The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-31

SPEECH OF HENRY w. MILLER, Esq,
Delicered at Oxford, November 5th, 1850, IN
renhI 10 Hon A w XENARIE

reply TO Hon. A. w. VENABLE.
FELLow-crTIzESs: offer. as apology for ask
ing your attention in reply to the gentleman who
made upon me. l dsavow all desire TO interfere
with the relations which exist between him and his
constituents, and trust am not violating any rules
OF propriety in answering, at your request, far
rs my humble ability will permit, arguments
which, regard falacious, and doctrines that APP
pear to me dangerous 10 the peace and union of
these States do not appear before you to crafty
any spirit of party. shall not address you in
any such spirit, except far it may be
~ to defend some OF the patriotic men who belong
to the Wing party from what conceive to be the
UNJUST assaults which have been made upon them.
The subject to which shall ask your attention,
more particularly, is above party ties, and should
be disconnected from party influences. IL isasub-
Ject in which the whole country has deep-a vital
interest refer to the nets of Compromise and
Adjustment passed at the last session OF Congress
Some of these acts the gentleman opposed, and he
now seeks, not only TO justify his own course but
assails those who differed from him, and thought
it their duty to sustain those measures II the
reason given for his course be valid. then has the
South been greatly wronged by the passage Of
that Compromise, and those who supported ii are
no longer entitled to her confidence. On the con
trary, if those measures are just and proper, and
upon being faithfully carried out will secure the
rights of all sections and restore peace to the
try, then his course was unwise, and his efforts
now, to excite hostility TO those who sustained
them, deserve, and should receive, the rebuke of
all who love the Union, who reverence the laws,
question dangerous to our peace and prosperity.
maintain that the acts Of Compromise secured
the honor of the South-encroached upon the rights
of no section-were wise and conciliatory in their
character, and should be sustained by all men Of oil
parties in every section ofthe Union; that, if
tanned, our national peace, prosperity, and Union
will be secured; but If violated, resisted nulled,
repealed neither OF those great interests and bless
ings will be advanced, but all Of them hnzarded,
jeopardized, perhaps lost. These positions shall
endeavor to establish, and in 80 doing ask the at
tention OF all present, however widely they may
differ from me on matters Of mere party politics.
The acts of Compromise were, !. The admission
of California as State. 2. The establishment of q
territorial government for Utah. 3. The Texan
boundary and New Mexican Territorial BILL A.
The act abolishing the slave trade in the District
olColumbia. 8. The Fugitive Slave law against
all which the gentleman voted, except the last
named and the Utah act. On the final passage of
the latter he did not vote at all.
understand him to contend that the admiss ion
OF California was Observation-Disclosures to the
South, and virtual enactment OF the Wilmot pro-
WAC, inasmuch the constitution presented by
that people contained clause prohibiting slavery;
and understand him further to contend that Con-
gress should have adopted the Missouri compromise
line in reference to that Territory.
Now, to enable us, fellow Citizens, to understand
this subject fully it il necessary to refer to the
Federal Constitution ITSELF and to portions of the
past political history OF the country the subject
OF slavery The third section of the fourth article
of the Constitution says: "New States may Be adj |
mited BY Consress into Ghis Union The fourth |
HtCtiou VI bNIno hIuCle ocCAIe6 tnht L0< Cu1-
ted States shall guarantee TO euery State IN this Union
arepubiican form Of Goprnment.'
IL will be remembered that the power Of Con-
gress over the provisions of the Constitution. pre-
scented BY people asking admission into the Union
was discussed with great ability and much bitter
ness during the Missouri controversy. That State
was formed out of territory acquired from France
under the treaty Of 1903. In July, 1920 she pre-
sented herself for admission into the Union, with
constitution which was silent on the subject
OF slavery Those who were hostile to TINT insti-
tuition sought to incorporate provision in her
constitution prohibiting it. 1t was commended by
those who opposed this restriction that Congress
had no such power--that it would be violation
of the Federal Constitution--that all Congress
could do To take that the State constitution
was "IsPubiican in its f0rm'-and that the people
who asked To come in q State, and they alone,
could adopt such provision. The progress and
result OF this controversy are we'll Known Itagi-
tatcd the whole nation. It shook the Union to its
centre. A compromise was At last agreed upon
and resulted in the admission of Missouri without
territory out Of which that State had been formed
north Of a6o 30 and leaving il to the people south Of
that line TO establish slavery or not az thsy might
wish. This compromise settled the question of
slavery as To all Territory east of the Rocky
tains. Our title to Oregon, lying west Of those
mountains was at last perfected, under the admin
istration Of Mr. Polk, and the application of her
people for territorial government the question of
the power Of Congress over the subject of slavery
was again raised. This controversy was finally
ended, as far as Oregon was concerned by the pas.
TERRITORIAL government
for that country with the ordinance Of 1857. pro-
hibiiing slavery incorporated in it. Mr. Polk ap-
proved this bill, and based that approval expressly
upon the grounds that Oregon was situated north
o the Missouri line, and that he desired to adhere
10 the spirit ofthat compromise.
The passage OF this bill would have settled tho
question of slavery as TO every foot of territory be-
longing to the United States had il not been for
the fruits OF the Mexican war, resulting as it did,
in the acquisition of vast territory living on both
sides Of the line of 800 80 north latitude It was
H.. Az a.
9nisiiion Of such territory anticipated that
Hiimof proUiso was introduced which is destined
to secure an oxecrable Immortality to its protector
as n skilful architect of evil"
Well, California and New Mexico had been ac-
CURED "by tho common blood and treasure of the
whole Union" They needed governments. Con-
grc-s was bound, by treaty stpulatons. and in jus
lice, 10 give them Efficient cirii governments This
duty was delayed from time to time, owing to the
conflict between the North and the South, the
former seeking TO extend the Wilmot proviso over
those Territories the latter resisting it as unconst
tutional In the meanwhile the immense and as
tonishing riches OF California were being develop
cd. The accounts which reached US Of the extraor-
binary discoveries Of gold in thatregion, more
Of population began 70 now in the direction Of the
land Of promise Wave succeeded wave. Nor
were they Ignorant and worthless, but bold, intel
avocations, who knew the value Of well. regulated
government, and would not long stand the depri-
vation OF Il. Congress neglected them. Whilst
thst body debated and wrangled about abetrac-
tons. mighty nation was springing up in that
distant region. They were threatened with anar-
ohy. They resolved upon forming constitution,
and presenting themselves for admission n State
into this Union. During the fall Of ls49 con-
vention Of delegates assembled and framed
State constitution. in which there clause pro-
hibtng slavery. II 10 estimated that in January
last there was in California population Of l07 900
souis. The constitution submitted to the peo-
pie and rstihed by vote Of l20S2 to 81, besides
aeos, 200 blank votes, making in all upwards Of
1900.
President Taylor transmitted this constitution to
Congress, with rccommc ndation that California
be admitted an n State. She finally admitted
by large majority in the Senate. and hun
ared and fifty TO fifty seven In the House. This
Was one VI the measures Of Compromise. The gen
ueinsn voted against it. lie says il was unconsti-
,unSnal. In what particular Not because there
han oeeh no territorial government before the for
ihn'on oi We state constitution, for there il
tclc IN the Federal Constitution which either di
teoiy o. ~ implc alton, requires this. Il may be
an argument against the regularity Of the adrnis-
lnn hslt non