not in any manner forfeit Mr..
Wnihrop's claim to their support and confidence. Now,
when suits the purposes OF The wing party in Virginia,
the Petersburg Integencer, and other wing papers in
Virginia. cautiously omit the name OF Mr. Winthrop, of
Massachusetts, and the OF MIR Wimot OF Penn
sylvania. II they to give true and impartial his
tory Of the ansac.ion-f they were to state the coDdi
ton Of the slavery question when the Oregon bill be-
fore the House Of Representatives. and show how and
by whom the anti-savery restriction connected with
the Oregon bill,hey would be placed in most awk.
ward dilemma. They could not pretend that Mr. John
son acted wrongfully in any Of his votes that bill
without denouncng the conduct Of Mr.. Winthrop whom
they endorsed They would be forced TO admit that they
are now bringing unfounded charges against the demo
cratic candidate for governor that they slaves
party and fahess to the South when they sustained the
election of Mr.. Winthrop for Speaker.
Mr. Summers was forced by public opinion. or by
tardy feeling OF shame, 10 withdraw his nsnuaons
sgains, the soundness of Mr. johnson on the slavery
questions but the Petersburg Intelgenccr, being blinded
or more bitter attempts to oriy itself by reference to the
Virginia resolutions passed in March. lsi7 That paper
says:
0At tho session of 1854 before peace was made with
Mexico and of before had acquired inch OF
territory from her resolutions were passed pledang the
tho W,imo. ptoviso to territorial bill and we know he
fact thar o~s Of he territorial b Contemplated oy his rtse-
.ns which ss for m %
denuncations of Shelton +. Leako 81 Co."
With all Difference to the Petersburg Intelligencer we
must say that has fallen into grievous blunder and
that processes knowledge Of facts which did not ex.
is 1t s true that the resolutions of lS47 were passed
before we had acquired one inch of territory" from
Mexico; but the deduction which the Integencer
seems TO suggest is not true. The statement OF tina,
journal is worded as to create the impression that
inasmuch had not obtained any portion OF Mexico
when the resolutions Of lS!7 passed, those resou-
lions must have been intended to apply TO territories
then belonging TO the United States. and that the
Wimot proviso, which they denounced must have
been connected with those territories We trust that
the In,eligencer has not weighed its words, but that
an inference 80 far from the true state OF the
is due to haste and accident, and not TO design We
have taken some pains TO be informed TO the
history of the Virginia resolutions OF 1917; and if the
Petersburg Intellgencer could give IFS unpreudiccd
attention, we could convince il OF the it has been
led into by the undue warmth Of its party feelings The
preamble and resolutions bear their very face the proof
we need They were introduced into the house of dele
gates Immediately after The passage of the Wilmol pro-
viso was known in Richmond. The Oregon bill, with
the Winthrop proviso. had passed the House Of Repre-
eenAtiVeS In FeOIuaIJs loto Win 'uc
Winthrop proviso had again passed the House OF Repre-
senaives on the It'll Of August, 1916 and yet the V
gnia legislature did take any action the subject,
because the belief was universal tha, the Missouri Com
promise had settled the question OF slavery in that portion
OF Oregon which belonged to the United States But
soon as the Wilmot proviso, which applied only to such
territories az might be yielded BY Mexico passed the House
Of Representatives February, is47, the Virginia legisa
ius took promp, action. The preamble adopted made no
reference whatever 10 Oregon but il declared plainly and
explicitly that the object OF the resolutions wa, to meet
the Wilmo, provso which had just passed the House OF
Representatives Thcsc resolutions applied TO the Wilmot
provso and they did not the Petersburg In,eGencer
afirms pledge the resistance OF Virginia il Congress
should apply the Wilmot provso TO territorial bill
having the Oregon Territory in view The idea Of apply
ing the proviso to territorial bill had not then up
The attempt was 10 apply TO the three million BILL and
to make it applicable not TO territory belonging 10 the
United States bat TO such territory might be acquired
from Mexico That the shape in which il passed.
That was the aspect when the Virginia resolutions
were introduced, and when they adopted. Mr. Will
mofs design was make the exclusion OF slavery
don precedent the acquisition Of teroryto prohibit
slavery before territorial government could be formed
An examination OF the resolutions will show that they do
not contain any ausion TO Orcgon-nothing which init
mates that there was such place Oregon the
tinsnt The resistance OF Virginia pledged 10 the
Wmot provso which did embrace Oregon; and, for