The daily union., 1852-04-11
Jasix. posxi.s.


La very confidential way for days past. that aw
ul disclosure about 10 be made OF speech on the
slavery question said TO have been delivered by our col
league. Senator Douglas, somewhere IN Illinois few
years ago. We have been al loss 10 discover what
speech alluded 10 until day. when received by
mail letter from friend in Virginia, enclosing printed
handbill. which informed has been widely cir
cuated under the franks OF members OF Congress through
Virginia and other southern States, with the view OF in
huencing the election OF delegates the Baltimore Con-
venlion. The hanabi isia the following words;
Extract from speech delivered BY Judge s. A Douglas at
the Representatives Hall SpingfeA Illinois, October
%. ls49, md published in the Union November 49, 649
|" In August, 1913, Mr. d had voted for the Oregon
bull containing clause prohibiting slavery IN that Ter
nory, About four months afterwards the legislature
and requesting representatives in Congress TO vote
for territorial bills in California and New Mexico
tanning prohibition OF slavery IN those Territories In
other words, they instruct him 10 DO precisely what he
had just done without instructions. He had been in
formed that his whg friends, and perhaps few others
peculiarly situated, confidently expected him 10 resign
rather than obey those instructions. II would be dis
agreeable to dsappon them in so reasonable expecla
ton II was serious question, however, requiring
grave and deliberate consideration whether he could con-
scientiousy do, under Instructions, what he had just
done from the dictates OF his own Judgment witboutin
strnctions AS the decision OF so important question
see
II the object of those who originated and distributed
this handb is to create the impression the public
mind that Judge Douglas at any time the advocate
OF the Wmot proviso, they do great violence 10 truth
and gross injustice to brother democrat That he made
speech at the time and place alluded to in this handbi
the substance OF which. although reported in full
PUBLISHED in the Illinois papers of that PERIOD and
copied into the Union OF the Goth OF November, s49
admitted. Any who will take the trouble TO read
that speech published in the Union OF that date will
perceive that the argument mainly directed TO the
ltablishment oil two propositions, viz: e&H
FIRST. that the Wmo proviso was "MIscHrEyoUs
AND WICKED MEASURE !" and, &
SECOND that the sapery question ought 10 haze been settled
upon PRINCIPLES OF THE Missouri COMPROMISE
TENDED TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
We would be glad to the whole speech republished
in the columns of your paper but consequence of its
great length (sx and half columns of the Union)
content ourselves with making such copous extracts
will concusvey establish the position have
| sumed.
First, in regard TO the Wilmot proviso Here is what
Judge Douglas says upon that subject in the very speech
from which this handbill is manufactured:
"On the 9Th of August Of that year. President Polk
sent special message 10 Congress- Intmang the opinion
that before the next session OF Congress he might have
opportunity OF concluding treaty OF peace with Mexico,
and so adjusting the boundaries between the two
tries as 10 acquire large amount OF territory; and asking
for an appropriation OF money 10 enable him pay fair
equivalent Tor the country acquired over and above the
Indemnify TO which we Were entitled. The message was
referred 10 the committee OF the whole house on the Stale
OF the Union. and bill Immediately introduced in con-
formity with its recommendations. To this bill Mr. Will
n moi, OF Pennsylvania offered the following amendment
which adopted in committee. and on the same day
concued in and passed the House, and has since been
known the sWILMOT PRoylSO.' in conlradisinc.
ton 10 the Ordinance OF 'S7, the Missouri Compro-
mise, and all other enactments previously adopted by
Congress touching slavery in the territories Mr. d.
here read the Wimot provso from the journal, ollows
- Prop,ded, That as an express and fundamental con-
don 10 the acquisition by territory from the republic
Mexico by the United States by virtue Of any reary
Executive, OF the herein appIoprated,
slavery nor involuntary servude shall ever exis, any
shall first be duly convicted
This proviso, said Mr. d., was TO have become part
OF the treaty The country to have been acquired on
the crpea and fundamental condition that slavery should
exist therein. The acquisition have been con-
dional and our title CONDITIONAL dependent upon the fact
whether slavery should ever exist in the country
quired Suppose this proviso had prevailed and become
part OF the treaty, and we bad acquired California and
New Mexico upon that express and fundamental condi
on. and, after they had been acquired they should have
been admitted into the Union in pursuance OF the
s,ution OF the United States, upon equal footing with
the original States, in all respects whatsoever, and sup
pose that in the course Of time these States. like New
York. Pennsylvania, and Illinois should have chosen TO
have revised this constitution and such revision should
have recognised the institution OF slavery. what would
be the position of the Of the United States
then towards these two States and also towards the re-
public OF Mexico'
In that event would not the faith of this nation stand
Iitrevocably pledged by solemn treaty with foreign
power 10 inerpose and abolish slavery within the limits
OF these two sovereign States OF the Unon aud that too
10 direct palpaDle violation oil the constitution OF
the United S,aies What would what could this nation
have done in this contingency Would she have KEEP,
her faith and redeemed her pledge TO Mexicol II so
could only have been done by ruthless invasion OF the
acknowledges rights and soyeeignts OF two OF the indie
pendent States oil the Union, by deliberate and yanton
violation OF the constitution OF the United States in.
woke the Wilmoi- lroviso men (said Mr.. d. inform
the country what they would have DONE IL they had
succeeded with their mad scheme, and Mexico had made
her demand upon This government 10 have preserved its
faith by executing that portion OF the treaty Would the
President OF the United States have been required 10
march The armies OF the republic into the States OF Cali
have abolished this peculiar institution by freeing the
blacks and ensavlng the whites Or would they have
dissolved the Union with the bayonei by forcby turnng
these States out and sending them back Mexico in pur
suance of the WImot-proviso clause of the treaty. The
one or the other OF these alternatives they would have
been required by their scheme TO have taken.
Either would have led TO consequences from the very
thought OF which the soutes heart shnks with horror
Or would they have said 10 Mexico that this solemn
pledge Of nations faith, the giving OF which consttu.
led the express and fundasena condition upon which
we received this vast domain, filled with exhaustless
treasures, was never intended TO have been kept, and
that she ought 10 have understood at the time that
II mere partisan scheme gotten up BY their allies
in this country for their benefit in order prevent the
acquisition OF any territory and to compel The adminsira
ton OF President Polk back OF the war in disgrace
and without indemnify
cit will doubtless be said thai all the dangers aBd diff
sultes 10 which sluson has been made, likely 10
have grown out OF the adoption OF the Wmot proviso
imaginary aud groundIes for The that slavery
would never have been introduced into California or New
Mexico.
| Mr. d agreed entirely with that view Of The subject
and for that could for