The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-19

before bis God, to support the Constitution
They have taken their oaths, 90 the Holy
Evangelisis Of Almighty God, or BY upIifted
hands as the case may be, or by a solemn
asseveraton, as is the practice in some
cases. But one and all Of them, there is
not man who holds, nor is there any man
who can hold any Office in The gift Of the
United States, or in this State. or in any
other State, who does not become bound,
by the solemn obligation Of an oath before
God, that he will support the Constitution
Of the United States. Well is he to tam
per with that? Is he to faltor? Gentle
men, our political duties are as much mat
ters Of conscience as any other duties--our
sacret domestic ties, our most endearing
social relations, are no more tho subject for
conscientious consideration and conscienti-
Gus discharge, than the duties we enter in
to under the constitution Of the United
States. The bonds Of political brotherhood
are the bonds which hold Us together from
Maine to Georgia.
Now, Gentlemen, that is the main story
Of the Constitution Of the United States on
the question ofslayery. Gentlemen, | con-
tend and havo always contendcd, that af-
ter the adoption Of the Constitution, any
measure Of the Government calculated to
bring slave territory into the United States
was beyond the power Of the Constitution,
and against its provisions. That is my
opinion, and il has always been my opinion.
Il was very consistent, or thought to be so
for the same purpose in Jef1erson's time, to
attach Louisiana to the United States. A
treaty with France was made for that pur
pose. But Jefieron's opinion at that mo-
mcnt was, that on alteration of the Consti-
tuition was necessary to enable it to be
done. In considering what will not now
repeat, that opinion was abandoned, and
Louisiana was admitted by law, without
any provision or alteration OF the Constitu
tion. At that time ! was too young TO hold
any Office, or take any share in the politi
cal affairs Of the country Louisiana was
admitted as slave State, and became en-
titled TO her representation 10 Congress OH
the principle Of mixed basis. Florida
was afterwards admitted. Then, too, |
was out Of Congress; I had been in it once
but had nothing TO do with the Florida
treaty or the admission Of Florida.
My opinion remains unchanged, that il
was not in the original scope or design Of
the Constitution to admit new States out of
foreign territory, and that for one, never
would consent, and nc matter what may be
said at the Syracuse convention, or any
other nssembloge ofinsane persons, never
would consent that there should be one
foot Of slave territory beyond what the
old Thirteen States had at the time Of the
formation ofthe Union. Never, never
The man can't show his face TO me and say
be can prove that ever departed from
that doctrine. He would sneak away, and
slink away, or hire mercenary Ieep, that
he might say what merccnary apostate
from liberty Daniel Webster had bccome-
Laughter and cheers He knows himself
to be hypocrite and falsifier. But, gen
tlemen, was in public life when the pro-
position to annex Texas to the United
States was brought forward. You know
the revolution in Texas, which divided
that country from Mexico, was in the years
1886 and '37, saw, thon-and ! don't
know that it required any particular fore
sight-that il would be the very next thing
to bring Texas, which was designed to be
slavehoding State, into this Union. / did
not wait. sought an occasion TO pro-
claim my utter aversion TO any such mea-
sure, and determined to resist it with all
my strength to the last. Now, gentlemen,
il is not for yonr edifcation, am sure,
that now revive what have before spo-
ken in the presence of this assembly. |
was in this city in the year 1887, and long
before left New York on that excursion in
the course Of which went to the South
and returned here, my friends in New York
were kind enough TO offer me public din
ner as testimony Of their public regard
for me. went out Of my way, on that
occasion, for the purpose of showing what
| anticipated in the attempt to annex Tex
"a as slave territory, and said it should
be opposed BY me to the las. extremity
And in Niblo's Garden, in March, 1887, !
made speech. Well, there was the press
all around me. The Wing press and the
Democratic press. Some spoke commen-
datorally enough OF my speech, but oil q
greed that took pains to step out Of my
way to denouncein advance the annexation
Of Texas as slave territory, to the United
States. | said on that occasion:
"Genllemen, we oil see that BY whomso
ever possessed, Tsxss is likely TO be u slave
holding country, and ! frankly avow my
entire unvilingness to do anything that
shall extend the slavery Of the African on
this continent, or add other slaveholding
States to the Union" When said that
regarded slavery as great moral and po.
litical evil, ] only used language that has
been adopted by distinguished men, them.
selves citizens Of slaveholdng states. !
shall do nothing, therefore, to extend or en-
courage its further extension. We have
slavery already amongst US. The Consii-
tuition found il amongst US. II recognized
il, and gave il solemn guarantees. TO the
full extent Of these guarantees we are all
bound in honor, in justice, and by the Con.
stitution. All the stipula,ions contained
10 the Constitution, in favor Of ofslayeholding
States which are already in the Union,
ought to be fulfilled, and, so far, ns depends
on me, shall be- fulfilled 10 the inlness OF
- .-:a IL nc ho, Iof