Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-31


up the position of the South and allowed the North
70 gain the vantage ground in the outset of the
contest Wequote from the record:
Dec. %, 1876. "Mr. DOUGLAS, from the COM
miItee the Territories, reporteda bill to establish
Territorial government in Oregon; which was
twice read and referred to the Committee OF the
Whole on the State of the Union, and made the
special order of the day for Tuesday, the 9th OF
January next
On the 4th of January, 1847, Mr.. PRESTON
KING, of New York, asked leave to introduce
bill "making further provision for the expenses
attending the intercourse between the United
States and foreign nations.' The bill appropra.
ted $50 900 'o enable the President to enter up
on negotiations for the restoration of peace with
Mexico" and further provided (in the terms of
the Wmot Proviso, and the Ordinance of 17S7)
that there shall be neither slavery nor invounta-
ry servitude in any territory which shall hereafter
be acquired by, or be annexed to, the United
States otherwise than in the punishment OF crimes
whereof the party shall have been duly convict
ed" The leave was not granted, but the vote
was one of alarming closeness, SO to 80.
On the following day, Mr. King, under
leave to make personal explanation. delivered
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 might be acquired from Mexico
His remarks produced no little excitement, and
led to warm debate Of the sectional question
touching the Mexican territory, the matter before
the House being 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 important part of the history of the Oregon
bill. 1t may be clearly shown from the speeches
of North ern members that the extension ofthe
Wilmot Proviso to Oregon was not recognised
by them as in conformity with the Missouri
Compromise, but was prefaced by an admoniton
that the North meant to apply it to all territory
whether South or North of So. 80. We return
then to the Oregon bill
The army bill, after the debate referred to
had been finished, was passed on the l 18th of JAM
uary. On the same day, the Oregon bill was
taken up, and what it contained may be learned
from the following extracts from the Globes re-
port:
January II, l947.-The House, on motion of Mr..
DOUGLAS, resolved itself into Committee OF the Whole
the state OF the Union, Mr.. Hopkins of Va in the
Chair, and proceeded to the consideration of the bill TO
establish the Territorial Government Of Oregon
The bill having been read through was taken up by
sections
Mr. JAMES THOMPSON said Mr. Chairman, rise to
make an inquiry OF the honorable gentleman who re-
ported this bill 1t will be reeoleced that at the last
session OF this Congress- had the honor offer the
bill for the organization of the territory of Oregon, an
amendment to provide against the introduction oisave
ry into said Territory. desire know what proyis-
ion this bill contains on that subject whether it con-
tans the amendment then offered If not desire to
renew the amendment
Mr. DOUGLAS replied by reading the 18th section of
the Bill which extends the provisions of tie Ordinance
of 1887 to the Oregon Territory and said he presumed
the gentleman would find slavery expressly prohibited
by that ordinance.
Mr.. THOMPSON said he knew this to be So II that
Ordinance as he had no doubt it in force at
this time, he would reflect The subject until the
section came before the committee.
Mr.. DOUGLAS in reply read the following portion of
the 18th of the bill which he thought woald fully
satisfy the gentleman's inquiry, viz:
Sec 12-And be it further enacted, That the inhab-
tans OF said Territory shall be entitled to enjoy all and
singular the rights and privileges and advantages grant
ed and secured to people OF the territory of the
States northeast of the Ohio river, by an article OF
compact contained in the Ordinance for the government
OF said territory the 18th day OF July 1887 and shall
be subject to all the conditions, and restrictions and
prohibitions in said articles of compact impose upon
the people OF SAID territory"
The second and third sections were passed over |
without amendment.
Other sections of the bill were considered,
and the committee of the whole rose without
concluding the subject.
Jan. 18th. The House again took I'D, in commit |
tee, the Oregon bill.
Mr.. BURT moved to amend the 18th section, in the |
9TH line, between the word ''and" and the word |
SHALL" by adding the following words:
"Inasmuch as the whole of the said Territory lies |
nnrth n dpu nnrtn lat too
line of the Missouri Compromise
Ju1s 18Th. The House adjourned to attend the flu |
neral of Senator Pennybacker
JAM l4th. The consideration of the Oregon bill |
was resumed, and Mr. BURT spoke at length in ia.
your of his amendment,
The main point of Mr. Burt's argument was,
that if the North refused to adopt his amendment
it would be tantamount to a declaration that sla-
very was restricted in Oregon because the North
ern majority claimed the right generally to restrict
slavery in all the Territories, and meant to exer
else it. Mr.. Petit of Indiana, a hot Free SoiIer,
replied, accepted Mr. Burt's issue, and advo>
Gated at large the Wilmot Proviso. Thus, before |
the vote on Mr. Burt's amendment, Southern men |
were fully warned of the consequences of reject
ing it, Again we cite the record
Jam 18th The Oregon bill was again taken up in
committee, the question being on the amendment of
MI BURT, The vote was taken Immediately, by tel |
ers, as usual in committee of the whole and the tel
lers reported in favour of the amendment 70, against
it p So the amendment not agreed to''
The different sections of the bill have been gone
through with,
The committee then rose, and the Chairman re-
ported the bill to the House.
Mr.; DoUGLAs moved the previous question; but
withdrew it at the request of
Mr. BURT, who moved to amend the 18th section. |
in the 7lh line by adding between the word sand"
and the word shal" the words:
''Lnasmuch the whole of the said territory lies
north of SO deg. 80 min. North latitude known as the
line OF the Missouri COMPROMISED
Mr.. B. renewed the motion tor the previous ques-
ton.